Several Changes Were Made to the Strategic Planning Process Since May of 2000… These modifications improved the quality of the strategic planning program

Project Improvements Included: Development of a standardized planning process for use on an ongoing basis Increased participation of Project Team Members in the planning process

Development of a standardized planning process for use on an ongoing basis

Increased participation of Project Team Members in the planning process

Project Improvements…. Recognition of ongoing, operational activities in an appropriate manner within the plans Recognition that libraries do not operate as “silos” within their community. They are dependent upon other libraries outside of their community in order to provide services and meet patron needs A significant number of “common objectives” or issues and concerns relevant to all Sussex County Libraries were identified and documented

Recognition of ongoing, operational activities in an appropriate manner within the plans

Recognition that libraries do not operate as “silos” within their community. They are dependent upon other libraries outside of their community in order to provide services and meet patron needs

A significant number of “common objectives” or issues and concerns relevant to all Sussex County Libraries were identified and documented

Project Improvements… Additional tools developed for use by participants Training provided to participants project management benchmarking writing goals & objectives analysis of workflow processes Format & content of the plan was streamlined

Additional tools developed for use by participants

Training provided to participants

project management

benchmarking

writing goals & objectives

analysis of workflow processes

Format & content of the plan was streamlined

The Goals of the Planning Process The goals of the strategic planning process evolved and broadened over time

Goals of the Planning Process To improve Delaware’s Public Libraries through cooperative planning and evaluation of services To create standards under which the Delaware Division of Libraries contracts with public libraries to provide services

To improve Delaware’s Public Libraries through cooperative planning and evaluation of services

To create standards under which the Delaware Division of Libraries contracts with public libraries to provide services

Goals, continued… To apply basic business principles and practices commonly used in the private sector To increase the accountability of public libraries and the Delaware Division of Libraries in accordance with Federal requirements and practices To align our standards and out planning process with those of the American Library Association

To apply basic business principles and practices commonly used in the private sector

To increase the accountability of public libraries and the Delaware Division of Libraries in accordance with Federal requirements and practices

To align our standards and out planning process with those of the American Library Association

Goals, continued… To evaluate the library and the community in which it resides To understand the relationship of the library to the larger library community To determine the library’s mission and core service categories based ongoing assessment To develop a library action plan, consisting of goals and objectives

To evaluate the library and the community in which it resides

To understand the relationship of the library to the larger library community

To determine the library’s mission and core service categories based ongoing assessment

To develop a library action plan, consisting of goals and objectives

Goals, continued… To develop the skills of librarians participating in the strategic planning process Most library staff have never had the opportunity to obtain training and development in “business administration” skills needed to develop a strategic plan To identify opportunities for the improvement of all Delaware public libraries regardless of the community in which they reside

To develop the skills of librarians participating in the strategic planning process

Most library staff have never had the opportunity to obtain training and development in “business administration” skills needed to develop a strategic plan

To identify opportunities for the improvement of all Delaware public libraries regardless of the community in which they reside

Benefits of Strategic Planning Organized development of a long range plan Improved focus on community needs based on feedback provided Opportunity to develop new services, leverage existing ones, & discontinue others

Organized development of a long range plan

Improved focus on community needs based on feedback provided

Opportunity to develop new services, leverage existing ones, & discontinue others

Benefits of Strategic Planning Opportunity to reduce redundancies Establish priorities Enable articulation of goals and objectives linked to the budget process

Opportunity to reduce redundancies

Establish priorities

Enable articulation of goals and objectives linked to the budget process

Benefits of Strategic Planning Enhance ability to make sound business decisions based on data Increase efficiencies through analysis of internal processes and procedures Increase public awareness of services provided to the community

Enhance ability to make sound business decisions based on data

Increase efficiencies through analysis of internal processes and procedures

Increase public awareness of services provided to the community

Key Observations for South Coastal Library During the course of the project strengths and weaknesses of SCL were identified

What We Do Well Assist patrons Interlibrary loan service Programming Maintain statistics to document progress Partner with community organizations

Assist patrons

Interlibrary loan service

Programming

Maintain statistics to document progress

Partner with community organizations

Needs & Opportunities for Improvement Enlarge facility Update collection Hire additional qualified staff Increase staff compensation Upgrade technology Expand electronic formats

Enlarge facility

Update collection

Hire additional qualified staff

Increase staff compensation

Upgrade technology

Expand electronic formats

Performance Metrics for South Coastal Library South Coastal Library sets the standard within Sussex County for tracking activities using statistics

Sussex County Library System Comparison of Annual Circulation for 1998-2001 Bridgeville Delmar Frankford Georgetown Greenwood Laurel Lewes Millsboro Milton Rehoboth Seaford Selbyville S.Coastal Bookmobile Sussex County Libraries FYE1998 FYE1999 FYE2000 FYE2001 0 20,000 40,00 0 60 ,000 80, 000 100, 000 120 ,000 Annual Circulation

Annual Patron Visits to SCL 1 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 0 10,000 20,000 30,000 40,000 50,000 60,000 70,000 80,000 90,000 100,000 Number of Patron Visits Fiscal Years 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

Proposed Implementation Plan for 2002 Goals & Objectives will be prioritized A limited number of activities will be selected Work plans for accomplishing goals & objectives will be created

Goals & Objectives will be prioritized

A limited number of activities will be selected

Work plans for accomplishing goals & objectives will be created