Articles
Long Range Plan
Hall County Library System
Long Range Plan
2009-2015
Vision Statement
The Board of Trustees and the Staff of the Hall County Library System envision a library that will be recognized as a dynamic force in the community by creating an environment that nurtures intellectual freedom, sparks lifelong learning, offers open access to resources, supports new technologies, respects cultural diversity, and embraces the future.
Mission Statement
The HCLS connects you to the tools that empower you to explore the world and enrich your life.
Goals, Objectives and Activities
Goal 1: All residents of Hall County will have ample access to a modern library facility that is safe and welcoming.
Objective 1: All residents will have access to a library facility within a 15 minute drive of their home by 2019.
Activity 1: Develop a 5 year facilities plan within 12 months including growth areas, new construction, parking and hours of operation.
Activity 2: Develop a service level plan for each library defined in the facility plan, describing key services and building components (i.e. Storytime room, special language collections, etc.)
Activity 3: Secure funding for projects included in the facility plan within 5 years.
Objective 2: Patrons will have the opportunity to utilize current technology to develop and maintain their computer skills.
Activity 1: Develop a technology replacement plan within six months.
Activity 2: Increase technology competency classes by 5% annually with a 2% increase in new
course offerings.
Activity 3: Offer a minimum of five monthly technology-based programs for children or families.
Objective 3: All library branches will have a uniform operating schedule.
Activity 1: Conduct a community survey to determine an optimum schedule of operating hours.
Activity 2: Secure funding for additional staff as needed.
Goal 2: Each library will be staffed with fully trained, knowledgeable individuals.
Objective 1: Retain experienced staff by offering a competitive benefit and salary package.
Activity 1: Conduct salary studies every 2-3 years.
Activity 2: Conduct a benefit survey of comparable employers.
Activity 3: Pursue a tuition assistance program in collaboration with Friends of the Library.
Activity 4: Develop a formal program (beyond merit increases) to recognize staff for their achievements.
Objective 2: Develop a continuing education plan for current employees within one year.
Activity 1: Develop a staff orientation program within 12 months; include Friends’ role.
Activity 2: Require all fulltime staff to complete 20 hours of continuing education annually. Part time staff will complete 10 hours annually.
Activity 4: Require all staff to complete one web-based class such as Webjunction class annually.
Activity 5: Develop and have approved a formal Staff Development Policy within six months.
Objective 3: Patrons will be accurately assisted, answered or referred with 5 minutes of seeking service.
Activity 1: Conduct a survey to measure current staff response and wait times.
Activity 2: Utilize volunteers and/or Friends to conduct “secret shopper” visits to measure responsiveness.
Activity 3: Develop a plan to meet, maintain, or improve response time based upon survey results.
Activity 4: Develop a service level response guide for staff and the public to include minimum basic service expectations of all staff.
Goal 3: All residents will take advantage of the facilities and services offered by the library system.
Objective 1: Increase visibility through a comprehensive, year round marketing plan.
Activity 1: Locate a public relations/marketing firm to assist in developing and implementing a marketing plan by December 2010.
Activity 2: Create a position for an in-house public relations staff member.
Activity 3: Improve marketing incorporating new and existing technologies.
Activity 4: Survey “people on the street” to gauge general community awareness of library.
Activity 5: Investigate the feasibility of a library mascot.
Objective 2: Physical, phone and electronic visits will increase to 6 per capita.
Activity 1: Create a webmaster position to develop and maintain the library website.
Activity 2: Improve instructions on the automated phone system and replace faulty equipment.
Activity 3: Form staff programming committees, utilizing technology to minimize travel, to increase program success and attendance while maximizing staff time and energy.
Objective 3: Friend of the Library memberships will increase to 800-1000 by 2014.
Activity 1: All new cardholders will receive a Friends brochure.
Activity 2: Assist with Friends orientation programs.
Activity 3: Support a dedicated Friends website, perhaps with a welcome/informational video. Instigate function for Friends to join, renew, pay and contribute online with credit card.
Activity 4: Friends will conduct outreach activities with other community agencies and organizations.
Objective 4: 75% of residents will have active library cards.
Activity 1: Offer monthly incentive programs (such as small prizes, fine waivers, etc.) for new cardholders. Promote incentives for Friends’ members.
Activity 3: Hold off-site library card sign-ups other than at schools (Walmart, etc.)
Goal 4: Provide a balanced collection of resources for Hall County while offering access to current and popular materials in a variety of emerging formats.
Objective 1: The 100 most popular titles will be held by each library branch every year.
Activity 1: Appropriate industry sources (such as The New York Times and Publishers Weekly) will assist in identifying these titles.
Activity 2: Survey material vendors quarterly for timely fulfillment of popular titles.
Objective 2: Increase the number of overall new materials including online formats by 25% per year.
Activity 1: Hire a collection development librarian.
Activity 2: Consult review sources for selecting additional new materials for all ages.
Activity 3: Regularly weed the collection for damaged, unused, and out of date materials.
Activity 4: Within three months, ensure the availability of online hold placement and purchase requests for not yet released titles.
Objective 3: Increase circulation and in house use by 25% annually.
Activity 1: Offer additional outreach services to currently untapped venues.
Activity 2: Make available one title for every five patron holds.
Activity 3: Conduct an annual survey of circulations versus expenditures in all collection areas.
Activity 4: Actively engage in a variety of book and materials promotions.
Approved by the Hall County Library System Board of Trustees
April 28, 2009
