Hastings Public Library recognized with gold accreditation

HASTINGS, Neb. (KSNB) - The Hastings Public Library has been awarded with gold accreditation from the Nebraska Library Commission for their service to the community.

The library got its first gold accreditation in 2014 and got a Silver Accreditation in 2018. The accreditation application includes a Community Needs Response Plan, or strategic plan. The Hastings Public Library began developing its plan with the Oct. 2023 community survey results, expanding on them with public feedback through surveys on Engage Hastings throughout the spring of 2024.

The accreditation is meant to encourage excellent library service and sets the standards for the services they offer. The achievement also puts the library at the front of the line when they apply for state aid and grants.

Library Director Amy Dissmeyer credits the staff with keeping a high standard and making this accomplishment possible.

"Staff play a role in this every day, playing the programs, putting on the programs and serving people every day," Dissmeyer said. "The amount of people served all plays into the statistics that goes into this accomplishment, so the staff were heavily involved in that. It's really to their credit that we accomplished this."

In addition to the staff, Dissmeyer said the feedback from the community also plays a role in keeping a high standard.

"We're looking at input from the community, as to what kind of materials and books and what kind of programs they need and then we're responding to that," Dissmeyer said. "We did that this year, through the community survey that the City did and that was a great boost for us, that was a great starting point for us."

She also said programming was also pivotal in getting the library to the gold accreditation.

"Our community really supports our programs. Our programs are well attended, so that's a big part of what goes into this gold standard and we're very proud of that," Dissmeyer said. "I'm very proud of the library staff that puts on the programs and how well they're attended and we intend to keep that going as long as we can."

Dissmeyer also said teamwork from other departments in the city have helped make creative programming possible at the library.

"All of the city departments are starting to work really closely together to respond to the community's need for programming," Dissmeyer said. "The Museum, Parks and Rec. and the library are starting to work really closely together to meet those needs, so that's a really exciting opportunity for us."

To give your feedback on the Hastings Public Library, or to take a look at the library's strategic plan you can go to the Engage Hastings website and to take a look at the results of feedback about the library from 2023 Hastings Community Survey, you can check out the City of Hastings website.