NLS MAP

System information

NorthNet Library System is a cooperative library system, a consolidation of three library systems, formed in 2009. The three systems are referred to as ‘legacy’ systems of NorthNet:

MVLS (Mountain Valley Library System), serving Alpine County Library, Colusa County Library, El Dorado County Library, Folsom Public Library, Lincoln Public Library, Mono County Library, Nevada County Library, Placer County Library, Roseville Public Library, Sacramento Co. Public Law Library, Sacramento Public Library, Sutter County Library, Woodland Public Library, Yolo County Library and Yuba County Library

NBCLS (North Bay Cooperative Library System), serving Belvedere‐Tiburon Library, Benicia Public Library, Lake County Library, Larkspur Public Library, Marin County Free Library, Mendocino County Library, Mill Valley Public Library, Napa County Library, St. Helena Public Library, San Anselmo Public Library, San Rafael Public Library, Sausalito Public Library, Solano County Library,
Sonoma County Library

NSCLS (North State Cooperative Library System), serving Butte County Library, Del Norte County Library District, Humboldt County Library, Lassen Library District, Modoc County Library, Orland Public Library, Plumas County Library, Shasta Public Libraries, Siskiyou County Library, Tehama County Library, Trinity County Library and Willows Public Library

A roster of NLS member libraries can be found on the NLS website.

NLS was consolidated as a cooperative system to improve the services of its constituent member libraries by maintaining existing CLSA (California Library Services Act) programs, leading research and development efforts to ensure that libraries are best positioned to respond to demographic, economic, and cultural changes through innovative and collaborative approaches to programming and services and the enhancement of collective resource building and sharing. NLS develops broader goals and scope than the CLSA mandated programs in communications, delivery, and resource sharing, which are legislated by law. The cooperative system improves and enhances services formerly provided by the three local systems. A local system may continue local best practices to meet its own needs.

GOVERNANCE AND FINANCING OF NLS

The governance model for NLS is a Joint Powers Agreement (JPA). A copy of the JPA can be found on the NLS website.

Each of the three systems that comprises NLS operated under either a JPA or a Joint Resolution Agency (JRA). A copy of those documents can be found on the NLS website.

The NLS JPA is an overarching structure leaving the three systems’ JRAs and JPAs intact. The JPA, bylaws, and standing rules are available on the NLS website. An Executive Committee is responsible for the ongoing operations of NLS. The Executive Committee members can be found on the NLS website.

FINANCING OF NLS

NLS is funded through a combination of California Library Services Act funds and member dues and fees. The Fiscal Administrator drafts an annual membership fee schedule and budget that is presented for recommendation to the Executive Committee. The fee schedule and budget are presented for approval by all NLS members at the Annual Meeting.

BENEFITS OF NLS

  • Achieve economies of scale by investing in a set of shared resources in programs and services that will benefit people served by the communities in the region.
  • Facilitate the ability of member libraries to work together to increase the quantity and quality of the services and programs for the people in this broad geographic area.
  • Enable each member to be responsive to the changing needs and expectations of its community.
  • Create a common approach to marketing and public relations and have a shared capability for this work.
  • Enable resource sharing to work better and more seamlessly.
  • Allow member libraries to have a strong, effective and unified voice.
  • Capitalize on the talents and competencies of a large group of member library staff and increase the opportunity to share and learn from each other.
  • Collaborate to invest in research and development of new initiatives and pool resources to support development of these initiatives.
  • Extend the network and communities of practices among the people who work in the member libraries.
  • Provide the structure and support for member libraries with common interests to communicate and share in a broader geographical arena.
Benicia Public Library
Benicia Public Library

PRIORITY SERVICES BEING PROVIDED BY OR OF INTEREST TO NLS

  • Programming
  • Expanded materials delivery
  • Staff development and continuing education
  • Support for research and development
  • Technology opportunities
  • Communities of Interest on such topics as Friends activities, facilities (both new and aging), new technologies
  • Self-selected communities of interest
  • Social marketing
  • Leadership development
  • Shared models for the “behind the scenes” library work, centralized acquisitions, collection development, cataloging, processing of media and books, including specialized collections, i.e., foreign language
  • Tulelake Branch, Siskiyou County Library
    Tulelake Branch, Siskiyou County Library
  • Scott Bar Branch, Siskiyou County Library
    Scott Bar Branch, Siskiyou County Library
  • Etna Branch, Siskiyou County Library
    Etna Branch, Siskiyou County Library