HomeMy WebLinkAboutFebruary 29, 2012 Strategic Planning
COLUMBIA HEIGHTS PUBLIC LIBRARY
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
UNOFFICIAL WORKSESSION MINUTES
February 29, 2012
The meeting began at 6:30 p.m. Members present were: Nancy Hoium, Steve Smith, Patricia Sowada, Barbara
Tantanella, and Catherine Vesley. Also present: City Council Representative Tami Diehm, Library Director
Becky Loader, Adult Services Librarian Renee Dougherty and Stacey Hendren.
Strategic Planning
Our Mission:
Loader welcomed the Library Board members and handed out a draft Five Year Strategic Plan based on the items
discussed at the January 18, 2012, work session. The Board reviewed the draft mission statement and
recommended no changes.
Our Vision for the Future:
The Board discussed the proposed vision statement and made changes based on the drafted wording. Alternate
words discussed were glues, focus, center point and center for the word heart; center was chosen. Discussion on
the order of the words collaboration and partnerships led to the final draft.
Our Goals & Objectives
In the area of access Board members were encouraged to think globally by including all people in the definition of
the word community and all aspects of library services in the definition of resources. Action step A1 was left as
drafted as all Board members wished to include ADA standards. Objective A and Objective B were revised to
remove duplication of the word access. In Objective A the word usable was chosen in its place, and in Objective
B the word availability was preferred. The Board discussed the need for quiet spaces for reading and research as
well as flexible group spaces and action step A2 was revised to include the word study and action step A3 was
written to support flexible spacing. Diehm touched on the fact that in order to provide access we need to consider
hours of operation. Action step A4 enforces the Boards dedication to providing sufficient hours. Action steps B1
and B2 were accepted by Board members, and action step B3 was revised to be more inclusive of off-site
services, not just electronic. The Board discussed home delivery, bulk loan, online databases, and the City
website.
Under the heading of Environment Loader highlighted the fact that this includes the library’s physical space as
well as its virtual presence. Action step A1 was revised to include functionality and comfort. The Board
discussed that age wasn’t an indicator for replacement, and that comfort is a relative term and different for
different people. Action steps A2 and A3 were not revised; however, the Board discussed the definition of a
capital expense and the benefits of having a plan. Vesley queried how much capital the Board wants to put into
the current building and members agreed that it was important to maintain the building for however long the
library is housed here. The Library Task Force members were appointed and ratified by the Council on February
27, 2012. 10 members have been appointed, and the additional 9 applicants will assist and advice the Force based
on their areas of interest. The Board discussed the Task Force and made no changes to action step A4. Action
step A5 was created to say something about the desired look of the library building. Vesley advocated for the
phrase “architecturally distinctive and appropriate to the community,” and Action step A5 was built around that
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statement. Objective B was revised to be less specific to green practices. Action step B1 was kept and B2 was
revised after discussion of planned versus completed projects and the desire to have a summary of completed
endeavors.
The Resources section of the strategic plan was moderately adjusted from the draft form. Discussion of Objective
A revolved around defining what a resource is and verifying that the action steps align with this definition.
Through objective B, Loader accentuated the need for library staff to promote library services. Smith highlighted
the fact that staff requires training in addition to skills and technology. Action step B1 was revised to include
training.
The fourth goal of Visibility encompasses outreach. The Board discussed the concept of branding and revised
Action step A1 to be more concise. Action step A2 was changed from a three year to a five year plan to align
better with the length of the strategic plan and capital improvement plan. Action step A3 was rendered more
succinct as conducting research is included in the term evaluate. The drafted Action step B1 was removed and
will be a planned result under the new action step B1. Action step B1 was revised to include not only the funding
body of library, but the community. The Board discussed Return on Investment (ROI) and the need to provide
tangible evidence of the value of the tax dollars spent on the library to the elected officials and the electorate.
Loader explained that an architect is able to provide information for comparison based on the library’s size and
circulation.
In the section on Sustainability the Board wants to emphasize the importance of looking towards the future and
planning. Action steps A1and A3 were kept as drafted. Action step A2 was revised to reflect the understanding
that leader of the community support many different aspects of the library and the aspects don’t need to be listed
in the plan. Action step A4 was revised to be more inclusive and less specific as to which organizations will be
approached for discourses. The drafted Action step A5 was removed after discussing the definition of the phrase
civil discourse. The Board recognizes that library supporters needs to be aware of how to advocate for the library,
but do not want the strategic plan to include the intension of looking for opposition. Objective B was simplified
to make a cleaner statement. Action step B1 focuses on the Boards role in the future and was revised to state their
desired role. Action steps B2 and B3 were accepted as drafted after discussion of how grants enhance the library
budget and do not replace approved funding occurred.
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The changes prepared by the Board will be typed up for review at the March 7 Library Board meeting.
The Board discussed their next project which includes reviewing and codifying the policy manual. Loader
notified the Board that they will be invited to a future Task Force meeting as guests.
The meeting ended at 8:26 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Stacey R. Hendren
Secretary, Library Board of Trustees
The City of Columbia Heights does not discriminate on the basis of disability in the admission or access to, or
treatment or employment in, its services, programs, or activities. Upon request, accommodation will be provided
to allow individuals with disabilities to participate in all City of Columbia Heights services, programs, and
activities.
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