The Long Range Plan for the Normal Public Library

In the fall of 2003 and early winter of 2004 the Normal Public Library conducted a series of focus group meetings to develop a Vision Statement, Mission Statement and a set of Service Priorities/Goal Statements for the next five years for the Normal Public Library. Library staff, members of the Library Board, and members of the community volunteered their time to aid the library. The library is very grateful for the time and thought that each member put into the process. The meetings were facilitated by Julie Hile of the Hile Group. The Hile Group is a nationally recognized consulting firm located in Bloomington, Illinois. We are especially grateful to Julie and the Hile Group for their expertise.

At the March 24, 2004 Library Board meeting, the Library Board of Trustees adopted the following Long Range Goals for the library:

Vision Statement

The Normal Public Library is a vital public resource that serves the community as a gateway to an expanding world of knowledge. The library is committed to being a welcoming and safe environment for everyone. As a resource center, its professional and dedicated staff offers helpful services and access to technology. As a community center, it provides educational and cultural opportunities for lifelong learning.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Normal Public Library is to be an educational, informational, recreational and cultural community resource.

SERVICE PRIORITIES/GOAL STATEMENTS

Facilities. Assure comfortable, accessible, efficient facilities that are capable of accommodating the changing interests and needs of the community.

1. Goal. Acquire the Parking Lot that occupies the previous location of the 1st Presbyterian Church. The immediate need is parking (especially with consideration of a parking deck for the downtown expansion) with long range (5-10 years) needs for facility expansion. – Rationale: Currently it is a parking lot with limited building potential under the current parking requirements. A potential parking deck for the downtown redevelopment provides for additional parking but creates a number of problems for particular users that could be addressed by the acquiring of this parking area.

2. Goal. Create additional public display space for Audio-Visual material. –Rationale: Expanding formats in video and talking books has eliminated any room for additional material, necessitating additional needed display space.
Objective: Remove the brick wall immediately south of the elevator on the first floor. Create a new wall as an extension of the current south side of the elevator brick wall directly east to the east wall of the library.
Objective: Install perimeter 90” shelving for display of Talking Books and associated interior shelving.

3. Goal. Increase the energy efficiency of the library. – Rationale: With increasing energy costs and changes in the current franchising agreements we need to mitigate any increases in costs – cost containment through appropriate changes.
Objective: Relamp the library with energy efficient fixtures and lamps. Currently we utilize T-12 lamps and ballasts. By changing to T-8 lamps and ballasts, it is estimated that the library can achieve a forty percent savings. This would be a multi-year project utilizing current staff.
Objective: Replace the current digital control of the HVAC system. The current program is an 8-bit program with local control. Change to a network based DDC with remote access.

Technology. Use technology to maximize information access and continually improve efficiency of operations.

1. Goal. Improve the efficiency of operations. Rationale: More and more facets of life are providing for additional self serve checkpoints to more efficiently utilize staff and provide for faster throughput. The lessening of reliance on individuals to process material – say on materials returns – would aid in reducing human error.
Objective. Convert our current Checkpoint Radio Frequency theft detection tags to RFID. Radio Frequency Identification Devices provide for the next step in the minimizing of human error.
Objective. Upgrade our Theft Detection Screens to enable the reading of 13.6 Ghz radio frequency.
Objective. Install a Self-Check unit to enable users to bypass lines at the circulation desk and to serve as a cost containment measure in terms of staff time for repetitive tasks not requiring staff intervention.
Objective. Install a Fiber Optic cable between the library and the Town of Normal. Develop and integrate the Local Area Networks and Wide Area Networks to work more closely with the Town of Normal. This may require a new PIX firewall and associated routers and switches.

Marketing. Raise the awareness of and promote the visibility of the library and its resources.

1. Goal. Increase the community awareness of the products, services, programs, that the library has to offer. Rationale: Studies/surveys continue to show that a high proportion of the public is unaware of the offerings of the library. A heightened awareness on the part of the public would make for more efficient and effective utilization of the library.
Objective. Hire an individual that would have, as a primary responsibility, the external promotion of the library. This position would not be a degreed position and would not be responsible for supervision, reference or circulation deskwork.
Objective. Begin using paid advertising, in addition to PSAs and news stories. Initially advertise in the Pantagraph, Community News and Normalite on a monthly basis.

Staff. Ensure a high quality of work life and professional growth for library staff.

1. Goal. Provide for the opportunity for staff growth and development. Rationale: An organization, library or otherwise is no better than the staff that is tasked with implementing its mission and vision.
Objective: Conduct an annual staff retreat on a topic that will assist in staff development.
Objective: Provide funding and encouragement for staff to attend state and local conferences. The library departments should have representatives at the major state and local conferences of import to the individual departments.

Diversity. Enhance understanding among and between diverse groups

Provide initial funding for multi language and multi cultural library material. Begin with the Children’s Department (Spanish, Hindi, Urdu, etc.)

Programming. Kindle the imagination of children and adults.

This is the goal of all of our programming. Introduce and continue to develop the programming for all ages, including but not just children.
Partnership. Enhance services, expand resources, and increase visibility through partnerships.
Partnering – working with other groups and agencies such that we can do together what each of us separately cannot do. We can do together what we cannot do alone – and more cost effectively too!