The Bucks County Free Library 2009-2011 draft strategic plan was scheduled for public comment and discussion at the library board meeting Wednesday, May 21 at 5:30 p.m. at the Levittown Branch Library (7311 New Falls Road, Levittown, PA 19055). It was on the agenda for voting for approval at the library board meeting Tuesday, June 17 at 5:30 p.m. at the Samuel Pierce Branch Library in Perkasie (491 Arthur Avenue; Perkasie, PA 18944). The draft was approved, and what's found below is the final plan.

          The Bucks County Free Library includes seven branch libraries located in Bensalem, Doylestown, Langhorne, Levittown, Perkasie, Quakertown and Yardley-Lower Makefield. With a $10 million annual budget and about 240,000 registered borrowers, Bucks County branch libraries check out almost 2.4 million items each year.

          The library drafted its plan between October 2007 and April 2008 as part of an extensive federally funded grant project that included producing a strategic plan and training library staff throughout the county in library best practices. A committee of community members selected from throughout Bucks County worked with the library system to and identify how the library could best meet community needs and recommend final select strategic priorities.

          Because of a $36,000 Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant award, the library was able to hire nationally noted library consultant, June Garcia, to lead strategic planning. Other clients include prestigious and award winning libraries such as Baltimore County Public Library, the District of Columbia Public Library, the Las Vegas-Clark County Library, and the New York Public Library.

• Service Priorities
• Goals
• Objectives
• Activities
• Organizational Competencies

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Bucks County Free Library Service Priorities 2009-2011

May 7, 2008

 

The Bucks County Free Library board has approved, in concept, all the service priorities recommended by the Community Planning Committee. The service priorities are listed in order of target audience. Those listed first apply to all residents, and are followed by the service priorities based on age, in chronological order.

 

Visit a Comfortable Space: Physical and Virtual Spaces

Everyone will have safe, attractive and welcoming spaces to meet and interact with others or to sit quietly and read.

Create Young Readers: Early Literacy

Young children (age five and under) will have programs and services designed so that they will enter school ready to read, write and listen.

 

Stimulate Imagination: Reading , Viewing and Listening for Pleasure

Children (ages 6 - 11) and teens (age 12 and older) will have materials and programs that stimulate their imaginations and provide pleasurable reading, viewing and listening experiences. In addition, adults will have timely access to a variety of new and popular materials.

 

Satisfy Curiosity: Lifelong Learning and Succeed in School: Homework Help

Children and teens will have the books, media and electronic resources they need to satisfy their curiosity, explore topics of personal interest, and help them succeed in school. Adults, too, will have the resources they need to explore topics and personal interest and continue to learn throughout their lives.

 

Be an Informed Citizen: Local, National and World Affairs

Adults will have the information they need to support and promote democracy; to fulfill their civic responsibilities at the local, state and national levels; and to fully participate in community decision - making.

 

Understand How to Find, Evaluate and Use Information: Information Fluency

Adults will have convenient and timely access to services and programs that help them find, evaluate and use information effectively.

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Bucks County Free Library Goals and Objectives 2009-2011

May 7, 2008

 

Goals state the benefit that Bucks County residents (or a target population of those residents such as children, teens or adults) will receive because the Library provides a specific service response. At least three objectives support each goal and seek to inform the goal with more specific directives. Objectives are measurable, held against the following standards of success:

• The number of users who participate in or use various services.
• The percent of users who indicate on a survey that the Bucks County Free Library has met their needs. This opinion might be about the quality of service, the value of the service, the user’s satisfaction with the service, or the impact of the service.
• The number of units of service (items circulated, hits on a website, etc.)

The goals are listed in order of target audience. Those listed first apply to all residents, and are followed by the goals for audiences based on age, in chronological order. If two goals serve the same target audience, they are listed in alphabetical order by the service response.

1.  Everyone will have attractive, safe, and welcoming places to meet and interact with others or to sit quietly and read.  (Visit a Comfortable Place: Physical and Virtual Spaces)

1.1:      By FY2011, the attendance at library facilities will increase from 1,193,202 (FY2007) to 1,376,000.

1.2:      By FY2011, the number of registered borrowers will increase from 239,310 (FY2007) to 295,000.

1.3:      By FY 2011, the number of items checked out at library facilities will increase from 2,343,706 to 2,536,870.

1.4:      By FY2011, the number of hits on the library’s web site will increase from 697,278 (FY2006) to 1.1 million.

1.5:      By FY2011, 75% of web site users surveyed will rate the Library’s web site as informative and easy to use.

1.6:      Annually, people will have a minimum of 210,000 sessions of use on library - provided Internet access computers.

1.7:      By FY2011, the number of people who connect to the Internet via the Library’s Wi - Fi access will increase from 1,363 (FY 2006/2007) to 12,500.

1.8:      By FY2011, the number of community groups using the library as a meeting place will increase from 340 (FY2007) to 450.

1.9:      Annually, a minimum of 2000 meetings or programs sponsored by groups other than the library will be held in library facilities.

1.10:    By FY2011, 90% of library visitors will indicate that the library was an attractive, safe, and welcoming place.

2.  Young children (age five and under) will have programs and services designed so that they will enter school ready to read, write, and listen.  (Create Young Readers: Early Literacy)

2.1:      By FY2011, the circulation of easy books will increase from 317,279 (FY2007) to 360,000.

2.2:      By FY2011, a minimum of 12,000 young children (age five and under) will annually attend a program in the library.

2.3:      By FY2011, a minimum of 9,300 young children (age five and under) will annually attend a program at a non - library location.

2.4:      By FY2011, a minimum of 1,000 young children (age five and under) will participate in the Summer Reading Program annually.

2.5:      By FY2011, a minimum of 75% of parents and caregivers surveyed will indicate that the library’s services for young children are very good or excellent.

2.6:      By FY2011, the circulation of Library On the Go bags will increase from 111 (FY2007) to 600.

2.7:      By FY 2011, young children will use Early Learning Station computers 88,500 hours annually.

2.8:      Annually, a minimum of 2,500 people will attend an Early Literacy training session.

3.  Children (ages 6 – 11) will have materials and programs that stimulate their imaginations and provide pleasurable reading, viewing, and listening experiences. (Stimulate Imagination: Reading , Viewing, and Listening for Pleasure)

3.1:      By FY2011, the circulation of juvenile fiction will increase from 181,201 (FY2007) to 205,000.

3.2:      By FY2011, the circulation of juvenile media (CDs, videos, DVDs, etc) will increase from 190,557 (FY2007) to 205,000.

3.3:      Annually, a minimum of 25,700 children will attend a library sponsored or co - sponsored program designed to stimulate their imagination.

3.4:      By FY2011, a minimum of 6000 children will annually participate in the Summer Reading Program.

4.  Children and teens will have the books, media, and electronic resources they need to satisfy their curiosity, explore topics of personal interest, and help them succeed in school. (Satisfy Curiosity: Lifelong Learning and Succeed in School: Homework Help)

4.1:      By FY2011, the circulation of juvenile non - fiction will be at least 120,000 items per year. 

4.2:      Annually, a minimum of 4,000 parents and/or teachers will attend presentations made by library staff that describe and promote the library’s homework help services.

4.3:      By FY2011, a minimum of 75% students surveyed will indicate that the resources the library provided to help them with homework assignments were very good or excellent.

5.  Teens (age 12 and older) will have materials and programs that respond to their current interests and provide pleasurable reading, viewing, and listening experiences. (Stimulate Imagination:  Reading , Viewing, and Listening for Pleasure)

5.1:      By FY2011, the circulation of young adult materials (fiction and non - fiction) will increase from 62,455 (FY2007) to 73,000.

5.2:      By FY2011, a minimum of 75% of teens surveyed will indicate that they found something good to read, listen to, or view at the library.

5.3:      Annually, a minimum of 3,200 teens (ages 13 – 19) will attend a library sponsored or co - sponsored program.

5.4:      Annually, a minimum of 75% of teens attending a library sponsored or co - sponsored program will evaluate the program as very good or excellent.

5.5:      By FY2011, the number of teens participating in the Summer Reading Program will increase from 200 (FY2007) to 2100.

6. Adults will have the resources they need to explore topics of personal interest and continue to learn throughout their lives. (Satisfy Curiosity: Lifelong Learning and Learn to Read and Write: Adult, Teen and Family Literacy)

6.1:      Annually, the circulation of adult non - fiction will be at least 320,000.

6.2:      By FY2011, a minimum of 85% of adults surveyed who were looking for information or materials to explore a topic of personal interest will indicate the library’s collection was very good or excellent.

6.3:      By FY2011, a minimum of 75% of adults who attended a program at the library will evaluate the program as very good or excellent.

6.4       Annually, a minimum of 1,000 tutoring sessions will take place at the library.

6.5:      By FY 2011, the circulation of literacy materials for teens and adults (all formats) will increase from 465 (FY2007) to 2,000 items per year.

7. Adults will have timely access to a variety of new and popular materials. (Stimulate Imagination:  Reading , Viewing, and Listening for Pleasure)

 

7.1:      By FY2011, the circulation of adult fiction will increase from 602,857 (FY2007) to 620,000.

7.2:      By FY2011, the circulation of adult media (CDs, videos, DVDs etc) will increase from 546,885 (FY2007) to 566,000.

7.3:      By FY2011, the circulation of non - English language materials for adults (all formats) will be at least 2,000 items per year.

7.4:      By FY2011, a minimum of 85% of adults surveyed will indicate that they found something good to read, listen to, or view at the library.

7.5:      By FY2011, a minimum of 75% of adults surveyed will indicate that they received the material they reserved in a timely manner.

8. Adults will have the information they need to support and promote democracy, to fulfill their civic responsibilities at the local, state, and national levels, and to fully participate in community decision making.  (Be an Informed Citizen:  Local, National, and World Affairs)

8.1:      Annually, a minimum of 700 adults will attend programs related to local, national, or world affairs.

8.2:      By FY2011, a minimum of 75% of adults who attended a library sponsored or co - sponsored “Be an Informed Citizen” program will evaluate the program as very good or excellent.

8.3:      Annually, the number of hits on the library’s “Be an Informed Citizen” web site(s) will be at least 6,000.

8:4:      By FY2011, a minimum of 75% of people surveyed who used the “Be an Informed Citizen” website will indicate that it was very good or excellent.

9.  Adults will have convenient and timely access to services and programs that help them find, evaluate, and use information effectively.  (Understand How to Find, Evaluate, and Use Information: Information Fluency)

9.1:      Annually, a minimum of 1500 people will attend a library sponsored presentation on electronic resources or computer skills training.

9.2:      By FY2011, 75 % of people attending a library sponsored presentation on electronic resources or computer skills training will evaluate the class as very good or excellent.

9.3:      Annually, the number of hits on the library’s “Information Fluency” web site(s) will be at least 12,000.

9.4:      By FY2011, a minimum of 75% of people surveyed who used the “Information Fluency” website will indicate that it was very good or excellent.

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Bucks County Free Library Activities 2009-2011

May 7, 2008

 

Activities are the actions taken by staff to meet the goals in the library’s strategic plan. An activity may support several objectives under a single goal, or support more than one goal in a strategic plan.

The list of described activities is intended to provide enough detail to convey to the public the kind of activity that will be conducted, but not so much detail that an individual branch library would be restrained from tailoring the activity to specific local needs.

Teams of library staff and managers identified the following types of activities the library could offer to the community to effectively support the strategic plan:

 

• Merchandise print and nonprint collections at every opportunity, including items such as age-appropriate and user-friendly book displays, signage, book lists, library talks, and book talks
• Offer in-library and outreach programs for all ages that directly enhance, complement, and point to the library’s collections and resources
• Offer Reading Programs for all ages equally focusing on online and in-person participation 
• Identify partnerships, and co-sponsor in-library and outreach programs and services with other agencies
• Participate in outreach events, such as community festivals, church fairs, neighborhood fun days, school fairs, and health fairs
• Merchandise all technology and electronic services and resources, including in-building Wi-Fi access and use of My Account for borrower services
• Offer in-library and outreach Reader’s Advisory (recommended reading) resources and services for all ages in a variety of print and electronic formats
• Create user-friendly spaces for different purposes and age groups
• Promote library card registration in-library and offsite at every opportunity
• Redesign the web site
• Create and promote Informed Citizen and Information Fluency web pages and consider creating and promoting Early Learning, Homework Help, and Reader’s Advisory (recommended reading) web pages
• Conduct customer satisfaction surveys in-library, during outreach, and electronically at every opportunity, including at the point-of-use of specific materials and program attendance, as well as ongoing general satisfaction
• Develop and merchandise new collection of online e-books for children ages 0-5
• Create Early Learning resource areas, such as information displays or kiosks and incorporate Early Learning practices into all story times 

• Offer in-library and outreach homework resources orientations for children, teens, caregivers, and teachers, such as PTA/PTO groups, Back-to-School nights, and in-service days

• Provide opportunities, such as Teen Advisory Boards, for teens to actively participate in all library planning and decision-making that involves teen materials, services, and spaces
• Provide volunteer opportunities for teens that meet their developmental needs and benefit the library

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Bucks County Free Library Organizational Competencies

May 7, 2008

Bucks County Free Library’s service goals provide direct benefit to community residents. Organizational competencies are the result of library management’s analysis of what the library must do in order to improve our ability to provide the desired services articulated in the service goals.

These institutional capacities and efficiencies cover nine key areas:

·        External partnerships

·        Fundraising

·        Governance

·        Marketing and public relations

·        Measurement and evaluation

·        Operational efficiencies

·        Organizational structure

·        Policies

·        Training and staff development

 

Organizational Competency 1: External partnerships

 

The Bucks County Free Library will actively seek partnerships with organizations and institutions to enable the library to better serve its customers and achieve its service goals.

 

Initiative 1.1:  By March 1, 2009, develop and distribute criteria that will be used to assess partnerships and partnership opportunities.

 

Initiative 1.2:  By March 1, 2009, initiate a review and approval process for the establishment of new partnerships.

 

Initiative1.3:  Annually identify current partnerships and the obligations that the Library has as part of those partnerships.

 

 

Organizational Competency 2: Fundraising

 

The Bucks County Free Library will partner with the Board of Trustees and the Friends of the Library to support and enhance library services.

 

Initiative 2.1:  By December 1, 2009, determine the parameters within which any library fundraising would need to be conducted.

 

Initiative 2.2:  By June 1, 2010, develop a multi-year Fundraising Plan for operating and capital needs that address public funding needs as well as opportunities and strategies for private funding from sources such as grants and fundraising.

 

Initiative 2.3: By December 1, 2009, develop and implement a Friends of the Library policy.

 

Organizational Competency 3: Governance

 

The Board of Trustees of the Bucks County Free Library will operate in an efficient, effective, and transparent manner.

 

Initiative 3.1:  By January 1, 2009, revise Board Bylaws to support the mission of the Library and to provide framework within which the Board will exercise its legal responsibilities.

 

Initiative 3.2:  By January 1, 2009, review the Library Board committee structure and appoint committees, as needed, to support the accomplishment of the Library’s strategic plan.

 

Initiative 3.3: By December 1, 2009, develop and implement a Library Board recruitment and training plan.

 

Organizational Competency 4: Marketing and public relations

 

The Bucks County Free Library will promote library services through a variety of print, electronic and media opportunities.

 

Initiative 4.1:  By January 1, 2009, develop and distribute a Marketing Plan that will support the Library in its efforts to accomplish the goals in the Library’s strategic plan.

 

Initiative 4.2:  By June 1, 2009, determine which Library publications should be published in languages other than English.

 

Initiative 4.3:  By January 1, 2009, adopt a mission statement and/or tag line that reflect the Library’s service priorities.

 

Initiative 4.4:  By June 1, 2009, establish criteria that will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the Library’s marketing and/or public relations efforts.

 

Organizational Competency 5: Measurement and evaluation

 

            The Bucks County Free Library will incorporate measurement and evaluation into its operational practices.

 

Initiative 5.1:  By December 1, 2008, review process by which library use data is collected, compiled, and distributed, and revise process as necessary to provide relevant management data.

 

Initiative 5.2:  By January 1, 2009, develop methodology to regularly update Library Board on progress on all objectives included in the strategic plan.

 

Initiative 5.3:  By January 1, 2009, develop methodology to count the number of questions of various types asked by library users.

 

Initiative 5.4:  By December 31, 2009, review statistical report options available from the SIRSI system and develop procedures to regularly produce and distribute reports that will assist with collection management and enable the Library to monitor the objectives in the Library’s strategic plan.

 

Initiative 5.5:  By January 1, 2009, develop and implement procedures to regularly purge the patron and bibliographic databases.

 

Initiative 5.6: By December 1, 2009, develop and implement systems for in-person and electronic surveys of library users to regularly generate information that will assist the library in monitoring customer satisfaction.

 

Organizational Competency 6: Operational efficiencies

 

The Bucks County Free Library will utilize technologies and processes that improve access to information, enhance customer service, and maximize efficient service delivery.

 

Initiative 6.1:  By March 1, 2009, identify processes that have the potential for being accomplished in a more efficient manner and appoint taskforces to study those which have the greatest potential for improved public service or reducing the amount of staff time required to complete the task.

 

Initiative 6.2:  By June 1, 2009, completely redesign the Library’s web site to ensure that the content supports the Library’s service priorities and that the site is user-friendly.

 

Initiative 6.3:  Annually review and revise the materials budget allocations to ensure that they support the Library’s strategic plan.

 

Initiative 6.4:  By December 1, 2009, identify and implement ordering and purchasing policies and procedures that will result in materials being available for public use in a more timely manner.

 

Organizational Competency 7: Organizational Structure

 

            The Bucks County Free Library will establish and maintain an organizational structure that supports its service priorities.

 

Initiative 7.1:  By December 1, 2009 review Library committee structure and revise to support the Library’s service priorities.

 

Initiative 7.2:  By December 1, 2009, identify and implement methods that should be used to improve communication between and within Library branches, departments, etc.

 

Organizational Competency 8: Policies

 

The Bucks County Free Library will operate within a policy framework that reflects the organization’s values and promotes effective and efficient service delivery.

 

Initiative 8.1:  By January 1, 2009, complete a policy audit and evaluation of the Library’s public service policies.

 

Initiative 8.2:  By January 1, 2009, develop timeline and process to revise the Library’s public service policies to ensure that they support the Library’s values and goals.

 

Initiative 8.3:  By December 1, 2009, complete the revision or development of public service policies that supports the Library’s values and goals.

 

Organizational Competency 9: Training and Staff Development

 

            The Bucks County Free Library will recruit, train, and deploy staff that provide and support quality customer service for all library users.

 

Initiative 9.1: By October 1, 2009, adopt a Staff Development Plan that identifies the training that will be needed by staff to implement the approved service goals and effective activities.

 

Initiative 9.2:  By June 1, 2009 implement a new employee orientation program.

 

Initiative 9.3:  By January 1, 2010 comprehensively train public service staff to provide pro-active customer service that is less information desk dependent and more integrated with collection development and merchandizing.