Montana State Library Services
Building Montana
The Montana State Library (MSL) helps all organizations, communities, and Montanans thrive through excellent library resources and services.
MSL is an authoritative resource for state officials. Our staff expertly manages state government information and standardizes statewide data to create information resources that makes the work of state government more efficient and transparent.
Partnerships are necessary to ensure that Montanans thrive. Through partnerships, MSL and those we serve will continue to move Montana forward.
Through MSL, and working partnership with the Governor and Montana state agencies, MSL ensures that all Montanans have the information and library services they need to understand and influence change in their community
Additional information:
Jennie Stapp, State Librarian
MSL Key Services and Programs
COVID-19 Response
When it was needed most, MSL deployed Montana’s COVID-19 Response Map to keep the public informed about the spread of the pandemic in our state. MSL staff created data workflows that provide policy makers with timely and accurate information so that Montana’s government leaders can be confident when making life and death decisions they are called upon to make.
Partners:
Additional information:
- Dashboard: Status of Montana Libraries
Value-Added Agriculture
Value-added agriculture is a data -driven industry. MSL is a key partner on the Governor’s Drought and Water Supply Advisory Committee providing Montanans with monthly updates on the status drought and water supply.
The Montana Land Information Act grant program has funded installation of GPS repeater stations that save Montana farmers hundreds of thousands of dollars a year.
The Montana Department of Agriculture's Noxious Weed Trust Fund requires all applicants for weed control grants to include an Environmental Summary Report from the Natural Heritage Program and discuss the presence of invasive species and native Species of Concern that need to be considered in weed control activities.
Partners:
Additional information:
- MLIA Grant Program
- Natural Heritage Program Information Requests
- Application: Drought Impacts
- Application: Montana Lidar Inventory
- Map: Montana County Drought Status
Improve Infrastructure
An average of 22,000 patrons use MSL's online information resources daily. One of MSL's most popular resources, the Montana Cadastral application was the first of its kind in the country and allows users to search parcel data to answer ownership questions essential to infrastructure development.
Though the Cadastral is the most well-known application to provide land ownership information, the underlying data managed by MSL powers applications across both state and local government, as well as the private sector.
Partners:
- Montana Department of Revenue
- Local governments
Additional information:
- Application: Water Rights Query System
- Map: Interactive Wildland Fire Map
- Map: Montana Hunt Planner Map
- Map: Montana Sage Grouse Habitat Conservation Map
Preserve Rural Access
Montana consistently ranks near the bottom of the list of US states with adequate broadband access. The challenges caused by the lack of broadband cannot be understated and have impacted nearly every aspect of Montanans' lives during the COVID-19 pandemic.
To address this challenge, MSL and Montana libraries are lending mobile Wi-Fi hotspots and internet-ready devices to aid in online learning, remote work, telemedicine, and simply the need to stay connected.
Partners:
Additional information:
Tribal Government Partnerships
MSL's Montana Land Information Act grant program provides valuable dollars to tribal governments to map cultural resources and improve GIS data.
MSL also values input from tribal representatives who serve on our Montana Land Information and Network Advisory Councils.
Partners:
- Tribal Governments
- Tribal College Libraries
- US Bureau of Indian Affairs
Additional information:
Encourage Entrepreneurship
Inspired by Ivan Doig, Sarah Calhoun came to Montana with more than a desire to call it home. She relied on the Bozeman Public Library to help her envision and grow her small business dream into Red Ants Pants. In doing so, she is helping to revitalize the community of White Sulphur Springs.
This kind of move to rural Montana is accelerating as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Montana libraries will be ready to help the next entrepreneurs. This winter, MSL will launch an economic development initiative including a coaching program for libraries and economic development resources that libraries can use to help small business owners in their communities.
Partners:
Additional information:
Responsible Natural Resources Development
Readily available species and habitat data speeds up the permitting process. Data that used to take days or weeks to compile is now available to users in pre-formatted reports in a matter of minutes. By using accurate authoritative data that all stakeholders acknowledge as the best available, agencies and the private sector reduce the risk that environmental assessments will be legally challenged on these grounds.
Partners:
Additional information:
- DEQ Permitting
- Application: Natural Heritage Map Viewer
Protect Public Lands
Public lands are a key part of Montana's heritage. Knowing who is responsible for managing the land, mitigating risks of flood and fire, and managing ecosystems for maximum benefit, ensures the heritage is lasting. MSL is coordinating a coalition of federal, state, and private sector stakeholders to leverage funds to collect incredibly high resolution Lidar data for the entire state. This information will inform Montana's management practices through sound data and analysis.
Partners:
- Montana Department of Environmental Quality
- Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation
- Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks
- Montana University System
- US Bureau of Land Management
- US Fish and Wildlife Service
- US Forest Service
- USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
- Montana Association of Conservation Districts
- Montana land trusts
- Montana timber industry
Additional information:
- Application: Montana Managed Lands Database
Boost Tourism and Travel
People from all over the world visit Montana each year. Whether their goal is to track that elusive elk, discover that hidden ghost town, or research their family history, MSL maintains numerous information resources that inspire exploration, such as the Natural Heritage Program's Field Guide .
With grant funds this year the Montana Natural Heritage Program will compile literature relevant to fish and wildlife recreation development and management in Montana, and will develop, conduct, and compile results from a survey of natural resource managers in Montana to identify research needs and relevant stakeholders for recreation development and management in Montana.
Partners:
Additional information:
- Montana Memory Project
- Application: Montana Place Names
Prioritize Customer Service
Reference Services
Good government is only as good as the information that informs it. No matter how obscure the information request, MSL's professional staff are ready to assist state employees and Montana citizens in finding the answers they seek.
State Government Information
MSL uses 21st century technology to provide permanent public access to state government information dating as far back as 1864. To date, MSL has digitized over 27,000 historic state publications which are made freely available online. Additionally, MSL manages an archive of state agency websites dating to 1996. State agencies can rest assured that their public information available through their websites is preserved for years to come.
Partners:
- All Montana state agencies
Additional information:
Montana Shared Catalog
The Montana Shared Catalog improves the State of Montana’s ability to deliver information about our government to Montanans. Through its 183 member libraries, including state agency libraries, the Shared Catalog offers over 400,000 Montanans state-of-the art library services at remarkable cost savings.
Partners:
Additional information:
A Strong Safety Net
Montana's blind and low vision populations are some of the most isolated and economically disadvantaged in Montana. MSL's Talking Book Library program serves visually impaired Montanans as well as those who have reading or physical disabilities. Staff and volunteers also record local Montana books and magazines, the Montana voter pamphlet, and other important works like the Montana constitution, which are available to Montanans and people around the country through the National Library Service .
Partners:
Additional information:
Educational Achievement
In a rural state like Montana, leveraging technology to remove barriers to education is critical to ensure that every Montanan is given the best start in life. Through MSL’s Ready2Read program and text-enabled services that give caregivers tips to engage their children in practices that support reading, libraries across state offer services so that every child has the same opportunity to develop the skills they need to start kindergarten ready to read.
MSL also invested CARES Act dollars to ramp up investment in online learning and literacy resources to support P-20 and lifelong learning needs both during the pandemic and beyond.
Partners:
Additional information:
Contact Us
The Montana State Library looks forward to partnering with you to serve Montanans.
Jennie Stapp, State Librarian
406-444-3116
Evan Hammer, Digital Library Administrator
406-444-5355
Malissa Briggs, Central Services Administrator
406-444-3117