North Liberty Community Library
Long Range Plan

Introduction

The purpose of the North Liberty Community Library’s Long Range Plan is to allow the library staff to assess the needs of our community so we are best able to continue providing quality service.

Types of material found in the North Liberty Community Library include books, magazines and newspapers, DVDs, CDs, computer software, Audio Books, downloadable audio and e books, cake pans and databases appropriate for all ages.

Other services to patrons offered by the Library include high speed Internet stations, wireless Internet access, Express Internet Stations (15 minute use), fax machine, copy machine, computers, printers, on-line catalog, online account access and the ability to place holds on material online, library web page, renewal of material by telephone and online and notification of overdue material and material being held for a patron via e-mail, online and telephone. 

The library also offers a variety of programs for all ages from infants to adults on a monthly basis.  The library also offers a book club and a Summer Reading Program.  In the summer of 2012 the library will offer a Saturday story time along with their regular Tuesday Tot Time and morning and evening Story Times.  The library also offers an after hours program for teens on Wednesdays from 8pm to 9pm.  

The library staff consists of Library Director, Assistant Library Director, two (2) Youth and Teen Services Librarians, Adult Services Librarian, Assistant Adult Services Librarian, Technology Services Librarian, Circulation Services Librarian, Assistant Librarian and as of July of 2012 a Library Page.  
  
The library has a devoted core of volunteers ranging from 5th grade students to junior and senior high students to adults. 

The Library Board of Trustees consists of six members with one of the members representing Johnson County and the remaining members representing the city of North Liberty.

The library has a Friends of the Library group which through their fund raising efforts provides services and programs for the library.

Part I: Service Goals and Objectives
 

• Continue to increase the size of the entire collection spanning a variety of materials 
• Analyze and update specific areas of the collection on a yearly basis
• Adult and Youth Services Departments will develop collection plans for their respective areas to be overseen by administration and administration will work on collection plans for the A/V areas of the collection
• Update Computer and Internet access (both hardware and software) that keeps pace with technological innovations and allows access to all members of our community
• Increase the number of Internet stations/laptops available to patrons with the expansion of the library and  include yearly increases in budget for this line item
• The technology Services Librarian will review annually with Administration the effectiveness and variety of databases available to patrons in the library and through remote access by way of statistics
• Continue to provide volunteer opportunities for area residents
• Involve TAG members in planning of teen programs and the Summer    

                  Reading Program

• Over the next five years, encourage and promote volunteer program to attract more volunteers of all ages
• Provide a variety of programs for all ages on a consistent basis
• Provide weekly story times during the day, evening and weekend
• Provide a Summer Reading Program for patrons of all ages
• Provide programs for patrons of all ages on a monthly basis 
•  Provide convenient hours for library patrons
• Continue to provide hours that the library is open during the day,  evenings and on the weekend
• Continue to be open at least 62 hours a week during the summer and      65 hours a week during the school year
• Reevaluate hours that the library is open on a regular basis          
•   Promote the library through marketing and public relations
• Within two years, improve on marketing techniques to display materials and events using all available technologies
• On a monthly basis, increase promotion of library through all media sources.  Use media sources to provide public service announcements regarding library services and programs  
• Send appropriate staff to workshops dealing with marketing and publicity for non-profit organizations when such workshops are available
• Draw on local resources and expertise for library programs
• Promote local involvement in the arts by providing display space

 
Part II:  Management Goals and Objectives

• Provide staff, trustees and volunteers as appropriate training in all areas concerning the library
• When possible, send staff to Internet/technology training to keep up with the requests/requirements of the patrons
• Require staff members to attend annual conferences and workshops that deal with the demands responsibilities of their positions
• Meet personnel needs of library
• Review and revise staff job descriptions of staff with yearly employee evaluations 
• Hire and train five additional library Pages at 20 hours per week prior to the expansion of the library    
• Continue to provide tuition funds whenever full time staff would like to obtain a Master’s degree in Information and Library Science or a field that would directly benefit the library; i.e. the technology or management fields
• Collaborate with other governmental entities
• Continue to work with City Council and City Administration to complete the expansion of the library by 2013
• Provide information necessary to City Council and  County Board of Supervisors to allow for its informed decision-making

 
Part III:  Board Goals and Objectives

• Continue to advocate for the library

• Provide an effective plan for the library in times of economic difficulty
• Board members along with the Library Director will meet with the City Council when library business comes before the City Council
• The Board will work with the North Liberty City Council and City Administrator to complete the first phase of the expansion of the library by 2013      

• Continue to send Board information to members in a timely manner
• Continue Board member education/orientation  program

• Encourage library Board members to attend one to two workshops/conferences per year

Part IV:  Facilities Goals and Objectives

• Provide library facilities sufficient to meet community needs

• Complete the already defined Capital Improvement Projects, including the library expansion
• Regularly inventory and evaluate equipment, furnishings and fixtures in order to prioritize upgrades and replacements to incorporate into the annual budget
•  Utilize Library Board/Committees to influence city, county and state government to commit resources to improve library facilities

• Monitor library utilization and community growth to aid in planning for future needs

• Develop a standard set of metrics compiled on a regular basis (e.g., population growth, circulation, traffic patterns, study and meeting room utilization, new technologies, etc.)
• Provide semi-annual reports to the Library Board summarizing utilization and recommended priorities

• Enhance access to library facilities and services

• Explore cooperative ventures with other institutions, agencies and private parties to provide outreach programs and improve library resource availability
• Work to improve exterior signage and other public notices so that the public easily identifies library facilities
• Improve accessibility of facilities and services to meet the needs of patrons with disabilities
• Periodically evaluate and improve facility sight lines and traffic patterns
• Employ sufficient planning to adapt facilities and services in response to patron priorities, as less space is needed to house physical collection 

Written:  May 2001
Library Board revision date: May 2001
Reviewed and Revised:  April 2004
Reviewed and Revised:  June 2006 
Reviewed and Revised: February 2007     
Reviewed and Revised: March 2008
Reviewed and Revised: May 2008
Reviewed and Revised: February 2010
Reviewed and revised: April 2011 


Reviewed and revised: April 2012