strategic plan

Strategic Plan Proposal for the Bristow Public Library

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Prepared on behalf of the Bristow Public Library

Graphics source: Creative Commons via Pixabay

Overview

1. Library at a glance

2. Community needs assessment

3. SWOT analysis of BPL

4. Strategic Plan

5. Comments/ Questions/ Discussion

Library at a glance

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Library at a glance

• Bristow Public Library serves an immediate population of 4,257, and offers services to anyone residing in within Creek County; 11,665 patrons total. Terrestrially we service all of Creek County; however, we are actually only serving 15 percent of the population of Creek County.
• The combined average Free & Reduced Lunch statistics of the area served is 80 percent.
• The library houses 24,703 items and is in the process of growing and diversifying its collections, both in content and format.
• We have saved our patrons $176,966.00 in the past year in terms of physcial items checked out. This number more than doubles if statistics for online resources (Overdrive, Fold3, etc.) and access to the Internet and library computers are considered.

• The library maintains a reputation of having dedicated staff, an excellent genealogical and local history collection, and children's early literacy programming.

Graphics sources: Bristow Public Library and Creative Commons via Pixabay

Community needs assessment

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Community Interest Surveys

The library is surveying patrons and community members during the month of August. The survey is accessible online and on paper. While the survery period is not completed, preliminary analysis indicates the following:

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Bristow Community Data - Materials Desired

• The data mostly reflects the interests of those already using the library to find books and other information resources.
• New and more diverse resources such as audiobooks and films are requested daily.
• Certain genres historically found in similar data may 1) be on the decline and/or 2) be intrinsic to patrons who are no longer visiting the library due to age-related factors.

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Bristow Community Data - Interests

• "Alternative Interests" included categories from book clubs to anime appreciation groups; from Final Fantasy sports leagues to OSU Extention classes.
• "Outdoors" combines catagories such as hunting and fishing, camping and birdwatching.

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Bristow Community Data

• Nearly 50 percent of patrons surveyed lack access to the Internet at home. Internet access is necessary for academic attainment (both K-12 and Higher-Ed), access to healthcare, as well as life tasks such as paying bills and filing taxes.
• Ultimately, there is >> a direct correlation between access to high-speed Internet and local economic development <<. Not unlike Home Economics or Workshop classes, the skills learned by using computers and navigating the web are tacit skills that can only be learned by doing, and are contingent upon Internet access.

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SWOT analysis of BPL

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SWOT Analysis

Weaknesses

Strengths

Threats

Opportunities

• Dedicated and knowledgeable staff.
• Good organizational foundation to build upon.
• Assistance from Library Board Inc.

• Covid has been a catalyst; libraries have been a lifeline.
• Empowered staff eager to deliver programming and fill out roles.
• Emergency Broadband Fund, Infrastructure Deal, Route 66, Post-Covid life.

• Tulsa Metro & NEOK regional growth.

• Most other neighboring libraries boast better programs, collections, and services. Patrons may opt to go to other libraries (Cleveland, Mannford, Cushing, Sapulpa) instead of BPL.

• Lack of adequate community programming.
• Past mismanagement of collections, records, and accounting.
• Library is short-staffed; some staff have lacked training and need a "boost".

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Strategic Plan

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Strategic Plan Contents

• Local History & Special Collections
• Children's Department
• Young Adult Area
• Adult Services
• Learning Lab & Community Garden

Local History and Genealogy

Source: Gaylord Archival

Source: Creative Commons via Pixabay

Purchase Mobile Shelving Units (3)

• locking mechanism keeps materials safe
• provides built-in climate control
• best practice in archival preservation

Purchase professional archival storage supplies. If possible, we also seek new track lighting and window filter film installed to help protect materials from light damage.

Source: Library Visits Project

Refurbish rare historic Bristow Carnegie Library circulation desk, and move to Special Collections / Local History Department.

Children's Department

Complete overhaul of Children's Department: move department to West and Northwest area of building. Convert windows to double doors (that open out towards annex building), move current children's shelving to this part of the building. New children's circulation desk placed in NW corner (by double doors). Convert "mess room" into an open concept, multi-purpose room (see image). The room will serve as a venue for storytime and other youth programming. Will give kids a place that is "theirs".

Source: FG Library Co. London, UK.

Youth & Young Adult

Source: Kenton County Library. Erlanger, KY.

Part of the overhaul of Children's Department : the North area of building to house and Young Adult resources (books, graphic novels, and games). Refurbish two historic library tables and and chairs for commons area.

Adult Area

Replace existing children's shelving with tall stacks (currently in Northwest part of building). Provide arm chairs in nooks for reading and 2-3 refurbished historic tables in commons area. Retain usage of small conference rooms; however, in one small conference room implement a Literacy Station (computer designated for adult literacy, tech literacy, homeschooling, college coursework, etc.).

Source: Creative Commons via Pixabay

Source: Creative Commons via Pixabay

Learning Lab and Community Garden

As an auxillary building, the Learning Lab would need to have new phone and Internet lines dropped, as well as a camera security and monitoring. The Lab can easily host outsourced and in-house programming and classes (most requested service on Community Interest Surveys), provide additional conference rooms for use. The garden and patio area can also serve as an outdoor area to read, meet, and learn. Would like to incorporate a Storywalk into the garden (and maybe another in Klingensmith Park).

Source: Pine River Library. Bayfield Colorado.

Source: Creative Commons via Pixabay

Questions Comments Discussion

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Thank you for your time!

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