STRATEGIC PLAN TWINSBURG PUBLIC LIBRARY 2015-2016 The Twinsburg Public Library is committed to providing information, entertainment, education, and inspiration to all members of the communities we serve. Vision Statement The Twinsburg Public Library envisions itself to be a thriving community center providing lifelong learning and entertainment to all ages. Core Values Our library. . .       

Is about building community. Promotes continuous improvement and learning. Values user-centered services. Provides a varied and balanced collection of materials. Values leadership in all levels of staffing. Promotes collaborations. Focuses on results.

Goals & Objectives Goal 1 - READ The Twinsburg Public Library is everyone's favorite place to borrow books, films, downloadable materials, with help from knowledgeable, friendly staff. Goal 2 - LEARN & DISCOVER Promote lifelong learning from birth through adulthood. Provide library collections, services and programming that introduce ideas, build skills and spark creativity. Continue to train staff and trustees in library services, management and trends. Goal 3 – MEET Create and maintain thriving spaces where the community accesses library, connects and collaborates. Goal 4 - GROW Enrich and secure the assets of TPL (Finances & Facilities)

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READ: The Twinsburg Public Library is everyone's favorite place to borrow books, films, downloadable materials, with help from knowledgeable, friendly staff. Continue to make reading materials available in traditional print, audio and digital formats. •

Provide a welcoming atmosphere for all customers. o All employees are trained in proactive customer service, aware of library materials and collections. o All staff will continue to use Novelist, GoodReads, Pinterest and other reader's advisory tools to provide reading guidance. o Offer library tours to new cardholders perhaps once a month. Make tours available to established patrons. Include library maps with pamphlets for new patrons. o All employees will follow the Ten foot - Five foot rule of customer service.

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Continue to diversify program offerings and continuing education to appeal to wide audiences. o Outreach to and form partnerships with all clubs and groups that currently meet at the library. o Add additional programs that involve connections to books and authors.

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Reach out to nontraditional library users with outreach, resources, partnerships and online. o Adult Services will work with Youth Services to create one program per year that reaches out to parents and children of special needs, including adult children. o Hold one staff training or brainstorming program per year to address the needs of a diverse range of patrons. o Continue to use social media to keep library users informed of the latest in literature, pop culture and recommended reading . o Continue to offer materials, programs and services designed to encourage pre-school children to enter school ready to read, write and listen. o Embark on a "Guys Read" campaign to increase reading among young boys and their male role models. o Enter into partnership with Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority to develop early literacy awareness among its clients.

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Continue to increase access to downloadable e-media via a variety of vendor sources. o Add at least one vendor that caters to children's and teen materials each year. o Maintain knowledge of movement by traditional publishers to make more e-books available to libraries at retail pricing.

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Consider the purchase of self-published and small press authors as many high quality titles become more reviewed in trusted sources and available through trusted sources such as Amazon in print and as e-books. o Promote the fact that many self-published authors are on the New York Times Best Seller list. Independent publishing is becoming more appealing to authors due to its “fiscal superiority” and may be more popular to “mainstream” authors in the future. o Consider use of independent e-book vendors such as Smashwords to provide access to non-commercial works.

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LEARN & DISCOVER: Promote lifelong learning from birth through adulthood. Provide library collections, services and programming that introduce ideas, build skills and spark creativity. Continue to train staff and trustees in library services, management and trends. 

Continue to procure a wide variety of technology services and devices for patrons’ use. o Hold semi-annual workshops presenting the latest technology services and devices. o Offer access to Skype and other communication technologies that may not be available to residents. o Library website will have a “responsive design” in order to make it accessible by mobile devices. o Create a virtual continuing education plan, to include both library-created online classes and MP3 downloads as well as online database resources.

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Enhance and promote resources and services for college and non-traditional post-secondary students. o Work with Clevnet to develop a Search-Ohio link for Clevnet Libraries so college students can have access to OhioLINK materials. o Partner with the local Kent State-Twinsburg Regional Academic Center for delivery of university materials to either Twinsburg Public Library or Kent State-Twinsburg campus. o Continue to promote the library as an unofficial “partner in YOUR online education experience.”

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Provide training in new technologies specifically to non-traditional job seekers and the digitally disadvantaged. o Develop device classes geared toward job seekers. o Develop proposal to seek funding to receive iPads for creation of learning kits geared towards children, tweens and teens. o Consider lending of tablets outside of library if cost of product decreases. o Make materials, staff and continuing education available in a variety of formats, locations and after-hours self-service. Develop open communication paths between staff and users outside the library.

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Continue to investigate services to increase library use during closed hours. o Research return on investment of purchase of outdoor vending services. o Research grants for purchase of “Lend-IT” product from D-Tech to provide access to after hour users, and possibly village and township locations.

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Help parents of all ages to learn about childhood development and how to cope with various learning and behavioral challenges . o Provide access to current parenting books that offer evidence based training methods. o Create a survey for parents to gather their informational needs. o Review current parenting collection; purchase updated copies of popular books; purchase electronic titles for the collection. o Establish linkages with local homeschooling families and families with special needs children.

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LEARN & DISCOVER (continued) 

Foster a culture of curiosity and teamwork. o Maintain and enhance mentoring program for new library employees. o Provide staff with the opportunity to attend at least two meetings or workshops off-site. o Focus on the preparation of staff for changes in expectations in library service. o Partner with community groups and entertain staff suggestions for monthly training opportunities. o Youth Services staff will attend new trainings about literacy education and the role of the library. o Information Technology staff will focus on Web 3.0, the development of online learning, data and service platforms. o Establish minimum technology abilities for each job description. o Provide training for staff to cope with the increase in patrons demonstrating mental illness or drug addiction issues.

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Enhance perception of approachability. Encourage pro-active and consistent customer service. o Investigate the possibility of taking phone calls off desk and using mobile devices in stacks, requiring an upgrade to the phone system. o Track reference transactions in detail for at least one week per year and/or investigate resources to track online. o Revise customer service model to include expected customer service standards and typical scenarios with acceptable responses.

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Continue to promote continuing education of staff and trustees. o Keep Library Board informed of NEO-RLS training webinars, trends in libraries and changes in community. o Hold Board Training Workshop/Retreat in early 2015. o Continue bi-monthly all staff meetings and annual staff in-house training day. o Provide managers with training and tools to train, develop and evaluate their staff. o Maintain “management circle,” an opportunity for staff with management or supervisory responsibilities to connect with other managers to think and learn together and leverage their shared knowledge to improve individual management effectiveness. o Require Area Supervisors to attend at least one human resource training webinar/in person training per year.

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Acquire, develop and maintain exceptional staff. Design succession plan for retiring staff. o Attend at least one recruiting event per year. o Posting circulation position in churches and newspapers to attract a more diverse employee base. o Review testing formats to see if they are the best standards to screen potential employees. o Evaluate salary levels to remain competitive with library systems of similar size and budget. o Evaluate staffing levels and organizational structure.

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MEET: Create and maintain thriving spaces where the community accesses library, connects and collaborates. 

Facilitate the exchange of community information, collaboration and creativity. o Identify community trends and provide resources to satisfy needs associated with those trends. o Keep customers aware of local activities by library partners by sharing information on Facebook page and other social media pages, as well as calendar mailer. o Create “flexible” and adaptive creative space within Computer Lab to allow for sound recording, writing, possible video recording and future technologies. o Designate a “community reference librarian” to help community leaders and businesses reach informed decisions.

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Encourage social and cultural interaction. o Experiment with at least one social or networking event before a program. o Hold at least one open forum on a culturally relevant topic. o Work with local teens involved in fundraising and social awareness by offering space and adult mentorship. o Continue to allow community groups to collect non-monetary donations in library facility.

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Foster partnerships with community groups and local businesses. o Create a program to be held off-site and repeated if in demand. o Continue to expand relationship with Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club of Twinsburg, Humane Society of Greater Akron and the Twinsburg Historical Society. o Encourage community groups and local businesses to create programs to be held at the library. o Youth Services team will continue to establish linkages with local Head Start and the Twinsburg Schools to support educational goals and themes and with the coordinating site of Help Me Grow. o Reach out to the Kent State University, Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals, Twinsburg Army Reserve Center and assisted living locations for strategic partnerships.

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Develop business and entrepreneurial utilization of the library through enhanced services, dedicated working spaces and marke ting. o Create a co-working environment to allow home-business owners and telecommuters a place to work outside the home. o Offer video conferencing services for business, education and community groups. o Partner with area business and SCORE to offer customized training courses. o Survey local community leaders in business, government, non-profit and faith based organizations for seven areas of challenge they foresee for the community and/or their business in the future.

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Participate in local activities and preserve local history. o Pursue grant to digitize Twinsburg Bulletin and other items within Local History Collection to make it widely available. o Involve staff and volunteers in indexing and scanning of Twinsburg Bulletin. o Prepare display for celebration of “Twinsburg Township” (City) bi-centennial. o Continue to participate in community events, such as Twins Days, Memorial Day, etc.

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GROW: Enrich and secure the assets of TPL (Finances & Facilities) FINANCES      

Investigate collaborations with City of Twinsburg, Twinsburg Township, Village of Reminderville and School District for services and staffing. Work with OLC to return PLF to pre-2009 levels. Develop a financial policy regarding a minimum percentage of funding of the Technology and Building and Repair Fund, as well as a reserve policy. Maintain stable funding for technology services and infrastructure and invest resources in quality materials. Keep current on health insurance legal changes and requirements. Determine feasib ility of insurance offerings. Aid and encourage continued financial support by our supporting organizations and community by: o Providing support for the Friends and Foundation in forms of marketing and data-gathering. o Continuing to provide training for staff on grant-seeking and writing to aid in obtaining grant funding. o Telling “Library Story” to public to maintain support during non-levy campaign times. o Presenting “What we do and what’s new” session for the Board, Friends, Foundation and other library advocates.

FACILITIES 

Provide accessible and highly functioning facility that is well-maintained and inviting to all. o o o o o o o o o o

Maintain interior and exterior facility. Meet ADA and ergonomics requirements for staff and patrons. Consider replacement program of office furniture with adjustable desks. Continue preventative roof maintenance and replacement of roof seams. Investigate ways to create more storage and office space. Review organization of shelving and furniture in Children’s Place to better serve customers, including lower shelving and more seating and tables for parents, children and tutors. Upgrade and add security cameras to interior and parking lots, with recommendations from police department for placement. Reseal, and fill cracks in parking lot. Replace asphalt on hill between library and fitness center. Continue to upgrade HVAC controls. Review parking lot accessibility and drop off points

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