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Springfield City Library
A Brighter Future for Springfield Today
Strategic Plan 2011 - 2016
Strategic Plan Final Report
For the complete Strategic Plan document including the Plan and the Final Report click here. (MS Word format; long document)
Mission
Building connections l Broadening horizons l Strengthening community
The community source for literacy, technology and information
Vision
Working toward a brighter future for Springfield today -
- Celebrating community, culture and history
- Promoting success for Springfield residents in education, work and life
Values
A welcoming place for all
- Responsive, quality customer service
A strong partner in the Springfield community
Strategic Priorities
Goal 1) Success in education, work and life
The library will build strong programs and collections to foster success for Springfield residents in education, work and life.
Focus on:
- Adult literacy
- Career opportunities and workforce development
- Health and wellness
- Literacy and academic success for children
- Local businesses and economy
- Technology literacy
Goal 2) Community leadership
The library will strengthen its relationships with local leaders to inspire community members to use Springfield City resources to start a business, advance their education and explore new careers.
Focus on:
- Presence and leadership on collaborations to address city-wide concerns
- Early childhood literacy and education
- Workforce readiness and development
- E-Government services
Goal 3) Springfield City Library - A place for you
The library will continue to enhance the central and neighborhood branches to provide resources, programs, collections and physical spaces to encourage community, learning, fun and reflection.
Focus on:
- Local community culture, outreach and programs
- Local businesses and partners
Goal 4) Celebrate Springfield
The library will be an advocate for the City and the community with programs and collections that celebrate the rich culture, people, history and achievements in Springfield.
Focus on:
- Community, diversity, culture, history
- Fun programming
Goal 5) Building awareness and advocacy
The library will expand efforts to improve awareness of library programs and resources, to attract new library users and to build library advocates.
Focus on:
- Welcoming and empowering signage
- Attracting new library users
- Library advocacy
- Outreach to newcomers
- Strong, active volunteer engagement
Goal 6) Institutional effectiveness
The library will continue its focus on effective services and programs and will develop metrics that demonstrate library contributions to Springfield.
Focus on:
- Programs and events
- Assessment
Goal 1. Success in Education, Work and Life
The Library will build strong programs and collections to promote success for Springfield residents in education, work, and life.
Objective 1. The Library will define, design, and provide collections, programs, and services that support the changing cultural and educational needs of Springfield Adults and Seniors:
1a. Respond to societal changes with information to help Adults and Seniors manage and improve their lives.
1b. Provide access to collections in ever-increasing formats to further educational opportunities and meet the needs of the Adult and Senior community.
1c. Provide programs, activities, and opportunities for Springfield Adults and Seniors.
Objective 2. The Library will continue to define, design, and provide programs and collections that promote literacy and academic success for Springfield Youth and contribute to the growth and development of Springfield Families and Children:
2a. Provide literacy-based programming for pre-school and school-aged children and their families and caregivers.
2b. Offer programs, activities, information, and reading opportunities for Springfield Teens for their social, educational, and civic development.
2c. Strengthen and provide collections in a variety of formats that continue to support the information and reading needs of Springfield Youth and families.
Objective 3. The library will continue to meet the needs of adults with low literacy skills for reading, writing, and other necessary lifelong learning skills:
3a. Continue to pursue funding for the Read/Write/Now Adult Learning Center.
3b. Promote partnerships with Community agencies that support adult literacy.
3c. Develop programs and services to meet the needs of ESL learners.
3d. Expand adult literacy services to meet the needs of Springfield residents.
Objective 4. The library will define and design programs that enhance workforce development and career opportunities that meet the needs of local businesses and support the economic vitality of Springfield:
4a. Provide the hardware, software, and technology skill training needed by those seeking new work and career opportunities.
4b. Provide services that enhance skills and resources required to identify career opportunities and job seeking skills.
4c. Develop career centers at all Library locations to provide career-oriented materials and programs.
Goal 2. Celebrate Springfield!
The Library will be an advocate for the City and the community with programs and collections that celebrate the rich culture, people, history and achievements in Springfield.
Objective 1. The Library will conduct programs, exhibits, and events focusing on Springfield's community, diversity, culture, and history.
Objective 2. The Library will enrich and support Springfield's arts, cultural, and business communities by offering citywide writing contests, creative writing workshops, book discussion groups, author programs, “City Thinks” programs and small business workshops.
Objective 3. The Library will develop and promote collections that showcase local history and achievements.
Goal 3. Community Leadership
The Library will strengthen its relationships with local leaders to inspires community members to use Springfield resources to start a business, advance their education, and explore new careers.
Objective 1. The Library will develop and maintain community collaborations with City departments, schools, cultural, and social service organizations:
1a. Maintain active and collaborative relationships with a variety of community-based organizations and institutions that serve youth.
1b. Increase partnerships with the public and private sectors to address community needs.
1c. Create and implement an overall plan for involving members of the community as partners, volunteers and advocates to increase resources available to support library services.
Objective 2. The Library will ensure that Library staff are actively involved in community organizations and are aware of community trends and issues:
2a. Continue to develop collaborations with neighborhood and citywide organizations and assign staff liaisons.
2b. Establish a library staff speaker bureau to increase outreach and collaborative opportunities.
Objective 3. The Library will continue to develop a leadership role and presence on citywide collaborations to improve early childhood literacy:
3a. Expand use of the Early Childhood Resource Center for the Western Region of Massachusetts by early childhood professionals and Springfield families through outreach and collaborations with neighborhood-based care providers and the Preschool Enrichment Team.
3b. Continue to develop a leadership role and presence on citywide collaborations to improve early childhood literacy.
Objective 4. The Library will develop collaborations and partnerships with local businesses to promote services related to workforce readiness and development:
4a. Develop and implement a plan for expanded outreach to the business community.
4b. Develop a Springfield Success Series to showcase local business leaders to promote awareness of local career opportunities.
4c. Collaborate with local businesses to ensure that Library curriculum related to workforce readiness meets local employer needs.
Goal 4. Springfield City Library - A Place for You
Enhance the Central Library and neighborhood branch libraries to provide resources, programs, collections, and physical spaces to encourage community, learning, fun, and reflection.
Objective 1. In FY11, arrange for renovations, staffing, furniture, equipment, materials, supplies and technology for the reopening of the Mason Square Branch as a full-service library.
Objective 2. Determine if the Central Library building is adequate to serve as Springfield's library today and in the future.
Objective 3. Make all library facilities welcoming places for all residents, with a focus on achieving significant enhancements in spaces for teens.
Objective 4. Work with partner organizations, neighborhood advisory committees, City Facilities and businesses to determine area needs and attempt to address them.
Goal 5. Library Awareness and Advocacy
The Library will improve awareness of library programs and resources to attract new library users and build library advocates throughout the City.
Objective 1. Market library resources, ongoing programs, and new initiatives to encourage high levels of attendance and usage.
Objective 2. Develop the Library's website to strengthen its role as Springfield's gateway to information.
Objective 3. The library will increase its visibility and outreach to ensure all Springfield knows about services and resources available to the community
3a. Develop materials and procedures to ensure that new City residents are informed about library services.
3b. Conduct celebrations marking the 100th anniversary of the Central Library.
3c. Distribute library cards and information about services and events at schools, City Departments, and community groups.
3d. Consider acquiring an outreach vehicle (van or cybermobile) to draw people's attention to the library and its services.
Objective 4. Coordinate a deep and talented pool of volunteers to assist with initiatives and spread the word about library services and roles.
Objective 5. Train library staff, users, volunteers and other about library needs and ways to assist in achieving financial and service goals for libraries locally, statewide and nationally.
Goal 6. Institutional Effectiveness
The Library will focus on effective services and programs and develop metrics that demonstrate library contributions to Springfield.
Objective 1. Continue to advocate for strong financial support from the City of Springfield and develop additional financial resources to meet and support community needs:
1a. Actively work with city leadership and potential funders to promote the library to develop a better understanding of the potential the library offers to the community.
1b. Research and identify local, regional, state and federal foundations and organizations that will support library programs and services.
1c. Continue to work with the Springfield Library Foundation and the Friends of the Library in fundraising efforts.
Objective 2. The Library will refine its assessment program to demonstrate its contributions to and impact on the Springfield Community.
2a. Establish assessment priorities that address contributions to the community, user satisfaction, efficient processes, and stewardship of library funds.
2b. Establish assessments that measure activities related to City of Springfield Strategic Priorities.
Objective 3. Provide training that enhances the staff's ability to deliver excellent service and emphasize continuous learning as a core value
3a. Create a library orientation program for all new employees.
3b. Provide ongoing training workshops for all staff.
3c. Establish staff recognition committee and initiate a staff recognition program.
3d. Improve internal communications through regular staff meetings and a library intranet.
Objective 4. Provide the technological infrastructure needed to support library operations and utilize technology for the most efficient and cost-effective delivery of library services:
4a. Develop annual plans for technology needs and upgrades.
4b. Investigate local, regional, state and national funding opportunities for new technology and include new technology applications in the annual budget request.
4c. Identify options to improve the technologies and processes used to locate and circulate materials in ways that make services and collections more accessible and intuitive to the public.
4d. Utilize technology solutions to facilitate processes that will support staff team structures to successfully plan and implement key initiatives related to strategic priorities.
Objective 5. Apply CIS (Continuous Improvement Springfield) principles to evaluation of current procedures, operations, service models and staffing patterns:
5a. Continue to evaluate and improve Technical Services workflow to improve access to the Library's collections in support of all strategic initiatives.
5b. Develop a comprehensive approach to library programming for all ages by establishing a two year calendar of programs including base programs (story times, Hi-Tech, vacation week programs) and accompanying budgets and target attendance. A program team will map additional programs so that financial staffing, publicity and evaluation concerns are streamlined.
5c. Evaluate workflow in Circulation and Delivery areas.
5d. Establish ROI data for service desks to determine most cost-effective distribution of staff.
Strategic Plan Final Report
For the complete Strategic Plan document including the Plan and the Final Report click here. (MS Word format; long document)
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