Community Referral and Consumer Information
Goal 1. The District will increase staff awareness and training to improve community referral services.
Objectives:
A. The District will improve the effectiveness of its community referral service.
Action:
a.1 FY2001 - The reference staff will receive in-depth, ongoing training regarding community services.
a.2 FY2001 - The staff will devise and recommend means to provide more privacy for patron inquiries.
B. The District will improve its materials and services related to referral.
Action:
a.1 FY2001 - The Non-Profit Services Librarian will work with area non-profit organizations to enhance social service networking.
a.2 FY2002 - The District contact local cultural links and organizations that can provide contacts for translators and special services for ethnic culture groups.
Goal 2. The Library will expand and promote consumer information through a variety of formats available from multiple access points.
Objectives:
A. The Reference staff will strive to keep information current and readily available for public use.
Action:
a.1 FY2001 - The staff will create pointers to consumer information sites from the Library District homepages.
a.2 FY2001 - The staff will develop pointers to pages created by the State of Missouri to bring consumer information resources together.
a.3 FY2001- The District will monitor, and as needed expand its collection of consumer information materials.
B. The Library District will market consumer information services though effective, inexpensive means.
Action:
a.1 FY2002 - The District will develop bookmarks listing sample resources to be given out at multiple locations, within and external to library facilities.
a.2 FY2002 - The District will increase its marketing of consumer information services through news releases and related media stories.
a.2 FY2002 - The District will develop and make public presentations on consumer information services.
Lifelong Learning
Goal 1. The District will provide access to lifelong learning resources.
Objectives:
A. The District will evaluate roles in Life Long Learning and helping patrons prepare for life changes.
Action:
a.1 Continuous - Through existing resources and structures, the District will respond to public need for information on life changes, career development, retirement, and self-directed learning.
B. The District will maintain a strong non-fiction collection within the generalmaterials available to its patrons.
Action:
a.1 FY2001 - The Collection Development Librarian and the Collection Development Team will begin to identify areas that need annual updating, and develop a calendar of regular review in accordance with those needs.
Information Literacy
Goal 1. The District will provide the necessary services to enable patrons to use all resources, including electronic formats.
Objectives:
A. The District will provide countywide access to Information Literacy resources and services for all age groups.
Action:
a.1 FY2001 - All service areas will actively pursue and create opportunities to promote library services, e.g. when staff presents specific information to
any group, they will promote all library services at the same time.
a.2 FY2002 - The District, will evaluate current activities in information literacy, and identify unmet needs, and develop strategies to address those needs.
B. The Information Resources Instruction Team( InfoRIT), formerly known as the Bibliographic Instruction Committee will redefine the representation, roles and responsibilities of its members to encompass all library services , including, but not limited to Children's, Young Adult, Adult, Outreach, and Information Resources Management areas.
Action:
a.1 FY2001 - IRIT will develop a plan to address its function and composition to include all service areas.
a.2 FY2002 - IRIT will devise methods of identifying specific user groupsand needs.
a.3 FY2002 - IRIT will coordinate programs addressing identified needs.
Goal 2. The District will develop and maintain partnerships with public and private agencies that promote and / or enable information literacy.
Objectives:
A. IRIT will identify and partner with agencies that can help promote Information Literacy services and resources.
Action:
a.1 FY2002 - The District staff will continue to be involved in community organizations and events.
a.2 FY2002 - IRIT will provide, when practical, off-site instruction on usinglibrary resources.
B. The District will identify agencies that promote and enable Information Literacy in order to provide special referral information to patrons.
Action:
a.1 FY2002 - Staff will identify and submit web links to the Web Team for evaluation and update to the web page.
Business and Public Management Services
Goal 1. The Library will provide expert personal assistance, electronic and print resources, and services of interest to the business community, to investors, to entrepreneurs, or to those who are dealing with a changing work environment. Library users will be able to access a significant amount of information without visiting the library by using telephone, fax, or electronic means.
Objective:
A. Business and Public Management Services will recommend the acquisition of reference business materials to all branches.
Action:
a.1 FY2001 - Business and Public Management Services will present in-house instruction on online business products.
a.2 FY2001 - Develop list of general business resources appropriate to all branch collections.
B. Develop partnerships with other library staff
Goal 2. The Library will offer special programs on business and may offer facilities for business educational meetings, and may create resources or locate and organize related information on a web page.
Objective:
A. The District will expand the range of business topics presented in seminars.
Action:
a.1 Continuous - Continue sponsorship of "How To Start and Manage Your Own Business seminars.
a.2 Continuous - Co-sponsor, with UM Extension and Outreach Center, a program on E-Commerce.
a.3 Continuous - Explore potential of specialized small business programs.
a.4 FY2001 - Write six small business question and answer articles for the St. Charles Chamber newsletter, in cooperation with the Small Business Resource Committee.
Goal 3. The Library will provide expert business assistance, electronic and print resources, and services of interest to businesses and public agencies.
Objective:
A. The Business and Public Management Services area will develop a new internet web page that is descriptive of the business / public management resources and materials available to library customers, including either those owned by the District and those that are available from outside organizations
Action:
a.1 FY2001 - With the cooperation of the Children's Services and Marketing Department, revise and update business and public management web page.
a.2 FY2001 - Bring online a new version of Good Libraries...Good Business
Goal 4. The Library will offer special programs on public management and may create resources or locate and organize related information on a web page.
Objective:
A. Business and Public Management Services will work jointly with the Government Documents and GIS Information Resource Manager to develop cooperative programs.
Action:
a.1 FY2001 - Explore and develop programs using joint resources, e.g. online products from Business and Public Management Services and developing prospect lists using Geographic Information Services.
a.2 FY2001 - Emphasize the availability of research services to public managers.
Goal 5. Business and Public Management Services will form alliances with community organizations to increase service levels and public knowledge of library services.
Objective:
A. Business and Public Management Services will work jointly with various business, governmental, and economic agencies.
Action:
a.1 FY2001 - Work as an extension counselor with assignment at the Business Information Center at EDC.
a.2 FY2001 - Participate in the activities of the St. Peters Chamber of Commerce Small Business and Retail Committee, and the St. Charles Chamber's Economic Development Committee.
a.3 FY2001 - In cooperation with the St. Charles County Community College, and UMSL, continue assistance on establishing the Winghaven Center.
Government Documents / Geographic Information Services
Goal 1. The Library will continually provide and improve access to governmental information to library patrons and residents of the 9th Congressional District.
Objective:
A. The Library will continue to provide access to a wide selection of information about and from federal, state of Missouri, and local government departments, in a variety of formats.
Action:
a.1 Continuous - Seek partnerships and other forms of cooperation with local governments, institutions businesses and interest groups.
a.2 FY2001 and Continuing - Develop close cooperation with Business and Public Management Services in order to provide excellent and comprehensive library services.
Goal 2. The Library will expand GIS services to various users.
Objective:
A. GIS will be available to those interested in community marketing and analysis, from the business community, government agencies, non-profit organizations, whether residents of St. Charles County or from outside its limits.
Action:
a.1 Continuous - Broaden Government Information and GIS services by offering at least once a month classes, seminars, and other forms of publicity to a variety of interest groups, and to the public.
a.2 Continuous - Actively participate in all GIS activities within the St. Louis MSA by arranging meetings on a quarterly basis with local government agencies and other parties interested in GIS.
Local History and Genealogy
Goal 1. Meet patron needs for guidance, resources and materials for the study of local history and genealogy.
Objective:
A. In order to serve an expanding population base and an increased interest in family and local history, the District will expand its collection of resources and materials, in all formats, for local historical and genealogical research.
Action:
a.1 FY2000 - historical and genealogical societies throughout Missouri will becontacted via USGenWeb and e-mail. Information obtained from these organizations will be used to order all available materials on Missouri county history and genealogy.
a.2 FY2000-FY2003 - The District will obtain commercially produced online resources for local historians and genealogists, as they become available. These resources will be accessible at all branches throughout the District.
a.3. FY2003 - the Local History Collection will contain the remaining 556 rolls of the "Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Union Soldiers Who Served in Organizations From the State of Missouri."
a.4 FY2003 - the Local History Collection will acquire the 1930 United States Census Records (scheduled for release in 2002).
Goal 2. Expand public access to The Bizelli-Fleming Local History Collection.
Objective:
A. District will furnish additional modes and methods of access, in a variety of formats, in order to facilitate the use of resources available in the Bizelli-Fleming Local History Collections, improving access throughout the Library District and the county.
Action:
a.1 FY2000 - The Local History staff will develop web-based and printed research aids for specific ethnic and minority researchers.
a.2. FY2001 - computer access to online local history and genealogy databases will be made available in the Bizelli-Fleming Local History Department.a.3 FY2001 - in house training on online genealogy and local history resources will be made available to KL staff and other interested District employees.
a.4 FY2001 - additional Internet classes will be offered to the public dealing with specific areas of genealogical research and resources available on line.
a.5 FY2001-FY2003, the Local History staff will take advantage of continuing education opportunities for historians and genealogists.
Goal 3. The District will enhance electronic access of local history and genealogical materials and information.
Objective:
A. The District will explore and implement the conversion of existing materials into online resources.
Action:
a.1 FY2000-FY2001 - the Local History staff, with the assistance of the District's Information Technology staff, will evaluate and purchase equipment for digital imaging. The staff will select materials to be scanned, plan and develop an imaging project, and make the indexed images available on the library's web home page.
a.2 FY2001 - the Local History staff, with IT assistance, will begin the conversion of the Newspaper Index to a web-based format, able to be shared with other library branches, agencies, and individuals via the Internet.
Goal 4. The District will foster partnerships with local agencies.
Objective:
A. The District will strive to foster communications between historical and genealogical agencies with St. Charles County to facilitate the sharing of knowledge and resources, and the development of cooperative projects.
Action:
a.1 FY2000 - the Local History Staff will contact St. Charles County historical and genealogical agencies to compile a web-based and printed publication of agencies contact people and resources throughout the county.
a.2 FY2001- the Local History staff will contact St. Charles County historical and genealogical societies to determine interest in developing web pages to be linked to the District's Local History and Genealogy web page.
Not-For-Profit Services
Goal 1. The District will identify, evaluate and, as feasible, provide comprehensive services to the non-profit community
Objectives:
A. The District will identify and as feasible, provide present topical programming.
Action:
a.1 Continuous - Non-profit services to assess needs, and network with local organizations to arrange educational programs for non-profit boards,staff, and volunteers.
a. 2 FY2002 - Expand cooperative educational programs with the Metropolitan Association for Philanthropy (MAP) including Meet the Donor, and Fundraising Fundamental sessions.
B. The Non-Profit Services Librarian will provide direct counseling to target leaders, and volunteers.
Action:
a.1 Continuous - Conduct tours of non-profit collection and resources.
a.2 Continuous - Individual appointments for topic specific or general counseling of those interested in starting or improving a non-profit charitable organization.
C. Non-Profit Services will provide access to print and electronic information dealing with the services, organization, and maintenance of non-profit enterprises.
Action:
a.1 Continuous - Continue collection development of owned or shared resources.
a.2 Continuous - Maintain state-wide "Community Connections" website of contact and descriptive non-profit data.
a.3 Continuous - Research, identify and expand linkages, content, and supporting information for Non-Profit Services web site.
Goal 2. The Non-Profit Services area will network within the community to promote and improve informational services.
Objectives:
A. Non-Profit Services develop and expand its linkages with community organizations, and agencies and specialists in non-profit support.
Action:
a.1 Continuous - Support and expand the District's relationship with MAP.
a.2 Continuous - Participate in local Development Roundtable with local non-profit fundraising and development staff.
a.3 Continuous - Organizational involvement including civic organizations, Missouri Association for Social Welfare, Community Council, etc.
Current Topics and Titles
Goal 1. The District will increase awareness and knowledge of current titles and topics for its potential users.
Objectives:
A. The District will provide the public with access to current titles in appropriate formats and quantities in a timely manner.
Action:
a.1 Continuous - Provide high demand items and information quickly.
a.2 FY2001 - Explore systematic mechanisms to consider patron recommendations for purchases.
a.3 FY2002 - Examine and assess the need for foreign language material.
a.4 FY2002 - Speed up ILL / Direct requests (St. Louis County) and expand linkages with other sources.
B. The District will provide reliable, cutting edge technology, equipment, software and resources for it customers to access current titles and topics.
Action:
a.1 Continuous - Increase and improve internet access through increasing the dependability of equipment; keeping equipment and software up-to-date; and keeping staff informed of access and printing procedures.
a.2 Continuous - The District will evaluate new technology, e.g. e-books and DVD, and will assess different formats of information as access and demand indicates.
a.3 FY2002 - Investigate the need, feasibility, and justification for establishing word processing station at selected sites, properly staffed and with up-to-date equipment.
a.4 FY2002 - Assess the need for providing and maintaining capabilities for listening to, and viewing multimedia technology in the branches.
C. The Library will provide library related programs to meet the public's demand for current information, education, and recreation for people of all ages.
Action:
a.1 Continuous - continue existing programming with linkages in the community for sponsored programs.
a.2 FY2001 - Continue, increasing if demand warrants, expanded schedule of book talks and discussions, including parent-child groups and adult book discussions.
a.3 FY2001 - Consider Book Shows and Topical programming, such as Special Needs Collection Show, or Gardening Collection Show, etc. Dependent on Friends funding.
a.4 FY2003 - Continue outreach services to the homebound and to other appropriate groups. Consider staffing assignments toward establishing Outreach oversight by a part time paraprofessional who only deals with outreach services.
D. The Library will emphasize reader's advisory service for all age levels to expand the realm of readers' interests and needs by developing and promoting a Reader's Advisory Team (RAT).
Action:
a.1 FY2001 - Develop and an-going training program for public service staff to keep current on Reader's Advisory tools.
i. Create a RA group, consisting of at least one public service staff member from each branch to share ideas for advisory and in-house book talks.
ii. Encourage staff to subscribe to RA listserves (Fiction_L etc.) or start an in-house Reader's Advisory listserve to trade RA queries and ideas.
iii. Establish linkages with community book clubs.
a.2 FY2001 - Create and maintain a Reader's Advisory site linked to the District's home page that has bibliographies created by the library staff and links to outside RA sites, e.g. What Do I Read Next; What's Next; etc.
a.3 FY2002 - Cross train and share reader's advisory techniques among adult and children's staff, so that uniform advisory services are available in all branches regardless of the availability of specialized children's services or adult services staff.
General Information
Goal 1. The residents and taxpayers of St. Charles County will have useful information in an easily accessible format, accessible both within the library and from external sites.
Objective:
A. Provide hardware and software that accesses information quickly and supports changing software interfaces.
Action:
a.1 Ongoing - Monitor trends in technology, hardware, and software, and implement technological change as needed.
a.2 FY2002 - Evaluate other libraries and service providers to determine how, where, why, and what services should be considered.
a.3 Continuous - The Telecommunications and Technology plan will be reviewed and modified regularly to reflect strategies to meet information needs.
B. The Library District will, within limits imposed by vendor licensing and distribution rights, broaden availability of library resources to all library cardholders regardless of their point of access.
Action:
a.1 FY2002 - Evaluate service providers to determine how access could be improved, and initiate negotiations to secure usage rights.
a.2 FY2003 - Implement verification of status process independent of the Westplex Information Network.
Goal 2. The District will have a trained and knowledgeable staff to guide effective public use of all materials.
Objectives:
A. The District will provide regular, comprehensive, hands-on training for reference staff on existing products, and on new products, as they become available.
Action:
a.1 FY2001 - Determine which products require more training for effective use.
a.2 FY2002 - Have trained personnel from staff or outside organizations present training. Sales personnel for particular products may not be effective since they are usually not well versed in specific use of the product.
a.3 FY2003 - Determine guideposts for selection and use of all forms of access, including Web-interactive, distance learning, and electronic retrieval.
B. Ongoing topical training for the public will be done on using internet resources, and specific products available via electronic access.
Action:
a.1 Ongoing - Develop schedules and involve instructors who want to teach, and have empathy for the age group toward which the program is targeted.
Goal 3. The Library District will actively search for, evaluate, and acquire materials or resources that fill patron needs.
Objectives:
A. The District will assure that its collection includes new, more effective materials that meet patron needs, as they become available.
Action:
a.1 FY2001 - Electronically survey customer satisfaction.
a.2 FY2002 - Develop instruments that determine the needs and desires of all residents of the community, not just current library users.
a.3 FY2003 - Implement results of the needs analysis.
B. All products, especially electronic resources, will be systematically evaluated for accuracy, efficacy and ease of use.
Action:
a.1 FY2002 - Develop instruments that evaluate all library products, especially those electronically based.
a.2 FY2003 - Implement results of analysis.
a.3 FY2003 - Products will be evaluated as to their suitability for external access.
Goal 4. The District will identify, evaluate and, as feasible, provide current electronic resources.
Objective:
B. The District will continue to develop and maintain library web pages.
Action:
a.1 FY2001 - The Web Committee will devise standards and guidelines for District Web Pages.
a.2 FY2002 - The Web Committee will assist Children's Services and Marketing to devise and maintain a Children's web page.
a.3 FY2002 - The Web Committee will coordinate making all internet classes available through the District's web pages.
Goal 5. The Library District will actively support the LISTEN2000 system.
Objective:
A. LISTEN2000 will be evaluated and upgraded as technology becomes available.
Action:
a.1 Ongoing- Technological trends will be constantly monitored, and applied as feasible to LISTEN2000.
a.2 Ongoing - Provide staff training to increase the effective use of LISTEN2000 and its immense capability.
Facilities Planning
Goal 1. The District will, as funding and technology permits, expand facilities to meet increased population growth and to provide adequate public service space.
Objectives:
A. The District will increase square footage at the Boone's Trail Branch by FY2001.
Action:
a.1 FY2000 - Finalize land acquisition.
a.2 FY2000-2001 - Architectural design and construction bids within three months of acquiring land.
a.3 FY2001 - Complete construction of Boone's Trail
a.4 FY2001 - Purchase additional equipment and furnishings prior to relocating into the new facility.
B. The District will continue negotiating for participation in the Winghaven project to be completed by 2002.
Action:
a.1 FY2001 - Complete negotiation and final contracts by December 2000.
a.2 FY2001 - Building design and SCCCLD area to be defined by June, 2001
a.3 FY2002 - Collection development complete by June 2002.
a.4 FY2002 - Equipment and furnishings to be purchased and installed.
C. The District will expand the Middendorf-Kredell Branch to approximately 30,000 square feet by FY2005.
Action:
a.1 FY2003 - Complete land acquisition as needed, architectural design and construction bids to be let by June 30, 2003.
a.2 FY2004 - Complete construction.
a.3 FY2004 - Equipment and furnishings to be purchased and installed by July 1, 2004.
D. The District will evaluate and / or expand facilities for support services by FY2002.
Action:
a.1 FY2002 - Move storage area out of the McClay Branch, freeing area for public use.
a.2 FY2001 - Provide additional area for administrative staff.
a.3 FY2001 - Provide an area for Friends storage, if possible.
E. The District will continue to evaluate expansion possibilities at the Spencer Road and Kathryn Linnemann Branches and establish guidelines and timetables for facilities expansion by FY2005.
Action:
a.1 FY2004 - Evaluate physical space needs at the Kathryn Linnemann branch.
a.2. FY2005 - Establish expansion timetable for the Linnemann Branch with completion in FY2006.
a.3 FY2005 - Evaluate physical space needs at the Spencer Road branch.
a.4 FY2006 - Establish expansion timetable for the Spencer Road branch with completion in FY2008.
F. The District will establish and / or expand points of service as demand is determined and availability or opportunities allow.
Action:
a.1 The District will monitor the county's demographic distribution and population changes on a yearly basis to determine needs for change.
a. The Director will review annual demographic reports.
b. The District will utilize information from district databases, in-house surveys and other available reporting tools to assist in this determination.
c. The Director will report any significant demographic and population changes to the Board and staff, along with recommendations for service responses to such changes.
a.2 The District will evaluate possible land acquisitions beyond a four-mile driving distance between existing branches by FY2005.
a. Evaluate the following areas for possible land purchases. Any additional buildings would be dependent on a tax increase
i. Weldon Spring area (contingent on Winghaven Development)
ii. area of Highways N and Z
iii. western St. Charles County, north of I-70
a.3 The District will adjust and / or amend its facility timetable as necessary based on the annual review of demographic changes and service needs.
Goal 2. The District will evaluate all aspects of existing facilities to improve physical appearance, customer comfort, accessibility and safety, and efficient maintenance.
Objectives:
A. Evaluate each existing regional facility as to current status during FY2001 and establish a schedule for improvements and renovations during FY2002.
Action:
a.1 Evaluation should include an assessment of expanded seating areas for customer comfort, issues about customer privacy, noise abatement, HVAC improvements, lighting, interior decoration, signage, meeting room space, , marketing appearance and staff and office areas, physical accommodations for technology, and compliance with ADA standards.
a.2 Develop a schedule for routine maintenance of facilities, to include periodic projects such as window washing, carpet cleaning, etc., as well as special maintenance such as repainting and carpet replacement.
a.3 Determine what facility improvements and renovations are needed, and during FY2001,establish a schedule during FY2002.
B. Evaluate each existing non-regional facility as to current status during FY2002 and establish a schedule for improvements and renovations during FY2003.
Action:
a.1 Evaluation should include an assessment of expanded seating areas for customer comfort, issues about customer privacy, noise abatement, HVAC improvements, lighting, interior decoration, signage, meeting room space, , marketing appearance and staff and office areas, physical accommodations for technology, and compliance with ADA standards.
a.2 Develop a schedule for routine maintenance of facilities, to include periodic projects such as window washing, carpet cleaning, etc., as well as special maintenance such as repainting and carpet replacement.
a.3 Determine what facility improvements and renovations are needed, and during FY2001,establish a schedule during FY2003.
C. Implement facility improvements and renovations by FY2005.
Training and Staffing
Goal 1. The Library District will assess the job satisfaction and turn over rate of staff, to develop a stable, quality workforce.
Objectives:
A. Determine staff satisfaction with working conditions through surveys to include working hours (full time vs. part time) work schedules, and benefits (medical coverage, and annual,sick, and holiday leaves).
Action:
a.1 FY2000 - Human resources, with assistance from the Training and Staffing Team, will develop a survey form to evaluate the critical areas, distribute the form, and tabulate results by July, 2000.
a.2 FY2001 - Based on the results of the survey, Human resources will make recommendations for action.
B. Determine the rate and reason for turnover of the District staff through regular reporting and exit surveys
Action:
a.1 FY2001 - Human Resources, with the assistance of Training and Staffing, will develop an exit form. HR will establish and implement a procedure for distributing and collecting the form, and will make recommendations for adjustments and changes based on the analysis of exit forms.
C. Examine sick leave and recognition for non-use of sick leave policies and consider other options -- counting sick live toward work hours for retirement purpose, sick leave banking, etc., for FY2002.
Goal 2. The Library District will provide a pay schedule and job descriptions that are consistent with job levels and responsibilities and provide compensation at a fair market rate within budgetary constraints.
Objectives:
A. Conduct on-going market surveys to establish a fair compensation rate for each salary track. Surveys will be conducted annually and recommendations will be made as needed.
Action:
a.1 Ongoing - Monitor equivalent salaries at all levels, and make recommendations reflecting market forces whenever data indicates discrepancies or disparities which potentially effect maintaining quality staff or budgetary controls.
Goal 3. The Library District will continue to develop efficient and effective methods for communicating with staff within branches / departments, and throughout the system.
Objectives:
A. Establish a focus group to meet periodically to review and make recommendations for feedback from branch staff to General Administration, and from GA to branch staff, to include such areas as marketing information, personnel issues, business office and supply information and reference and children's services.
Action:
a.1 FY2001 - Establish a focus group to make recommendations for feedback systems. The focus group will meet periodically throughout the year, to review the effectiveness of current systems, including the Grapevine, Stafftalk, and Reftalk and other distribution lists.
a.2 Rotate staff members serving on the focus group annually, meeting once or twice, more frequently if needed, a year.
B. Create a directory of staff and Board members, providing a photo and basic job information, on-line; and in continue distribution of current print staff rosters, address, and e-mail information.
Action:
a.1 FY2001 - Make directory available for staff and Board use only to preserve the privacy of all parties.
a.2 Human Resources will work with the Information Technology Department to create appropriate databases.
a.3 The Human Resources Coordinator, and the Volunteer Resources and Staff Training Specialist will coordinate taking photos of current and new staff and Board members, and will keep the Directory updated, based on membership changes.
C. Create, for FY2001, with the assistance all branches, departments, and staff, an internal website to make information available to staff, including current benefit information, salary scales, internal forms such as benefit forms, Incident Reports, Personnel Action Forms; and a monthly District-wide meeting schedule.
Goal 4. The Library District will recognize staff performance, contributions, and achievements through use of an effective Recognition Program.
Objectives:
A. FY2000 - Revise the District Dollar program to provide non-monetary methods of recognizing staff during Co-worker Appreciation Month.
B. FY2001 - Review the current performance evaluation system and implement a new system that is supported by the District, and that provides appropriate feedback to staff, supervisors, and managers.
Action:
a.1 Consider using an outside consultant such as Human Resources Services to provide input and training, as needed.
a.2 Review policies, procedures, and forms used by other public entities in performance reviews.
C. Review the current policy on Recognition, and develop a program to acknowledge outstanding contributions and achievements by FY2005.
Action:
a.1 Work with the Training and Staffing Team to research methods that are acceptable to staff, and reasonable within District plans and budget.
a.2 Review polices and methods used by other public organizations.
Goal 5. The Library District will provide training that maintains quality and consistency in services and procedures from branch to branch, on all shifts, and on weekends.
Objectives:
A. Provide current and regularly updated procedural manuals for circulation, reference and pages by FY2005.
Action:
a.1 The Staff Training and Volunteer Resources Specialist will gather information with the assistance of staff at all levels, and coordinate producing manuals.a.2 The Staff Training and Volunteer Resources Specialist will schedule annual update meetings to insure that the manuals are current with procedures.
B. Establish and implement on-going training classes for all staff on quality service and customer service issues, emphasizing both internal and external customers.
Action:
a.1 Begin classes in basic customer service skills in FY2001.
a.2 Develop other classes to meet District needs and goals implementing them as needed by FY2005.
C. Provide technical training for use of e-mail, listserves, and word processing in FY2001.
D. Set up a training facility, either a room, or a separate building to provide for continual, consistent staff training with electronic and application programming products.
Action:
a.1 FY2001 - Begin offering classes in the current Administrative Offices.a.1 FY2005 or earlier- Expand the facility as determined by District planning.
E. Review the Current Paraprofessional Training Program and consider alternatives for future paraprofessional classes, considering options to condense or shorten the training period.
Action:
a.1 FY2001 - The Human Resources Coordinator will work with the Curriculum Committee and interested staff to consider alternatives and options.
a.2 Ongoing - Establish an effective and efficient procedure for training one new paraprofessional at a time.
Library Partnerships and Linkages
Goal 1. The District will pursue in-service Training Partnerships.
Objectives:
A. Evaluate teleconferencing and web-based in-service training.
Action:
a.1 FY2001 - Make application for funds available from the State Library.
B. Use teleconferencing for paraprofessional training, allowing it to be marketed to other libraries.
Action:
a.1 FY2001 Contact other libraries regarding utilization of teleconferencing technology foraccessing the District's existing paraprofessional sequence.
Goal 2. The District will pursue Marketing Partnerships utilizing in-house tools external to the Children's Resources and Marketing Department, and making alliances with other organizations.
Objectives:
A. Link the LISTEN 2000 system with GIS / Governmental Information
Action:
a.1 FY2002 - Connect LISTEN 2000 to the GIS platform. Do ring studies to determine demographic distributions of library branch use.
B. Establish a Speakers Bureau.
Action:
a.1 FY2001 - Develop speakers bureau of library participants.
a.2 FY2002 - Develop canned powerpoint presentations on specific topics to be used by a variety of presenters.
C. Increase the quality of branch displays and in-library marketing.
Action:
a.1 FY2001 - Establish a marketing team to work with the Children's Resources and Marketing Department, with various branches represented.
a.2 FY2002 - Establish partnerships to assist branch managers in attractive marketing of displays.
D. Seek additional support from the Friends of the Library for marketing action.
Action:
a.1 FY2002 - Investigate partnering with local P.R. firms for promoting
Friends, Foundation, and District activities.
a.1 FY2002 - Advertising purchase for new services ala St. Louis Public Library.
a.2 FY2004 - Friends to sponsor speakers, perhaps with joint sponsors.
Goal 3. Increase Children's Services Partnerships
Objective:
A. Increase children's services participation with partnerships.
Action:
a.1 FY2001 - Increase in-school contacts with teachers and maintain those with school librarians.
a.2 FY2002 - Initiatives with Parents as Teachers; Family Services and similar organizations; Head Start.
Goal 4. Clarify Subject Specialization and external activities
Objectives:
A. Develop new descriptors for the classification, which will show dynamics attributes of work, i.e. doing things external to the library.
Action:
a.1 FY2000 - Redefine knowledge management and resource management responsibilities toward a refined class specification.
B. Increase partnerships between specialty services and other holders of expertise.
Action:
a.1 FY2001 - Establish partnerships with economic development agencies, service clubs, governmental entities, chambers of commerce.
a.2 FY2002 - Establish partnerships with health providers and the special needs population in the county.
a.3 FY2003 - Establish partnerships with individuals and organizations which can provide specific guidance to staff and customers regarding special needs and collections, i.e. automobile repair.
C. Increase partnerships for Local History and Genealogy
Action:
a.1 FY2002 - Increase cooperative use of volunteers for the Local History digitization projects.
a.2 FY2002 - Work cooperatively with the St. Charles Historical Society to develop new web-mounted products.
D. Broaden not-for-profit services.
Action:
a.1 FY2001 - Develop an adjunct area for non-profit services, stressing an external linkage such as partnering in health care, life choices, etc.
a.2 FY2004 - Develop career continuation support for aging Baby Boomers
Fundraising and Finance
Goal 1. The District and its affiliate organizations (Friends, Foundation) will broaden the revenue base by soliciting and administering public donations and gifts.
Objectives:
A. The District will obtain corporate and in individual donations.
Action:
a.1 FY2001 - Develop and implement policies to assure smooth handling of donations, donor recognition, and purposeful use.
a.2 FY2002 - Implement marketing campaigns, brochures, handouts, etc., to increase public awareness of donative opportunities.
a.3 FY2002 - Identify potential areas for sustained and programmatic sponsorships. Match areas with potential donors.
a.4 FY2003 - Increase direct solicitations for donor support.
B. The District will expand the number of sustained and programmatic sponsorships provided through donated funds.
Action:
a.1 Continuous- Draw on the expertise of staff and department heads to derive needs and expectations for external funding.
a.2 Continuous - Work with District staff toward acquiringsponsorships for Summer Reading Programs an other activities.
a.3 FY2002 - Acquire direct donations to assist with special projects in Local History, Business and Public Management, and Not-For-Profit Services.
Goal 2. The District will increase its financial benefit from affiliated organizations.
Objectives:
A. The St. Charles City-County Library Foundation will be established, and qualified as a 501(c)(3) organization, and will conduct at least three fund raising projects annually for District benefit.
Action:
a.1 FY2000 - Complete application and secure IRS Determination Letter.
a.2 FY2001 - Expand the Foundation Board to nine members and begin fundraising programs.
B. The Foundation, Non-Profit Services Librarian, and Library Staff will seek out and participate in multiple organization strategies as opportunities present themselves, and will work with other organizations to increase donated revenue.
Action:
a.1 FY2001 - Establish Countywide consortium of non-profit and governmental fundraisers, and devise cooperative programs.
a.1 FY2001 - Continue expansion of Non-Profit Services to forge alliances.
C. The Friends of the Library will continue as one of the District's major benefactors, and will be encouraged to develop sustaining revenue from accumulated assets.
Action:
a.1 FY2000 - Invest surplus cash in equities and interest bearing accounts with higher returns than simple savings account.
a.2 FY2001 - Develop and stage Board Training for Friends officers to promote greater long term planning, more global perspectives, and increased participation among Friends Members.
a.3 FY2001 - Establish an empowered investment committee within the Friends membership, or encourage the organization to create its own foundation to more effectively deal with and maximize return of accumulated cash.
Goal 3. The District will emphasize and actively seek grant funds from public and private sources.
Objectives:
A. The District will develop and utilize resources provided through the Missouri State Library to obtain funding for programs and activities.
Action:
a.1 FY2001 - The District Staff will participate in training sessions provided through the State Library to develop expert knowledge of funding and resources available.
a.1 Continuous - The Planning and Development Coordinator, working with District management will apply for, and administer grants to enhance services.
B. The District will identify and solicit program specific grants, capital allocations, and outright assistance from public entities and private foundations.
Action:
a.1 FY2001 - The staff and Non-Profit Service Librarian will participate in the National Association of Fund Raising Executives, the Missouri Association for Philanthropy, and local organizations to acquire and implement expert solicitations.
a2. FY2001 - The District will acquire appropriate data bases or rights to data bases to investigate external funding, and develop appropriate applications to those agencies.
Goal 4: The District will monitor the political environment at all levels and keep attuned to actions which may impact upon its tax-based revenue.
Objective:
A. The District monitor economic development initiatives such as TIF, Abatements, and Chapter 100 Industrial Revenue Bond issues, and will respond in accordance with Policy #G092.
Action:
a.1 Continuous - District Staff will serve on TIF Boards, in rotation with other taxing-bodies, to assuremunicipalities receive cogent input.
a.2 The staff will coordinate formation of alliances with other taxing bodies to maximize entitled revenues (e.g. support of the MCI-WorldCom Chapter 100 initiative provided each district receives its entitled tax equivalent through payments in lieu of taxes, or in direct contributions.
a.3 The District will encourage related groups (Friends, Foundation) to be more involved in presenting perspectives.
Collection Development
Goal 1. The District will provide a comprehensive, flexible, and useful collection using appropriate materials and formats to meet the informational needs of library patrons of all ages.
Objectives:
A. The District will provide a collection development policy that outlines, defines and describes the scope of the District's collections.
Action:
a.1 FY2002 - Review the current collection development policy, and make changes which will define the general purpose of the collection; outline and describe individual collection areas, i.e. format, size, etc.
a.2 Continuous - Evaluate holdings and adjust collections as needed.
B. The District will develop methods and mechanisms that will centralize collection management functions that insure input from branches.
Action:
a.1 FY2001 - Revise Class Specifications and engage the services of Collection Development Librarian (Implemented).
a.2 Continuous - Monitor the comprehensive evaluation of the existing collection, making recommendations to address specific needs.
a.3 FY2002 - Establish centralization procedures which will simplify acquisition, yet will allow flexibility and input from branches.
C. Provide catalog management to update catalog database of local holdings to comply with AACR2 and standard subject headings.
Action:
a.1 FY2001 - Create Class Specifications and engage the services of Catalog Management Librarian, and provide adequate personnel to oversee database compliance.
a.2 FY2001 - Develop and implementation plan to address ongoing maintenance, as well as retrospective cataloging review and upgrading.
a.3 FY2002 - Develop and maintain authority files for authors, series, subjects and cross-references.
D. Evaluate processes, including those outside of LIBRIS 2000, to make ordering and receiving more efficient.
Action:
a.1 Continuous - Examine resources that would enable the library to easily obtain materials from many sources.
a.2 FY2001- Provide means to share data between Technical Operations and public service staff (e.g. LIBRIS 2000, LISTEN 2000).
Goal 2. The District will identify, evaluate and, as feasible, provide current print and electronic resources.
Objectives:
A. The District will continually identify, evaluate, and as feasible, provide current electronic services and resources in a variety of formats.
Action:
a.1 Continuous - The collection will be evaluated for efficacy and efficiency, and responsive to informational needs.