"Be a little careful of your Library. Do you foresee what you will do with it? Very little to be sure. But the real question is, what it will do with you? You will come here & get books that will open your eyes, & your ears, & your curiosity, & turn you inside out or outside in." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

        In the spring of 2002, the Board of Trustees of the Guilderland Public Library ("GPL") charged a community-based committee with the development of an updated, strategic long-range plan for the Library. A Long-Range Planning Committee composed of board members, staff and community representatives bringing diverse perspectives to the process was named under the Chairmanship of Robert Ganz, Vice President of the Board of Trustees. The Board authorized this team to determine what mix of services would best meet the community needs and develop goals and objectives focused on achieving such priorities during the next ten years.

        To assess the needs of the community, the Committee conducted a resident survey, considered substantial written materials and reports from library experts, and devoted nine months to discussion and debate to help sharpen the focus of the group. Working from this extensive knowledge base, the Committee has developed a vision for library services over the next ten years. It is important to note that the selection of these service areas does not reduce the Library’s dedication to the continued availability of other services currently provided; rather, it indicates which areas should be emphasized for the purpose of budget allocation, capital improvements and staff development.

        The six primary service areas selected for the strategic plan for the period 2004-2014 are:

            A. Technology
            B. Learning Issues
            C. Community and Cultural Activities
            D. Supportive Services
            E. Business Activities and Assistance
            F. Health and Wellness

        In developing ten-year goals and specific five-year objectives to support these service areas, the Committee has tried to keep the issues and concerns of the community at the forefront. The generally stated goals are set forth in this Summary. Also included is a short statement highlighting the nature of the impact the Committee goals and objectives would have on Library resources if implemented. The specifics of the goals, objectives, and impacts developed to help reach each goal are in Part VI of this report, entitled "Future Priorities & Impact on Library Resources."

        This report assumes that existing institutions, including the Library, will continue to provide the existing level of services (i.e. for the Library the basic collection of fiction, non-fiction books, reference materials, regular programming and services will be maintained). The absence of extended discussion of such basic library services here does not indicate the Committee’s underestimation of their importance or value.

SUMMARY OF GOALS

           Technology

1. Members of the community will have reasonable access to current technology to meet their informational, educational and recreational needs.

2. Members of the community will have available training and support to successfully use current technology.

3. Library users will have access to a wireless network anywhere in the building to provide flexibility/adaptability in using technology.

4. Members of the community will have reasonable access to library programs from remote locations through current technology to receive the benefits of library programs.

1. Students will have the opportunity to enhance/supplement their school-based research skills to improve life-long research abilities.

2. Members of the community will have access to training in research skills and an adequate collection of materials to pursue appropriate research.

3. Members of the community will have appropriate space to pursue group-learning projects.

4. Children will have access to a rich variety of programs and materials to encourage life-long love of learning, reading and library use.

5. Members of the community will have access to literacy training and materials to maximize their ability to function in the community.

6. Members of the community will have access to a rich variety of programs and materials to help fulfill their desires for lifelong learning.

Building expansion is necessary to provide for additional study rooms (individual and group). Additional space will require additional furniture and equipment. Also additional staff positions would be needed to maximize the programming and coordination with cooperating agencies.

1. Children will be provided with sufficient story hour times in adequate space to meet their pre-reading needs.

2. Members of the community will be invited to experience cultural events to enrich their lives and expose them to a variety of library services.

3. Arts and performance groups in the community will be invited to utilize the library to present programs of community interest and entertainment.

4. Members of the community shall have the opportunity at the library to engage in discussions of public interest to enhance the civic life of Guilderland.

5. Members of the community shall have the opportunity to explore the collective and personal family histories of Guilderland.

The addition of another story hour room to meet the documented need in the community would require a building expansion, as would creating appropriate and adequate space to be a depository of local history materials. Space within the Youth Services area is already in full use. An increase in staff will be necessary for both children’s activities and coordination with cultural and local history partners. Equipment and materials to support the programs will need to be added to the budget.

1. Members of the community unable to leave their place of residence will be provided with the delivery of a variety of books, tapes and other materials to meet their informational, educational and recreational needs.

2. Members of the community unable to independently visit the library will be provided with assistance in accessing library programs and services to meet their informational, educational and recreational needs.

3. Parents will be provided with helpful materials and connections to services to assist in acquiring or improving child rearing skills.

1. Prospective businesses will be able to identify the variety of business information sources in the region and the types of business information which can be obtained from such sources to assist them in their business endeavors.

2. Guilderland business people will have access to library facilities and resources, in partnership with not-for-profit organizations, to learn business skills.

Highlights of Impact:

The goals set forth by the Committee can be met with our current space and reasonable increases in staff time and resources.

1. Members of the community will have remote and on-site access to current health and wellness information to be knowledgeable in maintaining/improving their quality of life.

2. Health and wellness not-for-profit organizations will have access to library facilities and resources to promote and conduct programs related to health and wellness.

3. Members of the community will receive information regarding the Library’s health and wellness resources and programs through a sustained multi-media outreach effort to encourage usage of such programs and resources.

Additional staff training and the possible increase in staff hours are the only increases needed to meet the Committee goals.

        The Committee intends that this strategic plan will allow the Library flexibility to respond to changing customer and community needs. Over the course of the Plan, the Guilderland Public Library should continually measure, evaluate and refine its goals and objectives to create an environment that promotes the use of the Library’s resources for all people within the community.

A. The Charge to the Committee

        In the Spring of 2002, as GPL planned a celebration of 10 years in the present facility located at 2228 Western Avenue, the Board of Trustees noted that the Guilderland community had changed significantly over the past decade. The Library’s existing long-range plan, drafted as required by the New York State Library Division of Library Development, was more in the nature of an operational planning document rather than a blueprint for the "vision" of the future of library services for the Guilderland community. With the growth in circulation of materials and changes in technology already straining a building only 10 years old, the Board felt it was appropriate to re-assess the future priorities of the Library when measured against community needs. The Board, therefore, determined to assemble a committee to guide it in making policies for the future.

        The Board charged the Committee with developing a long-range strategic plan, subject to Board review and approval, to guide Library Trustees in their thinking and decision-making over the next 10 years, utilizing the current Mission Statement as a starting point. That 1998 statement asserts that:

            The plan was to be developed not to implement specific programs or activities, but rather to determine general priorities and serve as a "sounding board" against which future activities, resource allocations and related decision-making would be tested and compared.

B. The Composition of the Committee

        The Board appointed Robert Ganz, Vice President of the Board of Trustees, to Chair the Committee and Barbara Nichols Randall, the Library’s Director, to act in an ex officio position providing professional support and assistance. John Daly, a Library Trustee, was also appointed to the Committee as a Board representative. After an outreach process, the Board selected the following Committee members:

        Each of these Committee members has devoted countless hours to reading the extensive materials provided, discussing the issues and thinking in a significant way about the future of the community and the Library.

C. The Planning Process

        Strategic long-range planning is an ongoing process used in both business and government. The Public Library Association has developed a model for a long-range plan, which the Committee adopted. Recognized expert in library management and planning, Sandra Nelson, describes the model in the book "The New Planning For Results - A Streamlined Approach." The process generally has four steps. They are:

1. Imagine: Identify the Possibilities
   (This involves determining the community’s vision of itself, identifying its needs and the gap between the two.)
   

2. Design: Inventing the Future
   (This involves selecting the Library service responses that meet community needs and vision.)
   

3. Build: Assembling the Future
   (This involves writing goals and objectives to assist in implementing the design.)
   

4. Communicate: Informing the Stakeholders
   (This involves: a) drafting the plan; b) having it reviewed and commented upon by staff, trustees and the public; c) providing information concerning the plan contents to the community; d) providing for a systematic, periodic evaluation of the plan’s progress.)

        The Committee began its work by spending its first few meetings reviewing more than 50 articles and documents with respect to the Guilderland community, the present Library activities, trends in Library services and technologies and related matters. (See Appendix A for a partial listing of the material reviewed by all or some of the Committee.)

        The Committee, with its wide-ranging perspectives, then discussed during its three-hour meetings the nature of the Guilderland community, and the members’ vision of how Guilderland is likely to change over the next 10 years. Input from town officials and Library staff helped the Committee identify the community’s future needs – and in particular, those that could be met by the Library.

        With the Library Director’s assistance, the Committee created a general outline of services currently provided by the Library in six areas: learning issues, technology, business activity and assistance, supportive services, health and wellness and community and cultural activities. Additionally, Ms. Nichols Randall held several meetings with Library staff to discuss ways to improve the Library’s services in each of these areas and provided summaries of those meetings to the Committee. Meanwhile, the Board of Trustees approved the Committee’s request to hire a local research firm, Fact Finders, Inc., to conduct a random, scientifically reliable telephone survey of Guilderland residents. The purpose of the survey was to either confirm or dispute the long-range priorities for the Library that the Committee had identified thus far.

        Fact Finders, Inc., which generously donated a substantial portion of the cost of performing the survey, generally confirmed the six priority areas outlined by the Committee. (Survey results are set forth in Appendix B.)

        The members then began the arduous process of developing specific goals and objectives in each area. Over several months each area was explored in more detail and vigorously debated. Finally the Committee was able to articulate a limited number of achievable goals and objectives.

        The Committee then developed a generalized assessment of the possible impact these proposed goals and objectives might have on Library resources in terms of space, staff, collections and infrastructure (i.e., wiring, parking, etc.). It was determined not to attempt to estimate actual numbers with respect to such impacts, but rather to simply categorize them as minimal, substantial or extraordinary. The Committee approved a draft of its plan and forwarded it to the Trustees for review. It also scheduled and publicized two town meetings at which the community would have an opportunity to provide comment prior to the report’s completion.

        The Committee met a final time to adjust the draft recommendations based on community input and the Trustees comments.

        Upon such final revisions, the Committee unanimously approved the plan and forwarded it to the Board of Trustees for adoption.

        The Trustees adopted the plan on July 10, 2003.

"There is not such a cradle of democracy upon the earth as the free Public Library, this republic of letters, where neither rank, office nor wealth receives the slightest consideration" - Andrew Carnegie

        Guilderland, located west of Albany, is one of three major suburbs adjacent to the City of Albany. This geographically large area contains the Region’s largest retail shopping complex, Crossgates Mall, numerous modern office complexes, industrial facilities and rural farmland. Its current population is approximately 33,000, with the bulk of its population aged 25-64.

        In the last 10 years, the number of single-parent households in the town has doubled from 905 to 1,805. The suburb is primarily Caucasian with only 2.5% of the population African-American, 3.8% Asian and 1.8% Hispanic. Unemployment is almost non-existent (1.8%) and median family income is substantial ($68,472). Less than 2.4% of the families in the community are below the federally established poverty level for the region.

        The Guilderland Central School District is considered one of the finest resources in the community. There are five public elementary schools, one large middle school and one high school, which has recently undergone extensive renovation. The community also has two private elementary schools.

        The overall education level of the Guilderland community is high: 92.5% of residents have a high school degree; 47.5% have at least two years of college; and 45% have received a 4-year college degree. Thirty five percent of the residents have a graduate degree or have studied in graduate school.

        With respect to caring for the elderly, there are four nursing homes and adult-assisted living facilities in the community. Several others are scheduled for construction. The Library district includes portions of North Bethlehem, which also has additional facilities for the elderly.

        Although the majority of the population falls in the age group of 25-64, 63% of the households in the Town of Guilderland presently have no children residing in the household.

        The longevity of the residents living in the town is fairly evenly split with 23% being residents for 5 years or less, 27% residents for 6-15 years, 29% residents for 16-30 years and 21% residents more than 30 years.
        While 17.2% of the residents have no home computer, 51.5% have access to the Internet both at home and work. 27.3% have only home access to the Internet. Almost 75% of the residents in the Town of Guilderland have used the Internet during the past week, either from home or at work.

Our history has been greatly shaped by people who read their way to opportunity and achievement in public libraries" - Arthur Schlesinger

        In 1957, the Library Committee of the West Brook Women’s Club spearheaded the formation of the Guilderland Free Library. The Library was first housed in the Guilderland Elementary School. In 1958, the Library opened its doors at the Plaza Shopping Center. A series of moves followed and in 1983, the Library moved to 1873 Western Avenue, its last rented space. In May 1988, by vote of the residents, the Library changed its legal status from that of an association library to that of a school district public library, thus creating a tax base for the annual financial support of the library. In June 1992, 35 years after its founding, the Library finally settled into its own building at 2228 Western Avenue.

        The Library is housed in a 27,650 square foot building of one story. It houses its main collection of fiction and non-fiction books in a large, high-ceilinged reading room. There are separate areas for its children’s collection and periodicals. Children’s story hours and programs are held in a separate, enclosed area. The Library has two significantly sized meeting rooms and a kitchen to service them. Additionally, there are three small meeting rooms, two "study rooms," a local history room, and a room which presently houses some, but not all, of the public-access computers. Out of the public’s view are administrative offices, a conference room, technical services, storage space, a staff lounge, and circulation administration areas. The bathroom facilities and other work areas are generally compliant with the Americans with Disability Act requirements, as they existed at the time construction began.

        The building has four online public-access catalogs and nine public-access computers for adults, all of which are connected to the Internet. In the children’s area there is one online public access catalog, two public-access computers connected to the Internet and two additional stand-alone public computers. The entire building is wired with category 3 and 5 wiring which, at the time of construction, was appropriate and is now less than optimal with respect to carrying future levels of data, video and other electronically communicated materials.

C. Relation to New York State Library Systems

        The Guilderland Public Library is considered a school-district public library. It is chartered by the Board of Regents and governed by the New York State Education Law as well as the Education Department’s rules and regulations. Within that department the New York State Library Division of Library Development administers state and federal aid programs and monies. State aid in New York is minimal, amounting to approximately 30¢ per capita. Annual reports and service plans are required to insure that essential library services are being provided to the community.

        New York State libraries, by law, are members of regional organizations called "Library Systems." Guilderland Public Library is a member of the Upper Hudson Library System ("UHLS"), which includes all public libraries in Albany and Rensselaer counties. Guilderland has a voting representative on the Board of Trustees of UHLS and participates fully in its programs and services. The primary services UHLS provides the Guilderland Public Library are a coordinated automated catalog and circulation system, Internet connection and e-mail accounts, and shared collection-borrowing privileges. A computer catalog search of "the collection" allows a Guilderland resident to locate not only what the Guilderland Public Library owns but also what is owned by each library within the system. Such a search can be conducted at the library or from a home computer. Most library materials can be borrowed by either going to the other library or by making a request that the item be brought to the Guilderland Public Library through an intra-library courier. Similarly, residents of all neighboring communities have reciprocal privileges at the Guilderland Public Library. Recently, in the winter of 2003, UHLS purchased a new relational database product to use as the joint catalog. The new system will eventually include modules allowing more sophisticated patron products such as custom bibliographies to be created.

        UHLS also provides staff assistance with respect to programming, staff training and grant administration both from the federal and state governments. UHLS, for example, coordinates the yearly regional programming and information sharing session about the statewide Summer Reading Club. Working with the theme developed by the New York State Library, the UHLS Youth Services specialist works with Albany and Rensselaer county libraries, including Guilderland Public Library, to present cooperative grant-funded summer programs. In 2002 the Summer Reading Club, Splish Splash Read, exceeded all previous years with 809 children participating and 90 programs with attendance by 2,767 participants and their families. Reading records turned in at the end of the program showed that 7,123 books were read during the summer.

D. The Collection

        Presently, there are 74,527 volumes of adult books, an increase from 57,500 volumes five years ago. Adult periodicals available through shared electronic databases have remained stable over the last five years and presently are at the level of 1,200 titles. Adult CDs, videos and audiocassettes have more than doubled from 7,800 to 20,600. With respect to children’s resources, the number of books has risen from 24,000 five years ago to 44,000 presently. In the aggregate, the Library has 142,233 items of materials, a more than 50% increase in the total level of materials five years ago.

        Despite this remarkable growth in materials, Guilderland’s collection is still significantly smaller than the Town of Bethlehem’s Library collection (189,235) and the average of comparable libraries (158,345). The circulation of materials has risen from 350,000 items five years ago to 462,700 presently. This is greater than the average of other comparable libraries (300,000), but somewhat less than neighboring Bethlehem Library usage (531,600).

        The Library presently handles about 46,000 reference transactions per year, which is close to average for a library of this size.

        The Library conducts sponsored programs that reach approximately 8,000 adults and more than 11,000 children annually. The number of children reached by children’s programming has risen by approximately 37% in the last five years. The Library maintains a website allowing a user at a remote site to search the catalog, and which also serves to alert the public to news about the Library, newly added resources, the Library’s rules and regulations and upcoming programs in the community and at the Library.

        In addition, the Library permits its meeting rooms to be used by community groups without cost. This usage is very substantial (a partial listing is contained in Appendix C). Library staff notes that the presence of community programming at the meeting rooms inevitably causes increases in the circulation of books and other materials on the dates and times when groups utilize the meeting rooms.

        Recently, in conjunction with the Guilderland Library Foundation, a notable author speaker series was inaugurated and renowned authors Joseph Persico and Joyce Carol Oates were invited to give free public readings of their works at the Library

        The staff has grown from 47 to 54 (28.6 FTE)during the past five years and the Library Director, Barbara Nichols Randall, projects the total staff employment will increase to 75 persons in the next five years. Approximately 70% of the employees are full time. 35% of the staff is "professional staff" (i.e., librarians), 22% are presently clerical and the rest of the employees fall into various categories.

F. Governance and Budget

        The public elects the Board of Trustees at the time of the School Board elections. There are eleven members who serve in rotating 5-year terms. The Board internally selects its officers.

        The fiscal year is a July 1 year. The Library’s total budget for the year July 1, 2002 through June 30, 2003, was $1,975,666 of which the two largest components were materials (14.4%) and salaries and benefits (64.5%). Less than one-half of 1% of the budget is devoted to non-salary related programming costs and approximately 3% is expended on equipment and technology. Maintaining the fiscal plant requires 7% of the budget.

        Fact Finders, Inc. designed a telephone-based questionnaire in consultation with the Committee’s representative and the Library Director. In addition to base demographic information, it sought to gauge, from a scientifically random sample of the community, the public’s view of future priorities for the Guilderland Public Library.

The most significant findings of the survey were:

• A very high percentage of people view the library as a "very valuable" community resource (88%).
  
• The percentage of the community holding a library card is high (69%) and of that percentage those using the library for both borrowing materials or another purpose is also high (65%).
  
• Those who do not use the library, nonetheless, see it as "very valuable" (83%) and would go so far as to support paying more in taxes to provide increases in library services which they view as priorities (57%).
  
• A similar finding is that households without children rank children-oriented library programs similarly with households with children, in terms of priority (52.8% to 58.7%).
  
• The areas which the community sees the need for increased programming are:

        As noted in the Summary, the selection of priority service areas and specific goals and objectives embodies the Committee’s vision of the future needs of the Guilderland community. It assumes that existing institutions, including the Library, will continue to provide the existing level of services (i.e. for the Library the basic collection of fiction, non-fiction books, reference materials, regular programming and services will be maintained) and the absence of extended discussion of such basic library services here does not indicate the Committee’s underestimation of their importance or value.

        The themes for future library services at Guilderland are: maintaining up-to-date technological portals to the world of information and entertainment; creating more significant learning-oriented partnerships; enhancing the library’s role as a central location for cultural and community activities; helping those in the community who can not easily come to the library to maintain their connections with reading, learning and recreation; and supporting those in search of information relating to their health concerns, local historical research and business growth.

            The specifics of these themes are articulated through goals and objectives in each of the six library service responses described below:

Goal: Goals are derived directly from the "service responses" selected and focus on the benefits the community will receive because the library is providing those services. The goal must: (a) identify the target audience, (b) describe the service to be received, and (c) state the purpose of the service.

e.g., Students will have information resources to enhance school-based learning.

Objectives: Objectives are the ways in which a library can measure its progress toward reaching a goal. The objective must include: (a) a measure, (b) a standard against which to compare the measure, and (c) a time frame by which the standard should be met.
e.g., Students utilizing reference services for school projects will increase by ___% in each of the next five years.

        The Committee cannot and should not, within its charge attempt to specifically quantify the cost of implementing the above listed goals and objectives. There are several reasons for this but primarily because the Board of Trustees, not the Committee, will select objectives to implement and the timing thereof. Implementing a project in five or eight years in the future may have quite different costs from doing so tomorrow.

        What may be useful is to indicate the possible magnitude of impact upon different Library resources generated by Long Range Planning Committee’s key recommendations in each of the general service response areas and the general reasons why the committee makes such assessments. We have chosen in this analysis the following terms and assigned them the following meanings:

Incremental - cost probably absorbable in natural budget increases.

Substantial - cost significant (in % terms) above present level of support requiring new line of expenditure or significant reallocation of existing expenditures.

Extraordinary- will require expensive re-design of the building or major staff additions.

The three resource areas considered to meet the goals were space needed, staff needed and infrastructure needed (equipment, materials and supplies.)

Goal 1) Members of the community will have reasonable access to current technology to meet their informational, educational and recreational needs.

Objectives:

A. Eliminate wait time for computer (access) use to less than 20 minutes wait time in two years.

B. Own adequate disability assistance-related equipment in two years.

C. Increase the amount of time each person may use computers by 30 minutes in two years.

D. Provide for 100% of fixed access points in a privacy protected use environment in four years

E. 100% of computer hardware capable of operating current applications/ programs in five years.

F. Increase the number of access points (computer workstations) by 300% in five years.

Space: Substantial
Staff: Substantial
Infrastructure: Extraordinary

Reasoning: Additional computers and additional people for monitoring their use and maintenance will be necessary.

Goal 2) Members of the community will have available training and support to successfully use current technology

Objectives:

A. Increase by 10% collection for self-training within one year.

B. Increase by 40% the people trained in general computing skills within each of the next two years.

C. Collaborate with at least five other non-profit organizations in providing specialized training within two years.

D. Increase by 40% the senior citizens trained in computer communication with four years.

Impact:

Space: Incremental
Staff: Incremental
Infrastructure: Incremental

Reasoning: Re-instituting regular classes and improving opportunities for self-training can be done with current staff. Collaborations with others can be done with current staff. Current equipment is sufficient.

Goal 3) Library users will have access to a wireless network anywhere in the building to provide flexibility/adaptability in using technology.

Objectives:

A. Install hardware for wireless network within five years.

B. Purchase hardware and adaptive devices for user based hardware to access wireless network within five years.

Impact:
Space: Incremental
Staff: Incremental
Infrastructure: Extraordinary

Reasoning: Equipment upgrades and purchases will be costly. The current space will become more flexible and staff oversight can be phased in.

Goal 4) All citizens will have reasonable access to library programs from remote locations through current technology to receive the benefits of library programs.
Objectives:

A. Purchase video production equipment within three years.

B. Reengineer web site to permit increasing interactivity within three years.

C. Establish production collaboration with two organizations to provide technical assistance or content within three years.

Space: Incremental
Staff: Substantial
Infrastructure: Substantial
Reasoning: Space need is minimal. Considerable staff training is necessary and/or additional staff will need to be hired. All equipment will need to be purchased. Cooperative agreements with other agencies can be done with current staff.

Objectives:

1. Form a joint School District/Library District Committee on research skill enhancement within one year.
   
2. Design and implement a system of notification of school research project assignments within two years.
   
3. Create age-appropriate guides to Guilderland Public Library research materials within two years and continuing.
   
4. Provide appropriately increased size of collection designed to aid home school learning within two years.
   
5. Provide adequate space and a monitoring system for group study within five years.

Impact:

Space: Extraordinary
Staff: Incremental
Infrastructure: Substantial

Reasoning: Space and the money to construct or reorganize the space will be considerable. Current staff could absorb objectives relating to cooperation with the School District.

1. Create research guides to Guilderland Public Library research materials within one year and continuing each year.
   
2. Conduct a public awareness campaign of the available adult research materials and resources within one year.
   
3. Periodically provide computer research training classes within two years and continuing.

Space: Incremental
Staff: Incremental
Infrastructure: Incremental

Reasoning: Current staff, space and resources can be used to implement the recommendations.

Goal 3) Members of the community will have appropriate space to pursue group-learning projects.\

Objectives:

1. Provide adequate space and a monitoring system for group study within five years.

Space: Extraordinary
Staff: Substantial
Infrastructure: Extraordinary

Reasoning: Additional study space would need to be built and staff to monitor the space would need to be hired. Additional furniture and equipment would need to be purchased.

Goal 4) Children will have access to a rich variety of programs and materials to encourage lifelong love of learning, reading and library use.
Objectives:

1. Increase by 10% the number of children in the community engaged in a library sponsored pre-reading activity each year.
   
2. Increase by 10% the number of children in the community engaged in a library sponsored reading activity each year.
   
3. Increase by 5% the amount of teen-oriented programs & materials each year.
   
4. Continue to provide themed activities to attract children/young adult presence in library and promote appreciation of library functions beginning with year one.

Space: Extraordinary
Staff: Substantial
Infrastructure: Substantial

Reasoning: Additional story hour space would need to be built and additional staff hired. Additional furniture and equipment would need to be purchased.

Objectives:

1. Continue the ESL training programs and increase by 10% each year.
   
2. Conduct an ongoing public-awareness campaign relating to Guilderland Public Library’s programs and materials.
   
3. Inform all area literacy providers of ESL collection and materials within one year.
   
4. Assess the need for general literacy training among Guilderland Residents.
   
5. If need is demonstrated, design and implement general literacy program within four years.
   
6. Provide adequate study rooms for ESL and Literacy Tutoring within five years.

Space: Extraordinary
Staff: Substantial
Infrastructure: Extraordinary

Reasoning: To expand the program additional space would need to be built and additional staff time devoted to the program. Additional materials and equipment would need to be purchased.

Goal 6) Members of the community will have access to a rich variety of programs and materials to help fulfill their desires for lifelong learning.

Objectives:

1. Create two new collaborative arrangements with subject-specialized interest groups to present joint programs each year.
   
2. Provide Guilderland Central School District Adult Education program with information about the resources of Guilderland Public Library within two years and continuing.
   
3. Hold four significant quality programs/exhibits annually to increase the people reached by Guilderland Public Library sponsored programs, exhibits, lectures and presentations by year four.

Impact:

Space: Incremental
Staff: Substantial
Infrastructure: Substantial

Reasoning: A considerable amount of staff time would need to be devoted to the effort which would require hiring additional staff. Additional materials and equipment would need to be purchased. Current spaces are adequate.

COMMUNITY AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES

Goal 1) Children will be provided with sufficient story hour times in adequate space to meet their pre-reading needs.

Objectives:

1. Hire two additional youth services staff and one additional circulation staff for story hour in year three.
   
2. Improve and expand by year five the existing story hour room to handle anticipated demand.
   
3. Increase each type of story hour available by 10% per year after appropriate and adequate space is created.

Space: Extraordinary
Staff: Extraordinary
Infrastructure: Extraordinary

Reasoning: Additional space would need to be built and additional staff hired. Additional equipment, books and supplies would need to be purchased.

Goal 2) Members of the community will be invited to experience cultural events to enrich their lives and expose them to a variety of library services.

Objectives:

1. Increased by 25% the budget for performance and/or exhibits /visual displays each year.
   
2. Allocate sufficient funds each year for publicity in media (local access, TV ads, radio) beginning with year one.
   
3. Designate a specific staff person for performance and exhibits liaison and outreach by year three.

Space: Incremental
Staff: Substantial
Infrastructure: Substantial

Reasoning: The current space could be used. Staff time and supplies devoted to the goal would be considerable.

Goal 3) Arts and performance groups in the community will be invited to utilize the library to present programs of community interest and entertainment.

Objectives:

1. Designate a specific staff person as community liaison and outreach by year three.
   
2. Increase meeting room performance areas and/or explore alternate hours of operation to allow group use by year four.
   
3. Increase by 25% equipment budget to purchase necessary equipment to enhance performance space and meeting usage each year with sufficient storage and space needs to take precedence.

Space: Substantial/Extraordinary
Staff: Substantial
Infrastructure: Extraordinary

Reasoning: This goal is a new direction for the Library and would require additional resources in all areas.

Goal 4) Members of the community shall have the opportunity at the library to engage in discussions of public interest to enhance the civic life of Guilderland.

Objectives:

1. Increase the level of public awareness of the availability of meeting rooms by individuals or groups to discuss issues of public importance by year two.
   
2.  Increase the availability and awareness of bulletin board areas to post materials of public or civic concerns by year three.

Space: Incremental
Staff: Incremental
Infrastructure: Incremental
Reasoning: Current programs and policies can be emphasized through the Library newsletter and other publicity outlets.

Goal 5) Members of the community shall have the opportunity to explore the collective and personal family histories of Guilderland.

Objectives:

A. Create an ongoing partnership with all interested community groups dealing with local history by year three.

B. Increase the collection including electronic databases to meet the growing needs for genealogy research by year two.

C. Conduct a feasibility study to have the library serve as a properly designed and preservationally sound repository of local history/local genealogy by year four.

D. Take a leadership role in having local history/local genealogy resources digitized and accessible to the community through the Library by year five.

Space: Extraordinary
Staff: Substantial
Infrastructure: Extraordinary

Reasoning: The current Local History Room cannot be used for the purpose it was meant. A new room would need to be constructed. Considerable staff time would need to be devoted and/or additional staff hired. New furniture and storage equipment necessary for preservation of historical materials would need to be purchased.

Goal 1) Members of the Community unable to leave their place of residence will be provided with delivery of a variety of books, tapes and other materials to meet their informational, educational and recreational needs.

Objectives:

1. Increase by 20% per year the number of individuals to whom deliveries are made in each of the next five years.
   
2. Conduct an awareness program with respect to delivery at four community institutions within the library district each year.
   
3. Maintain ongoing contact and provide information with respect to delivery service to activities directors at appropriate institutions and agencies.

Space: Incremental
Staff: Substantial
Infrastructure: Substantial

Reasoning: Space need is minimal. Additional staff time and supplies would need to be devoted to increase outreach. Also at some point in the future it may be necessary to lease a van for delivery of materials.

Goal 2) Members of the Community unable to independently visit the library will be provided with assistance in accessing library programs and services to meet their informational, educational and recreational needs.

Objectives:

1. Create one new partnership with an agency that provides transportation to libraries for attendance at programs each year.
   
2. Provide four community institutions with materials, training and for staff assistance in conducting a book discussion group at the institution each year.

Space: Incremental
Staff: Incremental
Infrastructure: Incremental

Reasoning: Current staff can absorb the cooperative work.

Goal 3) Parents will be provided with helpful materials and connections to services to assist in acquiring or improving child rearing skills.

Objectives:

1. Increase parenting materials by 5% each year.
   
2. Outreach each year to two more agencies or groups providing parenting programs and provide assistance, material, meeting rooms and/or publicity.
   
3. Provide adequate space for the collection within five years.

Space: Incremental
Staff: Incremental
Infrastructure: Incremental

Reasoning: Additional space will need to be freed up and/or collection moved. Current staff can absorb increased levels of use. Additional materials can be purchased through the regular materials budget.

Goal 1) For prospective businesses identify the variety of business information sources in the region and the types of information that can be obtained from such sources to assist in business endeavors.
Objectives:

1. Develop a business information source bibliography by year three and maintain thereafter.
   
2. On a yearly basis have a librarian attend additional training in business assistance beginning year two.

Impact:
Space: Incremental
Staff: Incremental
Infrastructure: Incremental

Reasoning: Current space, staff and resources can be used.

Goal 2) Guilderland business people will have access to library facilities/resources, in partnership with not-for-profit organizations to learn business skills.

1. Develop a programming partnership with a not-for-profit organization to present at least one annual program at the library on business skills by year one.

Space: Incremental
Staff: Incremental
Infrastructure: Incremental

Reasoning: Current space, staff and resources can be used.

Objectives:

1. Maintain specialized health and wellness collection sufficient to meet the growing number of patrons needing such information.
   
2. Increase the number of electronic accessible databases by two by year two.
   
3. Increase the number of librarians with health information certification by two by year three.
   
4. Maintain and increase by 100% sponsored programs on health and wellness topics by year two.
   
5. Create through the Online Public Access Catalog electronic user friendly bibliographies of existing health and wellness information by year one.

Impact:
Space: Incremental
Staff: Incremental
Infrastructure: Incremental

Reasoning: Current space, staff and resources can be used.

Goal 2) Health and wellness organizations will have access to library facilities/resources to promote and conduct programs related to health & wellness.

Objectives:

1. Develop a listing of potential presenting organizations and notify them of available resources and facilities for health and wellness programs by year two.
   
2. Designate a specific staff person for health and wellness liaison and outreach by year three.
   
3. Make more prominent in the Library and on the website the health and wellness resources and programs by year two.

Impact:
Space: Incremental
Staff: Substantial
Infrastructure: Incremental

Reasoning: Current space and resources can be used. Staffing levels would need to increase.

Goal 3) Members of the community will receive information regarding the Library’s health and wellness resources and programs through a sustained multi-media outreach effort to encourage usage.

Objectives:

1. Video-record health & wellness programs and make available on the web or through local public access television by year five.
   
2. Develop a list of targeted health related organizations and providers to receive notices and training relating to the Library’s specialized health and wellness information by year two.
   
3. On a yearly basis do a mailing to appropriate organizations (churches, etc.) informing them of the Library’s health and wellness resources beginning year one.

Impact:
Space: Substantial
Staff: Substantial
Infrastructure: Substantial

Reasoning: New programs and relationships require considerable additional staff time. New equipment requires new expenditures. Storage space for equipment is needed.

        The Committee believes that the Library is a vital asset of the Guilderland community and can have a significant impact for good on the lives of its residents. This long-range plan should be viewed as a roadmap pointing the direction for future library growth and development. Library staff and trustees make decisions on a regular and on-going basis which in small but significant ways have an impact on the future of the Library. The existing levels of service are valued by the community and should be maintained. The Committee hopes that during the decision making process staff and trustees will refer to this plan’s priorities, its recommendations and rationale and measure any proposed action against such expressions of the community’s aspirations for the Library’s future; they need not take the recommendations as unchangeable proposals. Further, this plan is meant to be a living document that will be revisited on a regular basis by the Board of Trustees Long Range Planning Committee.

        We believe that with the implementation of the recommendations set forth here, in whole or in part, the Guilderland community will come to an even greater appreciation of the Library’s value in their lives.

Respectfully submitted;

Martha Beck Guilderland Central School District Vincent Colonno Albany County Department for Aging John Daly Trustee, Guilderland Public Library Robert Ganz Trustee, Guilderland Public Library Matthew Van Ryn-Golan Student - Guilderland High School Marjorie Hartzell Northeast Chapter, American Harp Society Allan Kleinke Friends of the Guilderland Public Library Stephen Ribner Business Owner, Fact Finders, Inc. Lisa Pitkin Staff, Guilderland Public Library John Santacrose Guilderland Library Foundation Leslie Saperstone Staff, Guilderland Public Library Jane Schramm  Exec. Director, Guilderland Chamber of Commerce Jan Weston Town Planner, Town of Guilderland

 

APPENDIX A

Nelson, Sandra. The New Planning for Results. (Chicago: American Library Association, 2001)

Magazine Articles

Dougherty, Richard M. "Planning for New Library Futures." Library Journal, 15 May 2002: 38-41.

Elsner, Edward J. "The Evolution of PLA’s Planning Model." Public Libraries, July/Aug 2002: 209-228.

Online Sources

"DP-1. Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 Data Set: Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data, Geographic Area: Guilderland town, Albany County New York." U.S. Census Bureau. 2000. Online. http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/QTTable?_ts=72269380930 (21 Jan. 2002)

Dougherty, Richard. "Reference Around the Click: Is It in Your Future?" American Libraries Vol. 33 No. 5 p 44, 2p (May 2002). Online. EBSCOHost. MasterFILE Premier. (AN:6611413) (DATE OF ACCESSION?)

Herring, Mark Y. "10 Reasons Why Internet Is No Substitution for a Library." American Library Association (2002) Online. http://www.ala.org/alaonline/news/10reasons.html (07 Jan. 2002)

Galganski, Carol et al. "Exploring PlanetPDA: The Librarian as Astronaut, Innovator, and Expert." Computers in Libraries Vol. 22 No. 9 (Oct. 2002). Online. http://www.infotoday.com/cilmag/oct02/galganski_peters_bell.htm (28 Oct. 2002)

Guilderland Public Library. Electronic databases at Library website. Online. http://family.knick.net/guildlib/electronic.html (11 Nov. 2002)

Winter, Elisabeth et al. "CIL 2002’s Message: Technologies are Advancing and Blending." Computers in Libraries Vol. 22 No. 5 p10, 5p (May 2002). Online. EBSCOHost. MasterFILE Premier. (AN:6608817) (14 Oct. 2002)\

Reports

Brunswick Community Library. Planning for Results Seminar, Brunswick Community Library, Final Report. (Brunswick, NY: Brunswick Community Library, 2002)

Redwood City Public Library. Strategic Plan 2002-2005. (Redwooed City, Calif. : Redwood City Public Library, 2002)

Town Board, Town of Guilderland. Town of Guilderland Comprehensive Plan 2000. (Guilderland, NY: Town Board, 2001)

Upper Hudson Library System. 2001 Statistical Summaries-Member Libraries. (Albany, NY: Upper Hudson Library System, 2002)

Fact Finders. 2003 Guilderland Public Library Survey Preliminary Report of Findings (Guilderland, NY: Fact Finders, Inc., 31 Jan. 2003)

Fact Finders. 2003 Guilderland Public Library Survey Report of Findings. (Guilderland, NY: Fact Finders, Inc., March 2003)

Fact Finders. 2003 Guilderland Public Library Survey Additional Analyses Requested (Guilderland, NY: Fact Finders, Inc., 12 Mar. 2003)

Zogby International. 2002 library/taxes poll Octoober 25, 2002. http://midyork.org/zogbypoll

(25 Nov. 2002)

Flyers and Brochures

Bluetooth. What is Bluetooth Anyway?

Cornell Cooperative Extension. Business Sources of Assistance.

Guilderland Public Library. Just the Facts, 2001.

Job Placement Consortium. Who We Are.

Other Documents

Beck, Martha. "Guilderland School District Students Who Are Home Schooled." Report. (Nov. 2002)

Beck, Martha. "Suggestions for Strategies to Enhance the Public Library/School District Partnership." Report. (Nov. 2002)

Colonno, Vincent W. "Senior Services: Planning and Projections." Memo. (1 Nov. 2002)

EBSCOHost Research Databases (list).(11 Nov. 2002)

Ganz, Robert and Sue Swartz. "Additional Analysis by Fact Finders." Summary of phone conversation. (11 Feb. 2002)

GIS Map – Geographic location of Guilderland Public Library cardholders. (Summer 2001)

Guilderland Public Library. Budget Information, Guilderland Public Library newsletter (May 2002).

Guilderland Public Library. Library Organization Chart. (Sept. 2002)

Guilderland Public Library. Current Library Activities in the Identified Areas. (Oct. 2002)

Guilderland Public Library. Highlights of Library Fiscal Year July 2000-June 2001.

Guilderland Public Library. Mission Statement. (Sept. 2002)

Guilderland Public Library. "Citizens Begin Planning for Future of Guilderland Public Library." Press Release. (30 Oct. 2002)

Hartzell, Marjorie. "Available Venues for Public Performances in Guilderland." Report. (11 Nov. 2002)

Long-Range Planning Committee. "Recap of the Vision and Unmet Needs Statements Made by the Committee." Report. (Oct. 2002)

Nichols Randall, Barbara. "Overview History of Libraries – from the first Library in America to Guilderland Public Library." Report. (Apr. 2000)

Nichols Randall, Barbara. "Some Meeting Room Issues." Report. (Nov. 2002)

NOW with Bill Moyers. "Tollbooths on the Digital Highway." Transcript. http://www.pbs.org/now/transcript_copyright_print.html (1 Jan. 2003)

Ribner, Stephen A. to Robert E. Ganz, re: Research Proposal for Guilderland Public Library. Letter. (11 Nov. 2002)

Click here to read the Fact Finders Survey for Guilderland Public Library