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The Lied Public Library does have a mission statement and a long-range plan. The mission of the Lied Public Library is that “Clarinda residents will have access to innovative library services, delivered in an efficient and effective manner, that will (1) provide public space for meeting and gathering that is recognized as inviting and neutral by all individuals and groups in the community, (2) provide materials, programs, and services on current topics, (3) assist everyone to continue to grow and learn throughout their lives. Planning is important to our library because it gives focus and purpose to everything the library does and wants to do. Having a plan also helps communicate and listen to the public when moving ahead with the library, be this budget, programming, or collection development. I think that there are a few key points that should be focused on, first and foremost is the type that the community is involved in the planning phase and staff too! With that being said the connection and reflection of the community are key when planning how the library will be serving the community years down the line. We need to make sure that the library can reach the plan and that it is allowable within budget, staff, and building considerations.

The mission statement of the Fort Madison Library is, "To serve the city of Fort Madison and provide its residents with reliable service and access to a variety of materials, serving their informational, educational, and recreational needs. We hope to enhance the resources of local K-12 curriculum's, and support lifelong learning and enjoyable reading for patrons of all ages." After class on Tuesday, I think this may be a little far reaching, I'm afraid we're trying to do everything, kind of like the Manson Library's planning document.

Planning is important because it tells you where you're going and helps you get there more efficiently. Especially in times of shrinking budgets, libraries can no longer afford a scatter shot approach to services. Every dollar counts and has to be spent very carefully to maximize results.

The most critical component in long-range planning is community involvement. The director and library board can try and stuff all sorts of things down the throats of their communities but, if you're going to ask the community for resources to complete your goals it helps to have non-library advocates, people who can be seen as kind of impartial, on your side.

Good point Andrew on the part you said about "allowable within budget". I wonder if other Librarians are wondering what the following years will be like with the economy the way it is. I'm not sure sometimes the route to take with expanding and the economy the way it is now. Any thoughts from anyone? Carolyn

It is the mission of the Ledyard Public Library to provide materials for all ages, from pre-school through maturity. The aim of the adult
book collection is make available books and other materials that will meet education, informational, cultural and recreational interest and
needs of the people of Kossuth County. To fulfill this purpose the Library endeavors to maintain a carefully selected collection of good representative books of permanent value and of current interest

session 14 web board question
What do you think are the most critical components to long-range planning?
Planning, in an age when dramatic change in libraries comes faster than we want seems like we can't keep up.
But failure to plan is planning to fail as they say. The board is generally the responsible party for planning with
the director giving input for the goals to be set.
Reviewing them every three years is a common amount of time to redo and look them over again.

The Paullina Public Library does have a mission statement.......It states:

The Paullina Public Library shall act as an agency for the collection of accurate and current information
for the general public.

The library shall act as a place for the cultural and educational as well as the recreational needs
of all it's patrons.

A public meeting room, accessible during and after regular library hours, shall be made available
for the use of the public.

The library shall provide special services and programs for the identified groups, such as children, the
elderly, as well as the regular library patron.

The library subscribes to the Library Bill of Rights of the American Library Association, the Freedom to Read
and Freedom to View statements and the Iowa Library Association Intellectural Freedom Handbook.

End Quote.........




Our Paullina Library also has a long term plan.....extending out to the year 2010.

Why important to plan??? As with anything if you don't set a "goal" or "goals" to work toward....you tend to set out in
all sorts of directions....with none of them really synchronized or fitting together. If everyone knows where you're heading...
each one (board, director, staff, volunteers, etc.) can be working toward that place.....

Critical components???? Is it feasible....is it affordable....is it what the community wants.....is it filling a need rather than
duplicating a need....is it likely that your City council will be "on board" with it or will you be
fighting them every step of the way.....will there be enough money when you get to the end
of your long term plan.......

The Chelsea Public Library mission statement states: In these particular areas, the library shall serve the community.
1) as a general center of reliable and up to date infermation
2) as a source of material for self improvement and education in all general fields
3) as a source of material for leisure time reading and activity
4) as a source of information and services for community members engaged in business, indrusrty, and various professions
5) as a source of material for civic organizations, community clubs, and study groups
6) by developing, sponsoring programs of benifit to the library and the people of the community
7) by providing library service, information and materials necessary in the preformance of their duties and subsequently, the improvement of the services to the community.
We do have 5 year goals we update every November.
Planning is important to the library because it is required by the state library to recieve funding. It also gives your library a focus and direction and tells the libraries story. I think the most critical componets to a long range plan is if it helps with your daily decisions, and if the goals are achievable.

I agree, Sarah. Reading your mission statement is sort of that promise that you'll do everything for everybody. Your resources will be stretched so unblieveably thin that you will find that you can excel at none of these objectives. Your mission statement is not at all unusual. The first sentence is word-for-word what the vast majority of libraries adopted as their mission statement for probably 20 years time. It was in my small library's mission statement -- every library had that verbiage.
Your experience in your former library will no doubt help significantly as you embark on your next long range plan... good luck to you!

Does your library currently have a mission statement and/or a long-range plan? [If you do have a mission statement, please include it.] Why is planning important to the library? What do you think are the most critical components to long-range planning?

The mission of the Riceville Public Library is to ensure that each citizen of the Riceville area will have equal access to information, fresh ideas, and quality entertainment in order to lead an enriched life through lifelong learning and to participate knowledgeably and productively in our society.

The library board and staff will:
a. Be accessible to everyone.
b. Be focused on the patrons and their needs.
c. Be aggressive in providing the best possible services.
d. Provide free and equal access to all materials, information and ideas.
e. Practice intellectual freedom and confidentiality.
f. Be responsible for the placement and use of resources to receive maximum return on public funding.
g. Encourage and support the staff as one of its greatest assets.
h. Use the power of technology to a maximum to ensure equal and ready access to electronic information resources and to educate toward self-sufficiency.
i. Value youth as the future of our library and surrounding community.

Planning is necessary - you have to always be thinking ahead - forward. You can't do this unless you are planning - how can we stay current and fluid if we are not planning? For our long-range plan, we focus on the following areas - Services and Collection, Public Presence, Technology, Human Resources, Facilities; Funding and Government Relationships

Carol Lynn Walthart

The board just goes each month as I direct but as long as I stay within budget they are not going to say anything. I would like to see some direction from the board. I think this is something I will bring up when we review our policies.


Carol---I sometimes wish our board would be more involved in the planning process instead of letting the director do all the work. They are pretty good about planning for the physical building, but could be more help when it comes to services.