New Mexico State Library

Plans & Policies

Planning documents provide libraries with direction and consistency, as well as a vision for the future. They help ensure the current needs of the community are addressed with proper funding and staff. As your library begins to work on the planning documents, keep in mind that the Community Analysis & Needs Assessment should direct all other plans and policies.

Required Planning Documents

New Mexico Administrative Code (NMAC) 4.5.2--State Grants in Aid to Public Libraries -- has changed as of June 1, 2016:

Public libraries are required to have a Community Analysis & Needs Assessment, Collection Development Policy, and a Strategic Plan (formerly known as long-range plan) that are reviewed and updated on a regular basis. To be eligible for State Aid, full public libraries must have on file with the New Mexico State Library (NMSL) the above plans and policies. The Community Analysis & Needs Assessment and Collection Development Policy are to be reviewed, updated, and filed with the NMSL every five (5) years, and the Strategic Plan is to be reviewed, updated, and filed with the NMSL every three (3) years.

Note: To be eligible for State Aid, the Community Analysis & Needs Assessment, Collection Development Policy, and Strategic Plan must be current and filed with the NMSL by the end of FY17 (June 30, 2017).

For Developing libraries to move to Public Library status, they must submit a Community Analysis & Needs Assessment, Collection Development Policy, and a Strategic Plan to the NMSL for approval before becoming eligible for increased State Aid.

Suggested Guidelines and Templates

Here are some guidelines and suggested templates for your plans and policies:

• Community Analysis & Needs Assessment (Acrobat file)
  • Community Analysis & Needs Assessment FAQs
  • Community Analysis & Needs Assessment (PowerPoint file)
  • Community Analysis & Needs Assessment Template (Word file)

• Collection Development Policy (Acrobat file)
  • About Collection Development Policies (a helpful tutorial)
  • Writing a Collection Development Policy (another tutorial)
  • Collection Development Policy (PowerPoint file)
  • Sample Policies suggested by ALA
  • Collection Development Template(Word file)

• Strategic Plan (Adobe file)
  • Strategic Plan Template (Word file)

• Technology Plan 
  • Technology Plan Template (Word file)

It is highly recommended that all public libraries have a marketing plan as well as a staff development plan. The following links offer a step by step process for creating these plans.

Marketing Plan Workbook (Adobe file)
Marketing Plan Template (Word file)
Staff Development Guidelines and Template (Adobe file)

For More Info

If you have questions about the planning process call the Development Bureau staff at 1-800-340-3890 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Send plans and policies to:

E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Mail: New Mexico State Library
Attn: Development Bureau
1209 Camino Carlos Rey
Santa Fe, NM 87507