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Report on the project to reinvent public libraries in the Wayne Library Alliance (Wayne, PA). This project was made possible by LSTA funds provided by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Office of Commonwealth Libraries.
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REDESIGNING THE PUBLIC LIBRARY
Wayne Library Alliance
The Project
Introductions
Wayne Library Alliance
Office of Commonwealth
Libraries
Consultants
Molly Rodgers Administrator
7 libraries 7 directors 8 boards 4 friends groups
LSTA Funding
Stephen Spohn
Lyn Hopper
Karen Hyman
Project Objectives
Project Questions
1. Being essential to our users 2. Choices to kickstart change 3. Impacts of competition 4. Impacts of technology 5. Advocacy and funding 6. Staff competencies 7. New roles and “traditional” roles
Our Approach
• Users • Nonusers • Leaders • Trustees
Engagement • Operations • Documentation • Trends
Review
• Reinventing Libraries
• Scenario Planning
Readiness for Change
• Core Values • Strategic
Choices • Sustainable
Systems
Planning for Transformation
About the Wayne Library Alliance
Before 1999 • 7 independent libraries competing for patrons, donors,
attention • 5 of seven were not state-aided
2000-2011 • 7 members of a federated system sharing a catalog,
county delivery, online resources, and political recognition
Why Wayne
We are • Rural, estimated population 52,000 • Low-income, limited economy, transportation issues • Libraries are underfunded. • In townships, the local library is often the only thing. It
may be small but it is valued.
We are like many other rural counties in PA.
Why Now
After state aid cuts in 2010, conversations were about the growing gaps we faced • Between funding and standards. • Between funding and demand for services. • Between boards that were functioning and those that were
not. • Between the past and the future.
Deal with stress fractures by letting go of what isn’t important and focusing on what is important according to the community itself, not boards or staff.
Project Timeline
Project Kickoff Meeting Focus Groups Interviews Library Visits
Reinventing Libraries
Workshop
Scenario Planning
Planning for Transformation
Review and Implementation
May 2011! Jul 2011!
Aug 2011! Sep 2011! Nov 2011!
Project Kickoff
What and how? Project objectives, questions, approaches
Who? Users, community partners, mix of board and library
staff
What else? Board member engagement More nonusers/leaders
Community Research
Users
• Home schoolers • Parents • Seniors • Teens
Nonusers
• Sportsmen and women
• Teens
Leaders
• Entrepreneurs • Health and
Social Services • Recreation • Schools
Internal
• Friends • Trustees • Volunteers
Highlights
Teens, “Stayers” and Hollowing Out the Middle
Libraries, newcomers and making connections
Image, transparency and effective decisions
Fail proof spaces and mentoring for entrepreneurs
Local agriculture, business and economy
Background Research
Reinventing Libraries Workshop
Readiness for change Every choice has a
downside Simple changes today
Scenario Planning
The Central Question
Sustainable Success
Local Communities
Smarter Collaboration
PA Forward A Clean Slate
A Model for Other
Libraries
Key Factors
Technological change Fast paced Increasingly mobile, functional and easy to use Moving digital divide
eBooks and streaming media Mainstream publishing will be digital/streaming Direct to mobile distribution
Aging population Growing need for assistance with change (e.g. eGov) Increasingly complex health management issues Increasingly complex personal finance issues Increased strain on community social services
Key Factors
Rural economy Hollowing Out the Middle: stayers
Disenfranchised groups
Workforce development
Entrepreneurship and innovation
Connecter and convener Families and communities
Social discourse, community challenges
Other Outcomes
Public Relations
• Media and modes: Where are they?
• Measuring effectiveness
• Change and traditional users
Library Image
• Assessment, accountability and transparency
• Bias and controversial programming
Open Challenges
• Bye bye Dewey • No no signs and
policies • Online card
registration • Nature of the WLA
collaboration
Planning for Transformation
Three Day Agenda
Core values Timeless purpose Hedgehog concept
Community connections Capacity PA Forward rankings
Day One Day Two
Three Day Agenda
Delivery models Organizational
structure Community factors and
service priorities Stop list
Day Three
Preliminary Results
Open access Community involvement Consistent quality of
service to all Empowering people
We build connections People Information Community Partners
Core Values Hedgehog Concept
Next Steps
Polished goals Implementation timeline Assessment plan Board presentation
Workbook for PA Libraries
Documentation of this process, our successes and lessons learned
Reading list Opinions:
Key factors Optimal structure for library collaborations
Implementation guidance Worksheets to use and adapt for your libraries
Doing it all over again
Never enough time Logistical support Face to face meetings Private Google site Readiness for change
Reinventing Libraries workshop
Recruitment for focus groups
Community participation
More coming!
Lessons Learned Successes
Molly Rodgers Wayne Library Alliance Administrator [email protected]
Stephen Spohn Independent Library Consultant [email protected]
Thank you
