2013 -2018 Long-Range Plan

Vermillion County Public Library
2013 -2018 Long-range Plan
2013 -2018 Long-range Plan /
Vermillion County Public Library /

Table of Contents

Overview and Mission / 2
Library Board / 2
Library Staff / 2
List of Present Facilities / 2
Statement of Community Needs / 2 - 3
Goals / 3
Assessment of Facility / 8
Strategic Action / 8
Financial Sustainability and Facilities Management / 8 - 9
Appendix A / 10 - 11

Overview and Mission

Vermillion County Public Library serves approximately 7,100 residents through the main branch located in Newport, Indiana. The library services patrons located in Helt, Vermillion, Eugene, and Highland townships of Vermillion County, Indiana.

The VCPL mission statement is “providing individual patrons access to a wide range of applications, materials, services and programs to inform, educate, and entertain.” The mission statement aims to provide technology to all residents and give each user the opportunity to understand and use these resources free of charge.

Library Board

The Vermillion County Public Library is governed by a Library Board of Trustees. The Library Board is composed of seven (7) members. The Board members are appointed as follows: two (2) by the North Vermillion School Board; two (2) by the Vermillion County Commissioners; two (2) by the Vermillion County Council; and one (1) by the South Vermillion School Board.

Library Staff

The Vermillion County Public Library employs four(4) full-time employees and two (2) part-time employees. The staff includes one (1) library director with a Librarian Certificate 3, one (1) Children’s Librarian with a temporary Librarian Certificate working towards a Librarian Certificate 4, two (2) professional assistants with a Librarian Certificate 6, and two part-time employees including a housekeeper and a bookkeeper.

List of Present Facilities

Name: Vermillion County Public Library
Founded: 1923
Moved to current building in 2003 which was constructed in 1923
Square Footage: 20,000
Location: Old Newport High School
Facility Offerings: Gymnasium, Kitchen, 3 Meeting Rooms, Offices, Genealogy
Technology Available: 6 patrons computers, 1 printer including copier/scanner, 1 fax machine
Resources Available: Approximately 29,297 books, DVDs, audio books in addition to the involvement of the Evergreen Indiana Consortium. The library also offers: newspapers, magazines, and genealogical records. Along with these resources, the library also has a volunteer genealogist to obtain more information.

Statement of Community Needs

A community survey concerning VCPL services, resources, buildings, and suggested future enhancements was conducted from May through July 2013. The survey could be completed online at the library’s website or on paper and was promoted through different community organizations and locations.

Using the VCPL website, patrons could email the library with questions and comments about programs, policies, new book requests or just overall opinions on how the library is performing and receive replies from staff.

Awareness and knowledge gained from all these activities have been employed to determine the VCPL long-range planning goals that follow.

Among the suggestions and needs expressed by the public the most often listed were:

Connect to the Online World: Public Internet Access.
Create Young Readers: Early Literacy
Learn to Read and Write: Adult, teen, and family literacy.
Satisfy Curiosity: Lifelong learning.
Visit a Comfortable Place: Physical and virtual spaces.

Goals:

Residents of Vermillion County will know that the Vermillion County Public Library is available to provide access to the general information; internet; literacy; lifelong learning; and a comfortable place to visit.

Objective 1: Yearly increase community awareness so that the number of patrons increases by 5%.

Activities:

Community Event Involvement including Dana Fireman’s Festival, Newport Hill Climb, Community Fundraisers.
Host Community Day Events/Open House to promote the library.
E-newsletter to current patrons and networking with the Purdue Extension board to promote library programming and services.
Collaboration with local Optimist Clubs, schools, 4-H groups, and homeschoolstudents and parents.

Objective 2: Yearly increase the library budget 1% to continue improving library resources.

Activities:

Continue to rent offices in our facility.
Increase our relationship with the county council and other community leaders.
Promote general awareness of library services and resources.

Objective 3: Yearly increase the community awareness of OverDrive and the Evergreen Consortium by 1%.

Activities:

Work with the other (3) three local Evergreen libraries to promote our services.
Create how-to PowerPoints and/or videos to post on the library’s website.
Offer how-to classes on the use of OverDrive and Evergreen Catalog searching.

Objective 4: 70% of all patrons surveyed will say that the library is a comfortable, safe, and relaxing place to meet and interact or to sit quietly and read or study.

Activities:

Provide more seating and table work spaces.
Work to utilize library space more efficiently.
Ensure that staff is helpful and friendly.

Children, teens and adults alike will have unrestricted high speed access to take advantage of resources and services available through the internet.

Objective 1: Each year a minimum of 70% of all patrons will find our computer technology is good or excellent.

Activities:

Keep software and programs updated.
Replace computers every 5 years.
Stay in contact with ENA to make sure internet service provided meets the needs of our patrons.
Keep printer/copier serviced and current.
Replace old scanner.

Objective 2: Upon 60% increase of regular children’s programming participation; we will obtain children’s computers for the Children’s room for use by 0-11 year olds.

Activities:

More children’s programming.
Weeding current volumes as needed and making the room easier to navigate for children.
Enhancing Children’s Room book collection

Objective 3: Upon 15% usage and knowledge of the OverDrive program, we will obtain e-readers for circulation by 16 year olds to adults.

Activities:

Advertise OverDrive through newletters, social media, website, and community events.
Create how-to PowerPoints and/or videos to post on the library’s website.
Offer how-to classes on the use of OverDrive.

Objective 4: Yearly there will be a 10% increase in the number of patrons to use the six (6) public access computers.

Activities:

Keep computers updated.
Survey patrons to ensure that programs and databases meet their needs.
Offer computer classes.
Implement “Book-a-Librarian” for personalized computer assistance.

Children 0-12 will be provided with programming and materials to ensure that they are prepared for school with basic literacy needs met and the ability to build their formal learning skills as they grow.

Objective 1: Children and juvenile books circulated will increase by 3% each year.

Activities:

Continue to add new books.
Weed both collections.
Increase programming.

Objective 2: The number of children enrolled in the summer reading program will increase by 10% each year.

Activities:

Better advance planning of activities.
Near the end of the school year promote the program by visiting both North and South Vermillion schools.
Advertise on our website, in local newspapers, social media, and radio broadcasting.

Objective 3: The number of children attending storytime and after school programming during the school will increase by 10%.

Activities:

Better advance planning of activities.
Advertise on our website, in local newspapers, social media, and radio broadcasting.
Networking with local Extension Office, Optimist Club, etc to promote programming.
Begin outreach programs with local daycares and preschools.

Supply parents and caregivers of children ages 0-12 with programming and materials needed to help their children become successful learners.

Objective 1: Have a 70% increase in parent/caregiver attendance to children 0-12 programming.

Activities:

Better advance planning of activities.
Advertise on our website, in local newspapers, social media, and radio broadcasting.
Networking with local Extension Office, Optimist Club, etc to promote programming.
Work with parents of homeschooled children.

Objective 2: Increase parent/caregiver materials and programming by 75%.

Activities:

Buy new materials and resources.
Create parent/caregiver and child programming.
Work with local government agencies to provide programming.
Networking with local Extension Office, Optimist Club, etc to promote programming.

Work with parents of homeschooled children.

Better advance planning of activities

Teens will find quality materials and variety of programs to meet personal interest.

Objective 1: Yearly there will be a 70% increase in the number of young adults to attend library programs.

Activities:

Better advance planning of activities.
Advertise on our website, in local newspapers, social media, and radio broadcasting.
Networking with local Extension Office, Optimist Club, etc to promote programming.
Begin outreach programs with local boys home.

Objective 2: The annual circulation of young adult fiction will increase by 5%.

Activities:

Continue to increase new book purchases.
Get feedback from young adults for new materials.
Plan programming.

Adults will have access to materials to meet personal interests, local and global news and lifelong learning through readily available programming and materials.

Objective 1: Each year there will be a 60% increase in the number of participants to attend the free GED test prep course.

Activities:

Enhance promotion through networking with local Extension Office, advertising on our website, local newspapers, social media, and radio advertisements.

Work with local government agencies to provide information in regards to GED course and career certificates offered.
Promote within library to inform our local patrons.

Objective 2: Yearly there will be a 70% increase in the number of adults to attend library programs.

Activities:

Better advance planning of activities.
Advertise on our website, in local newspapers, social media, and radio broadcasting.
Work with local government agencies to provide programming.
Begin outreach programs with local nursing home.
Contact local professional for involvement in guest speaker series.
Provide more classes for governmental assistance.
Provide how-to classes for various topics.

Objective 3: The annual circulation of nonfiction materials will increase by 5%.

Activities:

Weed the nonfiction collection.
Continue to increase new book purchases.
Gain feedback from adults patrons for new materials.
Provide programming to draw interest in various nonfiction categories.

Objective 4: The annual circulation of fiction will increase by 5%.

Activities:

Weed the fiction collection.
Continue to increase new book purchases.
Gain feedback from adult patrons for new materials.
Start a book discussion club.

Assessment of Facilities, Services, Technologies, Operations, and Policies

See Appendix A.

Strategic Action:

Our goal between 2013-2018 is to rebuild our library’s reputation and reconnect with our community. As opportunities arise to build relationships and network with our community, the library will act to achieve our service responses of access, literacy, curiosity, and community.

Although activities are listed throughout the plan to help us redirect the library in order to achieve our goals, we are unable to predict future collaborations and innovations with community partners, schools, and leaders. As small changes have already taken place, we are preparing for larger changes to impact the community. By the beginning of 2015, we plan to have a library evaluation report to provide to the community which will show a better understanding of the services, materials, and relationships that were needed to fulfill our four service responses and meet state mandated standards.

Financial Sustainability and Facilities Management

To ensure that the library continues to use our communities funding wisely, our service goals help us to decide proper money allocation during budget preparation.

As the library facility is an old high school building, we attempt to plan a service schedule but much of our facilities management is done on an as needed basis. All decisions regarding replacement are made with consideration to library budget matters, efficiency, service goals, and need. Below is a schedule of possible updates and replacements as we are trying to initiate a more precise way to anticipate possible expenses.

Regularly scheduled preventative maintenance is not listed below which includes air conditioning cleaning and testing, monthly elevator inspections, and annual fire extinguishers/alarm system safety and functionality.

Year / Technology / Facilities
2013 / Patron workstations
(2) Staff workstations
Printer/Copier
Fax machine / Roof, gutters
2014 / Scanner / Carpet, kitchen vinyl flooring, gym floor, new sign, entrance overhangs / Clean gutters, tree trimming, interior signage
2015 / E-readers / Staff Seating / Patron Seating
2016 / (2) Staff workstations / Clean gutters, tree trimming
2017 / Boiler, A/C Units
2018 / Patron workstations
(2) Staff workstations / Clean gutters, tree trimming
2019
2020 / Printer/Copier
Fax machine
Scanner / Clean gutters, tree trimming

Appendix A

Assessment of facilities, services, technology, operations, and policies
Year: 2013
Meet Standards / Indiana Public Library Standards Compliance Level
Basic / Enhanced / Exceptional / Improve
Facilities
590 IA C 6-1-4 (i) -- Library facility complies with local, state and federal building health and safety codes. / Yes / - / - / - / -
590 IA C 6-1-4 (j) -- Library facility complies with federal Americans with Disabilities Act. / Yes / - / - / - / -
Services
590 IA C 6-1-4 (k-1-2) --Material collection and availability / Yes / - / - / - / -
590 IA C 6-1-4 (k-3) --Library collection expenditures -7.5% / Yes / X
590 IA C 6-1-4 (k-4) --Communication with public / Yes / - / - / - / -
590 IA C 6-1-4 (k-5) --Website / Yes / - / - / - / -
590 IA C 6-1-4 (k-6) --Interlibrary loan -Evergreen Indiana, Indiana SHARE, Local reciprocal borrowing agreement /Rockville and Vigo County / Yes / - / - / - / -
590 IA C 6-1-4 (k-7) --Delivery service -2 days a week / Yes / X
590 IA C 6-1-4 (k-8) --Adult Services / Yes / X
590 IA C 6-1-4 (k-9) -- Young Adult Services / Yes / X
590 IA C 6-1-4 (k-10) -- Children's Services / Yes / X
590 IA C 6-1-4 (k-11) --Programming -100 programs in 2013 / Yes / X
590 IA C 6-1-4 (k-12) --Access to media for patrons with physical or visual disability. / Yes / - / - / - / -
590 IA C 6-1-4 (k-13) --Integrated Library System -Evergreen Indiana / Yes / - / - / - / -
590 IA C 6-1-4 (k-16) --Purging inactive library patrons once every 3 years. / Yes / - / - / - / -
Technology
590 IA C 6-1-4 (h-4)-- Technology Plan Standards 2013-2016 / Yes / - / - / - / -
590 IA C 6-1-4 (k-14) --Internet Connection - one (1) T-1 line / Yes / - / - / - / -
590 IA C 6-1-4 (K-15) --Technology requirements - WiFi, 6 public access computers, 1 scanner, 1 printer/copier / X
Operations
590 IA C 6-1-4 (l) --Hours of service / Yes / X
590 IA C 6-1-4- (m) --Staff and trustee continuing education --Staff collectively earned 90 LEUs, monthly staff meeting / Yes / - / - / - / -
590 IA C 6-1-4- (o) / Yes / - / - / - / -
Policies
590 IA C 6-1-4 (e) -- Personnel Policies / Yes / X
590 IA C 6-1-4 (g) -- Bylaws / Yes / - / - / - / -
590 IA C 6-1-4 (h-1-2) --Collection Development and Principles of Access / Yes / X
590 IA C 6-1-4 (h-3) -- Long-range plan / Yes / - / - / - / -