Winnefox Library System
Annual Plan 2004
Executive Summary
The Winnefox Library System (WLS) is mandated to submit an annual plan of service and budget to the Department of Public Instruction, Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning by October 15th of each year. The following plan provides compliance for this mandate as well as a blueprint for system activities.
WLS provides a full range of support services to member libraries including:
Ø Reference
referral and interlibrary loan
Ø In-service
training for member library staff
Ø Delivery
of materials routed between libraries
Ø Professional
consulting
Ø A
plan of service to users with special needs
Ø Coordinated
planning with other types of libraries
Ø A
library technology and resource sharing plan
In addition, WLS is mandated to keep membership agreements between individual libraries and counties up to date and to monitor compliance with statutory requirements for system membership. The annual plan must certify compliance with these mandates.
The first section of the Annual Plan consists of a state supplied form on which to supply information regarding the mandates listed above as well as a general description of the needs of the system, demographics, and the planning process.
The second section of the Plan consists of a list of priorities the system will address in the coming year along with the activities it will carry out in order to further system development. This section is organized along the same lines as the program budget that is attached at the end of the Plan. The priorities were identified through regular discussion between system staff and member library directors at each county’s Library Advisory Committee (LAC) meetings, regular meetings of directors concerning the shared automation system, workshops, and other opportunities to discuss concerns.
The Winnefox Library System
Annual Plan 2004
List of Priorities and
Activities
The Winnefox Library System drafts a plan of service each year to satisfy statutory requirements and to provide a blueprint for system activities for the coming year. The following is a summary of activities Winnefox will undertake in order to continuously improve services to our members. It is arranged according to broad programs as outlined by state mandates.
I. Technology, Reference and Interlibrary Loan Services
Priority: Explore
alternatives in an effort to continue to provide full ILL service despite
greatly reduced state support for ILL.
Activity 1: Maintain cooperative
agreements for ILL access with public and private educational institutions in
the Winnefox and Fox Valley Library Council (FVLC) areas.
Activity 2: Begin free sharing
of ILL materials with other OCLC libraries.
Activity 3: Work with Reference & Loan and WILS staff to provide all possible ILL access to library resources in and outside of Wisconsin.
Priority: Improve the availability of reference services at member libraries.
Reference service has greatly improved at member libraries over the last several years because of access to electronic information through the Internet and via databases subscribed to or created by Oshkosh Public Library and Winnefox. Several activities will be undertaken in 2004 to continue to expand the range of information available to area residents through their local libraries.
Activity 1: Continue to participate in the AskWisconsinLibrarians interactive chat program in order to offer live reference assistance via the Internet.
Activity 2: Survey member libraries and examine database usage statistics to determine if the range of databases currently offered best meets the needs of member libraries and their patrons.
Activity 3: Explore collaborative application for delivery of 211 services in conjunction with Information & Referral services.
Activity 4: Continue to educate member library staff on the availability of backup reference assistance from the resource library.
Priority: Improve the availability of technology services and support at member libraries.
Activity 1: Complete the migration of our current DRA Classic system to an upgraded Sirsi Unicorn system during 2004.
Activity 2: Continue to support the participation of new libraries in the WALS computer consortium. By the end of 2004, 28 of 30 libraries will be connected to the WALS network and 26 libraries will be part of the shared catalog. A major addition for 2004 will be Fond du Lac Public Library, the second-largest library in Winnefox.
Priority: Develop better communications between system librarians providing reference & adult services.
Activity 1: Develop an adult services section on the staff extranet.
Activity 2: Encourage the continued use of a WLS reference & adult services discussion list.
II. Delivery Service
Priority: Improve efficiency of delivery service in order to shorten the turn around time from when a patron reserves an item not currently held at their home library to the time when the item may be picked up at that library from another Winnefox member.
Activity 1: Re-evaluate delivery schedule in late 2004 after the impact of the addition of Fond du Lac PL is known. Explore changing the order of libraries on the delivery schedule or dividing the current two delivery routes into three by adding an evening run.
Priority: Increase administrative information available to system and member library staff and trustees by continuing to expand and enhance the “extranet” for the system and member libraries.
Activity 1: Survey member library staff and conduct usability studies the to determine the documents and information needed on the extranet and the most useful way to organize it.
Activity 2: Continue to post documents, policies, forms, and procedures manuals for easy access by system and member library staff.
Activity 3: Further develop trustee information resources for easier accessibility by system trustees.
Activity 4: Assist member libraries in developing their own extranets to improve staff communication.
III. Continuing Education and Consulting
Priority: Provide a variety of continuing education opportunities in sufficient quantity so that member library directors may complete all continuing education requirements for certification through Winnefox.
Activity 1: Offer or co-sponsor at least 10 workshops or training sessions in 2004 at a variety of locations throughout the system.
Activity 2: Continue to survey member library staff to determine which potential workshop topics would fill the greatest need.
Activity 3: Consider both the needs of experienced staff and those new to libraries when considering workshop topics.
Activity 4: Continue to keep member librarians informed of continuing education activities offered by other providers.
Activity 5: Explore increased cooperation with FVLC, neighboring library systems, and other agencies to provide continuing education activities more economically.
Activity 6: Purchase copies of required and recommended textbooks for the courses required for certification to be loaned to directors taking those courses.
Priority: Make sure that staff at member libraries have the technical skills necessary to connect the public to electronic information sources. They must also have the skills necessary to make the most productive use of the new Sirsi Unicorn system and the staff extranet.
Activity 1: Provide small group, hands-on sessions that demonstrate new information resources and computer programs as they become available.
Activity 2: WLS and WALS staff will provide small group or one-on-one training at member libraries for those who need it most.
Activity 3: WLS and WALS will continue to explore low cost alternatives for training and provide online follow-up tutorials for some of the training we offer.
Priority: Continue to develop a relationship between Winnefox staff and member library trustees so that Winnefox may better serve the particular needs of trustees.
Activity 1: Sponsor at least one workshop for library Trustees.
Activity 2: Develop an orientation program for new member library trustees.
Activity 3: Develop a series of information packets to be sent to member library boards as needed to assist them in dealing with issues such as budgeting, hiring a director, long range planning, etc.
Activity 4: Provide on site consulting to member library boards upon request.
Activity 5: Continue to partner with OWLS to produce the Trustee Tales newsletter.
Priority: Assist member library directors in developing the leadership skills necessary to guide the development of their local libraries.
Activity 1: Assist in the development of teamwork at the county level from within the local Library Advisory Committees (LACs).
Activity 2: Encourage member libraries to provide adequate compensation and recruit directors with an aptitude for leadership as vacancies occur.
Activity 3: Design an orientation program for new library directors using the Library Director’s Handbook, currently under development by DLTCL staff
IV. Library Services to Special Users
Priority: Assist local libraries in extending services to non-English speaking families moving into the Winnefox service area.
Activity 1: Assist local libraries in developing and presenting programs for non-English speaking children and families in order to promote family literacy.
Activity 2: Provide cultural sensitivity training to member library and system staff through workshops and improving partnerships with other groups serving emigrant groups.
Priority: Assist member libraries in making electronic information more readily available to individuals with disabilities.
Activity 1: Provide training to member library staff in the use of assistive devices/software.
Activity 2: Use Winnefox Public Information staff to publicize the accessibility of electronic information at member libraries. Publicity will target users with disabilities.
Activity 3: Stress ease of usability for those using assistive devices/software for the visually impaired when designing Winnefox and member library web pages.
V. Administration
Priority: Develop a strategic planning process for Winnefox based on the needs of member libraries as articulated in library/county level plans.
Activity 1: Study and summarize long-range plans of member libraries (if they exist). Identify areas of possible system support.
Activity 2: Initiate a pilot county level planning process in at least one county to both develop a county-wide service plan and individual library service plans.
Activity 3: Hold a focus group session(s) with library directors from pilot county(ies) to identify present and future needs on which to focus of system support for member libraries.
Activity 4: Review the long range plans developed for each county in 2001 to assess progress in meeting goals and determining if revisions are necessary.
Activity 5: Incorporate results into the Winnefox Library System Long Range Plan and a strategic action plan summary.
Activity 6: Consider alternatives for funding system services as state funding continues to remain static.
Priority: Develop a comprehensive Winnefox service manual for member library staff to be made available in print and through the Winnefox extranet.
Activity 1: Department staff will create a written description of their services and instructions for making use of them.
Activity 2: Written service descriptions will be compiled and placed on the staff extranet.
IV. Collection Development
Priority: Assist member libraries as they maintain current collections and develop new ones.
Activity 1: Provide selection support through WCTS by making member libraries aware of new releases and purchasing opportunities.
Activity 2: Continue to support rotating collections of large print, books on CD, and DVD.
Activity 3: Encourage libraries to purchase their own DVDs and books on CD in anticipation of phasing out support in the future.
Activity 4: Support the creation of a member-supported DVD circuit to supplement the library’s collections.
V. Direct Payment to County Non-Resident Users
Priority: Obtain full funding for reimbursement formulas for libraries where such funding does not exist.
Activity 1: Assist member libraries in providing regular reports to county boards informing them of activities and services provided to rural residents. Educate county boards on the value of libraries to their counties.
Priority: Begin investigating ways for counties and municipalities to fund shared services that Winnefox can no longer provide due to lack of support from the State.
Activity 1: Expand services funded through WCTS where appropriate.
VI. Library Services to Youth
Priority: Develop better communications between system librarians working with youth.
Activity 1: Develop a youth services section on the staff extranet.
Activity 2: Encourage the continued use of a WLS youth librarian discussion list.
Activity 3: Hold at least one workshop on a youth service topic.
Priority: Provide support for programs targeting children and families at member libraries.
Activity 1: Coordinate all activity relating to children’s summer reading programs including support material, performers, etc.
Activity 2: Encourage use of WLS marketing resources for children’s programs beyond summer reading.
Activity 3: Develop contacts, in cooperation with local libraries, of community groups working with children and youth to foster greater collaboration in service provision and marketing.
Priority: Continue to support Summer Library Reading Program (SLP) activities in member libraries.
Activity 1: Subsidize member libraries’ purchases of SLP materials.
Activity 2: Continue to provide SLP performer booking services for member libraries.
Activity 3: Explore co-sponsorship of an end-of-summer group activity for SLP participants from all member libraries.
VII. Public Information
Priority: Using a marketing consultant, evaluate effectiveness of current public information activities and determine how to best reach members of the public.
Activity 1: Meet with member library directors individually and in small groups to evaluate their public information needs.
Activity 2: Evaluate current public information activities to determine if they are achieving the desired results and how to improve them.
Activity 3: Determine which public information activities are best done by individual libraries, by groups of libraries, and by Winnefox.
Activity 4: As a result of a new strategic marketing plan developed during 2003, provide professional marketing consulting services to member libraries as a part of plan implementation.
Priority: Develop a network of system “friends of libraries” willing to assist with educating the public and elected officials regarding the goals and benefits of system services.
Activity 1: Gain assistance from member libraries in contacting those individuals who are interested in giving voice to their support for libraries and systems.
Activity 2: Develop informational material regarding the needs of libraries and systems to be distributed to library friends in print and/or electronically.
Priority: Assist member library directors in learning techniques necessary to communicate directly and frequently with county and municipal governments.
Activity1: Develop and/or update individual aids to be used in presentations to government officials.
Activity 2: Assist member library directors in becoming public speakers.
Activity 3: Include government officials in discussions of service priorities within each county.
Priority: Raise awareness of library issues and the importance of library services in the general public and county and municipal governing bodies.
Activity 1: Continue to produce the Shhhout about Libraries newsletter highlighting the activities of Winnefox member libraries and the system.
Priority: Study printing and graphics procedures to be able to continue to offer these services to libraries at no charge in spite of reduced funding.
Activity 1: Analyze printing requests to determine if some projects can be printed by less expensive processes.
Activity 2: Educate library directors and staffs on how to submit printing requests to maximize efficiency.
D Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Submit by October 15, 2003, to:
P Library System Plan Wisconsin
Department of Public Instruction
I PI-2446 (Revised 8/01/2003) Division
for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning
P.O. Box 7841
Madison, WI 53707-7841
WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION
DIVISION FOR LIBRARIES, TECHNOLOGY, AND COMMUNITY LEARNING
ANNUAL PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM PLAN AND CERTIFICATION OF INTENT TO COMPLY
FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2004
__________________________________________________________________________________________Library
System
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Describe demographic,
economic, and other facts about your system that influenced the development of
this and other system plans.
Winnefox
provides support to libraries of widely varying size. While the majority of our libraries are located in communities
with populations less than 3,000, we also serve two large metropolitan
libraries and four medium size libraries.
We are challenged to not only assist our small libraries in providing
services normally found only in large communities, but also to provide our
larger libraries with services sufficient to keep them interested in system
membership. In order to provide the
greatest good to all, Winnefox provides services that are a benefit to any size
library such as printing and graphics, marketing and public relations
assistance, electronic infrastructure support, and electronic resources.
The
primary economic impact affecting this plan is the need to deal with static
state funding for library systems; because of increased costs the static
funding is, in effect, a funding cut.
We have attempted to cut excess spending where we can while maintaining
services but, unavoidably, some services have been reduced.
Funds to
purchase new material for rotating collections and member library educational
support have been reduced for the second year.
Enrichment grants which in the past have assisted member libraries to
improve existing services and establish new ones have been eliminated. 2004 will see a continued dialogue between
member libraries, member counties, and the system to explore alternatives for
funding basic services. In a climate
where counties and municipalities are themselves under increasing budget
pressure, this will be difficult.
Though the
population of all counties continues to be predominately white, all report
increasing numbers of Hispanics. More than 10% of the students in the Menasha
public schools in Winnebago County, for example, consider English to be their
second language. The 2000 census confirmed large increases in Spanish speaking
individuals in rural Marquette and Waushara counties as well. The growth of new
ethnic populations is causing our membership to examine what they are doing to
serve those for whom English is a second language, or for whom reading is not a
traditional family value.
The
Wisconsin Department of Administration estimates that the population growth for
counties in the Winnefox service area continues at or above the state
average. Many retirees are moving into
the rural counties from urban areas bringing differing expectation of service.
They are used to the resources available at urban libraries. The fact that the population growth is outside
of municipalities that support libraries will have a significant impact on the
direction of county funding for libraries.
Describe significant needs
and problems that influenced the development of this and other system plans.
The most
significant needs within Winnefox include assisting libraries as they cope with
reduced funding, increasing electronic resource development, achieving 100% member
library participation within Winnefox Automated Library Services (WALS),
assisting member libraries in serving emerging new readers, and assisting
libraries in the development of effective boards. Member library directors as well as trustees consistently mention
electronic service development as a major priority.
Electronic
services increase the opportunity for rural libraries to offer services on a
par with urban libraries. This not only
helps them meet the expectations of newcomers from urban areas, but also opens
new opportunities for long time residents. At the same time, all libraries,
large and small, must keep up with the demands of an increasingly sophisticated
information seeking public. Hand in hand with the opportunities of electronic
services are the needs for increased staff training and funding for equipment
and resources.
By the middle of 2003 25 of our 30 member libraries
were automated with the Winnefox Automated Library Service (WALS). A major project in 2004 will be finishing
our conversion from DRA Classic to Sirsi Unicorn and adding the Fond du Lac
Public Library, leaving only 4 small libraries unautomated or using stand-alone
systems. Bringing new libraries on line
and planning for the upgrade while serving the needs of existing WALS members
has been a challenge for Winnefox. WALS
associate members have requested greater technical support and Winnefox is
attempting to serve both WALS members and other Winnefox member libraries
without adding staff. All libraries
continue to add computers, expand public Internet access, and search for new
ways to serve the public.
The influx
of new ethnic populations coupled with the traditional role of Winnefox members
of encouraging reading has focused increased attention on emerging new
readers. Continued attention will be
given to establishing and strengthening services to those for whom English is a
second language.
The
Winnefox system, as well as our member libraries, has always been blessed with
caring, committed trustees. The ever-increasing competition for support among
public institutions is causing Winnefox to search for new ways to increase our
support to trustees. Trustee workshops
have been well attended. Trustee Tale, a quarterly newsletter produced
jointly by Winnefox and OWLS has been very well received and is being
distributed to some other systems. The
Director and Assistant Director are asked to provide consulting to individual boards
on a frequent basis. Meeting the needs
of trustees will continue to be a major concern of Winnefox in 2004.
Describe the planning
environment and process under which this and other system plans were
developed. (List additional system
planning documents with the period covered and attach any planning documents
which have not previously been provided to the division.)
Coordination of long
range planning for Winnefox is primarily the responsibility of the Director and
Assistant Director. Professional staff from the resource library as well as the
directors of member libraries play a major role. In 2004 we will continue to hold regular meetings of the Library
Advisory Committees (LAC) in each county.
The bulk of planning is
carried out at Library Advisory Committee (LAC) meetings. LACs are organized by county and are comprised
of the library directors in each county.
Each LAC meets several times each year with county board representatives
in each county. Meetings between member library directors and county board
committees continue to be useful in building support for library services.
Multi-type planning is
done in association with the Fox Valley Library Council (FVLC) and the Outagamie
Waupaca Library System (OWLS) with the participation of many system and member
library staff members. The FVLC Five
Year Plan was updated in 2001 and is attached. FVLC is currently in the process
of completely revising its plan of service and structure. Winnefox staff continues to take a
leadership role in FVLC. For 2004 one
staff member is Vice President/President Elect and another chairs the Education
Committee. Winnefox provides office
support for some FVLC activities. The
integral role played by Winnefox and OWLS staff insures the continuing
integration of FVLC planning objectives with those of Winnefox and OWLS.
WLS and OWLS recognize common
goals and concerns exist for the two systems. The WLS Assistant Director and
the OWLS Assistant Director continue to meet to discuss mutual concerns and
plan joint activities.
Evaluations
of continuing education workshops, system staff visits to member libraries,
library generated statistics, member library responses to special surveys, and
general observations are elements contributing to our planning. System staff meets with other service
providers regularly to discuss opportunities to serve users with special
needs.
The following plan and compliance document provides assurance that your
public library system intends to comply with all statutory requirements for
public library systems for calendar year 2004. Indicate with a check your system's intent
to comply with each system requirement and provide the requested information
under each system requirement.
S.43.24(2) For a public library system to qualify for and maintain its
eligibility for state aid under this section it shall ensure that all of the
following are provided:
Membership Agreements
_X_ (a)
Written agreements to provide, to any resident of the system area, the same
library services, on the same terms, that are provided to the residents of the
municipality or county that established the member library, except for the
group programming preference authorized under s. 43.15 (4) (c) 4., and to
provide for the interlibrary loan of materials among all participating public
libraries, as evidenced by agreements with those libraries.
_X_ A copy of the agreement with a list of all members signing it
will be provided to the division by January 15.
Resource Library Agreement
_X_ (b) Backup reference, information and
interlibrary loan services from the system resource library, including the
development of and access to specialized collections, as evidenced by a
written agreement with that library.
_X_ A signed copy of the resource library agreement will be provided
to the division by January 15.
Reference referral and interlibrary loan
_X_ S.43.24(2)(d) Referral or routing of reference and
interlibrary loan requests from libraries within the system to libraries within
and outside the system
List ongoing activities related to this requirement:
§
Use WISCAT and WISCAT-ILL at the clearinghouse to promote
interlibrary loan.
New or priority activities relating to this requirement for the plan
year:
In-service training
_X_ S.43.24(2)(e)
In–service training for participating public library personnel and trustees.
List ongoing activities related to this requirement:
1.
Provide regular
workshops at varied locations around the system.
2.
Provide one-on-one and
small group training to directors and other member library staff as needed.
3.
Survey member libraries
regarding their training needs annually.
4.
Provide information to
member libraries regarding training/education activities available from other
providers as this information becomes available.
New or priority activities relating to this requirement for the plan
year:
Delivery and communication
_X_ S.
43.24 (2)(fm) Electronic delivery of information and physical delivery of
library materials to participating libraries.
List ongoing activities related to this requirement:
§
Provide three or five
day per-week delivery to all member libraries.
§
Use fax, e-mail, and
interactive chat (AskWisconsinLibrarians) to answer information requests.
§
Continue 5-day per-week
participation in the statewide delivery service.
§
Continue to accept
receipt of ILL requests via Email, WISCAT-ILL , OCLC, fax, phone or U.S. mail.
§
Continue publication of
the Ides our monthly electronic newsmagazine aimed at training library
staff in Internet use.
§
Continue development of
the Winnefox online Extranet as a means of delivering timely information and
support to member libraries.
New or priority activities relating to this requirement for the plan
year:
Service agreements
_X_ S.43.24(2)(g) Service agreements with all adjacent library
systems.
_X_ A copy of the agreement with adjacent systems with a list of all
systems signing the agreement will be provided to the division by January 15.
Professional consultation
_X_ S. 43.24(2)(h)
Professional consultant services to participating public libraries.
List ongoing activities related to this requirement:
§
System staff visits new directors
individually to provide a one-on-one orientation to system services.
§
System staff visits member
library directors (primarily of smaller libraries) to provide consulting
regarding budgeting, building expansion, long range planning, personnel issues
or other professional concerns whenever requested.
§
System staff answers questions by
telephone and e-mail as they are received.
Staff will consult with outside sources, such as DLTCL or colleagues
around the state, whenever necessary.
§
System staff promotes consulting
services within the Winnefox
Handbook for Directors and Trustees and at
meetings and workshops.
§
The System Assistant Director
attends each county Library Advisory Committee (LAC) meeting with other staff
attending as needed.
§
WALS staff and resource library
staff visits member libraries and provide training in the use of the automated
system as needed.
§
As a result of a new strategic
marketing plan developed during 2003, provide professional marketing consulting
services to member libraries as a part of plan implementation.
New or priority activities relating to this requirement for the plan
year:
_X_ S.43.24(2)(k) Promotion and facilitation of library service to users with special
needs.
List ongoing activities related to this requirement:
§
Continue to promote electronic information delivery from
member libraries as a means to extend traditional library service to the
homebound and those with special needs.
§ Continue to provide workshops and individual consulting to member libraries on topics related to services to