GRRL Strategic Plan 2010 - 2012

Approved by GRRL Board of Trustees on November, 10 2009

GOAL I

Examine current hours and online access opportunities to enhance customer convenience. Review to be completed by third quarter of 2010, implementation of needed changes to begin January 2011.
Explore and implement increased self-sufficiency options for customers. This will be an on-going process.
Empower each staff member to provide excellent customer service at the first point of contact by the end of 2010.
Provide targeted literacy efforts to preschool and grade school aged children such as the Every Child Ready to Read program. Begin actively pursuing region wide in January 2010.
Provide library programs that effectively and actively promote the library’s collections. Begin to pursue region wide in January 2010.
Design, implement and evaluate a proactive weeding process to enhance the collection appearance and appeal. The design and implementation will be completed by the end of 2011; evaluation to be completed in 2012.
Provide an expanded patron training program so patrons of all ages become comfortable and confident in using library technology. Begin to pursue region wide in January 2010.
Explore the addition of downloadable video to web services. Exploration will take place in 2010 and implementation, if desired, to begin in 2011.
Evaluate Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology for implementation.
Improve services through the adoption of Web 2.0 technologies and tools by end of 2010.

Create and host GRRL regional and/or local community orientation sessions for elected city and county officials and administrators, local library boards, friends groups, and interested citizens beginning the first quarter of 2011. Each branch should host one event during the time frame of this plan, 2010-2013.
Work with local school systems to sponsor staff orientations to GRRL each year beginning with the 2010/2011 school year.
Re-energize and expand the outreach program for community businesses and civic groups beginning in 2010 and continuing through 2012.
Establish regular communication and/or visits with local GRRL branch site sponsors.
Develop a link on the GRRL web page for information sharing by local Friends groups and local Library Boards.
Develop a system wide program to promote GRRL volunteer opportunities.

Use advocacy to build a coalition of supporters who will lobby state and local government officials to adequately fund the mission of the library. This will be on-going.
Investigate sources of additional funding including private donations, grants and raising fees and/or changing the fine structure. This will be on-going.
Continue to nurture private partnerships through the fund development activities. This will be on-going.
Explore establishing a “Friends of the GRRL” foundation which would create an opportunity for fellowship for its members while helping to support the regional library’s mission. Exploration will take place in 2010 and implementation, if desired, to begin in 2011.

Prepare a staffing plan that takes into account current strengths, future needs, training and development requirements, cross-training opportunities, balance among full-time, part-time, volunteer, and outsourcing choices, and succession planning. Investigation and preparation to begin first quarter 2010, final implementation of recommendations by 2012, if deemed feasible.
Review major departmental work processes and work toward streamlining them; streamlining will free staff from routine tasks and optimize their talents to more professional service areas. Review to be completed by third quarter of 2011, implementation of needed changes to begin January 2012 or sooner, where possible.
Standardize staff training to assure consistent performance, strengthen customer satisfaction, and develop professional communication within the context of an achievement based organizational culture by first quarter of 2011.
Develop and schedule staff training on handling emergencies by fourth quarter 2010.
Develop and begin providing a thorough orientation for all new staff by second quarter 2010.
Normalize the use of data driven staffing models and data driven decision-making beginning in January 2010 and continuing throughout the time frame of this plan. This will be an on-going process.

Collect statistical data, using 2008/9 as a baseline, and analyze it to improve services, provide relevant reports, and supply information for decision making as well as marketing purposes. At a minimum, conduct a user satisfaction survey annually, analyze the results, and implement needed changes. This will be an on-going process.
Develop, review, and modify user satisfaction surveys, as needed. This will be an on-going process.
Develop and implement staff, service and program evaluations. Use the results for continuous improvement purposes. The design and implementation will be complete by 2011.
Identify best practices among peer libraries/regions and adopt practices that will enhance practices, collections, services, and programs. This will be an ongoing process, done at least annually throughout the life of the plan.
Share Strategic Plan updates with the Board of Trustees on an annual basis.

Complete a review of effectiveness of current internal communication mechanisms and processes by first quarter 2010. Implement needed or recommended changes by end of 2010.
Conduct a comprehensive review of the library's public and staff websites annually to continually improve access and functionality. Implement updates or changes as needed through the end of 2012.
Raise profile of library and awareness of library's services internally and externally by ensuring all members of management staff joins and participates in relevant organizations, as funding permits.