On April 10 at the 101st annual Montana Library Association conference held in Billings, the Flatead Valley’s ImagineIF Libraries received the 2014 Excellent Library Service Award (ELSA) from the Montana State Library Commission. The awards were announced by Commission Vice-Chair Lee Miller.
The ELSA recognizes libraries for achieving excellence in serving their communities in areas including collection development, information access, policies, planning and evaluation, fiscal management, board accomplishments, continuing education for staff and trustees, and outreach to the community. The ELSA requirements are adapted from Montana’s current Public Library Standards, which serves as a measuring tool for libraries in the state.
Staff from ImagineIF Libraries also presented at four workshops during the conference, on topics such as the library’s role in developing early literacy skills, how to strengthen an organizational culture, community-centric programs in the library and the new ImagineIF brand. Board of Trustees Chair Al Logan, who attended the conference with staff, said he was impressed by all the compliments he received about the innovative and exciting things happening in the Flathead.