The Millennium and Beyond

2nd Long-Range Plan for the Gates Public Library, 1998 - 2002

The Board's 1st Long Range Plan is contained in Appendix D and the achievements in Appendix E. Parts of the original plan could not be achieved as completion depended on factors the library staff could not control. 

With the 2nd plan, it is hoped that goals and objectives will be more readily achievable. Each year, the staff and the Board will select specific activities to implement the objectives and goals listed in this 2nd plan. 

Every year the Library Director will include in the library's annual report to the community the achievements from the past year's activities as a part of this long range plan. This plan satisfies N.Y.S. Minimum Standards for "each Library has a Board approved, written long range plan of service"  Susan Swanton, Library Director 10/97 

SUMMARY OF ROLES FOR PUBLIC LIBRARIES (Taken from Planning and Role Setting for Public Libraries, 1987, pp 32-42)  As a medium-sized library, Gates Public Library has focused in these roles in fulfilling its mission. 80% of library funding should be committed to the library's Primary and Secondary roles. 

PRIMARY ROLES 

POPULAR MATERIALS LIBRARY: The library features current, high demand, high interest materials in a variety of formats for persons of all ages. Characteristics of a library that selects this role are: 

• Includes recreational materials in collection 
• Provides video cassettes in collections 
• Uses merchandising techniques 
• Serves all age groups 

REFERENCE LIBRARY: The library actively provides timely, accurate, and useful information for community residents. Characteristics of a library that selects this role are:

•  Provides timely, accurate, and useful information 
• Has reference and informational services 
• Provides access to materials through interlibrary loan 
• Supports business and government 
• Includes indexes and abstracts in collection 
• Searches online databases 
• Includes a local history collection 

SECONDARY ROLES

FORMAL EDUCATION SUPPORT CENTER: The library assists students of all ages in meeting educational objectives established during their formal courses of study. Characteristics of a library which selects this role are: 

• Serves people of all ages 
• Supports formal education 
• Provides instruction in the use of the library for students 
• Provides homework help and support 
• Cooperates with schools in the area 
• Supports literacy training 
• Supplements - rather than duplicates - services provided by educational institutions. 

PRESCHOOLERS--DOOR TO LEARNING: The library encourages young children to develop an interest in reading and learning through services for children, and for parents and children together. Characteristics of a library that selects this role are: 

• Focuses services to meet the needs of preschoolers 
• Fosters reading readiness 
• Provides story hours 
• Presents summer read-aloud programs 
• Serves day care facilities 
• Develops a realia collection 
• Organizes programs on parenting 

TERTIARY ROLES
(no more than 20% of library funding should be committed to these maintenance level roles.) 

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES CENTER: The library is a central focus point for community activities, meetings, and services. Characteristics of a library that selects this role are: 

• Serves as a focus for activities, meetings, and services 
• Cooperates with community groups 
• Has a meeting room available 
• Emphasizes programming 
• Establishes an effective communication network with organizations in the community 

COMMUNITY INFORMATION CENTER ROLE: The library is a clearinghouse for current information on community organizations, issues, and services. Characteristics of a library that selects this role are: 

• Serves as a source of information about the community 
• Provides special services to meet community needs 
• Provides information and referral services 
• Cooperates with other organizations in programming 
• Links people with services 
• Serves as a central point in the community network 

INDEPENDENT LEARNING CENTER: The library supports individuals of all ages pursuing a sustained program of learning on an independent basis. Characteristics of a library that selects this role are: 

• Serves people of all ages 
• Supports independent learning projects 
• Has a strong non-fiction collection 
• Provides materials in a variety of formats 
• Makes self-help research guides available 

RESEARCH CENTER: The library assists scholars and researchers to conduct in depth studies, to investigate specific areas of knowledge, and to create new knowledge. This role is not one for most public libraries. Characteristics of a library that selects this role are: 

• Assists scholars and researchers 
• Provides in-depth collections in special subject areas 
• Provides special facilities to meet needs of researchers 
• Serves researchers by providing access to special databases

Mission Statement 

Recognizing its role as a major informational, recreational, and educational resource in the community, the Gates Public Library will continually respond to the needs of its patrons of all ages and backgrounds. Further, it will increase its efforts to gain new users in the Gates community and attempt to anticipate the evolving needs of the multi-cultural community. 

By offering open access to its wide array of materials, services, programs, and external resources, Gates Public Library will continue to be an enriching influence in the lives of Gates citizens.

GATES PUBLIC LIBRARY 
LONG RANGE PLAN 1998-2002 

Goal 1. To increase community partnerships and outreach in order to increase Gates residents' participation in library services. 

A. Shape a five year outreach plan for the library by 1998 

B. Identify at least a dozen potential community partnerships in the Town of Gates and contact them to explore mutual areas of cooperation by 1999 

C. Increase Gates percentage of library card holders from present 58% of the population (16,718)to 63% (18,007) or an increase of 1300 new card holders in Gates by 2002.

PRIMARY LIBRARY ROLES 

Popular Materials Library 
Goal  2 To provide high interest, high demand materials in a variety of formats for Gates residents of all ages 

OBJECTIVES: 

A. Utilize currently available CARL reports to identify annually 6 high interest/high demand areas of the collection for all age levels and expand the collection and services accordingly. 

B. Implement fund raising efforts to increase the library's materials budget from the present 11.5% to 15% (still short of the recommended national figure of 20%) of the library's budget by 2002. 

C. Improve results of selected output measures already conducted as a part of the first long range plan by 2002: 

1. Customer satisfaction rate.* Conduct by 1999 

2. Circulation per capita.** Annually 

3. In-library use per capita.*** Annually 

Previous Results (66% for titles; 85% for subject; 96% for browsing. 1996) ** (16.1 per capita. 1996) *** (3.4% per capita. 1996) 2. 

Reference Library (including Electronic Doorway Library elements) 
Goal 3. To promote the library as the premier source for all the community's informational and reference needs 

OBJECTIVES: 

A. Update and revitalize reference brochures every two years, beginning in 1998 and distribute them to at least 10 Gates organizations annually. 

B. Promote an area of reference services at least four times annually in media. 

C. Develop campaign to increase public awareness of the library as the community's premier source for information by end of 1998. 

D. Raise reference transactions per capita from present .9 to 1.3 by 2002.(1.3 national definition of a strong reference library.) 

Goal 4. To take a community leadership role with today's informational technology (Electronic Doorway Library and Internet specifically targeted) and to interface with local educational efforts involving such technology. 

OBJECTIVES: 

A. Offer an average of one class per week for the public on the Everyone's Catalog (E-Cat), graphical Internet and other electronic sources by 1999. 

B. Develop technology plan which will keep the library abreast of technology change by 1998. Review and update plan annually. 

C. Identify a possible joint technology project or program with the local schools and implement it by 2002. 

D. Conduct a survey of public perception on library leadership in providing informational technology by 2000. 

SECONDARY LIBRARY ROLES 

1. Formal Education Support Center 
Goal 5. To expand library efforts to support the educational institutions of the community.

OBJECTIVES: 

A. Identify curricular support needs for different grade levels and evaluate collection in light of these demands by 1999. 

B. Establish a program with public and private schools wherein all students of a particular grade level will be bussed to the public library for a tour by 2000. 

C. Explore ways, in conjunction with appropriate school personnel, to better provide students with the information they need and to institute two of these recommendations by 2002 

D. Contact at least two local continuing education agencies annually in order to improve public library services for adult students by 2000. 

E. Conduct a survey of Gates students' perceptions of public library support for their educational efforts in 1998 and repeat survey in 2002. 

2.  Preschoolers Door to Learning 
Goal 6. To develop and implement a comprehensive plan of service for Gates parents with children under five. 

OBJECTIVES: 

A. Promote the Books to Babies program and institute an additional program for parents and older babies/toddlers by 1999, in order to cover all preschool age groups. 

B. Promote reading aloud as an essential activity to parents by contacting 5 groups annually. 

C. Contact 5 other early childhood agencies annually to identify needs the public library can help fill. 

D. Strive to secure funding for HOPE (Helping Our Parents Educate) for four year olds and their parents by end of 1998. 

E. Conduct a library awareness survey of parents of kindergarteners in 1998 and again in 2002, at kindergarten orientation in May.

Implementation Timetable 

Annually...... 

• Goal 2; Objective A 
  Utilize currently available CARL reports to identify annually 6 high interest/high demand areas of the collection for all age levels and expand the collection and services accordingly. 
• Goal 2; Objective C 
  Improve results of selected output measures already conducted as a part of the first long range plan by 2002: 
  2. Circulation per capita: 16.1 per capita (1996) Annually 
  3. In-library use per capita: 3.4 per capita (1996) Annually 
• Goal 3; Objective A 
  Update and revitalize reference brochures every two years beginning in 1998 and distribute them to at least 10 Gates organizations annually. 
• Goal 3; Objective B 
  Promote an area of reference services at least four times annually in media. 
• Goal 4; Objective B 
  Develop technology plan which will keep the library abreast of technology change by 1998. Review and update plan annually. 
• Goal 5; Objective D 
  Contact at least two local continuing education agencies annually in order to improve public library services for adult students by 2000. 
• Goal 6; Objective B 
  Promote reading aloud as an essential activity to parents by contacting 5 groups annually. 
• Goal 6; Objective C 
  Contact 5 other early childhood agencies annually to identify needs the public library can help fill. 

1998.... 

• Goal 1; Objective A 
  Shape a five year outreach plan for the library by 1998. 
• Goal 3; Objective C 
  Develop campaign to increase public awareness of the library as the community's premier source for information by end of 1998. 
• Goal 5; Objective E 
  Conduct a survey of Gates students' perceptions of public library support for their educational efforts in 1998 and repeat survey in 2002. 
• Goal 6; Objective D 
  Strive to secure funding for HOPE (Helping Our Parents Educate) for four year olds and their parents by end of 1998. 
• Goal 6; Objective E 
  Conduct a library awareness survey of parents of kindergarteners in 1998 and again in 2002, at kindergarten orientation in May. 

1999......... 

• Goal 1; Objective B 
  Identify at least a dozen potential community partnerships in the Town of Gates and contact them to explore mutual areas of cooperation by 1999. 
• Goal 2; Objective C 
  Improve results of selected output measures already conducted as a part of the first long range plan by 2002. 
  1. Browser fill rate: 66% (1996) for titles; 85%(1996)for subject; 96%(1996)for browsing. Conduct by 1999. 
• Goal 4; Objective A 
  Offer an average of one class per week for the public on the Everyone's Catalog (E-Cat), graphical Internet and other electronic sources by 1999. 
• Goal 5; Objective A 
  Identify curricular support needs for different grade levels and evaluate collection in light of these demands by 1999. 
• Goal 6; Objective A 
  Promote the Books to Babies program and institute an additional program for parents and older babies/toddlers by 1999, in order to cover all preschool age groups.

2000....... 

• Goal 4; Objective D 
  Conduct a survey pf public perception on library leadership in providing informational technology by 2000. 
• Goal 5; Objective B 
  Establish a program with public and private schools wherein all students of a particular grade level will be bussed to the public library for a tour by 2000. 
• Goal 5; Objective D 
  Contact at least two local continuing education agencies in order to improve public library services for adult students by 2000. 

2002.... 

• Goal 1; Objective C 
  Increase Gates' percentage of library card holders from present 58% of the population (16,718) to (17,150) or an increase of 400-500 new card holders in gates by 2002. 
• Goal 2; Objective B 
  Implement fund raising efforts to increase the library's materials budget from the present 11.5% to 15% (still short of the recommended national figure of 20%) of the library's budget by 2002. 
• Goal 3; Objective D 
  Raise reference transactions per capita from present .9 to 1.3 by 2002 (1.3 national definition of a strong reference library.) 
• Goal 4; Objective C 
  Identify a possible joint technology project or program with the local schools and implement it by 2002. 
• Goal 5; Objective C 
  Explore ways, in conjunction with appropriate school personnel, to better provide students with the information they need and to institute two those recommendations by 2002. 
• Goal 5; Objective E 
  Conduct a survey of Gates students perceptions of public library support for their educational efforts in 1998 and repeat survey in 2002. 
• Goal 6; Objective E 
  Conduct a library awareness survey of parent of kindergarteners in 1998 and again in 2002, at kindergarten orientation in May. 

Appendices 
A. Focus Group
B. Historical Outline
C. Output Measures for Public Libraries
D. 1st Long Range Plan
E. Achievements
F. Glossary of Terms
G. GPL Holdings and Circulation