Strategic Plan

STRATEGIC PLAN
ADA COMMUNITY LIBRARY
FY2016-FY2018

Library Mission:
Dreams, Ideas and Information
We are a comfortable place for the community to connect, create and be inspired.

Library Vision:
Our library is crucial to our community, connecting people with each other. Through programs and services we help patrons navigate the world of information in creative, innovative, and personal ways. Our library is a priceless resource.

Organizational Values:
Commitment to community service
Commitment to staff (working conditions, compensation, development)
Open, inclusive, and collaborative environment
Excellence and innovation

Library Focus Areas:
Commons (address the needs of people to meet and interact with others in their community)
Current Title and Topics (help to fulfill residents’ appetite for information about popular, cultural and social trends and their desire for satisfying recreational experiences)
Lifelong Learning (help address the desire for self-directed personal growth and development opportunities) with a focus on early childhood education experiences.

STRATEGIC GOAL #1 USE RESOURCES AND SPACE TO PROVIDE BEST POSSIBLE SERVICE AND TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY-WIDE GOALS

  1. Human Resources
    1. Staff training and duties allocation
      1. Public services staff complete public service sequence of alternative basic library education (ABLE) and youth services sequence of supplemental alternative basic education (SABLE) courses within two months of hire.
      2. Staff participate in at least one continuing education opportunity (such as WebJunction, online tutorials, special workshops or state/regional/national conferences) quarterly, and complete a brief follow-up regarding how their selected opportunity applies to their duties.
      3. Staff patron service areas such that patrons are greeted and helped within one minute.
      4. Work with colleges, YouthWorks!, IDoL experience works/AARP workers as appropriate.
      5. Within LYNX! Consortium, stress increased cooperation and actively seek opportunities to collaborate.
      6. Ensure staff develop and/or maintain skills to deliver quality all ages programs.
    2. Volunteer development
      1. Tap into volunteer community resources for expertise on special projects and programming such as book discussions, etc.
      2. Recognize volunteers, donors and trustees for their work.
  2. Access to Materials and Space Utilization
    1. Focus purchasing on popular materials, patron requested materials that have broad yet lasting appeal, and lifelong learning support. Weed all collections at least once every 2 years to keep materials current, relevant and to maintain collection size.
    2. Create pilot collection of items patrons would find useful such as maker or sewing materials. Monitor use and adjust collection size and offerings accordingly.
    3. Maximize shelf space and create visual appeal. Face out display where possible.
    4. Examine library service areas to analyze ease of use, access to materials and enhance visitor experience and comfort through access to materials and staff.
    5. Replace outdated/unattractive signs. Limit paper signage throughout library and consider visual appeal without visual pollution. Highlight special or seasonal collections on a periodic basis.
    6. Explore floating collections between branches to freshen up browsable offerings.
    7. Support expansion of LYNX! consortium, particularly Kuna, to ensure all Ada County access.
  3. Strengthen In-house Programming and Services
    1. Maintain quality programming for youth, incorporating early literacy skills (songs and music, rhyming, playing, writing) into all storytimes and supporting STEM/STEAM education at all levels.
    2. Expand programming for adults including more music, travel, etc. opportunities. Facilitate “sampling” and lifelong learning, senior stories.
    3. Support digital literacy education through programming and services, online, one-on-one and via labs.
    4. Maintain quality readers’ advisory services in person and online.
    5. Maintain tutoring services online and encourage in-house free tutoring.
    6. Explore new areas of programming/services by making better system-wide use of existing and new equipment.
    7. Explore programming to better reach teens.
    8. Consider ways to continually evaluate programming, collect and track data over time.
  4. Strengthen Outreach services
    1. Participate in outreach programs such as booktalking, Summer Reading promotion, Literacy in the Park and Jumpstart Kindergarten Registration at designated schools.
    2. Ensure staff scheduling allows for regular outreach services to area youth, parents and caregivers as well as adults by taking programs and promotional materials to local schools, preschools/daycares, Neighborhood Night Out events, continuing Gateway 21st Century Community Learning Center partnerships and working with schools and community groups to issue library cards.
    3. Investigate ways to serve homebound individuals.
  5. Procure supplemental funding to ensure effective services
    1. Continue to actively pursue grants that provide significant financial benefit and improve services to our community.
    2. Support branch Friends groups with the goal of each group becoming self-sufficient and self-sustaining. Support their fundraising efforts when possible and effective.
  6. Technological Resources (see Technology Plan addendum)

STRATEGIC GOAL #2 STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY AWARENESS / INVOLVEMENT

  1. Communication with community
    1. Create a community relations and marketing plan.
    2. Leverage word-of-mouth marketing.
    3. Participate in local community events to promote our presence e.g., Hawks games, Red Ribbon Rally, Week of the Young Child celebrations, Avimor Foothills Festival, Hidden Springs Yard Sale.
    4. Explore opportunities to provide informational brochures or displays in community venues, real estate offices, etc..
    5. Explore viability of sharing library information in HOA and other community newsletters (churches, schools, etc.).
    6. Submit regular articles or press releases to local media stressing teen, child or family activities or technological resources.
    7. Partner with other libraries and community groups, whenever possible, e.g., share cost of ad in Boise Valley Spotlight or Idaho Senior News.
    8. Submit regular library event information to news outlets and community calendars e.g., Idaho Statesman, Boise Weekly, Idaho Press Tribune, etc..
    9. Create Facebook event posts and share with media.
    10. Invite reporters and broadcasters to special events.
  2. Communication with our patrons
    1. Maintain “Opt-in e-newsletter” to go along with the monthly calendar to present information about upcoming events, new books, library changes, etc.
    2. Create and provide attractive promotional materials.
    3. Build relationships with patrons.
    4. Solicit patron ideas on improving services. Strive to better know the needs of our patrons e.g., one-on-one, adult programming advisory board, focus groups, survey of program attendees, and suggestion boxes. Then acknowledge and act on patron suggestions and requests.