Richmond Memorial Library
19 Ross Street, Batavia, New York 14020
Long Range Plan
2007 - 2011
Mission Statement
The mission of Richmond Memorial Library is to continually assure
access to resources and services that meet the educational,
informational and recreational needs of its community in a
safe and comfortable environment.
Purpose
The purpose of this plan is to provide guided direction for
library growth and development in the years 2007-2011.
The components of the plan provide the structure through
which the library will fulfill its mission to the community.
Introduction
During the last quarter of 2005, the Board of Trustees of the
Richmond Memorial Library began discussing and subsequently
embarked upon the creation of a new long range plan for the
library. With the assistance of the Nioga Library System,
Board Members decided to devote the January 2006 Board of
Trustees meeting to pre-planning aspects of the long range
planning process. As a result of the pre-planning meeting,
the following decisions were made: community involvement was
necessary, an outside facilitator would oversee the creation
of the plan, and a timeline was set. In addition, the make-up
of the long range plan core committee was established. The
core committee would include two library trustees, the library
director, two members of the library staff (one librarian and
one clerk) and 6-8 community members. A subsequent Special
Board of Trustees meeting on February 27, 2006 resulted in an
outline of specific committee meeting tasks and an overall
charge to the committee. The long range plan core committee
members were charged to determine the direction of the
library’s long range plan by utilizing the American Library
Association’s New Results for Planning as a guide. Ms. Carol
Berry was selected as the facilitator for the long range plan.
Letters were sent to fourteen potential community representatives.
Eight positive responses were received with six community members
able to attend the meetings (appendix A). Four core committee
meetings took place in September, October and November 2006.
Data from the core committee meetings was reviewed by facilitator
Carol Berry and library director Diana Wyrwa. The results of
the data analysis yielded the following four goals:
The Library Board of Trustees reviewed these four goals as the
basis for the 2007-2011 Long Range Plan of the Richmond Memorial
Library at their December 2006 Board meeting. In addition,
objectives for each of the goals were also derived from the
core committee’s data analysis. The newly written mission
statement for the Richmond Memorial Library was also part of
the core committee’s task.
Library staff, under the direction of the library director, met
in January 2007 to write activities for the first two years of
this long range plan. Desired outcomes, measurement and
evaluation sections were written by the facilitator and
library director with the assistance of the library staff
as proofreaders to the entire plan.
The Library Board of Trustees has designated this plan as a
dynamic and fluid document which will be amended as the time
frame continues. Progress of the plan will be monitored on a
monthly basis by the Library Board of Trustees and the library
director. Subsequent years of the plan will be added on an
annual basis and subject to approval by the Library Board of Trustees.
Measurement
Progress towards the achievement of goals will be quantified
through the gathering of relevant monthly statistics. Statistics
will be analyzed on a quarterly basis to ensure ongoing evaluation
of activities initiated through this plan. An overall 5% growth
statistic is the desired outcome for all quantifiable aspects of
the plan for the years 2007-2008 unless stated otherwise in the
plan itself.
Relevant anecdotal measurements found in program evaluations,
suggestion box comments, emails, conversations with library
patrons will also be considered in relation to overall goal
achievement.
Evaluation
Evaluation of the library’s long range plan will take place on
a continuous basis.
“Long Range Plan” will be a monthly agenda item for
the Board of Trustees. A more thorough review of the plan will
take place during the third quarter of each fiscal year.
Proposed activities and desired outcomes for each goal and
objective will be presented for approval on an annual basis to
the Board of Trustees.
This Long Range Plan is a dynamic document that will be monitored,
adjusted and amended accordingly. Overall goals and objectives
will remain stable but activities and outcomes will be written
in two-year blocks to allow for more specificity and tangible results.
Long Range Plan will become an agenda item at each staff meeting.
Monitoring the progress of the plan will be discussed as well as
suggestions for future activities and outcomes.
Approved by the Library Board of Trustees January 8, 2007.
Appendix A
Long Range Planning Core Committee Members
Michael Carragher (library trustee)
Dana Charters (library trustee)
Jill Crocker (library clerk)
Kathleen Facer (librarian)
Patricia Fragnito
John Holder
Jennifer Reardon
Essence Rivera
Dr. Cezina Rocha
Jack Weather
Diana Wyrwa (library director)
Carol Berry, facilitator
Richmond Memorial Library * 19 Ross Street *
Batavia, New York 14020