Long Range Plan
2008-10
DRAFT APPROVED BY BOARD PLANNING COMMITTEE 5/14/07
LIBRARY VISION STATEMENT
Through the Appleton Public Library, the people of the greater Appleton area will have access to:
· the information necessary to succeed at school, at work, and in their personal lives;
· the materials and programs that stimulate thinking, enhance knowledge, and improve leisure;
· the resources to discover the joy of reading and develop a love of learning;
· the electronic resources to develop needed technological, information-seeking, and evaluation skills;
· a library that is an integral part of public education and an easily accessible, convenient focal point of community life, connecting the people of the region.
LIBRARY MISSION STATEMENT
The Appleton Public Library is a center of community life, offering opportunities to learn, know, gather and grow.
KEY RESULT AREAS / LIBRARY ROLES
Lifelong Learning
We support and assist those who foster a love of reading and learning through library resources and programming.
Goal 1 - Foster a lifelong love of reading and learning in children and young adults.
Strategies:
1. Present programs in collaboration with area schools or other organizations.
2. Collect materials for students and educators that supplement and complement school collections.
3. Develop collections and programs that encourage reading and learning for children, young adults, and families.
Goal 2 - Foster lifelong learning by providing resources and assistance for individuals seeking and evaluating information.
Strategies:
1. Provide and promote accessible and user-friendly electronic resources and websites for learning & personal development.
2. Provide services and collect materials for independent learners and the business community.
3. Provide services and materials responsive to individuals with special needs.
4. Promote reading for pleasure for all ages.
5. Provide programs and individual assistance to develop skills in evaluating information sources.
Current Topics & Titles
We provide current information and high demand materials in a variety of formats.
Goal 3 - Provide access to current, popular materials and programs.
Strategies:
- Collect materials to meet public demand, balanced with other community needs for library materials.
- Look for opportunities to partner with other organizations to present programs of current interest.
- Provide displays and exhibits on topics of current interest.
- Look for increased efficiencies in reshelving materials.
Information
We answer questions, assist with research, help with the evaluation of information, and expose the public to a broad range of alternative sources.
Goal 4 - Provide dependable and reliable information.
Strategies:
1. Provide quality reference service and advice in selecting materials through a variety of channels.
2. Provide instruction in using and evaluating information resources.
3. Survey selected areas of the collection for currency each year.
4. Develop electronic resources and websites to provide useful information
5. Support electronic delivery of services remotely and in-house, in collaboration with OWLS & OWLSnet where feasible.
6. Implement appropriate interactive and social technologies (Library 2.0).
7. Implement technology standards for digitization.
Building Community
We are a gathering place to share interests and enjoy learning. We celebrate culture and knowledge and honor differences. We provide information about our community and preserve local history.
Goal 5 - Serve as a community gathering place.
Strategies:
1. Provide meeting spaces for local groups and organizations.
2. Work to provide a safe and welcoming library environment for the entire community.
3. Work with downtown neighbors to promote clean, safe and friendly neighborhood environment.
Goal 6 - Provide local information, local history, and cultural diversity resources.
Strategies:
1. Provide programs and services relating to local history and cultural diversity.
2. Work cooperatively with other local organizations to strengthen the community.
3. Develop and provide local information resources, databases, indices, and documents.
Operational Issues
We maintain resources necessary to meet the community’s library service needs and accomplish our mission and roles, including:
Goal 7 - Provide an adequate number of well-trained staff and volunteers.
Strategies:
1. Annually review the plan with the Library Board and the staff.
2. Annually review staff objectives to reflect service demands and available resources.
3. Hire high-quality staff with skills in languages and technology, and provide them with adequate compensation commensurate with other libraries and other City employees.
4. Provide the staff with training opportunities which promote skills development, excellent customer service and fulfillment of the library’s mission.
5. Annually establish required training curriculum for all staff
6. Provide adequate accessible technological tools for staff training and communications.
7. Respect the value of each staff member, promote teamwork and communication, and provide good management and supervision.
8. Seek opportunities to promote collaboration and share information between sections, including well-defined task forces
9. Annually review tasks and jobs that could be performed by volunteers; maintain volunteer job descriptions; assess additional adult programming and greeter functions, volunteers or Foundation funding to provide volunteer coordination
Goal 8 – Align library services with community needs.
Strategies:
1. Annually review library service needs and set objectives based on statistics, surveys, and user feedback.
2. Develop marketing plan to make community aware of library services.
3. Actively communicate the variety and value of library services as well as library support needs to the community.
4. Review fees for services where appropriate.
5. Consider appropriate service reductions if revenue does not support services; consider closing at 8 PM year-round unless more funding for staff is available.
Goal 9 - Ensure adequate financial resources to meet community library service needs.
Strategies:
1. Develop budgets based on goals and annual objectives.
2. Annually review staff budget and training allocations to meet goals, objectives, and section needs.
3. Create fund development plan.
4. Use financial support from the Library Foundation and FOAL to supplement the operating budget and provide support for fundraising.
5. Investigate and develop alternative revenue streams and fund sources. Seek additional grant funding as appropriate.
6. Work with OWLS to achieve 100% reimbursement for serving county residents.
7. Encourage library supporters to speak up at budget time.
Goal 10 - Use appropriate technology to provide service, assist staff, and increase efficiency.
Strategies:
1. Utilize staff Intranet, email and interactive software for effective communications.
2. Review materials security systems, including options for automating check-out, check-in and sorting operations.
3. Study RFID & implement if feasible for cost-saving and improved service.
4. Study automated telephone answering system/directory.
5. Use built-in video projectors & other equipment in program areas to simplify media programming.
Goal 11 - Ensure clean, safe, well-maintained and easily accessible facilities.
Strategies:
1. By 2008, study need for additional facilities, including options for branches, expansion and relocation.
2. Be aware of opportunities for creating a joint library or library district for improved service, support and efficiencies.
3. Work jointly with City of Appleton Facilities Management Department to ensure that facilities are well-maintained, including budgeting capital expenditures.
4. Work to provide adequate parking for library users.
5. Work to expand monitor hours of coverage
6. Improve communications with Police
7. Annually review Rules of Conduct and Security Policy with Board & all staff and conduct staff security training.
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