Date: July 8, 2019
Mission
The East Lansing Public Library provides a place and resources where people gather to share information and ideas to enrich lives and foster community.
Vision
The East Lansing Public Library enriches, connects and transforms lives through knowledge and innovation.
Core Values
- Accessibility
- Community
- Innovation
- Knowledge
Accessibility
- Work with the Office of Civil Rights on accessibility requirements for the website
- Investigate how to implement automatic renewals for checked out materials with Sierra
- Continue to update our circulation policies and personnel policies to be more inclusive; including additional library card services
- Reinstate quarterly bilingual storytimes
- Investigate and pilot a curb-side pickup service
- Investigate a homebound delivery service
- Investigate loaning movies through MeLCat and Visiting Patron services
- Install a “Little Free Library” at the East Lansing Family Aquatic Center
- Continue the Director’s Cut podcasts
- Repurpose and better utilize storage space
- Hold at least one community conversation to hear the community’s aspirations
- Draft an RFP to solicit bids for a new security system and additional cameras
Community
- Continue to work on the priority-based budgeting documents for the City, and transition to priority-based budgeting
- Analyze current programming needs per usage—add or delete programs where needed
- Create and implement an outreach plan focused on underserved library and community populations (adult services, teen services and children’s services)
- Create and implement a social justice reading group for adults
- Host National Night Out in collaboration with the East Lansing Police Department and the East Lansing Fire Department
- Host the One Book, One Community author reception with Matthew Desmond on August 25, 2019
- In partnership with Community Mental Health and the City of East Lansing, host three programs on the themes of suicide and mental health in the fall of 2019
- Collaborate with the City of East Lansing and MSU to host “East Lansing Welcomes the World” in September or October 2019
- Promote and host 9th Annual BBB
- Work with ELPS and the City to develop a community-focused plan for teens after school
- Strengthen relationships with community organizations by inviting them to engage with the Teen After School Program
- Investigate and begin to develop a restorative teen program
- Explore the feasibility of offering a “check out a human” program
- Partner with MSU to recruit, train and mentor Maker Studio Interns
- Create and implement an outreach plan focused on ELPS students – library staff visits to schools, science nights, activity nights, field trips for classrooms to visit ELPL
- Look for additional funding for the interactive children’s garden and the pop-up mobile library
- Work with DPW to create and install a raised flower bed in memory of Sarah Tarpoff—to replace trees that did not flourish
- Develop and implement a marketing/communications plan
- Work with DPW and C2AE to conduct a facilities study of the grounds and full library building
- Develop, write and implement a new strategic plan
- Begin preliminary planning work for 2022 levy campaign
- Work with facilities to hire a mechanical engineer to provide a plan for a complete evaluation with probable costs for two new boilers, a new chiller, four new air handlers and new heating valves
- Plan a volunteer recognition event
- Revamp and rejuvenate the Social Justice Reading Group (for ages 4 – 11)
- Create an additional “chapter” of Books & Bagels to serve middle school age kids
- Rework and implement core competencies for all staff
- Grow and adapt storytime and parenting kits available for check-out
- Explore the feasibility of holding a comic con event in partnership with MSU
- Invite elected officials to hold coffee hours and “town hall’ meetings at the library
- Investigate offering staff planned and led birthday parties for children for a fee
- Create plans for library tours for MSU classes and other groups.
- Investigate “Library 101” events for new library users.
- Develop and send out preference emails to patrons--get to know our patrons and personalize our email marketing
- Evaluate new patron registration options for efficiency and presentation
- Create a Welcome email to new cardholders
- Collaborate with homeschool community to assess educational opportunities w/ ELPL
- Host ELPL fieldtrips/nights at the library by grade to show what we offer to elementary students/give out library cards, and promote these at curriculum nights
Innovation
- Unveil the Pop-up Mobile Library and have a ribbon cutting ceremony
- Determine if the library should purchase BiblioApp when it exits beta
- Find a funding source to replace the computers in the Maker Studio
- Find a funding source, and/or devote collection budget dollars to expanding the library’s non-traditional collections
- Find a funding source to upgrade the sound recording room equipment
- Install the Glowforge laser printer
- Work with Burcham Hills and other organizations to provide technology training
- Work with MSU Libraries to investigate the feasibility of a “one card” program for MSU students
- Implement staff scheduling software
- Implement room scheduling software
- Introduce phone chargers for in-house checkout and/or circulation
- Re-imagine/re-vamp the summer reading program (timeline, goals, prizes, etc.)
Knowledge
- Continue to partner with the Michigan State University Citizen Scholars program on various patron-oriented projects and possible internships (Social Justice Reading Group for Adults, translation services)
- Develop quality early childhood literacy programs and reading programs beyond storytimes
- Create and implement a readers’, listeners’ and viewers’ advisory plan
- Create and share Best Practices resources for children's readers’ advisory
- Investigate interest level for a teen book club
- Provide staff with basic suicide and mental health awareness training via Community Mental Health
- Create development plans for new staff
- Continue to build and develop the library’s digital Local History collection
- Start a branch of the Girls Who Code program at ELPL
- Train new staff and retrain existing staff on BiblioCore and BiblioWeb
- Prioritize training for staff on core and advanced technology training
- Create opportunities for diversity leadership training for staff to engage with the Teen After School Program
- Investigate grant opportunities to help fund programs and special projects
- Plan at least one all-staff meeting as a professional development day for staff
- Re-institute staff-wide cross training
- Do a full library spring cleaning
- Create a more comprehensive list of donors and attendees to Books, Bites and Bids
- Create and maintain comprehensive budget spreadsheets for expenses in various budget codes
- Revamp and implement Core Competencies for Pages and Customer Service Associates
