Easton Public Library - Long Range Plan 2003 - 2008

Summary:

The Easton Public Library Long Range Plan 2003-2008 sets forth the guiding mission, values and vision for the next five years of library operation.

In general, long range plans provide the framework for future growth. Goal-setting over a several year period is the most effective procedure for sound strategic planning, and for making cost-effective budgetary choices. The Library Board of Trustees and the Library Director use the plan as a blueprint for decisions regarding all aspects of Library operations, from staffing to maintenance to collection development.

Process and Results

In February 2002 the Easton Public Library began the process of preparing its five year plan. Cupolo Consulting, library consultants, helped organize focus groups to gather information from Easton residents to incorporate in the planning process. This information was studied by the Library Board of Trustees, the Library staff and the consultant over the span of several months, and several consistent themes emerged.

Eastonites value the personal service and attention that has been a tradition for the Library
Managing growth will be the biggest challenge for the Library in the future. With circulation increases of 10% or more each year, the Library has outgrown its current space and the demands from residents for programs and information access are anticipated to increase in the future.
Physical space and staffing considerations need to be addressed.
Library services currently available need to be better publicized.
Technology offers the advantage of remote access to Library services, and expands the scope of the Library’s offerings.

Initiatives

Following the road map laid out in the Long Range Plan, the following initiatives will be emphasized:

• Current Topics and Titles
  The Easton Library provides a current, well-organized general collection of titles in demand. This includes print, non-print and electronic resources that cover a broad variety of topics. The Library promotes the use of its collections by offering programs such as book talks, book signings, performances and exhibits that promote current books of interest to the community. The goals and activities in the Long Range Plan that support the Library’s goal to provide current reading material and information resources involve collection development, technology enhancement, co-partnership will local agencies and universities and reallocation of building space.
  
• Lifelong Learning
  The Easton Library provides learning materials that support formal and informal learning. It aids in language development and pre-reading literacy skills for young children. The library helps students who are enrolled in school or being home-schooled. It encourages people of all ages in the community to use information effectively for self-directed growth and education. The library helps develop skills related to finding, evaluating and using library materials and electronic resources. The goals and activities in the Long Range Plan that support the Library’s determination to be a haven for lifelong learning involve technology enhancement and careful collection development.
  
• Commons
  The Easton Library serves as a Commons or Town Center to foster a sense of "community" and to encourage people to meet and interact at the Library. Programs are scheduled to encourage activities for adults and children. The goals and activities in the Long Range Plan that will allow the Library to continue in this role of meeting place involve reallocation of building space, enhanced communications, an aggressive marketing campaign and co-partnership with local agencies and universities.

Goals

The following seven goals have been chosen to carry out these selected initiatives:

• Reconfigure building space to enhance collections, reduce noise, create quiet study areas, add storage and improve the efficiency of the building in order to support the services that the staff is offering the public.
• Develop all the Library’s collections to provide a current well-organized general collection of titles in demand.
• Improve the way Library services are delivered by technology
• Develop and maintain a Library Advocacy Group that will market the needs of the Easton Public Library to the Community.
• Develop and maintain a staff that will find the Easton Public Library to be a place where professional growth is encouraged and salary is competitive in the peer marketplace.
• Provide cooperative programming that will attract people to the Library as a gathering place.
• Once the resources of sufficient staff, equipment and an active advocacy group are in place, identify and develop new communication channels for communicating what the Library offers to the public.

With these goals in mind, the Library Board of Trustees and the staff will move forward to fulfill its mission—to help people of all ages lead richer, more interesting lives by providing access to books, and other information sources, and to cultural resources.