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COMMUNITY/CONNECTION A Plan for Parmly Billings Library 2008-2010 Parmly Billings Library Mission Statement The mission of Parmly Billings Library is to be the community’s center to provide access to the world of social and cultural ideas by offering a wide variety of materials in multiple formats, information, and programs. The Library ignites a passion for reading, lifelong learning, intellectual pursuits, and community involvement to improve and maintain quality of life for patrons of all ages. Service Response 1 Commons The library that provides a Commons environment helps address the need of people to meet and interact with others in their community and to participate in public discourse about community issues. Goal 1 The Library is a safe, friendly, inviting, and attractive environment that customers use as a place to meet and interact with others or to sit quietly and read. The Library also will provide web spaces that invite community interaction. Objective: 1.1 Plan a Joint Community Library on the campus of the Montana State University - Billings College of Technology, scheduled in the City Capital Improvement Plan for FY10. Objective: 1.2 Review, act on, and report to the City Council and County Commission the plan for a configuration of facilities to meet the future library needs of the community developed by the Board’s Facilities Committee, by January 31, 2009. Objective: 1.3 Each year, improve seating and work space options for customers. Activities • Add or replace a comfortable seating grouping for reading. • Add or replace seating with attached workspace options for customers using notebook computers. • Add or replace table and seating groupings for small discussion or work groups. • Re-evaluate the best use of the Montana Room, Teen Pit, and internet station areas and develop a plan for the best configuration by January 31, 2009. Objective: 1.4 By September 1, 2008, enhance the experience of Infomobile customers through offering online access to the Library’s system and the internet from the Infomobile’s public access stations. ---PAGE BREAK--- Objective: 1.5 Each year, continue to plan and implement incremental improvements in the safety, functionality, and appearance of the Main Library facility, until such time as a comprehensive renovation or replacement is undertaken. Activities • Improve lobby signage. • Repair lobby floor. • Install and manage digital informational signage at public service desks and self-check units. • Work with Friends of the Library and the Foundation to create a beverage station on the third floor. • Add electrical outlets for customer notebook computer use. Objective: 1.6 Design, offer staff training in, and implement a systematic program of roving assistance to customers and monitor results. Goal 2 Residents will have the information they need to support and promote democracy, to fulfill their civic responsibilities at the local, state, national, and international levels, and to fully participate in community decision-making. Objective: 2.1 Each year the Library will sponsor or co-sponsor a minimum of four community issue oriented events, programs and/or discussions. Activities • Work with Library Foundation to plan and produce a civic discourse program. • Plan and produce one or more programs on how government works. • Expand international programming, including foreign language conversation groups, foreign film series, and other programs. Objective: 2.2 By January 1, 2009, develop a community based process for designing and maintaining the Library’s web page as a virtual commons. ---PAGE BREAK--- Service Response 2 Current Interest A library that provides Current Interest service helps to fulfill community residents’ appetite for information about popular cultural and social trends and their desire for satisfying recreational experiences. Goal 3 Customers’ interests will determine Library offerings of topical popular books, movies and music to encourage exploration for entertainment, inspiration and delight. Objective: 3.1 By January 1, 2009 expand display furniture for new books and other resources. Goal 4 Customers will enjoy engaging programs that stimulate their thinking, satisfy their curiosities, expand their knowledge of contemporary culture and society and make their leisure time more productive and enjoyable. Objective: 4.1 Each year, conduct two seniors, two adult, two teen and one children’s/parents focus groups for program ideas. Objective: 4.2 By September 1, 2008, develop and implement a marketing program for the online program suggestion function. ---PAGE BREAK--- Service Response 3 Information Literacy A library that provides Information Literacy service helps address the need for skills related to finding, evaluating, and using information effectively. Goal 5 Customers will be comfortable in learning internet searching skills and use of Library electronic information resources through training offered by the Library. Objective: 5.1 By September 1, 2008 offer a schedule of Internet and electronic information resource classes and resources, based on the needs identified in the community assessment, including a minimum of two classes per month, anticipated to include children, teen and adult classes. Activities • Classes will cover such standard applications as word processing, spreadsheets, databases, the web, e-mail, photo editing, and desktop publishing. • At least one class will address trends in consumer electronics. Objective: 5.2 By September 1, 2008 offer at least one workstation that features a variety of software and hardware modifications in order to make Internet access and computer resources available to people with disabilities. Objective: 5.3 By January 1, 2009 begin offering at least two training sessions on the Internet and online Library resources at retirement facilities, in collaboration with their activity directors. Goal 6 Customers will have the skills they need to determine the validity and usefulness of information they find. Objective: 6.1 Beginning September 1, 2008 institute a program of training for staff, based on the assessment and including Internet and outside instruction, as appropriate. Objective: 6.2 Beginning September 1, 2008 offer a schedule of public classes in identifying and evaluating information resources. Objective: 6.3 By October 1, 2008, provide direction from the Library’s website to recommended Internet sites in a variety of subject areas, with a specific focus on the Library’s priority service responses. Activities • Throughout the period leading up to the general election in November 2008, a page ---PAGE BREAK--- of links to informational resources on candidates and ballot issues at all levels of government will be maintained on the Library’s website. ---PAGE BREAK--- Service Response 4 Lifelong Learning A library that provides Lifelong Learning service helps address the desire for self-directed personal growth and development opportunities. Goal 7 Customers will find the information resources and assistance they need to pursue success in their personal independent and vocational learning at or through the Library. Objective: 7.1 Plan, offer and market an array of lifelong learning programs and classes appropriate to all ages. Objective: 7.2 Identify, evaluate, and plan cooperative efforts to support lifelong learning with community educational institutions. Objective: 7.3 Monitor use of newly acquired self-directed learning resources and continue to allocate an appropriate proportion of the collection budget to enhance resources available for self-directed learning, based on usage. Objective: 7.4 By January 1, 2009, develop and conduct a staff training program on lifelong learning and adult education. Objective: 7.5 Continue working with Montana State University – Billings Library, Western Heritage Center and other interested community partners to develop a plan for the preservation of and access to community historical publications, records, manuscripts, photographs and other resources. Goal 8 Customers have access to programs suited to their needs for personal growth and development at all stages of their lives. Objective: 8.1 Each year, conduct a senior, two adult, two teen and one children’s/parents focus groups for program ideas. Objective: 8.2 By September 1, 2008, develop and implement a marketing program for the online program suggestion function. Objective: 8.3 By June 30, 2009 offer a activity for newborns and their parents, introducing them to the Library and engaging them in reading and other creative activities.