South Carolina Public Library Standards and Guidelines: Home

Summary: South Carolina Public Library Standards, 2012, were approved by the South Carolina State Library Board. These standards are the second set of public library standards developed under the auspices of the South Carolina State Library. The first were in 1998. Prior to 1998, standards for South Carolina public libraries were developed by the Public Library Section of the South Carolina Library Association and were subsequently adopted by the South Carolina State Library Board. Earlier editions were published in 1955, 1964, 1969, 1975, 1981, and 1986.

Summary: The South Carolina State Library has a long tradition of providing public library standards for use in the state. The current set of standards was last updated in 1998, and while still relevant to many aspects of public librarianship, it does not address the current reality of technology in South Carolina public libraries. In producing technology standards for public libraries, the State Library seeks to build upon its tradition of strong public library standards while attempting to provide guidance for libraries as they pursue excellence in the area of technology.

Summary: The Youth Services Guidelines for South Carolina Public Libraries is intended to be a companion to the South Carolina Public Library Standards, published by the South Carolina State Library in 1998. This document was designed to provide some specific guidelines for children's services. It replaces the 1992 publication, Guidelines for Children's Services in South Carolina, which was developed under the auspices of the State Library and published by the Services for Children and Youth in Public and School Library Section of the South Carolina Library Association.