Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlan for Library LOSLast updated 6-8-17 DRAFT: City of Port Townsend Public Library’s Level of Service and Long Range Forecasting Proposal As prepared by Melody Sky Eisler Current library mission: The Port Townsend Public Library encourages a lifelong love of reading and learning and supports the quest for knowledge, creativity, and adventure by providing free and open access to information and ideas. Scope of work One of the objectives of the three-year City strategic plan is to identify long term and sustainable funding options for public services which includes the library. At the current rate the library’s budget expenses will begin to exceed revenue as soon as 2020 and in 2025 will completely exhaust the fund balance. This need presents an opportunity for the library to reach out to the community to ensure that current and future library plans serve the entire community with equity. This plan will utilize extensive opportunities for community engagement. Community feedback, a needs assessment and research of community plans will all contribute to the final short and long term strategies for the library’s future. Goals: 1. Define current and desired levels of service for the City Library 2. Calculate costs to sustain the library at desired levels of services 3. The final levels of service will include: a staffing plan, budget, collections, hours of operation, service expectations, and facilities. Roles and Responsibilities:  The library director will lead this initiative and engage City leadership and City departments for support. Library staff will offer support roles for this work. The Library Advisory Board will offer input and advice on the process. Research- to have current data on community and know best practices of community engagement and long range needs of the library  Conduct qualitative and quantitative research to gather impartial information  Examine state standards from other states- Washington does not have state library standards  Analyze Levels of Service from other Washington public libraries  Review relevant City/County plans and needs assessments  Research current demographic data  Investigate models of future forecasts of libraries including the role of technology Community Engagement- to engage entire community in a broader conversation about the library  Community Meetings: Hold a series of community conversations utilizing the Harwood method. Last updated 6-8-17  Patron Survey: Create and send out paper and digital version of a library patron satisfaction survey  Community engagement: send out survey to reach none library users  A community needs assessment for library services will be conducted in tandem to the engagement meetings and survey. o One on One Meetings: Meet with key community leaders, including the Library Foundation and Friends of the Library, to gather data on current and future expectations of the library and overall community aspirations Timeline  All meetings and research completed by summer 2018  Survey presented to the public and library patrons in fall 2017  Community meetings from fall 2017-spring 2018  Community needs assessment and stakeholder meetings from fall 2017-spring 2018  Plans and levels of service drafted over summer 2018  Strategic focus, levels of service, and long range forecast completed by fall 2018. Deliverables  Levels of service standards for the library  A 3-5 strategic focus for the library  A 10-20-year long range operational policies for the library  Identified long term funding options for the library