Service Goals And Objectives

A. Goal: The Library will provide appropriate locations and hours of service for Porter County residents.
Objective: To continually re-evaluate hours of service in all locations.
Objective: To continually plan for appropriate locations of additional service
outlets.

B. Goal: The Library will increase and improve the awareness of services, programs, facilities and resources among county residents.
Objective: To increase the percentage of Porter County residents holding a valid
Library card to 75%.
Objective: To continue developing an active public relations program, with
emphasis on Library publicity.
Objective: To maintain display areas for the posting of promotional literature for
library and community events.
Objective: To increase the awareness and the use of local, regional, and state
reciprocal borrowing privileges.

C. Goal: The Library will increase and improve the use of Library services and resources.
Objective: To provide adequate and appropriate Library materials and computer access for all residents and serve as the hub, linking and managing local information services and resources.
Objective: To provide adequate professional assistance to all patrons, in all areas of Library service.
Objective: To provide various workshops and educational opportunities for
patrons, conducted by skilled individuals.
Objective: To increase cooperation with public and private schools to anticipate
and supply student resources.
Objective: To increase cooperation with and participation in the business and civic community.
Objective: To increase circulation of all materials by 5% each year.
Objective: To continue a periodic system-wide evaluation of its service to the
public

D. Goal: The Library will improve the reference and information services to the community.
Objective: To increase public awareness and use of Library information and
research-assistance services.
Objective: To increase the number of reference queries satisfactorily resolved each year through staff assistance and/or electronic resources.
Objective: To increase the speed and accuracy in the delivery of information
services.
Objective: To provide job/career information and skill assessment materials.
Objective: To strengthen the research and educational program in the fields of
genealogy, oral history, and state/local history.
Objective: To continue the use of electronic devices for inter-and intra-library
document delivery.
Objective: To continue and expand on-demand electronic information reference
resources and services.
Objective: To provide training and education to the community on how to access
the internet and other electronic information resources.

E. Goal: The Library will increase and improve the audio-visual services to the community.
Objective: To offer a regular program of art and media exhibits in appropriate
Library locations.
Objective: To improve shelving, storage, display systems for the audio-visual
collection and for increased public accessibility.
Objective: To maintain a system for lending audio-visual equipment in all Library
locations.
Objective: To maintain a system for delivery of audio-visual materials among
Library locations.
Objective: To examine present audio-visual formats and prepare for introduction
of new formats as they develop.
Objective: To offer viewing and listening centers in appropriate Library locations.

F. Goal: The Library will provide programming to meet the needs and interests of the community.
Objective: To provide regular programs of orientation, instruction and
entertainment for all patrons in all Library locations.
Objective: To support adult basic education programs with materials and services.
Objective: To provide recreational and informational programs for children and
young adults in all Library locations.
Objective: To coordinate program activities with multicultural, occupational,
hobby, civic, and other community groups.
Objective: To provide speakers from library staff to community organizations and the general public when requested.

G. Goal: The Library will provide service to those who cannot use regular Library facilities or materials.
Objective: To maintain and publicize a telephone and internet reference service.
Objective: To publicize the State’s Talking Book program and distribute
applications in all Library locations.
Objective: To offer staff and/or technological assistance to persons with
disabilities to facilitate their use of the Library and its collections.
Objective: To increase the circulation of large print and audio books.
Objective: To provide delivery of Library materials to the homebound and
institutionalized.
Objective: To publicize at all library locations the Relay Indiana 800 number
which provides telecommunication service for the deaf.
(1-800-743-3333).

RESOURCE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

A. Goal: The Library will develop and maintain a collection of materials to meet user needs without regard to format or reading level.
Objective: To develop the Library collection to include formats not currently
available in the system.
Objective: To review guidelines and allocation of funds for the expansion and
development of Library collections.
Objective: To continue a regular weeding and inventory schedule in each branch.
Objective: To increase the book collection to four books per capita.
Objective: To continually evaluate the need for ESL and/or foreign language
materials.

B. Goal: The Library will fill requests on a timely basis for books and other Library materials.
Objective: To provide additional copies of high demand items as needed to fill
requests.
Objective: To order, catalog, process, and shelve Library materials in a timely and accurate manner.

C. Goal: The Library will provide a staff appropriate to the service needs of people in the Library district.
Objective: To recruit, employ, train, and manage appropriate staff members.
Objective: To maintain and revise as needed a written job description for each
Library position.
Objective: To provide special training for supervisory staff members in interviewing and personnel management.
Objective: To provide continual in-service training for all staff including a system-
wide biennial in-service workshop.
Objective: To follow the affirmative action statement.
Objective: To maintain a program of volunteerism.
Objective: To evaluate each staff member’s performance every two years.

D. Goal: The Library, when possible, will provide employees with opportunities to achieve the full extent of their potential.
Objective: To provide the tools and equipment necessary for effective
performance.
Objective: To provide staff involvement in the decision-making process.
Objective: To re-evaluate the ongoing performance evaluation program as needed.
Objective: To periodically offer system-wide training opportunities for all in
supervisory positions.
Objective: To encourage staff participation in the state certification program.

E. Goal: The Library will provide channels for communication among the Library staff.
Objective: To evaluate, improve, and add as necessary, channels for staff
communication, input and feedback (i.e. system-wide, branch, or
department meetings for librarians and clerical staff).

F. Goal: The Library will provide a system-wide staff and volunteer orientation and training program.
Objective: To encourage staff attendance at professional meetings and other
outside educational opportunities.
Objective: To ensure dissemination of information and training gained outside the Library to appropriate staff members.
Objective: To develop a coordinated staff and volunteer orientation program and
supporting materials.
Objective: To continue appropriate in-service training programs.

G. Goal: The Library will provide compensation to the Library staff.
Objective: To provide salaries and benefits for all staff, commensurate with their
training, responsibilities, and in line with salaries and benefits for comparable positions outside the Library.

H. Goal: The Library will provide safe, clean, comfortable and well-maintained physical facilities.
Objective: To maintain a plan of periodic inspections of all facilities and a
regularly scheduled preventive maintenance program for all buildings
and equipment.
Objective: To evaluate the interior arrangement of all buildings in order to provide maximum public awareness of Library collections and services.
Objective: To involve all staff members in awareness of the physical surroundings as a component of Library service.
Objective: To annually review the emergency evacuation plan with Library staff.
Objective: To provide adequate parking for each Library location.
Objective: To provide training and resources necessary for personal safety.

ADMINISTRATIVE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

A. Goal: The Library will build continuous planning into management.
Objective: To frequently review and modify this plan as necessary to accomplish the goals and objectives and to respond to changing conditions.
Objective: To implement strategies designed to accomplish goals and objectives as they are financially feasible.
Objective: To encourage individual and department level planning as a basic
function of all Library jobs.
Objective: To maximize participation of administrative staff in achieving goals.
Objective: To conduct an annual session for the purpose of planning and
reviewing the organization’s direction and goals.

B. Goal: The Library will assure that the organization of the system will support the service goals and objectives.
Objective: To develop and implement effective strategies and action plans to meet objectives and fulfill Library goals.
Objective: To modify or create patterns of activity necessary to meet the Library
goals and objectives.
Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of centralized support services.
Objective: To annually evaluate the progress toward meeting the goals and
objectives stated in this plan.

C. Goal: The Library will provide a strong and financially secure system.
Objective: To secure a funding base of support for Library service, including private funding and alternative types of public funding.
Objective: To examine all expenditures for cost effectiveness in light of service
priorities.
Objective: To establish strong ties with officials at the state/local level.
Objective: To participate actively in all pertinent state/local planning and to be
assertive where applicable.
Objective: To annually re-evaluate policies concerning Library fines and fees.
Objective: To maintain and encourage growth in the Library Fund within the
Porter County Community Foundation.
Objective: To maintain a system of internal fiscal responsibility and control.

D. Goal: The Library will provide adequate support for long-term capital development needs.
Objective: To annually re-evaluate the Library’s capital needs.
Objective: To annually generate a 3-year library capital projects fund plan.
Objective: To lobby the County Council for the approval of the Library’s capital
projects fund plan.

E. Goal: The Library will provide the technology necessary to meet the goals and objectives of the Library.
Objective: To maintain and enhance the use of the Library’s automated system.
Objective: To explore new technological means of delivery to meet the goals and objectives of the Library.
Objective: To develop methods for the ongoing evaluation and implementation of rapidly changing information technology.
Objective: To expand use of cooperative services through state, regional, and local agencies including INCOLSA and the Indiana State Library.

F. Goal: The Library will continue and further develop cooperation with all types of libraries.
Objective: To increase cooperation and eliminate unnecessary duplication within the system and community, for maximum effectiveness, economy, and
service.
Objective: To improve resource sharing capabilities for better patron service.
Objective: To increase cooperation with all local schools, colleges, and
universities.
Objective: To cooperate fully with regional library networks.

Revised January 2008