HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 09-20-2016-13-2 - Information Item - Orange County Public Library Strategic Planning Process 1
INFORMATION ITEM
Memorandum
To: Board of Orange County Commissioners
From: Lucinda M. Munger, Orange County Library Director
Subject: Orange County Public Library Strategic Planning Process
Date: September 2, 2016
Background
The Orange County Public Library is in the midst its 2nd strategic planning process. Our first plan
was approved by the Board of County Commissioners in 2012 and directed the library's work
from 2013 through 2016. Following the direction mapped out in the 2013-2016 strategic plan we
have:
• Developed a more diverse and accessible collection at all locations
• Expanded relationships with community organizations and local government throughout
the county
• Expanded services, upgraded our visual presence and facilities
• Offered more and better programs and technologies that respond to the needs of new
and existing customers.
Activities
1) Preplanning
July 2016
2) Input Gathering
Beginning in mid-August we conducted focus groups and individual phone interviews with
residents from across the county. Our focus group participants included:
• Parents
• Teens
• Community and business representatives — Hillsborough and Carrboro
• Customers who use both library systems
• Club Nova members
• Cedar Grove Community Center members
• Family Success Alliance staff
From August 15-30, we offered residents an opportunity to take a short online survey or to fill
out the survey at one of our four locations. We also invited elected officials from across the
county and county staff to comment via online survey. We will be devoting the library's next staff
2
development day, September 15, to hear from staff. Additionally, we invited all county staff and
elected officials countywide to take our survey.
3) Presenting Themes to the Public
Input from all sources will be used to create broad themes for the library's work in the coming
years. The public will have opportunities to comment on our proposed themes in person and
online September 30-October 7.
4) Presenting Draft Plan to the Board of County Commissioners
We will bring a draft of the strategic plan to the board for input in November. We are
concurrently creating a communications plan to support the roll out of our new plan.
5) Presenting Plan for Final Approval by the Board of County Commissioners
January or February 2017. Target date to roll-out new plan: Early 2017.
Public Participation As of September 1
• Focus Groups —6 groups, 46 participants. One additional focus group is planned.
• Telephone Interviews — 15 (2 of these are Commissioners)
• Online Survey Responses from General Public—251
• Paper Survey Responses — 55, 1 in Spanish
Emerging Themes To-date
• The library could have a role in civic education and engagement for all ages.
• The library can do more to increase awareness of the library and its services.
• Current library customers want more people to know about what the library is already
doing so they can enjoy our programs and services.
• The library could be a space where challenging community conversations take place.