Johnston Public Library Plan for 2008 - 2011

(Approved by the Johnston Public Library Board of Trustees November 15, 2007)

Mission Statement

The mission of the Johnston Public Library is to grow and develop with the community to meet the people’s cultural, educational, and information needs in a welcoming setting that supports lifelong learning.

Library Vision

The Johnston Public Library will inspire and sustain a literate citizenry, enhancing lives through knowledge and information.  We will offer outstanding customer service and will be the gateway to learning for all ages, offering a wide spectrum of services, materials, and programming to enhance the quality of life in our community.

Core Values

The Johnston Public Library trustees, staff, volunteers, and Foundation share these values.

• We value our library users
• by providing a safe, welcoming environment with equal access to information, our facility, our services, and our programs.
• by listening carefully and communicating clearly.
• by providing timely, accurate, friendly, respectful service to all.
• by respecting their privacy and keeping their transactions confidential.

• We value our community
• by being active and cooperative participants in community affairs.
• by respecting the public’s investment in our institution and allocating our time and resources responsibly.
• by enhancing the quality of life of our citizens.

• We value our role as a public forum
• by providing a community gathering place.
• by supporting intellectual freedom and the open communication of ideas and information.
• by offering an up-to-date collection, as well as displays, programs, and services that reflect an array of formats and viewpoints.

• We value our role as an advocate for knowledge
• by promoting reading, information literacy, and learning for all ages. 
• by supporting cultural activities and programs.
• by leveraging technology to enhance our services.

• We value our staff, volunteers, trustees, and Foundation members

• by supporting teamwork and positive working relationships.
• by recognizing their contributions.
• by supporting their training and continuing education.

I.  Collection Development

• Improve the quality, condition, and currency of the overall library collection.
• Determine standards for the physical condition and overall age of specific areas of the collection.
• Focus on collection development and weeding to meet these standards.
• Increase the speed at which new items are available to customers through timely ordering and technical processing.
• Pursue innovative methods of offering content.
• Offer access to additional databases through our website.
• Explore the expansion of digital audio and video resources.
• Offer materials to attract new users and to better serve the special populations.
• Continue to develop the Young Adult collection.
• Address the reading interests and needs of the “middle adult” (e.g. 40-60 years old) and “active retiree” population in our community.
• Review the need for large print and audio materials for our readers.
• Address the reading interests and needs of an increasingly diverse population.

II. Programs and Services

• Provide a variety of programs for library users of all ages and abilities.
• Offer defined programs for all youth age groups from babies through teens.
• Experiment with offering children’s reading-related programs in the evening or on the weekend.
• Expand the summer reading program to adults.
• Expand the number of cultural events (e.g. author lectures, concerts, art displays) and special programs for adults.
• Offer computer usage and information literacy classes for the public.
• Offer defined services for special populations such as Camp Dodge and group homes.
• Ensure that reference, reader’s advisory, outreach, and circulation services are innovative and meet community needs.
• Staff the Circulation Desk, Reference Desk and the Youth Services Desk during all the hours of operation.
• Reduce the amount of time that items remain in pre-shelving areas.
• Explore alternate ways to handle items that are long overdue.
• Leverage technology to provide better service to library users.
• Maintain and upgrade the public computers as required.
• Enable online registration via the website for programs.
• Train library users on how to use express check-out after it has been implemented.
• Enable library users to place Holds on items that are currently on order.
• Provide a variety of meeting room spaces for public use.
• Continue to manage meeting room reservations via our website.
• Conduct a survey of meeting room users to determine if improvements can be made in the reservation process or in other aspects of their use of meeting rooms.

III. Marketing

• Establish a Marketing plan to increase library visibility.
• Identify specific demographic or “shared interest” groups within the community and target library marketing to address the interests of these groups.
• Maintain a working relationship with various local publications and provide regular information to increase library coverage.
• Develop creative methods to market and promote library collections.
• Offer displays that highlight various parts of the collection.
• Offer booklists, pathfinders, and other resource assistance for library users.
• Enhance the library’s website to improve awareness and access.
• Add a listserv, e-newsletter, and/or e-mail service component to the website.
• Increase the promotion of library materials on the website.
• Upgrade the design of the website.
• Ensure that information about the Library is clear, complete, and current.
• Include better instructions on how to perform individual account activities.
• Provide helpful information about the Library for our users.
• Ensure that printed brochures, maps, and handouts are clear, complete and current.
• Provide information about the Library to new Johnston residents.

IV. Accessibility

• Provide convenient access to library services.
• As population grows, increase the number of hours the Library is open to the public.
• Provide outreach services by offering occasional programs and services off-site.
• Arrange materials in the Library with full accessibility in mind.
• Support the school-to-library trail proposed by the City.

V. Connection with Community

• Monitor demographic trends of our growing community.
• Utilize new and existing community studies to anticipate changing service needs.
• Survey library users and non-users to assist in planning for library services.
• Strengthen the Library’s role within the community through partnerships.
• Increase involvement in the Johnston Chamber of Commerce.
• Increase collaboration with the Johnston Community Schools.
• Continue involvement in the Johnston Alliance for Character Development, Johnston Community Education Resource Council, and the Partnership for a Healthy Community.
• Continue to be actively involved in community celebrations such as Green Days, the Johnston Bluegrass Festival, and Holidays in Johnston.
• Promote the exchange of ideas and information for the community.
• Highlight resources pertaining to the City of Johnston.
• Partner with local organizations to feature the groups and activities available within the community.
• Determine the Library’s role in archiving information about the Johnston community.
• Maintain a close working relationship with Johnston Public Library Foundation.
• Approach the Foundation with funding requests for unique and exceptional programs.
• Develop a new fund-raising activity.
• Increase community involvement in the Library.
• Expand the base of regular, committed volunteers.
• Re-establish the Friends of the Johnston Library group.

VI. Staff

• Allocate staff resources to areas of greatest need.
• Analyze workflow and reallocate responsibilities as needed.
• Review scheduling methods.
• Consider utilizing an intern, particularly during the summer reading program.
• Provide training that enhances the staff’s ability to deliver excellent service and offers job enrichment.
• Increase time spent in training at scheduled staff meetings.
• Review policies so all staff members follow policies consistently.
• Institute an annual In-Service Training day.
• Ensure that each staff member has the opportunity for one job-related enrichment activity beyond in-house training each year.
• Foster pride in and respect for excellent job performance.
• Allocate time in scheduled staff meetings for employees to describe their job responsibilities and how those responsibilities relate to other work done at the Library.
• Create opportunities for more interaction among the staff, the Library Board, and the Foundation Board.
• Recognize excellent job performance by individuals, teams, and as an entire staff.

VII. Technology & Facilities

• Provide the technical infrastructure needed to support library services and operations.
• Update the Technology Plan.
• Continue planned replacement and retirement of staff and public computers according to the Technology Plan schedule.
• Increase the number of computers for public use.
• Upgrade telecommunications, bandwidth, and wireless capacity as needed.
• Evaluate options to streamline registrations for library programming.
• Utilize new features of our library automation system (i.e. Sirsi/Dynix).
• Evaluate and implement a library security system when the cost justifies the expense.
• Evaluate and implement express check-out when feasible.
• Provide an environment that is welcoming, well maintained, and safe.
• Make the Vending Area more welcoming for those who want to gather and visit.
• Review signage and make improvements as needed.
• Keep up with routine and preventative maintenance of the building and grounds.
• Reduce, reuse, and recycle wherever possible, and follow “green” environmental principles in our building and grounds.
• Optimize space in the workroom to support greater staff efficiency.
• Review storage needs and maximize existing storage space.
• Maintain open sight lines in the Library to enhance the safety and security of our library users.
• Address traffic flow and safety issues in the parking lot.
• Ensure that appropriate security mechanisms, procedures, and training are in place so that staff can respond in the event of an emergency.