There are: 3937 responses


1. How often do you use the following library locations?

2. How do you use the library?

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3. What factors prevent you from using the library more often?

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4. How important is it that AADL provide the following services in the future?

	not at all	low importance	moderate importance	important	extremely important
e-books	856	75	848	483	210
literacy instruction	552	47	859	1075	522
tutoring, homework help	682	57	1028	812	307
email accounts and personal file storage	1325	69	578	383	184
scanning services	626	64	1107	606	163
café inside the library	1238	73	810	399	180
access to advanced software applications	577	59	1124	799	273
ESL (English as a Second Language) instruction	756	57	973	772	340
notification about new items of personal interest	355	54	1203	1000	356
video conferencing	1245	91	651	231	62
home delivery for a fee	1024	80	863	422	143
research service for a fee	898	72	1017	396	95
guaranteed availability of materials for a fee	1051	80	812	343	118
private storytime for a fee	1569	79	495	171	43

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5. How important is it for AADL to address the following critical issues or questions in the coming years?

	not at all	low importance	moderate importance	important	extremely important
Be the most convenient source for information/resources	50	10	761	1622	1224
Stay ahead of the curve technologically	76	31	939	1216	580
Provide more cultural and community services and programs	134	38	1247	1257	550
Expand and improve building facilities	125	57	1378	1043	446
Provide digital information and entertainment content anywhere on demand	485	91	1081	670	262
Keep my interactions with the library private	161	36	545	857	1841
Offer formal & informal meeting spaces	319	63	1327	846	220

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6. How important is the library to our community?

	not at all	low importance	moderate importance	important	extremely important
#s	1	0	83	637	3147
%	0.03	0	2.11	16.18	79.93

Length of time living in Ann Arbor area

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• Video Footage
  video testimonials (Quicktime for faster connections)
  video testimonials (Windows media player for slower connections)
• Survey and Staff Meeting Summary Presentation
• Social Trends Presentation
• Library Trends Presentation
• Complete Survey Results

Getting Ready

• Form Steering and Planning Teams
• Compile initial list of key strategic issues

Gathering Information

• Collect input from internal stakeholders
• Collect input from external stakeholders
• Identify industry trends and best practices
• Project demands on services, analyze census or other public statistics, research financial trends etc.

Analyzing and Synthesizing

• Analysis
  • Understand the current or previous organization strategies
  • Assess programs, their effectiveness and competitive position, and the opportunities and threats in the environment relative to meeting patron and community needs.
  • Identify additional strategic issues of challenges facing the organization, based on information gathered.
• Synthesis
  • How can we focus our energy to do the most good with our limited time and resources?

Creating the Plan

Designing the Process

Inclusiveness, transparency, and two-way communication were the core principles underlying the entire strategic planning process. These principles shaped a fair and open process that built trust, strengthened internal and external communications, and engaged the entire organization in exploring feedback from the community, future trends, and staff and patron needs.

Sandra Greenstone of Enliven Consulting was engaged in September 2003 to work with the Board of Trustees, Steering Team, and Planning Team to design and facilitate the process.

October 2003 - planning process begins

January 26, 2004 - February 8, 2004 - Online survey occurs

February 2, 9 & 16, 2004 --- Library staff discussions and input

February, 2004 - public input continues

March 2004 - Outline of plan developed

March 8, 2004 - Planning meeting with entire staff and community members

Late March/Early April  2004- public study sessions on strategic planning with Board members

April 19, 2004 - Plan presented to Board for approval

Information was gathered concerning:

Social Trends

Community - What information do we need about our community that will have an impact on the future of the library? Who are our patrons now and who do we expect them to be?
Society - What broader social trends will have an impact on the future of the AADL? What world will they be living in and what will be the patron needs?

Library Industry

Best Practice - What libraries do we love? What services do they offer?
Industry Trends - What industry trends do we need to be aware of?

Stakeholders

Internal - Staff focus groups, Planning team input, Board input
External - Community focus groups, Interviews with community leaders, patron survey

Purpose
Engaging in the AADL's strategic planning process together helps the staff, board of directors and community create a common set of goals and remain a national leader in public library services.

Objectives

• Become more willing to listen to the community and take more risks
• Create a more vibrant workplace that will continue to attract and retain extraordinary talent
• Ensure long term financial viability
• Boost visibility and become more well recognized and respected in the community
• Define the role of the Downtown Library within a multi-branch library system
• Help the Board of Trustees become more aware of its power and the importance of their ability to think big, take risks and make mistakes.
• Prepare the Board, management and staff for labor discussions.
• Create a plan that everyone is supportive and aware of…that is used
• Create an efficient process

• Purpose and Objectives
• Strategic Planning Teams
• How Information Was Gathered
• Planning Outline
• Timeline

Communications:

Develop high-level internal and external communications that get the message out, to all, about what we do and how we do it

Goal 1: Strengthen the Library's public image and identity

• Engage a communications consultant

[Update: Will not do. Plan to use a marketing consultant instead.]

[Update: Library Customer Comment Cards are available at all branches for patron questions, compliments, complaints and suggestions. Comments may also be submitted via our website at the Contact Us link.]

AADL was honored with the 2008 National Voice of the People Award presented by the International City/County Management Association.

Goal 2: Ensure that our community is aware of our existing and growing set of services and materials

• Improve existing methods of publicizing services

[Update: Using standardized promotional tools and events blog on website.
Greetsaver replaces some signage.
Promoting teen/adult events at Quality 16 preshows.