Delaware Quality Award Recipients
Delaware Division of Libraries

The Delaware Division of Libraries (DDL) is an agency of the Department of State dedicated to providing Delawareans with the best libraries in the nation. The organization’s mission is to provide leadership and support for the timely development of Delaware’s libraries to ensure convenient access and encourage use of current information resources and reading material by all Delawareans. The agency is committed to service, access and excellence.

DDL partners with public libraries statewide for strategic library planning. It provides libraries with the tools they need in areas such as staff training, facility evaluation, construction, and other aspects of library development to deliver excellent library service. DDL offers support for library services that promote a culture of lifelong learning, the use of all library resources, and awareness of all public library services.

The Delaware Division of Libraries is centrally located in Dover, where it houses a state-of-the-art Technology Education Center with 16 computer workstations for hands-on learning and a Satellite downlink. There are 35 public libraries and two bookmobiles throughout the state. The division supports 24/7 reference, “Ask a Librarian Live,” a consortium of libraries locally and nationally that provide answers to questions around the clock via the Internet. DDL coordinates network connectivity for all public library Internet access, statewide licenses for information databases, and state-of-the-art workstations.

DDL is a learning organization that encourages professional development, two-way communication, and provides all employees with opportunities for active participation in decision-making. The emphasis on learning supports library development through innovation, planning and evaluation.

Throughout its quality initiatives, DDL has focused on activities that support a library’s core business: to inform, educate and entertain through library collections. DDL staff has worked to identify ways to improve the collections and enhance access to them. A major step in this effort has been the development of the Delaware Library Catalog, which is merging the on-line collection catalogs for all libraries in Kent and Sussex Counties, including Delaware Technical and Community College and the Delaware Public Archives, into one system for seamless access by the public.

DDL’s primary objective is to ensure that every Delawarean has a library card and frequently uses it. Efforts to expand and retain library customers include an expanded web presence, downloadable and on-line services, keeping collections current, assessing customer needs and tailoring programs to meet those needs.