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Long Range Plan

 

Swisher Community Library

Books are just the beginning

 

 

Long Range Plan

 

We have come far in the twelve years since we first opened our doors and we have enjoyed successes: new meeting space, a growing patron base, successful year-round programming for all ages. We have also faced setbacks, but none larger than the Covid pandemic, which for the last few years has caused us to change the way we meet our patrons, how we delivery services, and even what services our community expects from us. At the same time, we have seen new demand for library services that will continue as the Swisher Community is set to grow over the next five years. As we come out an historic pandemic and we face new and rapid growth in our community, the question was how do we move forward?                                                                         

With the big question in front of us we set to create a road map for the next five years, the Library Board, led by a consultant from the State Library of Iowa, held a series of discussions, focusing on how to move forward to build on the success we have had over the last twelve years. What follows is a result of those discussions.

 

 

Our Mission

 

Books are Just the Beginning

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Books and the love of reading  will always be at the heart of what we do, but that is just the start of what we do and what we can do for the Swisher Community.  We have had a great beginning, our challenge is to continue to grow from a place to check out books into a library that is a focal point in our community.

 

 

 

 

 

Our Values

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  • The Library believes quality library and information resources should be readily available and equally accessible to all.

  • The Library believes reading is the gateway to knowledge and to life-long learning.

  • The Library celebrates creativity and the joy of reading.

  • The Library respects the right to privacy and encourages people to explore new ideas.

  • The Library strives to help build the Swisher Community, including the cities of Swisher, Shueyville, and the surrounding unincorporated areas, by providing a place for the free exchange of ideas and experiences.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Goals and Objectives

 

 

 Know  Your Community

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Our Community group expressed a strong desire to enhance the sense of place within our community, bringing together the cities of Swisher, Shueyville and the rural residents of NW Johnson County.  They set out the following goals and ways our library can help reach these goals in the next five years:

 

  • Residents will have a shared sense of identity in our community.

    • By spring of 2017, create 3 programs per year to be held at the Shueyville community center.

    • Staff and volunteers will create a local history program to be held in the fall of 2017, and include local history information on the website by December of 2107.

    • Mail a flyer to all residents for Summer Reading programs. In May of 2017, flyers will be mailed to all residents advertising the Summer Reading Programs.

  • Newcomers will be welcomed into the Community.

    • Work with the cities (Swisher and Shueyville) to develop a community information packet. Distribute packets beginning May of 2017.

    • In the winter of 2018, staff will investigate a “welcome book” program for new families and new babies, including funding sources. 

    • Develop a “Your library and You” hand-out piece.  Have ready for Swisher Fun Days, August, 2016.

  • Residents will have one central on-line place to go for accurate up-to date information

    •  By January, 2017, link the cities and the library websites in an intuitive way.

    • Add a volunteer clearing house tab to the library’s website in the spring of 2017. Work with other community groups to add volunteer opportunities

    • By December, 2016, the Board will create and pass a clear policy for linking other community websites to the library’s webpage.

 

 

Visit a Comfortable Place

 

Our Community group expressed the need for a central gathering space where everyone can gather both for meetings and programs, as well as in informal groups.  They set out the following goals and ways our library can help reach these goals in the next five years:

 

  • Community groups have an adequate facility for community activities and meetings

    • Adapt the library garage space as a multipurpose room. Complete by July 2019.

    • Coordinate programs with the Shueyville Community Center. First programs in spring of 2017 and on-going from there.

  • Seniors have a comfortable, safe place to gather

    • Expand hours to include 2 weekday mornings in July, 2018.

    • Offer a “Coffee and Cards” program to encourage informal gatherings, beginning fall of 2018.

  • Teens have a comfortable, safe place to gather

    • Add a bike rack and outdoor seating in the summer of 2016.

    • Complete teen room by March, 2016.

  • Young families have comfortable, safe place to gather

    • Add “A Thousand Books Before Kindergarten” programming. Target opening in August 2016 to coincide with back to school.

    • Staff will explore possibilities for young parent programming.  Three target programs will be presented in the winter of 2018.

 

 

 

 Express Creativity/Satisfy Curiosity

 

Participants saw a strong desire in the community to learn, to create and to share with others in the community. They set out the following goals and ways our library can help reach these goals in the next five years:

 

  • Provide opportunities for residents to express creativity, to share knowledge and skills.

    • Explore low cost programming opportunities provided by outside organizations.  Book four programs by July 2017. Expand to eight programs by January, 2020.

    • Beginning fall of 2106, ask community volunteers to lead programs in their areas of interest. Have eight programs in place by January, 2021

    • In the spring of 2016, staff will create 4 programs to coordinate with the Farmer’s Market.

  • Residents will have the resources to explore topics of personal interest and lifelong learning.

    • Increase materials budget by 30% by July, 2019.

    • In the fall of 2017, staff will explore adding other collection resources including digital collections and equipment.

    • In the fall of 2018, staff will explore adding maker spaces/maker collections, including funding options.

 

 

 

Our Thanks

 

We want to thank the following people who helped us draw up our plan for the next five years.  With good humor and grace, they led the way from planning for the plan to the final edit.  Each of you has our deepest gratitude and we hope to continue to work with you all over the next five years as we grow the Swisher Community.

 

Our Consultant/Facilitator

Becky Heil, SE District Consultant

Iowa Library Services

 

 

Our Community Partners

 

 

Marlene Burns                                                  Maureen Shannahan

Calvin Chadima                                                Rod Sullivan, County Supervisor

Jodie Chadima                                                   Alison Taylor

Nicole Eden                                                       Annette Taylor

Jimmie Ann Gause                                            Chris Taylor, Mayor, City of Swisher

Elysia Goebel                                                     Karen Vondracek

Ann Hoefer                                                         Lori Wiles

Rebecca Neuendorf                                          Colin Winborn

 

 

Our Library Board

 

                Mary Bryan                                                         Vanessa Taylor

                Karen Millard                                                     Lori Winborn

                Cindy Shelangoski

 

               

Our Library Staff

 

            Laura Hoover, Director

            Rachael Worley

            Amanda Vega

 

 

Approved 2/22/16          

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