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CONTENTS
A. Mission Statement
B. Community
Description
C. Library Description
D. Assessment of Needs
E. Methodology
F. Goals and
Objectives
G. Action Plan for FY
’09
Attachments
- MISSION
STATEMENT
The mission of the Leverett Library is to be
a dynamic community center that supports lifelong learning. The
library seeks to respond to the townspeople’s recreational,
cultural, informational, and educational needs by providing print
and non-print materials, technological resources, and programs for
children and adults. The library staff endeavors to offer service
in an enthusiastic and professional manner.
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- COMMUNITY
DESCRIPTION
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Incorporated in 1774, Leverett is a small
rural community in southeastern Franklin County. The town is named
for Sir John Leverett, a governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
The town’s rich scenic beauty includes a two-mile road through a
glacial ravine bordered by Brushy Mountain; the Sawmill River,
which cascades over rocks in Moore’s Corner and flows into the
North Leverett millpond; and Leverett Pond, in the town’s
center, which affords fishing, canoeing, and ice skating. White
church spires, an old sawmill, historic homes, meandering roads,
and the Robert Frost Trail comfortably share space with the first
peace pagoda built in the United States (a temple of the Nipponzan
Myohoji Buddhist order), a newly renovated elementary school, a
public works building, the Leverett Crafts and Arts Center, and
the new town library.
Situated in the Five College area, Leverett
is a neighbor to Amherst, Hampshire, Smith, and Mt. Holyoke
colleges as well as the University of Massachusetts. These
academic institutions have drawn a culturally diverse population
to Leverett. Residents range from professors, college staff, and
graduate and undergraduate students to teachers, farmers,
contractors, builders, artists, gardeners, and professionals in
the area of medicine, law, and telecommunications.
Leverett has a population of approximately
1,900 and a total area of 23 square miles. Much of the town is
undeveloped and is home to bears, moose, and other wildlife. Upon
finishing elementary school in Leverett, students attend regional
public schools in Amherst. Town funding is solely dependent on the
residential tax base.
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- LIBRARY
DESCRIPTION
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Since 1995, when our last long range plan was
submitted, the town of Leverett has seen enormous changes in its
library. In 2003 the library moved from its home in a small
building with no restrooms to a beautiful, modern building that is
welcoming to all. The new library is geothermally heated and
cooled, has 2
restrooms, a book drop and an audiovisual drop, a community room,
a landscaped stone patio, and a lighted parking lot. The inside
features comfortable armchairs, 6 public computers and 3 staff
computers with a high-speed Internet connection, and a public
copier. At about the same time as the move, the library became a
“mininet” member of C/W MARS, following months of hard work by
staff and volunteers to recatalogue the collection. Other changes
made at that time include a name change from the Bradford M. Field
Memorial Library to the Leverett Library, an increase in open time
from 15 to 25 hours a week, an increase in the library
director’s paid administrative hours to 12 a week, and the
retirement of long-time director Lorna Rivers.
Once the move was completed, the staff and
trustees began working to fulfill the building committee’s
vision of the library as both a community gathering place (“the
town’s living room”) and a “recreational reading” library.
We were eager to welcome the library’s former patrons and to
bring in new patrons, both those who had traditionally visited
larger libraries outside of Leverett and those who did not utilize
any libraries. Among the diverse ways that we sought to reach out
to the citizens of Leverett were through the establishment of an
annual community reading program (“Read It, Leverett”); art
exhibits in the community room; a variety of programming for
adults and children including a community-wide tag sale, author
visits, musical performances,
and nature events. We diversified our audiovisual
collection by adding DVDs and books on CD. To help residents who
could not find convenient times to visit, we adjusted our hours to
include Sundays (fall-spring) and added weekend hours in the
summer. We sought to partner with local organizations whenever
possible—the elementary school, the Rattlesnake Gutter Trust
(land conservation group), Leverett Community Chorus, Leverett
Crafts and Arts, the town’s senior citizen lunch, the 4-H Group,
and Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society, among others. With the
support of the Friends of the Library, we began delivering library
materials to homebound individuals. Finally, we increased the
number of library volunteers to about 35, reaping the benefits of
their assistance and their outspoken enthusiasm for the new
library.
Today, five years after the opening of the
new building, the library is in a fortunate position. Our building
is in excellent condition. Initial difficulties with the heating
and cooling system appear to be resolved. The building exceeds the
legal requirements for handicap accessibility for a library in a
town of under 2,000 residents. Soon after the building opened, we
added automatic doors to better serve our patrons. The library was
the proud recipient of a Paul Winski Access Award from the Stavros
Center for Independent Living. Our circulation figures have risen
sharply every year since we joined C/W MARS. In FY ’06, our
total circulation activity was 32,840, a figure that is higher
than that of all but one community in our population group (69
Mass. towns of 0-2,000) and of half of the libraries in the next
population group (53 Mass. towns of 2,000-5,000). When towns are
compared on a per capita basis, we were 7th busiest in
our population group and 45th out of the 362 libraries reporting
statewide.
Our interlibrary loan (ILL) figures have
increased even more rapidly since we joined C/W MARS. In FY ’06,
we received 4,600 items for our patrons from other libraries. We
fill many more ILL requests than any other Massachusetts town of
our size, and when compared on a per capita basis we are 8th busiest
in the state! Our patrons requesting ILLs include professors,
college students, artists, staff at the town elementary school,
book groups, senior citizens, kids with homework assignments, kids
reading for pleasure, commuters wanting audiobooks, homeschoolers,
and many others. Because we receive WMRLS deliveries 3 times a
week, we are able to fill requests promptly. We fill increasing
numbers of requests from beyond C/W MARS (searching through
networks across the state via the Virtual Catalogue and to
libraries beyond the state’s networks via WMRLS ILL service).
Our ability to fill requests is a big part of our success. With
rising gas prices, residents are especially pleased to be able to
get items close to home. We are very grateful to WMRLS for their
thrice-weekly deliveries.
As a member of C/W MARS, we must send out
items from our own collection to borrowers at other libraries. C/W
MARS attempts to keep equal the quantity of materials being sent
to the Leverett Library to fill requests and the quantity of
materials being taken from us to fill holds elsewhere. As the
numbers of items being sent here to fill our patrons’ holds have
grown, so have the numbers of our own items are being sent out to
fill hold requests at other libraries (4,300 in FY ’06). As a
small library with a collection of only 14,000 items, we are
making approximately 30% of our collection temporarily unavailable
to our patrons. We depend increasingly on items borrowed from the
WMRLS bookmobile to fill the gaps left when our own items are
shipped elsewhere as well as to add needed variety to our small
collection. We especially appreciate the bookmobile’s new books
on CD.
Before the library moved, the staff
thoroughly weeded the entire collection. As a result, the size of
our holdings is somewhat smaller than that of other libraries in
our population group (8.13 items per capita, which is 37th
out of the 69 towns in our population group). With our increased
operating budget since the move, our shelves are rapidly filling
with new items. In the last 5 years, we have begun subscribing to
periodicals, and to date receive 19.
The town meeting has supported the
library’s need for a larger operating income in the new
building, and in FY’06 voted to fund us at the per capita rate
of $34.52, enabling us to meet building and salary expenses, as
well as the state-mandated requirement for new materials.
Beginning in FY ’08, the library director, who holds an MLS
degree, will have more administrative hours (17 per week). The
Friends of the Leverett Library have been an important part of the
new library’s success, sponsoring author visits and raising
money for museum passes, 2 new staff computers, and much more.
The 6 public computers funded by a Gates
Grant have been a major draw for residents. The computers are used
by an average of 64 people a week. One reason for their popularity
is that the library is one of the only places in town with
high-speed Internet access, which was obtained by C/W MARS and
supported with federal grants. We have received many requests for
wireless internet access from our patrons, but have not yet
provided this service because of the high cost of obtaining a 2nd
Internet connection.
The trustees are eager for the library to
host a variety of programming for adults and children offered by
the library and by outside groups. A very popular weekly story
hour for preschool children is provided by the School Union #28
Family Network Program during the school year and by the library
during the summer months. The library participates in the
state’s summer reading program for children. We host an annual
community reading program with financial support from the Friends
of the Library, the local cultural council and 2 area banks. We
have offered craft programs, “Farm Day” with animals and
crafts, musical performances, and other activities. The town
recreation program regularly offers yoga and tai chi classes at
the library.
To inform town residents about the library,
we rely primarily on a column in the town’s bimonthly
newsletter. We have occasional announcements in the elementary
school newsletter with items relating to kids. Thanks to talented
volunteers, we have a new attractive library website that is
updated monthly. We also display posters about upcoming events at
the library and around town, and have sent flyers to residents.
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- ASSESSMENT
OF NEEDS
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We sought to learn the community’s library
needs by means of a survey distributed widely in Leverett and a
focus group held at the library (see Section E).
We were gratified to discover that town
residents are pleased with the operation of the new library. The
new building is extremely popular, both as a library and a
“public commons.” The feedback about the library staff and
volunteers, who often work directly with the public, was
overwhelmingly positive. The public was also very appreciative of
the benefits of C/W MARS membership, which affords them the
ability to order items easily and quickly from other libraries,
among other things.
The single most common request on the surveys
and at the focus group was for wireless internet access, so that
patrons can bring their laptops to the library and use a
high-speed connection. At present, high-speed internet connections
are difficult for residents to obtain at home: Verizon does not
offer that service in Leverett except at a prohibitively expensive
price; satellite dishes are another option. In recent months
Verizon has considered expanding its regular Internet service into
Leverett, but our trustee chair has learned that that prospect is
unlikely to happen soon. The cost of obtaining wireless access
through C/W MARS is becoming more affordable, and we are looking
into that possibility for the library, as well as the satellite
option.
The feedback about the collection indicates
that patrons want a broader selection. The area of greatest
importance to our patrons is adult fiction, followed closely by
adult nonfiction, DVDs, and audiobooks; the latter comprises the
section deemed in most need of improvement. We also received many
suggestions for more magazine subscriptions, as well as more YA
books. A few patrons wished that we would add music to the
collection, including children’s music. Participants at the
focus group encouraged us to consider soliciting donations for
magazine subscriptions and books (“adopt a book” etc.). We
recognize the importance of the WMRLS bookmobile to the library.
As the bookmobile is only of value to us if its collection
includes many new items, we must also support the bookmobile in
whatever ways we can.
As our interlibrary loan service is one of
our main attractions, we must work to maintain it in the face of
region-wide growing pains. Our own ILL numbers have doubled from
FY 2004 to FY 2006 (in ‘06 we had 4,600 items incoming to our
patrons and 4,300 items outgoing to other libraries’ patrons),
and show no signs of slowing. Even though our library is new, the
planners did not--could not--anticipate this level of activity,
and so we must be creative about space needs and staff time for
ILL work. We must also support the WMRLS delivery service, both by
trying to follow best practices for delivery and by encouraging
the state to fund the region’s work. We would also encourage C/W
MARS to improve the public access catalogue so that our patrons
are not requesting titles from other libraries that may in fact be
on our shelves in a different format (i.e., paperback editions).
Although the number of complaints about our
hours has decreased greatly with the addition of Sunday hours, we
received a number of comments from patrons wanting more hours or
different hours. Some requests were for us to be open an hour
earlier on Tuesday and Thursday so that parents picking up
children at the school next door could stop by here first. Others
wanted us to be open different days. The Leverett Library is
currently open 25 hours a week (20 in the summer), a number
significantly higher than the state requirement for a town of our
size (10 hours a week including some evening hours). Therefore, we
would most likely choose to rearrange our hours, rather than
expand them.
Feedback indicated that the public values the
programming offered at the library and wants more of it. The YA
representative at the focus group made a convincing argument for
programming for teens, such as a teen book group. Interest was
strong for film showings, author visits, a town-wide tag sale,
cultural events, and the annual Read It, Leverett! program. Town
residents offered many additional ideas for programming at the
library. Issues of funding and staff time will be important
considerations as we address this need.
Having access to the 6 public computers is a
clear priority based on the public response. A few people
expressed a wish for additional computers, but as we have no more
space for them and as we hope to soon offer wireless access, we
will concentrate on the current number. Our public computers were
purchased in 2003 and will soon need to be replaced. We also need
to have funding in our annual operating budgets for technical
support. In addition to providing computers, we would like to
satisfy requests that we provide different types of computer
training. One example is formal instruction in using the online
catalogue to place holds (currently taught informally). We would
also like to offer 4-week computer classes for those wanting an
introduction to word processing, the Internet, full-text
periodicals available online with a library card, etc. We will
explore ways of funding these classes, including applying for a
federal LSTA (Library Services and Technology Act) grant. An
additional type of computer support that we would like to consider
is establishing a teen volunteer group to help senior citizens use
computers at the library.
The public’s interest in the library
extends to the grounds. At present, a group of residents have
obtained a Community Preservation Grant to restore to its native
condition a small wetland located between the library and the
road. The library enthusiastically wishes to support this effort
by educating visitors about the work being done: the removal of
invasive, exotic plants and the reintroduction of native wetland
plants. After the project is completed we plan to house
educational materials about the wetland so that visitors can learn
from it. Another outdoor goal is the creation of a plowed path
connecting the library and the elementary school in wintertime, so
that children coming to the library from the school do not have to
walk in the snowy road. Such a path would cross town land and
multiple parties would need to be involved in its creation.
Finally, the landscaping of the grounds needs to be completed and
decisions about any outdoor furniture or sculptures need to be
made. The public has requested outdoor seating and a table. An
understanding about what parties are responsible for maintaining
the gardens, young trees, wetlands, etc., needs to be formalized.
The survey results and the focus group’s
discussion demonstrated that many residents are not aware of the
extent of the services and programs offered at the library.
Therefore, improving the library’s outreach and communication
with town residents is a clear need. One idea is to invite patrons
to sign up for a monthly e-mail from the library which lists
upcoming events and has a link to the library website. Another
idea is to prepare a handout detailing our services for
distribution at the senior lunch, and for posting in the
elementary school and town newsletters.
The arts are important to Leverett residents.
The community is home to many artists and musicians and to the
bustling arts center known as Leverett Crafts and Arts. The
library, with guidance and volunteer help from artist Lindsay
Palermo, has recognized the contribution made by local artists to
the community by hosting rotating art exhibits in the community
room, displaying artwork by elementary school students, including
an art exhibit in its annual community reading program,
subscribing to an art periodical, inviting the intergenerational
community chorus to perform at the library, having local students
perform music, among other ways. As the arts greatly enrich
patrons’ library experiences, we need to continue to seek ways
to bring art to the library.
A strong financial position is crucial if the
library is to achieve its goals. Our first need is for the
trustees and director to gain a clear understanding of the various
library accounts (town accounts and trusts), including their
purposes (operating expenses, capital expenses, etc.), sources of
funding, and any restrictions on their use. Then we wish to review
best practices for fundraising, and prepare information for the
public detailing how individuals can donate money to the library.
Finally, we wish to support and encourage the Friends of
the Library in their critical mission, and to look for ways to
enhance our relationship. We need to educate the public that
without the funds raised by the Friends, many of the “extras”
not covered by the town budget would not be possible (museum
passes, author visits, children and adult programming).
Finally, we need to make sure that the
Leverett Library is as prepared as possible for a natural disaster
or emergency. To that end, the director will update the
library’s emergency plan using a new program prepared by the
Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.
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- METHODOLOGY
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The library director and trustees constitute
the long range planning committee. The library director attended a
training on long range planning sponsored by the Massachusetts
Board of Library Commissioners in February 2007. The director and
trustees decided to assess community needs by soliciting community
input via a user survey and a focus group. Once we had the survey
results and focus group feedback, we met several times to discuss
the library’s needs.
After studying sample questionnaires, the
library director prepared a survey and tested it on several
volunteers and the trustees. The finished survey was mailed to
every household in Leverett as part of the town newsletter, was
included in an issue of the school newsletter to elementary school
families, and was distributed at the library, the post office, the
elementary school, and the town hall. The library director handed
out surveys to voters arriving at the annual town meeting on April
30, 2007. A large poster explaining the survey was displayed at
the library. The library director and library assistant encouraged
patrons to fill them out. We received 150 responses. There are
approximately 1919 residents in Leverett, and 810 households.
Survey results were tabulated by trustees, and displayed on a
poster at the library.
Our focus group was held in the library
community room on April 26, 2007 from 7-8 p.m. As suggested by the
MBLC, we engaged the services of a volunteer moderator, who is the
assistant moderator for the town. The library director attended as
did a trustee charged with preparing the notes from the meeting.
The director strove to create a diverse group of library patrons
in the focus group. These 9 individuals included men and women, a
young adult patron, several senior citizens, a member of the town
Select Board, an artist and member of the library book club,
parents who visit the library with their children, the president
of the Friends, and a staff member at the elementary school. The
focus group contained some individuals who regularly place their
own ILL holds, some who request ILL holds through the library
staff, and some who prefer to select books by browsing.
The moderator asked the group to provide
input on SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats)
related to the library. The discussion alternated between sharing
information on topics (state regulations, C/W MARS rules etc.) and
generating/discussing ideas.
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- GOALS
& OBJECTIVES FOR FY’09 – FY 13
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Goal 1:
To provide a strong selection of popular materials (books,
audios, videos, periodicals) for the public.
Objectives:
1. Improve
the audio collection through purchases, donations, and bookmobile borrowing. Rearrange the section to make it easier to use.
Reduce the number of abridged books on tape to provide more space. Improve
labeling of our audio
materials to make them easier for volunteers to shelve
correctly and for patrons
to find. Improve packaging of our audio materials to make
them sturdier (and
more likely to hold up in the delivery).
2.
Increase the number of magazine subscriptions, (especially
for young adults). Find
new ways and spaces to shelve them and catalogue them. Add
newspaper
subscriptions.
3.
Consider ways to support the WMRLS bookmobile program so
that it will be able to
offer new items. Recognize that our success is tied to its
survival.
4.
Advocate for the town appropriation for materials to be at
least 20% of the yearly operating budget.
5.
Encourage patron suggestions of titles for purchase.
6.
Consider starting a structured donation program to enable
people to donate money for magazine subscriptions or specific books.
Goal 2:
Provide outstanding interlibrary loan (ILL) service to our
patrons
Objectives:
1.
Find creative ways to manage the increasing numbers of ILL
items (issues of space,
carts, staff time, volunteer training).
2.
Consider ways to support the WMRLS delivery service (best
practices, support annual budget, encourage ILL users to become Friends of
WMRLS).
3.
Offer training to patrons wanting to learn how to place
holds themselves on items through C/W MARS.
4.
Offer training to patrons wanting hard-to-find items who
wish to learn how to place
holds themselves using the Virtual Catalogue (an MBLC
resource providing patrons with direct access to materials in networks similar to C/W
MARS throughout the state and in the University of Massachusetts network).
5.
Suggest that C/W MARS look for ways to improve the public
access catalogue for patrons placing holds (to allow patrons to know when they
are requesting an item that their library owns in another edition).
Goal 3:
Assist in meeting the community’s computer/internet needs
Objectives:
1.
Offer wireless internet access
2.
Maintain and update the library’s 6 computers for public
use as needed; maintain the laser printer.
3.
Offer ways for patrons to learn information skills
appropriate to their needs by providing informal
assistance, brief workshops on topics such as placing holds online, and formal
computer training that covers topics such as word processing, the
internet, e-mail, access to on-line periodical articles. Consider
establishing a teen volunteer program to provide computer support
for senior citizens.
4.
Promote access to regional and C/W MARS databases, both for
patrons in the library and for
those using home computers.
Goal 4: Reassess the library’s hours
Objectives:
1.
Continue to assess the library’s hours in relation to
public requests and staffing
situations.
2.
Change hours if appropriate and if funding allows.
Publicize new hours.
Goal 5:
Continue to develop the library as a cultural and
educational center and public gathering place for the community
Objectives:
1.
Offer programming that addresses the needs of adults in the
community.
2.
Offer programming that addresses the needs of children in
the community, from
toddlers to young adults.
3.
Prepare education materials and offer programming
pertaining to the new wetlands project.
4.
Restructure and continue our annual community reading
program “Read It, Leverett.”
5.
Seek additional ways to bring the arts to the library.
6.
Maintain a strong connection with the Leverett Elementary
School, with a goal of
visiting classes in the spring to promote the summer
reading program, and having the 2nd grade visit the library each fall.
Goal 6: Bring the library’s financial
position into sharper focus
Objectives:
1.
Develop a clear understanding among the director and
trustees of the various
library accounts (town accounts and trusts), including
their purposes (operating
expenses, capital expenses, etc.), sources of funding, and
any restrictions on their use.
2.
Review best practices for fundraising by small public
libraries.
3.
Prepare brochures detailing how individuals can donate
money to the library.
4.
Support and encourage the Friends of the Library in their
fund-raising activities, and look for ways to enhance our relationship. Educate the
public that without
funds raised by the Friends, many of the “extras” not
covered by the town budget
would not be possible (museum passes, author visits,
children’s and adult programming).
Goal 7:
Strengthen the administrative and technical services of the
library
Objectives:
1.
Advocate budgets that meet the guidelines for state
accreditation.
2.
Encourage trustees, staff, Friends, and volunteers to take
advantage of state and
regional library workshops.
3.
Find ways to keep enthusiasm high among volunteers and show
our appreciation for their contributions.
4.
Improve the library’s outreach and communication via the
Internet, town and school newsletters, and library website. Use these outlets to
offer more information about placing holds.
5.
Update the library’s emergency planning using the Mass.
Board of Library
Commissioners program and with trustee involvement.
Goal 8: Maintain and improve the library building and grounds
Objectives:
- Continue
to seek environmentally responsible practices and energy
self-sufficiency
- Complete
the planning and work for the library grounds.
- Establish
schedules for major maintenance events. Review
responsibilities and funding sources. Assess needs on a yearly
basis.
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G.
ACTION
PLAN FOR FISCAL YEAR 2009
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Year 1 of the Five-Year Plan submitted to the MBLC in September 2007
Goal 1:
To provide a strong selection of popular materials (books,
audios, videos, periodicals) for the public.
Objectives:
1.
Improve the audio collection.
Activities:
*Evaluate
the popularity of books on tape versus books on CD. (by June 2009)
*Begin to improve the selection of audios (by June 2009)
*Rearrange the audio shelves to make the section easier to
browse. (by June 2009)
*Improve labeling of the audios. (by June 2009)
*Move popular materials to sturdier cases (by June 2009)
2.
Increase the number of magazine subscriptions, (especially
for young adults). Find
new ways and spaces to shelve them and catalogue them. Add
newspaper subscriptions.
Activities:
*Select and order 6 new magazines (by June 2009)
*Find space and shelving for new magazines (by June 2009)
*Add
newspaper subscriptions (by June 2009)
3.
Consider ways to support the WMRLS bookmobile program so
that it will be able to offer new items. Recognize that our success is tied to its
survival.
4.
Advocate for the town appropriation for materials to be at
least 20% of the yearly operating budget.
5.
Encourage patron suggestions of titles for purchase.
Activities:
*Establish a suggestion box and/or bulletin board (by June
2009)
6.
Consider starting a structured donation program to enable
people to donate money for magazine subscriptions or specific books.
Goal 2:
Provide outstanding interlibrary loan (ILL) service to our
patrons
Objectives:
1. Find creative ways to manage the increasing numbers of ILL
items (issues of space, carts, staff
time, volunteer training
2. Consider
ways to support the WMRLS delivery service (best practices,
support
annual budget, encourage ILL users to become Friends of
WMRLS)
3.
Offer training to patrons wanting to learn how to place
holds themselves on items through C/W MARS.
Activities:
*Establish weekly times when staff or volunteers are on
hand to teach people how to place holds. Publicize the training. (by June 2009)
4.
Offer training to patrons wanting hard-to-find items who
wish to learn how to place holds
themselves using the Virtual Catalogue (an MBLC resource providing
patrons with direct
access to materials in networks similar to C/W MARS throughout the
state and in the University of Massachusetts network).
Activities:
*Establish training (by June 2009)
5.
Suggest that C/W MARS look for ways to improve the public
access catalogue for patrons placing
holds (to allow patrons to know when they are requesting an item that their
library owns in another edition).
Goal 3:
Assist in Meeting the Community’s Computer/Internet Needs
Objectives:
1.
Offer wireless internet access
Activities:
*Assess various options and select one (by June 2009)
*Publicize the availability (by June 2009)
*Assess how well the access is working (by June 2009)
2.
Maintain and update the library’s 6 computers for public
use as needed; maintain
the laser printer.
3.
Offer ways for patrons to learn information skills
appropriate to their needs by providing informal
assistance, brief workshops on topics such as placing holds online, and formal
computer training that covers topics such as word processing, the
internet, e-mail, access to on-line periodical articles.
Activities:
*Consider establishing a teen volunteer program to provide
computer support for senior citizens. (By June 2009)
4.
Promote access to regional and C/W MARS databases, both for
patrons in the library and for
those using home computers.
Goal 4: Reassess the Library’s Hours
Objectives:
1.
Continue to assess the library’s hours in relation to
public requests and staffing situations.
2.
Change hours if appropriate and if funding allows.
Publicize new hours.
Goal 5:
Continue to Develop the Library as a Cultural and
Educational Center and Public Gathering Place for the Community
Objectives:
1.
Offer programming that addresses the needs of adults in the
community.
Activities:
*Make programming plan for the entire fiscal year by
October ’08.
2.
Offer programming that addresses the needs of children in
the community, from toddlers to young
adults.
Activities:
*Make programming plan for the entire fiscal year by
October ’08.
3.
Prepare education materials and offer programming
pertaining to the new wetlands project.
Activities:
*Find a good speaker for a program by October ’08.
4.
Restructure and continue our annual community reading
program “Read It, Leverett.”
5.
Seek additional ways to bring the arts to the library.
6.
Maintain a strong connection with the Leverett Elementary
School, with a goal of visiting classes in
the spring to promote the summer reading program, and having the 2nd
grade visit the library each fall.
Goal 6: Bring the Library’s Financial
Position into Sharper Focus
Objectives:
1.
Develop a clear understanding among the director and
trustees of the various library accounts (town accounts and trusts), including their
purposes (operating expenses, capital expenses, etc.), sources of funding, and any
restrictions on their use.
Activity:
*Prepare a chart by June ’09.
2.
Review best practices for fundraising by small public
libraries.
3.
Prepare brochures detailing how individuals can donate
money to the library.
4.
Support and encourage the Friends of the Library in their
fund-raising activities, and look for ways to enhance our relationship. Educate the
public that without funds raised by the Friends, many of the “extras” not
covered by the town budget would not
be possible (museum passes, author visits, children’s and
adult programming).
Goal 7:
Strengthen the Administrative and Technical Services of the
Library
Objectives:
1.
Advocate budgets that meet the guidelines for state
accreditation.
2.
Encourage trustees, staff, Friends, and volunteers to take
advantage of state and regional library
workshops.
3.
Find ways to keep enthusiasm high among volunteers and show
appreciation for their
contributions.
4.
Improve the library’s outreach and communication via the
Internet, town and school newsletters,
and library website. Use these outlets to offer more information about
placing holds.
5.
Update the library’s emergency planning using the MBLC
program and with trustee involvement.
Goal 8:
Maintain and Improve the Library Building and Grounds
Objectives:
1.
Continue to seek environmentally responsible practices and
energy self-sufficiency.
2.
Complete the planning and work for the library grounds.
3.
Establish schedules for major maintenance events. Review
responsibilities and funding sources. Assess needs on a yearly basis.
Activity:
*Write schedule by
June ’09.
ATTACHMENTS
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