To assemble, preserve, and administer in organized collections, information in a variety of formats to serve the educational and recreational needs of the community. To promote and stimulate the communication of ideas, fostering enlightened citizenship, and enrich personal lives. To encourage and provide all citizens the opportunity and resources for lifelong learning.

STAFFING

I. Optimize utilization of staff and their skills.

A. Provide consistent and useful staff training. Location could be at both the library and at other places.

1. Have staff better prepared for emergencies such as a fire, tornado, “postal” patron etc.

a. Redistribute the Safety and Disaster manual – Complete May 2004

b. Have a training seminar with the New Carlisle Fire Department and hold a fire drill – completed May 2004

(1) Training seminar has been scheduled for Monday, May 17, 2004 at 3:30 p.m.

(2) Fireman will be present if they are available.

(3) By Monday, May 10 there should be a basic plan and map available to hand out to staff that shows:

Emergency Exits

Fire Alarm Pulls

Fire Extinguisher locations

Emergency telephone numbers (also available at all telephones

(4) SB to forward a memo to the staff detailing:

Children will meet in main meeting room for @10 minutes for us to discuss the fire drill.

Some staff will remain in building as a security measure to make sure that no one steals items in anyone’s backpack etc.

Children will not be shown where fire exits are located.

All patrons will meet on the south side of the sign in-front-of the library and then return after the drill has finished.

An announcement of the drill will also be made over the intercom.

Discuss what to do if a child plays with the fire alarm pull, where is key, who to call, how to silence alarm.

(5) After fire drill is complete need to have staff provide as much input as possible regarding what went well, what went wrong and what we would do differently.

c. Have a training seminar with the New Carlisle Police Department about how to handle upset patrons – assigned to sb

d. Hold a tornado drill – sb

e. Have a concurrent drill with Olive Township Elementary in the event the school needs to be evacuated – sb

2. Provide more in-depth training for the Inspire.net serials database – assigned to RH

3. Provide/allow more cross-training between staff members

4. Better training to assist patrons with patron terminals

5. Be sure staff are all aware of the library’s mission.

a. Send Director to American Library Association conference or the Public Library Association conference.

B. Review library and staff hours to ensure adequate levels of staffing when needed.

C. Recruit and train individuals to serve the library’s patrons.

1. Perform background check on all potential employees.

2. It is imperative to provide solid training for all new hires. Be sure they receive policies, staff manual, regulations

D. Encourage continuing attendance at area and state library association meetings.

E. Encourage staff to become involved with outside activities and groups

F. Provide funding for staff participation at continuing education seminars.

G. Provide networking opportunities with staff members at other libraries.

H. Provide time for staff development and in-service training seminars.

I. Maintain salaries/wages which are commensurate to those in similar positions in the private sector.

J. Monitor usership at specific times and be sure library is open and properly staffed to meet those usership needs.

1. Investigate closing at 5:00 on Saturdays.

K. Investigate additional benefits for part-time employees i.e. vacation, personal and sick leave.

1. Investigate sharing sick leave i.e. sick-day bank, must donate to collect.

L. Review job descriptions for accuracy.

M. Maintain and upgrade existing evaluation criteria.

1. Maintain annual evaluation of staff.

N. Consider an outside source to investigate how we do our jobs. They may have an idea how we can increase our own productivity.

FACILITY

II. Provide better facility access and egress for staff and patrons

A. Objectives

1. Ensure that emergency doors are free of obstructions, i.e. ice, snow, rocks etc.

2. Be sure emergency exits are properly marked and lighted (be sure lightbulbs are changed)

3. Be sure of wheelchair access to and from front porch area.

4. Provide signage for various departments.

5. Annually review building use to determine if the library building and grounds are well maintained.

6. Utilize materials donated by a professional custodial company to ensure that library is well maintained.

a. Re-work/word as necessary

b. Make sure directions are easy to follow.

c. Place in binder in main Custodial Room for easy access.

7. Assemble a detailed cleaning schedule and list of what jobs need to be done and when and by whom.

8. Assemble a list of how to clean certain objects i.e. light fixtures etc.

9. Maintenance database of all HVAC systems, lighting, general built-in equipment

TECHNOLOGY

III. Maintain a technology plan that consistently maintains current level of technology and implements future technology as relevant.

A. Objectives

1. Develop training programs that will best utilize staff expertise and more effective serve our clientele.

2. Reduce of incidence of downtime of equipment, to control repair costs and provide more consistent uptime for servers, workstations and printers.

a. Staff training on how to troubleshoot for printers and computers.

3. Maintenance database for all computer systems.

4. Investigate Linux as an alternative to the Windows operating system.

5. Have outside technology consultant evaluate current level of tech. In the library and offer opinions about backup, firewall security, filtering etc.

6. Maintain an adequate number of patron workstations.

a. Provide laptops for patron use when the request is legitimate (not computer games)

b. Add scheduling software for patron computers – assigned to RJ

c. Additional OPAC in adult section

PUBLIC RELATIONS/COMMUNITY SERVICE/MARKETING

IV. Ensure that the New Carlisle Public Library is consistently reaching out to existing and new customers including businesses.

A. Gather community demographic information to determine the future direction the library needs to take to meet community needs, with particular attention to literacy.

B. Signage – listing of names and titles (i.e. Children’s Programming – Sara Smigielski etc.)

1. Signage for teen area.

C. Poster of monthly programs and where they will be located

1. www.brookscompany.com/poster_printer.htm

2. www.audiovisualinnovations.com/audiovisual-products/posterprinters.asp

3. www.ustechusa.com/tcpn/curdetail.asp?cat=poster_printers

4. Poster with layout of the library

5. How to do this without looking cluttered

D. Business card magnet that lists our name, address, phone, website and hours.

E. New materials list: SJCPL does this in the South Bend Tribune and on website.

F. How do we let people know that have never been in the library, what services, materials etc. we have to offer? Some people don’t receive the New Carlisle News.

1. Send library information to churches, schools, Lions club, sororities, NCBCA, Little League,

2. Better marketing for computer classes

G. Attend Continuous Improvement in Libraries seminars.

H. Oral History project in conjunction with Historic New Carlisle (video, audio, slides)

I. Increasingly publicize library services

1. Basic tax return seminar like what Ham Grove does, we can help advertise for AARP, senior centers and low income

J. Use outside agencies to help advertise

K. Encourage staff to conduct programs offsite, i.e. take program/activity to schools, retirement centers, pre-school.

L. Seek input from Young Adults on what they would like the library to provide via services and materials

M. Work cooperatively with area schools to supplement materials needed for the library.

N. Provide programs from historical and fine arts perspective

O. Establish library programs which will reach out to the public and take the library outside of the building.

P. Inform patrons via website or best way possible how we operate and where our funds come from.

Q. Who works here? Is currently on website, first names only.

R. Be sure policies and bylaws are on website.

S. Advertise current statistics on website.

T. Library map on website

U. Children’s department information on web

V. Adult department information on web.

W. Shut-in service.

X. Plastic library cards for patrons (i.e. to put on key chain and regular card that looks like a credit card)

Y. Be aware of what other libraries are doing (make sure NCPL is not operating in a vacuum)

Z. Study café usage to see if any changes need to be addressed, i.e. larger vending machine, larger cooler, another computer?

1. Or do away with because of mess

USERSHIP GOALS

V. Consistently strive to improve library usership statistics.

A. Set circulation goals

B. Better utilization of in-house statistics for collection development

C. Seek out and respond to suggestions and concerns of patrons about library facilities, services and collection.

D. Provide a system to better handle information requests, quickly and accurately

1. Investigate current system of patron requests and follow-up.

2. Are we providing adequate inter-library loan

3. Is reciprocal borrowing being promoted using LaPorte Co. P.L., Michigan City P.L. and Mishawaka Penn Public Library?

E. Investigate whether or not a homebound program would be worth the time, money and effort.

F. Develop a way by which we can identify groups who do not use the library on a regular basis.

G. Maintain existing “Book Clubs” and explore possibility of adding clubs

1. Teens

2. Science Fiction

COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT

VI. Strive to maintain the highest quality collection for library users.

A. 20% of annual budget for materials

B. Aggressively weed entire collection

C. Replace 5% of collection annually

D. Maintain standing orders for reference department

E. Be more sensitive to patron wants

F. All departments are to use any means possible to purchase popular and reference materials in advance of demand.

G. Streamline the process by which items are purchased

H. Circulate review journals and publisher’s catalogs to staff members responsible for purchasing.

I. Stress the use of a material request form and that patron requests are put at the top of the list.

J. Use aisle markers/shelf talkers telling patrons that we want their input on what materials they would like to see us purchase.

K. Use internet resources to research possible purchases.

L. Aggressively meet the information needs for young people including recreational interests.

M. Conduct surveys and/or seek input from non-users to help determine how the library could become an educational, informational, and recreational resource center to meet their needs.

N. Aggressively evaluate the current collection to determine if it is meeting the needs of patrons now and for the future.

DEPARTMENTAL GOALS

VII. Each department in the library will strive to maximize library services.

A. Technical Services – Julie

B. Assistant Director – AS

1. New download sites for cataloging, cataloging software upgrades, circulation procedures

C. Children’s and Youth Services – SS, RH, BJ

1. Sleep over for one of the children’s programs

2. Develop partnership with middle and high school librarians – RH and SS

3. Re-develop partnership with elementary school librarians – SS

4. Co-sponsor “Turn off TV Week” with school corporation.

5. Liaise with church youth groups and notify when we have programs

6. Invite ideas from youth group leaders, their ideas about our offerings

7. Work with Jr. & Sr. High choir and or drama directors to provide a venue for teens in these school programs.

8. Plan more activities for the whole family to attend.

9. Homework Helpers – volunteers and staff to help answer questions (3:30-4:30. Have snack available.

10. Coordinate purchasing with topics studies in schools – RH and SS

11. Work closer with home schooled kids and parents with regard to collection development and programming.

12. Begin a homework helper section. Include textbooks from all grades at NPUSC.

D. Programming/Rare Materials– BJ, RH, SS

1. Finish digitization project of NCPL materials

2. Start digitization project of HNC materials

3. Digitize cemetery records held at Town hall

4. Continued computer classes

E. Reference/Adult Services – RH, BJ, SS

1. Sponsor/provide site for GED classes

2. Adult basic education classes

3. English as a second language

4. Spanish as a second language

5. Tutor list for kids and adults

6. Collection development for adult and reference departments RH

7. Train for cataloging RH

F. Multi-Media – Bonnie

G. Custodial Services/Maintenance – Nancy

H. Director – Stevie

1. Keep office clean.

I. Support staff

J. Monthly or bi-weekly para-professional staff meeting in addition to regular staff meeting.

LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES

VIII. Maintain a higher level of development for Library Trustees.

A. Annual or bi-annual retreat?

B. Maintain up-to-date list of policies, by-laws

C. Provide programs to ensure board members’ awareness of their Trustee responsibilities

D. Review policies, by-laws and service plans on a regular basis.

E. Encourage Trustees to attend Indiana Library Federation and INCOLSA sponsored events and become involved with the Indiana Library Federation.

F. Encourage Trustees to seek and maintain contact with local, state and federal elected officials in order to educate and inform those officials about issues important to libraries.

G. Encourage trustees to explore what other libraries are doing in order to improve the current level of service provided by our library.

H. Evaluate the Library Directory on an annual basis.

OTHER RELEVANT GOALS

IX. Provide a neat and clean café area for patrons to enjoy snacks and beverages.

A. Monitor which items sell the most and be sure to keep them in stock.

B. Be sensitive to new products that may compliment what we are currently selling in the café.

C. Pricing is always an issue. The maximum price for any item should be no more than $1.00, with a majority of items selling at 50 cents.

D. Investigate the purchase of a larger electronic vending machine (be sure small kids are able to see and reach buttons).

E. Clean cooler as necessary.

F. Clean Cappuccino machine weekly, restock more frequently though.

G. Maintain a purchasing list for the café and a weekly inventory.