“We’ll continue to license electronic databases, e-books, and e-audio information for use statewide in our commitment to provide equitable library services to all in Wyoming. We’ll also honor our libraries’ request for webinars that will give their staffs the tools to keep them current as they meet public needs.”
--Lesley Boughton, State Librarian, Wyoming State Library
Read the Wyoming State Library Interview with IMLS.
The Grants to States Program
The Grants to States Program is the largest grant program run by IMLS; it provides funds to State Library Administrative Agencies (SLAAs) using a population-based formula set by the law. SLAAs determine goals and objectives for the funds in their statutorily required five-year plan (see below). For more information, see the Grants to States program overview.
View allotments for all states.
Partnerships through Publications
Through production of the Wyoming Library Roundup and other publications, the state library created new partnerships with various organizations and entities throughout the state. The theme established for each issue helped reach new communities and demonstrated to them the importance of libraries, reading, research and education. The magazine has introduced readers to Wyoming’s diverse library resources, literature and book events, cultural heritage, history and people. The Roundup was published twice during the reporting year as "Wonderful Wyoming," and "Eating and Drinking in Wyoming." State library staff conducted interviews with featured individuals, wrote stories for the publication, and designed the layout in a professional style. Each issue was published in cooperation with the Wyoming Library Association and the Wyoming Center for the Book.
IMLS Funds: $38,189
Statewide Staff Development
Library staff development is a priority in Wyoming’s five-year plan and this project reflected the state’s effort to improve the knowledge, skills, and abilities of public, academic, school and special library workers, and library trustees. Grant funds provided learning opportunities for those who possessed only rudimentary knowledge of librarianship; for those who were specialists in technology, access, or management; and for those who already held an MLS degree and needed to maintain professional skills. The state library worked closely with partners to reach the largest number of library workers, and conducted 46 live and online training events. Training was attended by 428 in real time, and 12,351 downloaded the archives of those events. This project also included the annual library directors’ retreat, which allows the 31 public and academic library directors to meet together for director training and long-range planning.
IMLS Funds: $17,464
Search the Awarded Grants Database for additional details about awards in this state.
Each state creates a 5-year plan for its programs to strengthen the efficiency, reach, and effectiveness of library services. Click here to read Wyoming's 5-year plan for 2013-2017 (PDF, 139KB). View all states' plans.
Five-Year Plan Highlights
Support the Wyoming Center for the Book and library projects and activities that support literacy at all ages and encourage individuals to read and appreciate the importance of books in multiple formats.
Provide access to information products in a variety of formats and media that meet the needs of Wyoming residents.
General Services and Initiatives
Use the knowledge and expertise of librarians and information professionals in the state to continually plan for, introduce, improve, and distribute information products and related technologies, and make them accessible to residents and library staff.
Access to E-Resources
Maintain the statewide catalog and its links to databases, e-audiobooks, downloadable e-books and other electronic products, and adjust offerings based on usage.
Provide Wyoming libraries central purchasing and fiscal services that maximize purchasing power, support the financial operations of the Wyoming Libraries’ Database (WYLD) Network and serve as the contracting agent for statewide licensed databases and related products.
License databases that focus on specific areas of interest, such as education, medicine, business, and other disciplines.
Broaden statewide interlibrary cooperation and resource sharing efforts.
Provide the technology to support self-initiated interlibrary loan requests and home delivery of materials.
Continue work on the newspaper digitization project and investigate other digital content creation projects that would be of significant value to libraries and residents.
Provide consultation, planning, leadership, and technological expertise to the Wyoming library community so that these libraries can successfully target quality services to the underserved, to individuals of diverse geographic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds, to individuals with disabilities, and to individuals with limited functional literacy or information skills.
Build capacity for learning, change, and innovation in the Wyoming library community. Deliver workshops, other training opportunities, professional support and information products that assist library staff in improving services, understanding technologies, and assuming library leadership roles in working with local governments and community groups.
Develop online communications tools using social software to deliver information about statewide projects, state library planning, and local library best practices to the Wyoming Library community.
Marketing and Market Research
Generate publications and activities targeted to library, government, and professional communities that create awareness of the role, resources, and services of the Wyoming library community and its contributions to lifelong learning and literacy.
Publish the Wyoming Library Roundup in collaboration with the Wyoming Center for the Book and the Wyoming Library Association to develop public and private partnerships with other agencies and community-based organizations.
Provide electronic access to state government publications and documents.
Bring new information to the state for assessment, planning, and program development.
Maintain a leadership role in state, regional, and national organizations and initiatives.
Special Services for Special Needs
Support the reading and learning interests of the 3,000 individuals voluntarily or involuntarily confined to any of the state institutions with subsidies to sustain the library collections in these facilities.
Support efforts to provide library and information services to blind and print disabled patrons and others who have difficulty using traditional library resources.
IMLS Data Collection
State Library Survey
The State Library Agency Survey (SLAA) provides descriptive data about state library agencies for all fifty states and the District of Columbia.
Public Library Survey
The Public Library Survey (PLS) provides national descriptive data on the status of public libraries in the United States and its territories. Data are collected from over 9,000 public library systems with over 17,000 public library outlets. Click here for Wyoming's profile from the most recent PLS publication (PDF, 336KB).