Methodology
This five year plan of service was developed by incorporating some of the guidelines and principles outlined in the Public Library Association (PLA) planning process entitled Planning for Results: A Library Transformation Process. Based upon the premise that "excellence must be defined locally," this plan reflects input from residents, town officials, library staff and library trustees. The Board of Library Trustees began gathering information in May 2004 by hosting three public forums. A total of thirty-one residents attended these forums that were held on different days and times to accommodate varied schedules. At each public forum a library trustee facilitated the discussion using the S.W.O.T. technique to gather input from the audience about the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for the library.
Staff input was garnered at the annual staff development day held on May 21, 2004. Mary Behrle and Scott Kehoe, consultants from the Northeast Massachusetts Regional Library System (NMRLS), presented a workshop on customer service using the S.W.O.T technique.
A fifteen member Long Range Planning Committee that included a broad representation of community stakeholders was formed in June, 2004 (see attached list of members). Prior to the first planning meeting, the Library Director prepared a "Community Profile" and a "Library Profile" that served as an orientation to current conditions. Consultants from the Northeast Massachusetts Regional Library System (NMRLS) facilitated three meetings of the Long Range Planning Committee. The first of three meetings was held on July 22, 2004. The S.W.O.T technique was once again used to gather information from members of the Long Range Planning Committee.
At the second meeting on August 30, 2004, the Library Director summarized the issues and trends that came out of all the meetings that used the S.W.O.T. technique. NMRLS consultants assisted the Long Range Planning Committee in brainstorming vision statements at this meeting. After prioritizing vision statements to which the library could respond, the committee members articulated draft goals.
In order to give all residents the opportunity to weigh in about library service needs, a community wide library survey was mailed to all households with the town water bill in August, 2004. The survey was also available on the library's website. The Community Survey Analysis is included in the Appendix C.
The third meeting of the Long Range Planning Committee was held on November 1, 2004. The draft of the goals and objectives was reviewed and modified by the Long Range Planning Committee.
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