Library Federation Members Meet

Members of the Golden Plains Library Federation discussed a variety of topics during its semi-annual meeting held in Wolf Point on Thursday, April 20.

The federation includes library representatives from the eastern Montana counties of Phillips, Sheridan, Valley, Blaine, Daniels and Roosevelt. The Fort Peck Community College is also represented.

“They all have great issues,” Perry Lilley, Roosevelt County Library board chairman, said. “We have good discussions.”

Topics on the agenda for last week’s meeting included Montana Humanities, virtual programming, technology support, plan of service for fiscal year 2024 and individual library updates.

Montana’s library system is divided into six regions. Federations are a formal and informal way to network and improve library services in the state.

Along with the Golden Plains Library Federation, the other federations are Broad Valleys, Pathfinder, Sagebrush, South Central and Tamarack.

The federations receive funding through the Coal Severance Tax monies from the state. Federations are guided by a federation coordinator who is responsible for leading the federation and acting as a liaison between the Montana State Library and the federation.

The Montana State Library has a federation task force responsible for reviewing the purpose, function and goals of each of the federations.