Planning and Evaluation
Public Library Standards
The Wisconsin Public Library Standards is a voluntary self-evaluation tool for Wisconsin public libraries and librarians. Its purpose is to encourage the ongoing development of quality library service in the state by providing public libraries with a tool to identify strengths, recognize areas for improvement, and assist libraries in gaining community support.
In October 2025, the Wisconsin Bureau of Libraries embarked on a project to review and revise Wisconsin's public library standards to meet the changing needs of the library community. Visit the Wisconsin Public Library Standards 7th edition revision page for more information.
Public Library Space Needs
Public Library Space Needs: A Planning Outline is intended to help librarians and library trustees determine whether to initiate a facilities planning process.
Using the Outline, librarians and public library trustees can obtain an estimate of their library’s space needs based on their library’s underlying service goals. With that estimate, planners can assess the adequacy of their library’s existing overall square footage and determine if a more detailed study is called for.
The 4th edition of the Outline was released in July 2025, along with a companion spreadsheet to assist with calculations.
- Public Library Space Needs: A Planning Outline (Accessible DOCX; does not contain Appendix B)
- Public Library Space Needs: A Planning Outline (PDF)
- Public Library Space Needs Worksheet (XLS)
County Plan for Library Services
All 72 Wisconsin counties are members of a regional public library system. Counties are statutorily required to adopt and maintain a county library plan in order to remain system members. Library systems are required annually to certify statutory compliance of their member counties.
Wisconsin Statutes § 43.11 provides an overview of the county library planning law. The following planning checklist and county plan outline are meant to assist county library planning committees in the development of a plan that complies with the statutory requirements.
Facility Management
Managing the facility can be one of the more challenging and unexpected responsibilities placed on a public library director. Librarians rarely have a background or training in facility management, municipalities have varying arrangements regarding oversight of the library building, and many times there is confusion between the library and the municipality on whose responsibility the library building truly is.
The following resources may be helpful when managing the library facility:
- Wisconsin Library Buildings & Spaces - A resource for Wisconsin public library directors, staff and trustees about library building and renovation projects
- Sample Annual Building Inspection Checklist
- Library Building and Grounds Survey
- Sample Capital Improvement Plan
- Sample Library Facility Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
- Sample Library Maintenance Schedule