ONEONTA PUBLIC LIBRARY

LONG RANGE PLAN

2005-2010

MISSION STATEMENT: The mission of Oneonta Public Library is to provide quality library services and resources to meet the informational, educational, cultural and recreational needs of all citizens of Oneonta, Blount County and the surrounding community. Oneonta Public Library exists to serve our community as a center for current, reliable and appropriate information and as a resource for the continuing, life-long education of all members of the community. The Library seeks to stimulate the reading interests of both children and adults by placing special emphasis on enrichment programs for all ages. Oneonta Public Library shall strive to satisfy the diverse information needs and interests of our community through selection, acquisition,

organization and preservation of library materials and to provide skilled guidance in their use.

GOAL 1: To ensure quality library services to each individual in the service area.

Objective 1.1: Meet the information needs of current library patrons and reach

individuals not using the library. (2005–ongoing)

Objective 1.2: Plan programming to meet a wide range of user needs.

(2005–ongoing)

GOAL 2: To provide needed resources for circulation, reference and outreach.

Objective 2.1: Strive to add current materials to the collection.

(2005–ongoing)

Objective 2.2: Identify areas of the collection that need to be updated.

(2005–ongoing)

Objective 2.3: Increase the library materials budget. (2005–ongoing)

Objective 2.4: Continue to weed, update and replace outdated and unused materials. (2005–ongoing)

Objective 2.5: Provide access to a wide variety of books on Accelerated

Reader lists of local schools. (2005–ongoing)

Objective 2.6: Continue to provide resources for project assignments from

local schools. (2005–ongoing)

Objective 2.7: Develop a Young Adult collection and provide a separate

teen reading area. (2005-ongoing)

GOAL 3: To increase funding for additional staff and day-to-day operations to insure

library patrons receive services of the highest quality.

Objective 3.1: Present library statistics and reports to local governing bodies

during the annual budget preparation process to validate

increased spending requests. (2005–ongoing)

Objective 3.2: Apply for grant funds through APLS and other sources.

(2005–ongoing)

GOAL 4: To provide specialized services to the preschool and elementary school-age

children in our community.

Objective 4.1: Encourage children to participate in the statewide Summer

Reading Programs, National Library Week, and Story Hour.

(2005-ongoing)

Objective 4.2: Provide computers and software for children’s studies and

recreation. (2005-ongoing)

Objective 4.3: Provide library outreach services for local pre-schools.

(2005-ongoing)

Objective 4.4: Provide services to home-schooled children and their parents

including special materials, use of the conference room for

group classes, instruction in using the AVL and teacher

card benefits for parents. (2005-ongoing)

GOAL 5: To provide special print and non-print materials for senior citizens and the

handicapped.

Objective 5.1: Encourage the use of large print media, audio books and the

use of talking books and cassettes. (2005-ongoing)

Objective 5.2: Expand the large print and audio collections. (2005-ongoing)

Objective 5.3: Seek funding and acquisition of a CCTV for use by low-

vision patrons. (2005)

Objective 5.4: Extend outreach materials to the Senior Citizens Center and

the Blount County ARC. (2005-ongoing)

GOAL 6: To encourage optimum public relations to better serve the Library.

Objective 6.1: Schedule the director or other staff members to provide

programs for civic and community organizations.

(2005-ongoing)

Objective 6.2: Notify the community of Library events through the

local media. (2005-ongoing)

Objective 6.3: Use the Blount County Fair and Covered Bridge Festival

as publicity opportunities. (2005-ongoing)

Objective 6.4: Aid in the founding of a Friends of Oneonta Public Library

Chapter. (2005)

Objective 6.5: Work cooperatively with city, county, and Chamber of

Commerce officials. (2005-ongoing)

Objective 6.6: Recruit and train volunteers from our patron base.

GOAL 7: To promote staff development and education.

Objective 7.1: Schedule all personnel to attend one workshop or training event in their work area annually. (2005-ongoing)

Objective 7.2: Schedule all personnel to attend at least one computer

training annually to insure computer skills are current.

(2005-ongoing)

Objective 7.3: Provide flexible scheduling to allow staff to pursue further

educational opportunities. (2005-ongoin)

Objective 7.4: Acquire a professional development collection to assist in

staff training and education. (2005-ongoing)

GOAL 8: To insure that the Library remains current in computer technology for public

access and staff usage.

Objective 8.1: Provide staff that is knowledgeable of current computer

technology and its usage. (2005-ongoing)

Objective 8.2: Budget funds for computer and software up-grades.

(2005-ongoing)

Objective 8.3: Seek funding through grants and donations for 11 new

public access computers: seven for the adult area and four

in the children’s area. (2005)

Objective 8.4: Seek funding through grants and donations for six new

staff computers and a laser printer. (2005-ongoing)

Objective 8.5: Continue to inform the public of Alabama Virtual Library

access and keep current with staff AVL training.

(2005-ongoing)

Objective 8.6: Withdraw from the Library Management Network, our

automation system provider, and purchase the Athena

System to automate our library. (2005)

Objective 8.7: Continue to upgrade all computers to the newest versions of

operating software and anti-virus protection. (2005-ongoing)

Objective 8.8: Provide Internet filtering for all staff and public access

computers to block objectionable material in compliance with

CIPA. (2005-ongoing)

Objective 8.9: Publicize available computer services and Internet access.

(2005-ongoing)

Objective 8.10: Build and maintain a library website utilizing the services of

a professional Webmaster. (2005-ongoing)

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Oneonta Public Library Board Chair Date

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Oneonta Public Library Director Date