Implement Family Place concept in several
branches to provide greater exposure to social
service organizations and government services
focused on families at Ocean County Library
locations. By September 2004
Schools:
Target schools on which collaboration efforts
will be focused and develop a realistic timeframe
for reaching all schools, including elementary,
middle and high school, Vocational-Technical
and adult schools. By July 2004
Identify nonacademic services available
at schools. By May 2004
Contact public school administrators to
discuss protocol and possible collaborations.
Areas to explore: summer reading program (school)
or reading lists; professional development
classes for teachers, aides, other school
personnel; Career Day, Reading or Language
Arts Day; Meet the Principal event at branch
library. Ongoing
Ensure Ocean County Library is linked on
every school webpage. By October 2004
Develop a comprehensive marketing plan
for library services for schools, to include:
online resources, Q&A New Jersey, Librarian
by Appointment, school visits, professional
development, speaker for staff in-service,
program partner. By May 2005
Develop system plan to expand connections
with homeschool families
- Discussion with homeschool
families about their specific needs
- Develop resource package for
homeschool families
- Each location to market specifically
to homeschool families. By September 2005
Present a summit on empowering teens as
community partners in collaboration with schools
and with the goal of strengthening teen advisory
boards for every branch and systemwide. By
October 2004
Contact school administrators at private
schools to discuss collaborations similar
to those with public schools. By September
2006
Objective: Everyone looks to the
Library for the Next Big Thing
Trend Spotter Task Force appointed by Library
Director researches how corporate sector tracks
trends, identifies futurist societies and
publications, and determines viable strategies
for Ocean County Library to be in the forefront
of library programs and services available
to the whole spectrum of the community. By
March 2004
The Technology Department will investigate
and identify software that tracks what customers
search for, both in Horizon and on the Internet,
and report to Trend Spotters Task Force. By
May 2004
The Trend Spotter Task Force will prepare
and submit document with findings and recommendations
for an Ocean County Library ongoing trend-spotting
process and pilot program funding request
to Library Director. By July 2004
Objective: Ocean County Library acts
as a change agent for community issues
Research best library practices in the
areas of: community partnerships, community
issues, community activism and other related
areas. By August 2004
Provide in-service presentation on how
to enact change and community involvement.
By February 2005
Develop an action plan for each community
issue selected, both local and countywide
issues, including partnerships/collaborations.
By July 2005
Develop a marketing plan for staff and
public around this community involvement initiative.
By May 2005
Provide opportunities for the community
to consider ideas that present options for
change. By July 2005 and Ongoing
Be an agent of change within the New Jersey
library community. Ongoing
Objective: Programs, Products, Services
Introduce New Thoughts and Ideas
Staff will scan the community to identify
programs, products and services which introduce
new thoughts and ideas. By December 2004
Each branch, as well as the Diversity Committee
and the Special Events Coordinator, will submit
a draft 12 month calendar of events, including
programs and outreach events for the following
year. By July 2004
Objective: The library is most up-to-date
in technology
The Ocean County Library Technology Plan
provides detailed guidance for meeting this
objective.
Provide multiple Self-Checkout stations
for customers. By December 2004.
Offer on-line library card registration.
By the last quarter of 2005
Conduct and evaluate pilot wireless access
project. By the last quarter of 2004
Distribute library publications on CD-ROM.
By the second quarter of 2004
Digitize local history collections. Start
project by first quarter 2005
Objective: Staff Development and
Continuing Education is a way of life for
Staff
Create up to date competency levels for
staff, including but not limited to:
- Customer service
- Diversity
- Reference
- Virtual reference
- Horizon
- Outlook
- Youth Services
- Teen Services
By December 2004
Make available just in time training with
materials posted on OceanNet. Ongoing
Review Performance Appraisal Process. By
February 2005
Objective: We are the leaders in
teaching acceptance and understanding
Investigate best practices of current leaders
on teaching cultural acceptance and understanding.
By September 2004
- Adapt these best practices
to suit the Ocean County Library environment.
By February 2005
Compare and evaluate Ocean County Library
cultural training programs with those of current
leaders in the field. By September 2004
Include local diversity training participation
and opportunities in branch standards. By
December 2004
Develop local diversity plans for each
Branch. By March 2004
- Include staff cultural awareness
training as a component in local diversity
plans. By March 2004
Devise a mechanism to track and evaluate
local and System diversity training. By September
2004
Routinely share Ocean County Library training
programs with other libraries through articles
in professional journals. By January 2006
Objective: We bring diverse groups
together in joint projects
Identify agencies, groups, organizations
and businesses in Ocean County made up of
or serving diverse communities. By May 2004
Extend National Issues Forums on Racial
and Ethnic Tensions to sites outside the library,
working with other organizations to draw participants.
By March 2005
Further develop cooperative relationship
with Ocean County Human Rights Commission.
Ongoing
Devise a Systemwide mechanism to share
information on and about diverse groups, organizations,
agencies and businesses serving diverse communities.
By February 2005
- The Outreach Librarian will
create map/graphic representation of diverse
community partners already working with us;
share with groups; use as tool for future
coalition building or collaboration. By February
2005
Encourage Branches to develop ongoing and
lasting relationships with diverse community
groups.
- Establish and maintain a local
mailing list of community groups. By June
2004 - Invite diverse groups to participate
in all major library programs. By June 2004
- Develop staff training on
where to find and how to approach diverse
groups and organizations. By February 2005
- Develop diversity advisory
councils for branches. During 2005 and 2006
Objective: The Ocean County Library
System is the model for a cohesive, harmonious
multicultural staff.
Conduct an environmental scan around the
issue of cultural inclusion and develop a
plan to address the results. By January 2005
Develop a recruitment plan. By July 2005
- Begin to track the number
of diverse applicants vs. the number of diverse
applicants interviewed vs. the number of diverse
applicants hired. By the 1st Quarter 2005
- Include in-house promotional
opportunities. By the 1st Quarter 2005
Develop a mentoring program. By October
2005
Develop a retention plan. By the 1st Quarter
2005
- Provide opportunities for
minority staff to develop affinity groups. By
June 2004
- Provide interest affinity
groups that cut across racial/ethnic lines (e.g.
Ocean County Library Paddlers). By June 2004
Routinely conduct exit interviews. By January
2004
- Include questions regarding
the cultural climate surrounding diversity
issues. By January 2004
Objective: Ocean County Library breaks
ground nationally for new criteria for developing/assessing
library effectiveness.
Define library effectiveness from the Ocean
County resident non-user’s viewpoint
– what could we do differently to make
them want to use our services?
- Research how corporations
(a non-library setting) measure customer service
effectiveness. By October 2005
- Research the most effective method of surveying
non-users (interviews, surveys?). By October
2005
- Develop the survey tool based on above
research. By January 2006
- Gather information from non-users. By March
2006
- Evaluate; create new standards for library
service based on non-user feedback. By June
2006
Measure marketing effectiveness.
- Develop a “Did you know about ...
?” survey that identifies services and
features that we offer. By March 2005
- Administer the survey to new cardholders
who have had their card less than a year.
By April 2005
- Evaluate; adjust marketing strategy and
PR budget accordingly. By May 2005
Define library effectiveness from the point
of view of library customers age 18–29.
- Develop a survey to identify ways that
the library can become essential in their
life. By January 2006
- Administer the survey to our registered
borrowers age 18–30. By March 2006
- Evaluate the survey results and develop
new standards for library service based on
customer feedback. By June 2006 |