ALICE MELNYK PUBLIC LIBRARY
PLAN OF SERVICE 2008-2013

MISSION STATEMENT

Provide our community with library services that promote awareness of opportunities for education, research and recreation in collaboration with our partners.

VISION STATEMENT

The Alice Melnyk Public Library is a welcoming space at the center of the community providing inclusive services for all.

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR

It is with great excitement and anticipation that the Alice Melnyk Public Library Board looks upon the next five years. This Plan of Service outlines the steps we will be taking in order to achieve our aspirations and goals so that our library can keep pace in an ever changing society and fill the niches of our community. Our library board chose to host a focus group and the information that came out of that evening has helped us to set our objectives, both short and long term, and develop reasonable plans to realize success. We look forward to a busy five years full of growth and change.
Sincerely;
Suzanne Musgrave
Alice Melnyk Public Library

THE ALICE MELNYK PUBLIC LIBRARY NEEDS ASSESSMENT

The Alice Melnyk Public Library needs assessment consisted of the following procedures:

1) The Board and the Library Manager met on June 27, 2007, and an Ad Hoc Committee was set up to review and update the Plan of Service.
2) Pat Ewanishan, Suzanne Musgrave, Gillian Dunn and Elizabeth Wells, library manager, met with a Leanne Drury of NLLS Headquarters and Heather Nickel from Northern Region-Libraries, Community and Voluntary Services Branch on November 15, 2007, to discuss with community focus groups needs of the community and how the library could address any of these needs. Also included in this meeting were two prospective board members Gerald Arychuk and Bob Ross who became members in December.
3) On December 6, 2007, Leanne Drury and Heather met with Gerald Arychuk, Elaine Sorochan, Pat Ewanishan, Suzanne Musgrave and Elizabeth Wells to help develop a Plan of Service from the results of the focus group session on November 15, 2007.
4) The Plan of Service was presented to the Board for final approval on January 9, 2007.
5) The Plan of Service for the Alice Melnyk Public Library of 2008 - 2013, was submitted to Alberta Community Development and to Northern Lights Library System before April 30, 2008.

COMMUNITY ANALYSIS SUMMARY

Our last needs assessment was done in November of 2007. A focus group meeting was called with various representatives from the community, several board members, and staff. It was facilitated by Leanne Drury and Heather Nickel.
The representatives were from the following community groups:
Two Hills Playschool
Two Hills Health Unit
Two Hills Adult Learning Education Council
Two Hills Agriculture Society
Minor Hockey
Two Hills United Church Minister
Two Hills Ladies Hospital Auxiliary
Two Hills Ukrainian Dancers
Two Hills Legion
Two Hills Victim Services
School Board Trustee for Two Hills
Parent Link
Two Hills School Parent Council
Two community people interested in becoming board members
Town of Two Hills Council
Several board members
Library Manager

SUMMARY OF FOCUS GROUP MEETING

Alice Melnyk Public Library– Community Visioning Focus Group – Raw Data -November 14, 2007

SWOT Analysis
Strengths - What do you like about your community?

• The way the seniors are a part of the community.
• Victim services unit.
• Peace and tranquility.
• Established clubs and organizations.
• Employment opportunities. Swimming pool. Welders.
• Utility process and cost of living quite affordable.
• Perogies / community suppers.
• Great facilities. Park, hockey rink, curling rink, Skate Park.
• Good neighbors and nice birds at the feeders.
• Many ethnic backgrounds.
• Love shopping at IGA.
• Long horns hockey club.
• Excellent golf course.
• Honesty and appreciation of Mennonite influx.
• Community newspaper.
• Personal safety is high.
• Brand new K-12 school.
• Very welcoming to newcomers.
• Great parent participation at schools.
• Lots of restaurants.
• Library.
• FCSS.
• Local bus service.
• Walk / run for the hills.
• Swimming pool.
• Triathlon for kids.
• Business development branch.
• Lots of active seniors.
• Hospital / sage / doctors.
• Sense of family. You know everyone.
• Adult learning (Debbie we love you).
• Specialized Mennonite school.
• Two C.A.P. sites. (Public access to internet).
• Low fees.
• United church and other bake sales.
• Senior services. Home care and long term care.

Weakness - What do you dislike about your community?

• Drinking water
• Limited recycling / environment.
• Not enough after school and evening activities for kids ages 10 – 19.
• Not much evening activities for any age group.
• Not enough interaction between community groups.
• Not enough open library time for public. Same for pool and parent groups.
• Difficult for newcomers to “break in” – especially singles and older singles (+30 yrs)
• Very little recreation for adult who don’t golf or curl.
• Computer age is slow to arrive with town services. I.e. taxes.
• Surprised at lack of partnerships. See many.
• Lack of cooperation between groups.
• Not enough industry to bring in $$$ to community.
• Not experiencing population growth in a positive way.
• No Starbucks. I.e. lattes, no sushi…
• No walking trails or good sidewalks.
• No “art” group / quilt group / etc.
• Lack of RCMP visibility.
• Small tax base (lots of volunteer time)
• Lack of support for public facilities from town / county.
• Prejudice.
• Gossip.
• Lack of places to advertise community events, in the right place.
• Need central scheduling events. Need to know what groups are doing.
• Not a pretty community.
• Low literacy levels / education

Opportunities - What opportunities are out there?
• Lots of service clubs. I.e. Lions Club.
• Community Choosewell Healthy community Initiative.
• Great recreation facilities (indoor and outdoor)
• Reasonable housing prices.
• Employment opportunities.
• Positive networking between community groups.
• Parent link satellite.
• Lots of doctors for size of town.
• Extracurricular for kids.
• Variety of churches.
• Health-care for all age groups.
• School for Mennonites and public school.
• Run/walk for the hills 5k/10k
• Ample opportunities for volunteers.
• Opportunities for new business services.
• Free computer use
• Good shopping.
• Basic shopping and services.
• Opportunity for town and county to cooperate more.
• Opportunity for exercise room / center for all ages exist; to be filled.

Threats - What could hurt or hinder our community?

• Drop in population
• Hospital closing and Doctors leaving.
• Deteriorating infrastructure (streets, sidewalks, sewers)
• Overworked volunteers. (stressed) Same 10 people.
• Lack of help for disabled, seniors, to shovel walks, etc.
• Lack of continuing funding (no long term $$$).
• Lack of financial support for organizations.
• Divisiveness of “Mennonite” vs. “the rest”
• Inability to harness the youth.
• Lack of cooperation.
• Surprised at good employment opportunities.
• Environmental issues.
• Difficult to get donations – limited business base.
• Street drugs and alcohol consumption.
• Mennonites leaving.
• Community apathy.
• Language barriers and segregation.
• Prejudice against other races.
• Youth not returning to community.
• Loss of job opportunities.
 

Community Statistics Review

Age and Gender
• Lots of families.
• Youth and teens leaving community.
• Kids graduate and leave community.
• High seniors and services. I.e. homecare, meals on wheels, etc. If kids are here after age 25, they turn into “lifers”.

Education
• 8% = professionals. Teachers, doctors, clergy, nurses.
• 20% + trades.
• Limited job opportunities for degrees.
• Education levels reflect employment opportunities.

County - Agriculture
• Ages 75 + move into town.

Education
• Increase in university degrees.
• Hutterite and Mennonite colonies – quit school at age 15.

Labor Force
• Largest group is agriculture and business / community service.

Income
• Large variations. See page 13 in stats.
• No real middle man.
• Less educated = less income.
 

What do we need to keep in mind when we build the vision of our community?
• Cater to seniors.
• Target specific groups. Target audience.
• Adult literacy rates are low.
• English as a second language (ESL) in school with adults.

Community Vision
Picture your community ten years from now. Imagine that the community and its people have been successful beyond belief….
Write six to eight sentences articulating elements of your community’s vision.
# of Votes Who Benefits and Result
4 Everyone We have a nice walking trail that is accessible to everyone. Lots of opportunities for recreation for all ages 0 – 99.
3 Everyone “11 Volunteers” vs. same 10 people. High literacy rates.
Higher education of adults which provide better jobs.
Library in brand new building. No fees, no fines, free to everyone.
1 Everyone Mural on all buildings telling the history of the area.
Better access at Lac Sante and fish in lake.
Positive image in downtown. Diverse business atmosphere.
1 Seniors (independent) Will have transportation, support systems such as meals-on-wheels, home care, health care, active seniors centre.
Seniors (dependent) Support service.
6 Young adults Opportunities for employment that is diversified. I.e. jobs for all levels of education.
Services and recreation locally / housing to make them want to live here.
Encourage young people to want to come back. – job opportunities.
2 Working age population Major industries will bring cash infusion to local economy.
Stable population and stable economy (vs. transient and fluctuating)
Tax base that support services including seniors.
Everyone Specialized mobile clinics.
Children Feel a sense of security when they walk down the street.
1 Children Affordable extracurricular for all.
All people Swimming pool that is volunteer run / community recreation facilities locally government funded.
All citizens Understand and respect each other’s cultures and beliefs.
3 Seniors Will have supports needed to keep them in their own homes.
5 Everyone Family literacy programs. Better educated. Value in education. Enhance education – free transport, childcare.
10 All citizens Updated / new buildings. Improved buildings. Pretty town. Downtown facelift.
All citizens Library facelift and open more mornings.

Library Service Responses - How does our local library fit into the community vision?

Basic Literacy
• Partnership between adult learning and library for basic literacy.

Business and Career Information
• Enhanced education for young adults to employ youth.
• Hire a student office.
• Internet = career and business information.
• Business resources.
• Partnership with community futures.
• Post secondary calendars.
• Distance learning opportunities. I.e. exam supervision.

Commons
• Library a place to be (coffee house).
• Trail leads to library.
• Library leads by example. Positive image.
• New building.
• Existing building. As welcoming as possible.

Community Referral
• Bulletin board.
• Central database for community events.
• Online website with links.
• FCSS to partner.

Consumer Information
• Government services information for seniors available.

Cultural Awareness
• Mennonite community
• Diversity.

Current Topics and Titles
• Promote new books, etc.
• Promotion.
• Announcement in paper.
• Public able to get any book into the local library.
o Brochure
o Newspaper article.
• Access German language books.
• ESL (English as a second language) books for ESL learning.
• Piggy back. Use school newsletter to share information.

Formal Learning Support
• Tutoring
• Internet access.

General Information

Government Information
• Grant information.
• Seniors support.

Information Literacy
• Partner with schools.

Lifelong Learning
• Partner with adult learning.

Local History and Genealogy
• Genealogy courses.
• Websites.

 
***Diverse opportunities first. Then quality of life.
 

ALICE MELNYK PUBLIC LIBRARY
PLAN OF SERVICE 2008-2013

GOAL 1
To increase awareness of the Library’s services and programs.

1.1 OBJECTIVE
Make a brochure.

1.1 ACTION PLAN
a) List library services.
b) Type & format in Microsoft publisher.
c) Distribute to community.
d) Publish in newspaper.
e) Budget costs to print & mail.

1.1 RESOURCES
Paper from the library, NLLS to print off brochure

1.1 TIMELINE
Completed by May 31, 2008

1.1 MEASUREMENT
Public responses to contest in brochure.

1.1 RESPONSIBLE
Pat & Suzanne

1.1 SERVICE RESPONSE
Being an informed citizen

1.2 OBJECTIVE
Have a bimonthly library column in Two Hills & County Chronicle.

1.2 ACTION PLAN
a) Keep a running list of items for newspaper.
b) Compile information, write article and submit to paper 1 week prior to month end.

1.2 RESOURCES
Library, Two Hills & County Chronicle

1.2 TIMELINE
Bi-monthly articles to start March 2008

1.2 MEASUREMENT
Published 6 times per year

1.2 RESPONSIBLE
Library manager with assistance from board members

1.2 SERVICE REPONSE
Know your community

1.3 OBJECTIVE
Invite councilors to the library for an information session.

1.3 ACTION PLAN
a) Pick a date & time
b) Contact town & county Councilors
c) Provide beverages & snacks
d) Compile a list of what we want to present

1.3 RESOURCES
Library (location), budget

1.3 TIMELINE
By December 2008

1.3 MEASUREMENT
Sustainable or increased public funding

1.3 RESPONSIBLE
Library manager & Board

1.3 SERVICE RESPONSE
Be an informed citizen

ALICE MELNYK PUBLIC LIBRARY
PLAN OF SERVICE 2008 - 2013

GOAL 2
To seek community partnerships.

2.1 OBJECTIVE
To create a community events board on library website.

2.1 ACTION PLAN
1. Make links with community service groups
2. Work with NLLS to enhance library website
3. Provide FCSS with ability to upload community events to website

2.1 RESOURCES
NLLS Manager Information Technology, FCSS, Library web page

2.1 TIMELINE
Beginning September of 2008, ongoing thereafter

2.1 MEASUREMENT
Current community events are posted on website.
Check number of visitors to site.

2.1 RESPONSIBLE
Library manager, FCSS director and NLLS

2.1 SERVICE RESPONSE
Know Your Community

2.2 OBJECTIVE
Find out if there are library services we could provide to the Mennonite community.

2.2 ACTION
1. Invite Mennonite elders to library meeting
2. Find out what we could provide for them

2.2 RESOURCES
Mennonite community, Library manager

2.2 TIMELINE
To be done by June 2009

2.2 MEASUREMENT
Get more Mennonites to use library services

2.2 RESPONSIBLE
Library Manager and Board

2.2 SERVICE RESPONSE
Know Your Community

2.3 OBJECTIVE
Provide community groups with meeting space

2. 3 ACTION
Advertise in brochure availability of space and cost

2.3 RESOURCES
Bylaws for rental info, brochure

2.3 TIMELINE
Ongoing

2.3 MEASUREMENT
Information printed in brochure

2.3 RESPONSIBLE
Pat Ewanishan and Suzanne Musgrave

2.3 SERVICE RESPONSE
Be an Informed Citizen

2.4 OBJECTIVE
Pair up with Parent Link to Use Program Kits available from NLLS

2.4 ACTION
1. Approach Parent Link group
2. Order kits from NLLS

2.4 RESOURCES
Library, NLLS, United Church

2.4 TIMELINE
October 2009

2.4 MEASUREMENT
Library service program kits used by Parent Link group

2.4 RESPONSIBLE
Library Manager, Parent Link coordinator, NLLS

2.4 SERVICE RESPONSE
Service Young Readers

2.5 OBJECTIVE
Display work of local artists and crafts people.

2.5 ACTION
1. Contact and make arrangements with local artists and entrepreneurs
2. Display arts and crafts on tops of book shelves

2.5 RESOURCES
Library, local entrepreneurs

2.5 TIMELINE
December 2009

2.5 OUTCOME
Ongoing exhibits in local library

2.5 RESPONSIBLE
Library Manager and Board

2.5 SERVICE RESPONSE
Express Creativity

 

ALICE MELNYK PUBLIC LIBRARY
PLAN OF SERVICE 2008 - 2013

GOAL 3
Enhance Technology Services

3.1 OBJECTIVE
Create a technology plan

3.1 ACTION
a) Create a committee to organize information and create the plan
b) Contact NLLS for plan samples for us to follow

3.1 RESOURCES
NLLS

3.1 TIMELINE
Finish August 31, 2008

3.1 MEASUREMENT
Plan is completed and followed

3.1 RESPONSIBLE
Ad hoc committee made up of board members

3.1 SERVICE RESPONSE
Connect to on line world

3.2 OBJECTIVE
To improve our technological resources

3.2 ACTION
a) To provide wireless technology to the community by acquiring hardware needed b) Contact NLLS to find out what hardware is needed and if there are any grants/funding
available.

3.2 RESOURCES
Budget & NLLS

3.2 TIMELINE
Based on costing analysis-goal is the end of 2011

3.2 MEASUREMENT
Keep track of the number of people using wireless devices in library

3.2 RESPONSIBLE
Library manager, board and NLLS

3.2 SERVICE RESPONSE
Connect to on line world

ALICE MELNYK PUBLIC LIBRARY
PLAN OF SERVICE 2008 - 2013

GOAL 4
To offer diverse programming.

4.1 OBJECTIVE
Provide programs to specific target audiences

4.1 ACTION
a) Advertise games night, card making, different programs etc. in paper and school
newsletters
b) Check on response to advertising
c) If positive response, organize the program

4.1 RESOURCES
Budget allotment, NLLS

4.1 TIMELINE
Starting fall 2010

4.1 MEASUREMENT
Successful events planned & attended

4.1 RESPONSIBLE
Board members & library manager

4.1 SERVICE RESPONSE
Celebrate diversity & Discover your roots

4.2 OBJECTIVE
To make books accessible to seniors who are unable to come down to the library

4.2 ACTION
a) Find out how bookmobiles work in other libraries
b) Talk to recreation manager at seniors home to see if there is a need for service
c) If there is a need, make arrangements to come once a week/month (as needed)
d) As incentive for seniors to use service, a free one year membership may be offered

4.2 RESOURCES
Contact NLLS about bookmobile service, staff, board members and volunteers

4.2 TIMELINE
Start in 2009

4.2 MEASUREMENT
Seniors using the service

4.2 RESPONSIBLE
Library manager, staff member or board member or volunteer

4.2 SERVICE RESPONSE
Satisfy curiosity
4.3 OBJECTIVE
Host a teen focus group to find out what teens want from the library

4.3 ACTION
a) Approach student council or peer support group
b) Give a brief presentation about the library
c) Ask for assistance and input-what do you want from the library?
d) Give out free library cards for teens who participate
e) Go through information collected and act accordingly

4.3 RESOURCES
Brochure, library cards, presenter

4.3 TIMELINE
The 2009/2010 school year

4.3 MEASUREMENT
More teens coming and using the library

4.3 RESPONSIBLE
Board member or library manager

4.3 SERVICE RESPONSE
Learn to read & write

ALICE MELNYK PUBLIC LIBRARY
PLAN OF SERVICE 2008 - 2013

GOAL 5
Library facelift

5.1 OBJECTIVE
To refresh and update the inside of the library, make it more appealing

5.1 ACTION
a) Get estimate of costs for new paint and flooring
b) Apply for grant or find other source of funding
c) Hire or find volunteers to carry out renovations

5.1 RESOURCES
Grant or fundraising, volunteers and board members

5.1 TIMELINE
Finish December 31, 2013

5.1 MEASUREMENT
Painting and flooring new & complete

5.1 RESPONSIBLE
Volunteers or paid labor, board members

5.1 SERVICE RESPONSE
Visit a comfortable place

5.2 OBJECTIVE
Make the library wheelchair accessible

5.2 ACTION
a) Contact the town to inform them that the library needs to be wheelchair accessible
b) Get quotes for the town
c) Town will find funds to achieve goal and find someone to do the work

5.2 RESOURCES
A grant from the town

5.2 TIMELINE
Finish summer 2008

5.2 MEASUREMENT
The library is wheelchair accessible

5.2 RESPONSIBLE
Board members to approach town and get quotes

5.2 SERVICE RESPONSE
Visit a comfortable place
5.3 OBJECTIVE
To rearrange the library layout to better facilitate different stations and maximize space

5.3 ACTION
a) Take inventory
b) Make a copy of a new layout on paper
c) Organize a work bee to move books, computers, etc.
d) Re-arrange any wires or other cords that need moving

5.3 RESOURCES
Volunteers, library manager

5.3 TIMELINE
Finish by December 31, 2012

5.3 MEASUREMENT
The library is organized and more efficient

5.3 RESPONSIBLE
Board members and volunteers

5.3 SERVICE RESPONSE
Visit a comfortable place

 
ALICE MELNYK PUBLIC LIBRARY
PLAN OF SERVICE 2008 - 2013

Staff Alice Melnyk Public Library Employees

Board Town of Two Hills Public Library Board

NLLS Northern Lights Library System

FCSS Family and Community Support Services