Schlow Centre Region Library

Strategic Plan 2017-2019

Approved January 11, 2017

The Library’s Mission

“The Centre of Reading and Learning”

Values

Community: We foster personal fulfillment, achievement and the prosperity of the Centre Region’s citizens, our staff and our volunteers.

Diversity: We serve a diverse community and provide free and open access to all ideas, information and content.

Excellence: We strive for the best in all we do as a leading library and nonprofit in the region and state. We consider best practices, data, and financial impacts in all our decisions.

Integrity: We honor confidentiality and are trusted and respected by our stakeholders and elected officials. We are responsible stewards of public and private funds.

Innovation: We embrace effective ideas and improvements and do not fear failure, challenges or change. We are ready to adapt to a rapidly changing environment by being:

· Responsive - innovative and quick to adapt;

· Fair – prepared to help those who are casualties of circumstance and change;

· Focused – adept at reducing distractions to stay centered on our core values and services.

The Environment

Several considerations play an important role in this plan:

· Population growth in the Centre Region: the area is attracting more people, including more Penn State students and retirees. Additional residents will increase and change demand for library services.

· Uncertain government funding: COG municipalities are concerned about rising expenditures, state aid is in jeopardy, and federal library support is in question. With no other guaranteed revenue streams, this plan considers the possibility of necessary service reductions in the next 3 years by establishing priorities in the plan.

· Staffing considerations: Schlow’s outstanding service is provided by a team of dedicated employees. Increasing demand for services and cutbacks in staff hours in response to cuts in state funding have increased employee workloads. This plan recognizes the importance of appropriate compensation and training in this planning cycle.

Strategic Plan Priorities

Items marked as PRIORITY will be maintained, if possible, should funding cuts or budget changes occur.

Centre Region’s Living Room

· PRIORITY The Library facility will be maintained and updated as directed in the Capital Improvement Plan.

· PRIORITY A facility analysis will be completed on the performance and life expectancy of major systems.

· PRIORITY A design plan will be completed to update and improve public and staff spaces. The plan will include a “wish list” for large or optional capital projects that require special funding.

Children Today, Leaders Tomorrow

· PRIORITY Children’s storytimes and programs for preschoolers and elementary children will be prioritized if there are funding downturns.

Community Connectivity

· PRIORITY Schlow will prioritize work with active partner agencies that bring significant resources for joint activities.

· Additional coordination of services with Penn State Libraries and the State College Area School District will be pursued.

· Marketing will focus on specific target groups that underutilize library services. This will be aided by the creation of an institutional style guide and strategy for local and social media.

Enthusiastic Employees

· PRIORITY Staff compensation: We will continue to move all staff wages toward the official minimum COG salary schedule, remaining competitive with community standards.

· PRIORITY Redistribution and efficiencies of workloads will be closely monitored to avoid staff overload and promote sustainability.

· Staff development: Each employee will complete at least 6 training hours annually, which exceeds state standards.

Firm Financial Foundation

· PRIORITY Schlow’s various investment funds totaled $2 million at the end of 2016. We aim for $4 million in endowments and investments by the end of 2019 to provide income and a safety net for emergencies and government funding decreases.

· PRIORITY A donor-centered development plan will be created to guide library staff, trustees and The Schlow Library Foundation.

Read It, Know It, Schlow It

· PRIORITY The Library will strive to meet the state standard of 12% of budget being spent on materials and increase expenditures on new materials.

· Purchases of new materials will reflect reader demand for a wide variety of media and content channels.

We Are Where You Are

· PRIORITY The Virtual Library (website) will be maintained and upgraded as an easy-to-use and secure website.

· PRIORITY Remote book return services will continue as a priority.

· Thoughtful management of technologies will align with patron preferences for user-friendly and self-service options.

· Delivery services, with an emphasis on service to schools and retirement areas, will be expanded as underwriting becomes available.

This strategic plan was prepared using the following information:

· Census and other data provided by the Centre Region Council of Governments (CR-COG) Planning Department and the State College Area School District.

· Trends and data information about libraries from the American Library Association, Pew Center for the Study of the Internet, and other sources.

· Information presented by Penn State College of Communications faculty during a “media summit” in May 2016, presenting trends and changes in media use by the public.

· Input from 60 participants in 7 group discussion “Library Conversations” events, held in various locations around the CR-COG service area during spring and summer 2016.

· Input from over 40 individuals who were participants in one-on-one “Insight Interviews,” spring 2016, about the Library’s reputation and direction.

· Data from an employee survey.

· Review of data, and priority sifting at a board retreat, September 2016.

Approved by Library Board January 11, 2017.