Application forms for FY13 Accreditation and Direct State Aid Tier Level are now available.
Deadline is February 29, 2012.
You will need to reapply this coming year if your current accreditation or Tier Level status is due to expire on June 30, 2012. Email notifications will be sent to all directors when the application forms are ready. At that time you will be informed if you need to submit an application.
Online Application Form - This is the preferred method of filling out your application. You will need to login using the same login and password used for the annual survey. If you are not sure of your login, you can contact Toni Blair for assistance.
Print Application Form - Please use the Online Application Form to submit your application. However, we are still making the printable version of the application form available if you need to mail in an application or if you like to fill the application out on paper first. The Online Application Form gives you the option to print out your form when finished.
Supporting Documentation Checklist - A helpful checklist showing the supporting documentation needed for your application process.
5th edition of In Service to Iowa - The manual for Iowa Library Services' standards and accreditation program. It is used to document the condition of public library service in Iowa, to distribute Direct State Aid funding, and to meet statutory requirements. The link will take you to the an electronic (PDF) version of the manual. Two copies of the printed manual were sent to each library director. If you need more, you can purchase them for $3 each. Contact Fran Fessler to order extra copies. Please discard all previous drafts or editions.
Standards Key - An aid that shows how the 4th edition standards relate to the 5th edition standards.
Accreditation and Tier Status - FY12 - Accreditation and Tier Status of all public libraries as of November 21, 2011. Also shown is status expiration. Updated regularly.
A library's accreditation and tier level status is good for three years.
- Tier 3 libraries reapply every three years.
- Tier 1 & 2 libraries reapply every three years. They may apply again before the three years has expired if they can improve their status.
- Tier 0 libraries may apply each year to attain Tier 1-3 status. Once they have achieved Tier 1-3 status they need to reapply every three years.
Background
Iowa Library Services documents the condition of public library service in Iowa (Code of Iowa (256.51 (j)) by requiring public libraries to submit accreditation reports.
Iowa’s public library accreditation program has been in place since 1986 based on In Service to Iowa: Public Library Measure of Quality, 1985. The library community revised In Service to Iowa: Public Library Measures of Quality in 1989, 1997 and 2004. A new revised 5th edition called In Service to Iowa: Public Library Standards was released in December of 2010.
