These standards provide measures for evaluating communities' needs for public library services, and summarize the essentials for quality service for youth and those who work with youth. New management tools, specifically guides for planning and role setting and manuals for defining output measures, the challenge of electronic access, as well as the State of New York mandate that public libraries provide Outreach Services necessitated a revision of standards. Forty-two standards are divided into the following chapters: "Philosophy of Service"; "Recommendations for Planning for Public Library Service for Youth"; "Recommendations for Staffing for Public Library Service for Youth"; "Recommendations for Service for Children"; and "Recommendations for Service for Youth Adults." Appendices include a list of the Standards; a discussion of the effect of the Americans with Disabilities Act on library services for youth; a summary of the planning process; a chart illustrating developmental characteristics of youth and their relationship to library services; the American Library Association competencies for librarians serving children and youth; recommendations on furniture and equipment for children; and minimum standards for public libraries in New York State. (Contains 31 references.) (AEF)

A set of standards for children's and young people's sections of public libraries in New York State.