LONG RANGE PLAN, 2020-2025
October 1, 2020 through September 30, 2025
MISSION
The Three Rivers Regional Library System provides information and answers to questions on a broad array of topics related to work, school, and personal life; assists individuals involved in self-directed personal growth and development; assists students enrolled in a formal program of education to help them attain their educational goals; and provides information about popular cultural and social trends and recreational materials in a variety of formats.
GOALS
Goal 1: Member libraries Support
Objective:TRRLS will provide centralized services to all member libraries.
Rationale: TRRLS was formed to provide centralized services that our counties could not independently afford. Centralized services consist of programs and services encompassing the entire library system including; computerization of library holdings and patron library card records; staffing for ordering and processing library materials; funding for telecommunication costs; maintenance of the online catalog; maintenance and updates to the library website; staffing for other technical and administrative tasks, and more. TRRLS will also continue to oversee training and make training available to member Library’s staff.
Actions:
- Continue centralized ordering, cataloging, and delivery of library materials.
- Continue maintenance contract for the KOHA system.
- Continue funding telecommunication costs for Dixie, Gilchrist, and Lafayette Counties.
- Continue NEFLIN membership for staff training opportunities, services and equipment loans.
- Provide online access for Inter-Library loan services and membership in DLLI delivery service.
- Provide staff email hosting and access to productivity software.
- Develop initial training program for new staff members.
- Produce or acquire training tools to aid in training staff.
- Have new Library Managers attend the State Library’s “New Director’s Orientation Training” during first year of employment.
- Establish “Core Competencies” for all staff members.
- Establish requirements for staff to attend training, workshops and State meetings/conferences.
- Continue development and promotion of a web-based presence.
- Continue providing access to digital books in e-book form and audio resources.
- Continue searching for appropriate grant funds to expand and enhance the materials collections in member libraries.
- Provide administrative support to member libraries.
- Continue to review policies with customer service and efficiency in mind.
- Continue to support collection management activities including inventory, targeted collection development and weeding.
Goal 2: Technology
Objective: TRRLS will continue to broaden the scope of library services through technology.
Rationale: Many patrons depend on TRRLS member libraries to conduct e-government, e-commerce, and other electronic transactions. It is important that our library staff have continuous and appropriate computer training, and that TRRLS keep computer equipment current, and computer software up-to-date.
Actions:
- Train library staff on computers and the Internet. Training will be presented by TRRLS staff, or through NEFLIN, Florida State Library, Florida Library Association or other available classes. Other appropriate training will be sought if needed.
- Replace obsolete staff and public computers. Computers should be no older than three years as computer technologies and standards change rapidly.
- Continue to enhance the TRRLS website. Continue to add Board minutes, policies, meeting schedules, and other important data to the site. Maintain and develop the Three Rivers Facebook page.
- Continue to seek new technology to aid the Library complete its mission.
- Continue to seek technology that will aid in education and STEM learning.
- Seek technology that will expand the Library beyond its physical walls.
Goal 3: Information Literacy and Community Education
Objective: TRRLS will continue to help our patrons obtain the necessary skills related to finding, evaluating and using information effectively. Literacy is a life-long process that begins in early childhood and continues throughout a lifetime. The traditional paths of learning and literacy are still important but digital knowledge and literacy is becoming ever more vital to personal growth. TRRLS will provide learning activities that will enrich and enlarge the world of the surrounding rural communities. Support will be given to patrons seeking educational opportunities by home schooling and through traditional and online college instruction. Life-long learning will be facilitated by maintaining current library collections and subscriptions to digital resources. Interlibrary Loan will continue to be offered in a timely manner.
Rationale: The Library is able to provide the community access to information and educational opportunities. There are notable disparities between demographic groups: people with low incomes, disabilities, seniors, minorities, the less-educated, non-family households, and the non-employed tend to lag behind other groups in home broadband use. While there is no single solution to closing the information literacy access gap, increasing digital literacy skills among non-users is key to bringing them online and opening doors to opportunity. Rural residents are limited in their pursuit of educational opportunities by their physical distance from the centers of higher education. They may also be prevented from seeking further education and training because of full-time work schedules and family responsibilities. While educational teleconferencing may make a university education possible for many rural students, these instruction methods do not provide access to the university library and information resources necessary for self-directed learning, nor do they generally provide instruction in their use.
Actions:
- Continue to provide a safe internet environment by continuing compliance with Children’s Internet Protection Act (2000).
- Continue to offer workshops in computer literacy.
- Continue to facilitate the use of E-Government computers and faxes.
- Position the Library as an educational support institution in our community.
- Seek ways to work with community educators.
- Continue the e-card partnership with local school districts.
- Seek ways to work with homeschoolers/homeschool organizations.
- Seek ways to have a presence in schools or at school events.
- Offer educator cards with enhanced benefits to teachers.
- Continue to promote partnerships with organizations and individuals to host workshops and classes for TRRLS patrons.
Goal 4: Establish the Library as a Community Hub
Objective: TRRLS will focus on ways to make the Library a welcoming and vibrant location for all members of our community. Efforts will be targeted towards enhancing and promoting friendly and efficient customer service, providing and promoting the Library as meeting place for the community, and having the Library provide services beyond the physical walls of the Library building.
Rationale: The Library is in a unique position to be able to provide members of the community of all ages a place to go to as a calm haven, a place to go to for learning, education and information, and a place for recreation and entertainment as well. The Library can work with community groups, businesses and governmental entities to provide a place for meetings, programs and activities. The Library is also positioned to be able to project services beyond the traditional walls of the building, both electronically and in person.
Actions:
- TRRLS will strive to promote customer service that focuses on being friendly, welcoming, helpful and efficient.
- TRRLS will explore programs and services designed to save the customer’s time.
- TRRLS will establish methods to gather feedback from customers to gauge if their needs are being met.
- TRRLS will review facilities and plan for effective and comfortable seating and work areas for customers including power sources for electronic devices.
- TRRLS will explore public outdoor areas for customer use.
- TRRLS will actively seek and form community partnerships with groups, businesses and government entities.
- TRRLS will have community leaders coming into the Libraries and will attend community meetings and events.
- TRRLS will encourage community groups and organizations to use the Libraries as meeting locations.
- TRRLS will have programs/activities outside of the Library and in the community.
IMPLEMENTATION
The implementation of goals or objectives is subject to funding levels. Approval of this plan does not commit the Board to the expenditure of funds. This plan serves only to guide and facilitate the development of library services.