Maryland State Library Resource Center

Enoch Pratt Free Library

About SLRC - Maryland State Library Resource Center

About SLRC

Vision

The Maryland State Library Resource Center enriches a strong, vibrant Maryland library community to empower an educated and informed public.

Mission

The Maryland State Library Resource Center, in collaboration with its partners, provides cooperative, cost-effective, statewide resources and services for Maryland libraries and their customers.

Core Values & Guiding Principles

  • Collaboration
  • Communication
  • Customers First
  • Responsibility

SLRC Strategic Plan Brochure FY 2023 – FY 2026

What is SLRC?

SLRC (The State Library Resource Center) is the State Library for Maryland. Working with libraries across the state, SLRC provides cooperative, cost effective, resources and services for Maryland libraries and their customers.

Housing SLRC in the Enoch Pratt Free Library’s Central Library means that the funding of a separate staff, collection, and building are not necessary, which saves the state money. Our librarians proudly serve Baltimore City residents while providing support to all libraries in the state.

SLRC is funded through a grant that is part of the Maryland State Budget, and serves public, academic, school, and special libraries in Maryland.

SLRC Responsibilities

Collection

  • Maintain a collection of books, objects, and resources that date from the 12th century to the present, including:
    • An in-depth African American collection
    • A historically significant Maryland history collection
    • A historic 16mm film collection
    • A classroom education support collection
    • A comprehensive DVD collection in all genres
    • The Grants Collections, which is a Cooperating Collection in conjunction with the Foundation Center
    • A sheet music collection of popular songs from the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries contained in over 3500 songbooks and other sources
  • Retain a staff of librarian subject specialists in all major areas covered by the collection

Training

  • Conduct three to five of annual conferences for Maryland librarians
  • Offer online and face-to-face training on topics related to Library and Information Sciences for Maryland library employees
  • Provide significant support for the Library Associate Training Institute (LATI) administered by the Maryland State Department of Education Division of Library Development and Services, enabling library staff with Bachelor degrees to earn a Maryland Library Associate Certificate
  • Provide consulting to Maryland libraries on the areas of information, reference, and technology in libraries
  • Present programs for the public in county library systems
Other Services
  • Coordinate statewide interlibrary loan through Marina
  • Provide broadband Internet access to public libraries, schools, and local government in Maryland
  • Provide subscriptions to research databases to all Maryland public libraries
  • Produce guides to librarian-recommended websites to keep all Maryland libraries aligned

SLRC Operations

  • SLRC reports to the Maryland State Department of Education Division of Library Development and Services and the SLRC Commission, which is comprised of library administrators from public, academic, school, and special libraries in Maryland
  • A strategic plan is set every 5 years by a group of library administrators and staff from the Maryland library community
  • Each year, an annual plan is established by SLRC staff based on the strategic plan
  • SLRC staff report activities and budget information to the SLRC Commission every other month from September to May
  • All reports, updates, SLRC Commission meeting dates and minutes, plus a roster of current SLRC Commission members are available on slrc.info under Governance

Contact the Public Service Departments

Statewide Training & Events

Calendar

From Merlin, the learning community for Maryland library staff