Services:

Develop services, programs and collections that balance community demand and Ann Arbor District Library resources

Goal 1: Increase convenience in accessing existing services and materials.

• Increase independent access to collections by utilizing patron-oriented classification schemes, such as organizing non-fiction DVDs by genre instead of by Dewey Decimal classification.
• Provide additional access points to materials and resources throughout aadl.org.
  • Enhanced catalog & website with lists, multiple cards per account, easier requesting from around the site.
  • Created small Business & Job Search Toolkit page with links to resources for entrepreneurs and job-seekers.
  • Established rotating adult and youth StaffPicks collections, allowing patrons to receive staff recommendations on their own terms.
  • Made magazines holdable.
  • Integrated ILL requests & checkouts into patron myaccount page.
• Increase opportunities to issue library cards and check out materials in conjunction with off-site programming.
  • Staff actively promotes both AADL and WLBPD membership by issuing AADL library cards on-the-spot at offsite vendor fairs and other outreach events and activities.
  • Over 25% of WLBPD patrons signed up for AADL library cards in the first year of Large-Print-by-Mail service.
• Enhance Washtenaw Library for the Blind and Physically Disabled services to keep ahead of the technological change in the National Library Service service model.
  • Digital duplication of materials: The entire BARD catalog was downloaded onto a local server for easy access; specialized requests are being fulfilled for a local book group; and processes are currently in development to fulfill wishlist and other specialized requests not offered through the Regional or NLS libraries.
  • Digital cartridges and cables were made available for purchase through Circulation for patrons wishing to download books on their own but prefer the cartridge format over a thumb drive.
• Increase opportunities for fine & fee payment and forgiveness.
  • Expanded use of Fine Forgiveness Coupon distribution as part of 2011 summer game.

Goal 2: Ensure access to a balanced collection of materials, information resources and services for our community's rapidly growing and culturally diverse populations, with an emphasis on:

• Educators and students of all ages.
  • Expanded schedule of storytime and baby playgroup events to be year-round.
  • Implemented Saturday family storytime programming.
  • Generated tags and lists designed to help patrons determine material reading level and to support school projects.
  • Developed forthcoming Science to Go kit collection to support & develop youth interest in science.
• Language learning & adult basic literacy.
  • Evaluated online language learning products and subscribed to Byki.
• World languages.
  • Expanded the World Languages Collection to include audiobooks and added cover images of World Language Books to the catalog.
  • Developing Spanish language storytime programming with partner organization (expected fall 2011).
• Local history.
  • Digitized 13,000 articles from the AADL clippings file in preparation for the launch of Old News.
• Determining community needs to develop additional non-traditional library collections in the model of art prints and energy meters.
  • Developed and purchased materials for Science to Go kit collection to be launched summer 2011.

Goal 3: Cultivate partnerships to develop both on-site and off-site programs and services that meet the diverse needs of the following communities:

• Physically & developmentally disabled.
  • Worked with a team of low vision providers (Taubman Health Sciences Library, Lions Club, Kellogg Eye Center, Michigan Eye Bank) to offer low vision screenings and low vision events for 2011 Healthy Vision month. This partnership is scheduled to continue to brainstorm other events.
  • Staff have forged relationships with the following community groups: UM Council for Disability Concerns; Kellogg Eye Center low vision group; and the VA Visual Impairment Services Team.
• Educators and students of all ages.
  • With a UM class and Community High School, offered a weekly program to assist high school students with writing their college admission essay Winter 2010.
  • Partnered with Eastern Michigan University to offer a workshop to prepare high school students for college writing.
  • Washtenaw County Literacy Coalition and Washtenaw County Literacy directors were added to the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Reads Outreach Committee and several events were planned with the Literacy Coalition of Washtenaw County for the 10/11 Read.
  • Added Alpha Epsilon Delta to AADL’s free, school year drop-in homework help providers.
  • Offered regular opportunities for young readers to read to therapy dogs to increase their confidence with reading/support developing literacy.
• Hobbyists. (adult-oriented and hands-on programs)
  • Began discussions to bring the Kids Reads Comics convention to Ann Arbor and, working with local comic artists, we have increased the amount of comic artists programming – and have added it as a category in Axis and online.
  • Expanded the Lego contest to include adults and expanded the off-site space at Webers for the event; resumed popular Lego League competitive robot-building event.
  • In conjunction with the Maker Faire, developed a ‘bitdragon’ art project program – and incorporated this into the ‘Make It Happen’ summer reading theme. Also developed a series of wreck and make labs which were extremely popular.
  • Expanded our partnership with local animators and artists to include workshops for adults.
• Unemployed or underemployed.
  • Partnered with local author to offer workshop on networking and other skills for adults.
• Local businesses & entrepreneurs.
  • Developed programs on starting your own business with Schakolad Chocolate Factory, New Chelsea Market, Homewatch Caregivers and local businesses.
• Low income.
  • Partnered with Food Gatherers on a program on food stamps and how to apply for them.
• Homeless & homeless service providers.
  • AADL regularly participated in community meetings as well as a listserv with crisis intervention staff from the County, non-profit organizations, faith-based organizations, and law-enforcement agencies to share information on accessing and streamlining services.
• Health care consumers.
  • Began a partnership post-NIH-grant with Taubman Health Sciences Library and MICHR for several health-related events.
  • Began a very productive partnership with the UM Center for Human Adjustment for an ongoing series of events on health and behavior issues.
  • Partnered with the National Alliance on Mental Illness-Washtenaw County for a community forum on mental illness.

II. Products III. Finances IV. Communications V. Organizational Development VI. Facilities