TOP PRIORITY #1 COLLABORATION
GOAL 1 RESOURCE SHARING: MCLS will improve resource sharing and collaborative collection development among its members. STRATEGY 1 Maximize joint and collaborative purchases where appropriate.
Activity Who Responsible 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
1. Investigate possibility of using the system as a purchasing agent. Finance Office X 2. Develop a Digital Content strategy and plan to include member libraries.
(See also Priority 4, Goal 3)
MCLS Office/Local History Division X Evaluation Methods
1. Purchasing report submitted on schedule to MCLS Board and member libraries identifying potential vendors and savings. 2. Digital Content plan developed and implemented on schedule.
STRATEGY 2 Provide for prompt delivery of materials between and among member libraries.
Activity Who Responsible 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
1. Investigate outsourcing of delivery service on a regional basis. Directors Council Liaison/Committee X
2. Examine current delivery process and identify efficiencies. MCLS Office X X X X X
Evaluation Methods
1. Report on outsourcing delivery delivered on schedule.
STRATEGY 3 Provide cost-effective interlibrary loan to member libraries for materials not owned by MCLS libraries.
Activity Who Responsible 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
1. Determine cost of providing ILL service to member libraries and evaluate current fee. MCLS Office X 2. Investigate patron initiated ILL and implement if appropriate.
MCLS Directors
Council Team X
Evaluation Methods
1. The cost of delivering ILL service will be equal to or less than the amount of funding received to provide the service. 2. Patron initiated ILL will provide the service at faster rate and lower cost.
GOAL 2 OUTREACH & SPECIAL POPULATIONS: MCLS will maintain existing services to special populations and explore the development of services to new populations. STRATEGY 1 Provide library services to people with special needs.
Activity Who Responsible 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
1. Maintain the existing Coordinated Outreach Department activities as funded by State Aid,
including outreach to seniors and the incarcerated. Outreach Staff X X X X X
2. Explore other funding sources for this service.
RPL/MCLS Management
Team/Foundation X X X X X 3. Investigate collaborating with other service agencies to extend delivery to in-home clients via
an existing service such as Meals on Wheels.
Coordinated Outreach
Committee X
Evaluation Methods
1. Number of existing activities will not decline.
3. A report and recommendation on collaborating with another agency will be submitted on schedule. STRATEGY 2 Provide library services to non-English speakers in the community.
Activity Who Responsible 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
1. Identify groups of non-English speakers in Rochester and Monroe County and identify their needs for library services.
MCLS System
Committee X
2. Develop strategic plan for creating and delivering services to non-English speakers.
MCLS System
Committee X
3. Identify funding sources for new services to non-English speakers.
MCLS System
Committee X
Evaluation Methods
1. Number of groups and needs identified. 2. Plan created and submitted on schedule.
3. Adequate funding identified and secured to support the plan.
GOAL 3 COLLABORATION WITH OTHER SYSTEMS: MCLS will actively explore opportunities to consolidate services with other library systems to provide more efficient, cost-effective services to members. STRATEGY 1 Seek out collaborative opportunities with other systems.
Activity Who Responsible 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
1. Identify MCLS services that could be merged with other systems. Director X X X X X
2. Establish communication with other systems to begin merger analysis and discussion. Director X X X X X
Evaluation Methods
1. At least one potential service consolidation identified and researched each year.
2. Open communication channels created and maintained with other systems; number of committees joined. 3. Number of PULISDO and NYALS meetings attended each year.
TOP PRIORITY #2 TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT
GOAL 1 STAFF TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT: MCLS will provide a consistent development and training program for staff. STRATEGY 1 Develop new content for staff training in alternative formats to maximize staff participation.
Activity Who Responsible 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
1. Develop process for recording live staff training that can be viewed by staff when convenient.
MCLS Emerging Technology
Committee X X X
2. Identify small chunks of training topics that can be produced via video recording and then create the videos.
MCLS Emerging Technology
Committee X X X
Evaluation Methods
1. Number of training topics recorded.
2. Number of staff viewing the training videos.
GOAL 2 TRUSTEE TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT: MCLS will provide regular training and development opportunities for trustees. STRATEGY 1 Develop a Trustee Training section on the MCLS website.
1. Research other library websites to determine best practices in online trustee training. Director X 2. Create and post content for Trustee Training section on MCLS website. Director X Evaluation Methods
1. Content created and posted on website on schedule. 2. Number of views on website.
STRATEGY 2
Develop training presentations on standard topics that Directors can deliver to their Trustees in small chunks to create a culture of constant information sharing through monthly local trustee meetings.
Activity Who Responsible 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
1. Identify topics to be shared in this manner and create presentations. Directors Council Liaison X X X X X
2. Share presentations via MCLS Staff ePortal. Director’s Council Liaison X X X X X
Evaluation Methods
1. Number of presentations developed.
2. Number of views or downloads of presentations.
TOP PRIORITY #3 COMMUNICATION: MCLS will strive to communicate clearly and efficiently with customers across all levels of service. GOAL 1
CONSULTING & TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES: MCLS will provide expertise to member libraries in areas such as strategic planning, budget, grants administration, legal issues, building issues, and technology.
STRATEGY 1 Streamline process for asking questions and recording answers.
1. Establish process for submitting questions to the MCLS Office via the Help Desk software
currently used by the Library Automation Department. MCLS Office/LAS X X
2. Establish a Q&A review process using the MCLS Liaison and the staff of the MCLS Office to
share answers with all MCLS Directors via monthly Directors Council meetings. MCLS Office/Liaison X X
3. Create a knowledge base of frequently asked system questions.
Directors Council/System
Committee X X
4. Perform a grants needs assessment based on strategic planning and explore retaining a
professional grant writer for system grants. MCLS Office X X
Evaluation Methods
1. Help Desk process established; number of questions submitted to MCLS Office via Help Desk. 2. Number of questions shared at Directors Council meetings.
3. Number of visits to Knowledge Base.
4. Needs assessment completed and a minimum of one grant written and awarded by end of 2013.
STRATEGY 2 Develop process for annual surveying of member libraries regarding expectations and performance of the MCLS Office.
Activity Who is Responsible 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
1. Work with MCLS Directors to establish schedule and process for surveys, to include survey design and analysis.
MCLS
Office/Director
Liaison X X X X X
2. Report results of surveys to MCLS Directors and MCLS Board and determine actions. MCLS Office X X X X X Evaluation Methods
1. Number of surveys delivered and analyzed each year.
STRATEGY 1 Develop Children’s Consultant position added to Central Library in November 2010.
Activity Who Is Responsible 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
1. Engage MCLS Directors and Children’s Librarians in discussion of how the position can best benefit MCLS.
MCLS
Office/Children’s
Consultant X
2. Establish relationships with area agencies serving children to better promote library services
countywide. Children’s Consultant X X X X X
3. Provide consistent training opportunities for MCLS children’s librarians. Children’s Consultant X X X X X Evaluation Methods
1. Number of new relationships established with other community organizations. 2. Number of training opportunities provided to children’s librarians.
STRATEGY 2 Streamline workflow of MCLS Technical Services Departments.
Activity Who Is Responsible 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
1. Develop RFP for preprocessing contracts with library vendors. MCLS Office/Finance X 2. Merge Acquisitions, Cataloging and Processing Departments into one single department
called Technical Services. MCLS Office/Personnel X
Evaluation Methods
1. Level of savings achieved with preprocessing contracts in place and departments merged. 2. Length of time it takes for an item to go from ordering to the shelf will be reduced by half. GOAL 3
AWARENESS & ADVOCACY: MCLS will consistently communicate with the public and elected officials the critical role libraries play in addressing community priorities and the need for sufficient financial resources to deliver services.
Strategy 1 Develop marketing materials that adequately communicate the services offered by MCLS members and the value those services add to the community.
Activity Who is Responsible 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
1. Create a general brochure about MCLS services. MCLS Marketing Team X
2. Annually create a pocket-sized pamphlet that describes and lists the return on investment, or value, of specific library services provided to Monroe County residents in the last year.
MCLS Marketing
Team X X X X X
3. Identify locations and distribute brochures throughout the community annually.
MCLS Marketing
Team X X X X X
4. Develop and promote a social media campaign around library services.
MCLS Marketing
Team X X X X X
Evaluation Methods
1. Number of brochures distributed in community.
2. Number of people participating in social media campaign.
Strategy 2 Establish a multi-faceted, consistent method of communication with local politicians and funding sources.
Activity Who is Responsible 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
1. Participate in monthly conference calls with NYLA and PULISDO where legislative priorities for
public libraries are set and discussed. Director X X X X X
2. Meet regularly with County and City officials to discuss library priorities and funding. Director X X X X X 3. Establish procedure of inviting local and state representatives to library events and sharing
library promotional materials with them. Director X X X X X
4. Maintain annual visits with state legislators and participate in NYLA Library Lobby Day. MCLS Directors Council X X X X X 5. Establish MCLS Board Committee to assist with broad system policy concerns. Director/MCLS Board President X
Evaluation Methods
1. Number of conference calls attended.
2. Number of meetings with political representatives.
3. Number of political representatives attending MCLS events. 4. Number of MCLS representatives attending Lobby Day in Albany. 5. Number of policy issues addressed by Board Committee.
GOAL 4
COMMUNICATION AMONG MEMBER LIBRARIES: MCLS will evaluate and improve communication among all MCLS libraries and staff.
Strategy 1 Assess current methods of communication and evaluate their effectiveness.
Activity Who Is Responsible 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
1. Review current use of email, eportal, and print communication and survey members on the
effectiveness of each one. MCLS Office X
2. Evaluate the accessibility of the MCLS ePortal and develop process for improvement.
MCLS
Office/LAS/Emerging Technology
Committee X
Evaluation Methods
1. Survey completed and methods of communication improved as needed. 2. Eportal accessibility improved; number of views increased by 50%.
GOAL 5
CONSTRUCTION: MCLS will annually coordinate the Library Construction Grant process for member libraries and will allocate all funding provided to the system.
Activity Who is Responsible 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 1. Perform an annual assessment of construction needs for each member library. MCLS Office X X X X X 2. Visit member libraries as requested for a facilities tour in order to identify potential construction
projects. MCLS Office X X X X X
3. Assist members with construction grant application process annually. MCLS Office X X X X X Evaluation Methods
1. Number of grants submitted annually will use all funds allocated to MCLS. 2. Number of libraries visited annually.
TOP PRIORITY #4 TECHNOLOGY: MCLS will monitor and pursue advances in technology that will benefit member libraries and their customers. GOAL 1 INTEGRATED LIBRARY SOFTWARE IMPLEMENTATION: MCLS will develop the Carl.X integrated library system product to the fullest extent. Strategy 1 Make the best use possible of Carl.X to develop new access points for user convenience.
Activity Who is Responsible 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
1. Explore the Ad Hoc Reports module of Carl.X and implement training for system staff on using
the module. System Team X
2. Implement online fine payment via Carl.X and establish method for distributing revenue
among members. Finance Office X
Evaluation Methods
1. Number of staff trained on Ad Hoc Reports module.
GOAL 2 software for the system and for member library websites
Strategy 1 Develop e-commerce module of Ektron software to establish new and improved method of accruing revenue from online sales.
Activity Who is Responsible 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
1. In conjunction with the Rundel Library Foundation, establish new online sales possibilities. Finance Office X X X X X 2. Establish method for collecting online donations for all member libraries. Finance Office X
3. Increase sales of web advertisements on MCLS website. MCLS Office X X X X X
Evaluation Methods
1. Number of new online sales opportunities offered.
2. Number of libraries able to collect donations online through MCLS. 3. Number of web advertisements sold.
Strategy 2 Get best value from Ektron software by expanding access to it systemwide.
Activity Who is Responsible 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
1. Provide access to Ektron software for member libraries wishing to use it for their own website development projects.
LAS/Selected
Member Libraries X Evaluation Methods
1. Number of libraries using the Ektron software.
Strategy 1 Develop a digital content strategy that addresses the shift in use from print to digital content and its effect on service priorities.
Activity Who is Responsible 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
1. Develop a strategic plan for digitizing historic materials systemwide.
Local
History/System
Committee X X X
2. Explore the creation and dissemination of original digital content.
Local
History/System
Committee X X X
3. Research and evaluate digital content partners to provide access to the best resources
available. MCLS Office X
4. Survey users to determine current and projected digital needs. MCLS Office/Liaison X X X X X Evaluation Methods
1. Strategic plan delivered on schedule.
2. Number of original digital content pieces created.
3. Number of digital content partners under contract with MCLS; amount of money spent on digital content; circulation of digital content. 4. Number of surveys deployed; number of digital content projects completed.
