Acknowledgements & Background: Long-Range Plan 2000 - 2004

The Library Board of Trustees adopted a new long range plan on July 12, 1999.  This plan was developed with much effort over many months.  Plan documents were drafted by Himmel & Wilson, Library Consultants, with  input from the Long Range Planning Committee.
 

1997 plan  || 1999 plan for 2000-2004

Acknowledgements

The Appleton Public Library is pleased to acknowledge the following individuals and groups who contributed to the planning process that resulted in the following Long-Range Plan for the years 2000 - 2004.

Long-Range Planning Committee

Appleton Public Library Staff

Library staff members participated in many important ways, directly and indirectly.  All staff supported the planning process by making time and opportunities for planning committee members and focus groups.  Most of the staff participated directly either through the two staff focus groups, through helping administer in-house surveys, or through participating in discussions at sectional, general staff or section head meetings.  Without these contributions the work could not have been done, and without the expertise and knowledgeable perspectives of many staff members, the work would have been much less meaningful and useful.

Special Appreciation

The Appleton Public Library wishes to express its special appreciation to the Library Board of Trustees and the Appleton Library Foundation for providing support and funds for the planning process.  Thanks are also due to the Friends of the Appleton Public Library, who provided invaluable help with the in-library user survey, contributing many volunteer hours.

The Library appreciates the input of all those who responded to the surveys; especially helpful were those individuals who made time to attend a focus group or to meet with the consultants for an interview.  The way the community cares about library service is reflected in the participation, assistance, and ultimately in the resulting plan.

Note from the Planning Chair

In order to be effective, a planning committee must be able to look back to see what has been accomplished and at the same time look forward to the future.  Everyone involved in planning for the Appleton Public Library has done an outstanding job doing just that.  Planning has great importance in the achievement of the goals and the mission of the Library as well as making sure it will continue to be a dynamic community asset.  My thanks to the members of the committee who shared their time and talents, to the library staff who shared their knowledge and insights, and to members of the community who informed the committee of their needs and concerns.  Because of the efforts of many people, a visionary plan that will enrich our community has taken shape.
Kathy Schuessler
Planning Committee Chair

Note from the Library Director

Many people worked hard in order to create this plan, but it has been extremely gratifying work.  Both in the Planning Committee and within the library staff, we have argued and struggled as we have worked to determine community needs and library responses.  The final plan represents what we as an organization want to accomplish…goals that are outcomes and results of our presence in the community.

This is not an exhaustive list of all library activities.  Many of our daily activities are not set forth in this plan, yet must be done well in order to meet our goals and see results in the community.  This includes administrative, maintenance, technical services, and network services tasks.  This also includes crucial relationships, as with the Outagamie Waupaca Library System, the Friends of the Appleton Library, the Appleton Library Foundation, other departments of the City of Appleton, the Fox Valley Literacy Coalition and other libraries and organizations.

To do these jobs and to maintain these relationships is not our goal, but they are a necessary prerequisite to achieving our goals.  Activities in these areas are developed in light of the library’s mission and goals and are reflected in annual planning and budget documents.  But the Library’s strategic and long range goals are the ones that work to fill community needs.

My personal appreciation goes to the members of the Planning Committee, the Section Supervisors, other staff and volunteers who gave input and assisted, and to our consultants for a job well done.

Terry Dawson
Library Director
Appleton Public Library
July, 1999

Background

In December of 1998, the Appleton Public Library issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to identify an individual or firm to assist the library with the development of a long-range plan.  Subsequent to a review of the proposals received, Himmel & Wilson, Library Consultants of Milton, Wisconsin was selected.

The project got underway in January, 1999 with a conference call that included the consultants, the chair of the planning committee, and key Appleton Public Library staff members.  An orientation session for the planning committee followed in early February.

Throughout the planning process, considerable emphasis was placed on gaining public input on the direction the library should head in the future.  To this end, the consultants conducted ten focus groups with citizen groups ranging from high school students to senior citizens and from parents and caregivers of young children to representatives of the City, County, and regional planning agencies.  Personal interviews were conducted with a dozen community leaders, including public officials, business leaders, and other influential citizens.  Library staff input was also sought through two staff focus group sessions.

These efforts were followed by three separate surveys developed by Himmel & Wilson in consultation with the library administration.  The first, an "in-house" exit survey administered over the course of a week, sought the opinions of library users.  Members of the Friends of the Appleton Public Library organization and library staff conducted this survey following a training session provided by the consultants.  Over 350 individuals participated in the survey.

The next survey, aimed at the general public including people who don't use the library, was mailed to a random sample of 2,900 households in the greater Appleton area.  Usable responses were received from nearly 30% (831 households) of households included in the sample.

Finally, an interactive survey appeared on the library's web-site that sought the ideas and suggestions of the library's new "virtual" visitors.  Seventy-five individuals participated in the planning process by this method.

In all, nearly 1,500 people from the Appleton area were involved in the planning process in some way.  The planning committee met five times over the six-month period to integrate the information that was gathered into the final plan.  The consultants met with library department heads and other key staff members on three additional occasions to ensure that staff input and reactions were available to the full planning committee.

Following, then, is the long-range plan for the Appleton Public Library for the years 2000 - 2004.  The plan sets a course for library service that is designed to have a real impact on the quality of life enjoyed by the people who make their home and living in the greater Appleton area.
 

The Plan's Components

The planning process used by the Appleton Public Library is entitled Planning for Results: A Library Transformation Process.  This planning method, developed for the Public Library Association (PLA), is based on the idea that libraries should concentrate their efforts and resources on services that make a real difference in people's lives.

The process begins by describing an ideal vision for the community's future.  This is captured in the Community Vision below.
 
 

An Ideal Vision for the Appleton Community

The Appleton area is a dynamic community of communities that offers exceptional educational, cultural, and employment opportunities that enable all who live here to enjoy productive and satisfying lives.  Diverse individuals and families are bound together by a sense of community pride and demonstrate their concern for each other by giving generously of their time, talents, and resources.  The people of the Appleton area respect and value the rich heritage of all people, honor the past, and actively participate in the decision-making of today that helps shape the community of tomorrow.  The community is environmentally responsible and provides the public safety and medical and social services necessary to ensure the physical and mental health of all residents.  The area is connected to the world by technologically advanced communication and transportation systems that enable all residents to participate in and enjoy the benefits of the global economy.

The library planners then look at the areas in which the community falls short of that ideal.  They determine the ways in which the library, both independently and in concert with other organizations and agencies in the community, can address the shortcomings and, therefore, make a positive difference in the community.  The Library Vision describes what will happen in the community if its program of services is completely successful.  In creating a vision for the Appleton Public Library the planning committee emphasizes that the library serves all the people of the community.
 

Read the Plan


Do you have a question or comment on the Library's plan?  Let us know.

This page updated 8/27/99