Sample Staff Retreat

Library Planning to [Target Year]Staff Retreat
Meeting Date

Purpose
Through dialog and sharing of information
To envision the best future for community
To envision the best Library as a part of that community
To learn and listen and share opinion, facts, & knowledge to help library board and staff develop a strategic plan

Ground rules
Everyone participates, no one dominates
Disagree with grace and tact
Think playfully, speak courageously
Listen as an ally
Share responsibility
LW 

Introductions
Name
Job here
How long?
What’s your favorite thing about your job?
Optional: something about yourself that might surprise your colleagues

What’s important about libraries?
Healthy libraries indicate healthy communities
Economic health
Educational health
Cultural health
Community health

Planning Context
U.S. public libraries have strong planning culture
Long history and experience
Vermont DOL encourages local library planning through Standards program
Has the library built a plan before?

Library planninggrounded in community need
Community vision and need
Library as a part of that
Addressing needs
Serving the vision

Planning
Strategic Plan
Long Range Plan
Facilities Plan
Capital Plan
Service Plan
Development Plan
Technology Plan

Process this time
Community task force – conversation, gather input and data. Two meetings.
Staff retreat – four hour meeting to review community input, add library knowledge of program
Meet with town board, town department heads, and focus groups
Write plan, and use it!

Town Scan

Town demographic profile
Population, 2008 est.-
Growth 1990 – 2000 % (VT 8.2%)
Growth 2000 – 2008 %
Ethnicity – % white, 2000 census
Median age - (VT, 37.7)
65 and older – %
Under 18 - %

Town– demographic profile (2)
Median household income – (1999)$51,000 (VT - $41,000)
Education levels
Less than H.S. – 8%
Beyond High School – 64%
Bachelor’s or higher – 28%

Review the preliminary Library Service Responses selected by the Planning Committee
Compare to the full list of LS Responses
Compare what the library does well to the LS Responses chosen by the Planning Committee
Are there areas or audiences the Committee missed?
What did the Planning Committee discover?

TheLibrary Landscape

Public libraries are changing
7/2010: Amazon sold more titles for the Kindle than hardcover books in the previous 3 months
Delivery methods are changing rapidly (smartphones, Netflix, ListenUp VT for audiobooks and ebooks)
Libraries are busier than ever, especially as public computer centers
Other thoughts?

Public libraries are the same
All public libraries
Lend materials
Provide ‘certified’ information
Provide a “third place,” a community anchor, a commons
Are unique among public institutions in the breadth of audience and of function

Spending on public library services
Per capita, monthlyVermont average: $2.61
Annual:
Vermont average, 2008 - $31.28
Town Library, 2008 - $
Vermont average, 2006 - $29.44
National average, 2006 - $33.24

Sources of support
Planning Town: ? %local tax income, ? % other
Vermont average :72.9% local tax, 27.1% other
National averages: 84.1% local tax, 15.9% other
2008-2009 VT Public Library Statistics

Library tourand break

Library walkabout
Pretend you’re visiting for the first time, or showing your mother (lover, grandparent, child) the library for the first time
What do you see? Neat? Clean? Clear signage? Inviting?
Note things you like, delight you – note problem areas.

Library Staff
Comments
Goals and activities
Beginning to shift the library

Library goals and activities - start with a laundry list

Results – Library conversations

Sample Staff Retreat

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Sample Staff Retreat Presentation Transcript