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2008-08-05 5-C Power PointAlameda Free Library Strategic Plan and ~ ~ ~ i ~ Neighborhood Libraries Improvements Alameda City Council Presentation Ruth Metz Associates Page + Moris August 5, 2008 ~ i ~ ~ Strategic Planning Project -Multi-faceted planning project ~ Community telephone survey, interviews, focus groups, online survey ~ Strategic planning process ~ Neighborhood library facilities study c Technology review ~ i ~ ~ i ~ ~ Community Input: Survey Responses Proximity of the library is important for residents but the main library's resources, facilities, and services are a draw for most library users. Very few residents use either the West End or Bay Farm Island branches exclusively. Residents who are using west and east branch libraries would like the facilities and services to improve. The library's website could improve online services and promote the library. 71 % of surveyed residents said they would be willing to vote for a special tax for Alameda libraries if the City budget could not afford the services a majority of residents want. A high percentage of residents value the library in the community, whether or not they use the library. Figure 9: Value People Attach to Libraries 100% 90% 80% 70% 50% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% D% ^ strongly agree ^ agree quality of life relocation safe for kids in~,~la~ves imp~r#ant updates ~el+d~rly service pub~li~ ~ i ~ ~ Strategic Plan, 2009 - 2014 . ~ -Library Values ~ Mission Statement 12 goals, based on service priorities ~ Stated objectives to measure goals ~ Selected activities under consideration Organizational competencies and initiatives ~ i ~ ~ Library Values Public Trust: We commit to being fiscally responsible with public resources, to protecting customer confidentiality, and to providing safe, well maintained, and accessible facilities. Equal Access: We believe in equal access to all Alameda Free Library resources. ' Diversity: We are committed to reflecting the diversity of our community through our collections, services and staff. Excellent Service: We commit to providing excellent service by providing accurate and reliable information in a respectful interaction between well trained, friendly and efficient staff and all members of our community. Outreach and Partnership: We will actively develop partnerships and joint activities with community institutions and organizations to further the Alameda Free Library mission. ~ i ~ Library Mission The Alameda Free Library is an inviting and comfortable place where people of all ages develop and enjoy a love of learning and reading, connect to the online world, and find the information they need for daily living. ~ i ~ ~ Strategic Plan Goals Alameda residents will find the Library to be acustomer-centered and welcoming place. ~ Alameda residents will use the library website as a virtual branch. Visitors to the neighborhood libraries will have safe, welcoming, and comfortable spaces to use the libraries' resources and programs and to interact with each other. Alameda teens will have space to socialize, to share thoughts and ideas, and to attend programs relevant to them. Children ages 0-5 and their caregivers will have programs and materials that promote school readiness. F Children in the neighborhood libraries will have adequate space for programs, interaction, and use of materials. ~ i ~ ~ Strategic Plan Goals 7 Alamedans will be able to more easily and effectively connect to the online world. F Visitors to the neighborhood libraries will have increased access to computers and Internet resources. Alameda residents will have the skills to find, evaluate, and use print & online resources to meet their needs. IC Students in Alameda will use electronic and print resources for both school and personal interests. Alameda adults and teens with low literacy skills will improve their ability to read and write in order to meet their personal goals. 1; Alameda residents will enjoy programs and materials that stimulate their thinking, satisfy their curiosity, and expand their knowledge. Organizational Competencies and Initiatives ~ Marketing: actively market the services of the library in the community. Staff training and development: provide training and development to enable staff to efficiently, effectively, and consistently perform the functions associated with the strategic plan. External partnerships: actively seek and maintain relationships with agencies, organizations, and institutions that will enable the library to enhance service to its customers. Measurement and evaluation: be able to accurately evaluate the goals of this strategic plan. ~ i ~ ~ Technology Review The Alameda Free Library is reasonably well-positioned to accomplish its strategic plan, with attention to recommendations Recommendations ~' Standardizing and organizing the current library technology l Providing staff training Improving find-ability and usability of the library website c Facility improvements should follow suit with the new main library capability Neighborhood Library Facilities Study Methodology ~ ~~ _ Within frame of Strategic Planning Process though longer time frame (through 2030) ~ Survey results Site visits / observation • Staff interviews • Community focus groups • Demographic analysis ~ Library usage statistics ~ Comparison to current planning practice / service level benchmarks ~ i ~ ~ Neighborhood Libraries . ~ 'Are they still needed? =YES ~ Survey results, focus group input, demographics all point to continued need for physical library space at either end of Alameda Main Library draws customers from entire community, but a portion of the people who live in east and west will not/cannot make use of Main ~ i ~ ~ i ~ Alameda Library Use Trends ~ . ~ ~ Circulation increase city-wide but circulation decreasing at neighborhood libraries More in-person visits city-wide but decreasing visits at neighborhood libraries Neighborhood libraries becoming marginalized ~ i ~ Current Neighborhoo i raries ~~ ~~ ~ ~~ 'Shelving at or beyond capacity ~ Lack of seating and "people space" r Too few computers ~ Limited electrical infrastructure ~ Lack of programming space r Noise and congestion ~ Outdated, oversized service desks ~ Lack of work space ~ ~ ~ / ~ ~ i ~ ~ / Long-Term Recommendations _ ~ ~ ~ 'Larger library facilities are needed in both east and west Alameda to meet both current + future needs. Bay Farm Island Library can be expanded at current site. West End Library cannot expand -new site is needed. ~ i ~ ~ i ~ ~ Long-Term Recommendations ~~ ~ ~~ ~ Current SF SF/ SF Needed SF/ Capita Capita 2030 Main Library 47,500 0.86 47,500 0.76 East 2 688 0.31 6,800 - 7,500 0.75-0.83 Alameda/BFI West 3,440 0.33 14,400- 0.85-0.94 Alameda 15,900 Total 53,628 0.72 68,700- 0.78-0.80 70,900 Costs ~ ~ ~ ~ Long-Term Recommendations ~ Construction costs = $425 - $450/SF Total project costs = $675 - $700/SF ~ Expand Bay Farm Island Library to 7,500 SF + improve HVAC = $4.6M to $5.3M (2008 $) ~ Replace West End Library with new 15,900 SF library = $9.7M to $11.1 M (2008 $) ~ i ~ Short-Term Re . ~ ~ i ~ commendations ~~ Interior makeovers of existing facilities to support Strategic Plan goals ~ Refine/narrow service focus Shift portions of collections to create more floor space Emphasize collection browsing + display ~ Mobile shelving for flexibility ~ Install additional computers ~ i ~ ~ ~ \ Short-Term Recommendations . ~ . ~ -Upgrade electrical infrastructure for improved technology access - Increase + diversify seating ~ Replace service desks Refresh interior finishes -new carpet, paint, signage, lighting ~ Improve HVAC at both facilities ~ i ~ In Conclusion • Alameda Free Library is well positioned to take quality of library service to the next level ~ New Main Library has dramatically improved quality of library service in Alameda ~ Broad support for library service in community • Strategic Plan + neighborhood libraries improvement recommendations provide well grounded, community-based service direction QUESTIONS?