Penn Yan Public Library Strategic Plan  2006-2008

Adopted by the Board of Trustees 12-29-05

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Planning Process

-In early 2005, the Board of Trustees of the library decided to work on a strategic plan which would provide a focus for library services for the following 3 years. It was decided to use the New Planning for Results by Sandra Nelson as a basis for the process. The planning committee would consist of  seven community members, two Board members, and one staff member. A facilitator from outside the library would be hired to lead the planning sessions.

-Prior to the start of the planning process, in June,  two focus group sessions were held in order to gain additional input from other members of the community on what services they thought it was important for the library to provide.

-The members of the Strategic Planning Committee  which met twice in September, once in October, and once in December, were:

            Billie Bauman

            Rachel Bradley

            Bob Corcoran

            Bob Evans

            Kathy Guenther

            Chris McNinch

            Sandy Perl

            Barbara Pinckney

            Joanna Purdy

            Rich Stewart

Ann Harris from Mid-York Library System was the facilitator and Lynn Overgaard, Library Director, was present at the meetings.

-The planning process involved analyzing the community which is served by the library and  defining community needs.  The committee decided which of the those needs the library could help to meet, and then chose three service responses for the library to focus on. The library Director and staff then wrote goals and  objectives based on the service responses and will use a variety of actions over the three years to enable the library to meet the objectives.

-The Strategic Plan will be evaluated annually by the staff  to assess how successful the library has been in reaching the year's objectives. As objectives are met new objectives will be written to continue measuring the library's progress toward the stated goals.

Goals and Objectives

Goal 1 Community members will have access to current titles and information on current topics and trends.

Objective 1.1 No more than 5% of  library users will wait more than 1 month for a title by 2007.

Objective 1.2 In 2006, 50% of visitors polled were able to find what they wanted unassisted.

Objective 1.3 In 2006, the library will provide one new program for adults on a topic of current interest.

Objective 1.4 In 2006, the library will provide one new young adult program on a topic of current interest.

Goal 2  The library is the first point of reference for any questions from the community.

Objective 2.1 As a result of outreach, in 2006, 10 % more questions will be asked than in 2005.

Objective 2.2 In 2006, there will be a 10% increase in the use of library internet resources.

Objective 2.3  By 2007, library patrons will have their questions answered, or have a response from the library regarding the status of their request,  within one business day.

Goal 3 All members of the community will be able to  make effective use of electronic information.

Objective 3.1 By 2006, all library staff will show a standard level of proficiency in OPAC searching.

Objective 3.2 In 2006, the library will provide 4 public classes in the use of the OPAC.

Objective 3.3 By 2008, the number of those attending computer classes will rise by 10%.