Information services is defined as the personal assistance information services staff give to library users to help them obtain information, select library materials of interest, or use library resources. It is delivered through a system of libraries located in suburban Hennepin County, Minnesota. Library collections, electronic access to information, outreach, and referrals are four of the most critical elements necessary for the successful delivery of information services to library users.
The Hennepin County Library has a systemwide collection housed in a variety of environments. The Southdale Area Library supports the most comprehensive collection of materials in Hennepin County Library (HCL), serves as a systemwide resource, and is the center of information service for the system. The Brookdale and Ridgedale Area Libraries also have large collections and serve as regional resources. Information services delivered from community libraries focus more directly on the communities of which they are a part. Community libraries rely on larger libraries to complement their staff and collections. As HCL migrates to an electronic environment, staff in all libraries are in a better position to respond to information requests at the local level.
Electronic access is supported by applications software, computer network, and computer support staff. They provide technical support to library users and staff thereby ensuring technical access to the content of electronically delivered resources.
Outreach Services provide at-home, site-based, and corrections institutional services which extend information services beyond the physical and digitized boundaries of HCL.
The Hennepin County Library recognizes its place within the larger universe of information resources and actively seeks formal and informal channels of referral. The MELSA Library-to-Library Reference Network, MINITEX, and interlibrary loan are among the formal networks which are in place to facilitate the delivery of information services.
Staff throughout the Hennepin County Library System work together to ensure that accurate responses to information requests are delivered in a courteous, respectful and efficient manner.
The Hennepin County Library (HCL) is committed to providing information services which affirm the principles established in the library's mission statement and which are responsive to a rapidly evolving information environment.
The Hennepin County Library serves the entire community. This policy is designed to guide the provision of information services throughout the library system so that a consistent and unified program of service is delivered to all users.
The following policy statements (in bold) and accompanying guidelines describe how the highest caliber of information services may be delivered within the limits of available resources. The policy statements and guidelines address many elements of information services, define standards of excellence, and detail service limitations. The document is also a tool for training and orienting new staff, providing direction to existing staff, and evaluating staff performance. While procedural details are not included, the guidelines provide the basis for establishing those procedures.
In order to best serve each library user, professional judgment and discretion take precedence over the following guidelines.