Title
Recommendation to Accept the Alameda Free Library Strategic Plan, 2020-2025. (Library 210)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Presentation of the Alameda Free Library Strategic Plan, 2020-2025 for acceptance by the City Council.
BACKGROUND
The City of Alameda (City) Main Library (Library) has now been open for 13 years, both neighborhood libraries received renovations and improvements within the last nine years. The Library’s former Strategic Plan, which included recommendations for those renovations and improvements, has been completed so now is the time to re-evaluate and set new goals for the future direction of the Library.
DISCUSSION
The City entered into an agreement with Ruth Metz Associates to complete a five-year strategic plan for library services; the work began in August 2019. Ruth Metz met with library management and representatives from the Library Board prior to beginning her work in order to gain insight, direction, and input to outline a larger community based advisory group. The outcome of that meeting formed the scope of work for the project. The completed Strategic Plan is attached.
An eleven-member, citizen-based Strategic Planning Committee (SPC) was appointed by the Library Board. The members represented a broad cross-section of the community library users and admitted non-library users. The consultant used a nationally recognized library strategic planning model to guide the planning process. The basic assumptions of this model are that: excellence must be defined locally to result in library services that match community needs, interests and priorities; excellence is possible for both small and large libraries, resting more on commitment than on unlimited resources; and excellence is a moving target.
The consultant conducted a visioning process with the SPC, with the goal of selecting roles for the library to fill out the strategic framework. The SPC clearly recommended three roles for the library based on an analysis of community demographics, library statistics, the members’ vision for Alameda, and other data. Those roles are: Community Anchor, Community Builder, and Community Connector, all which help create a Great Library. The roles selected by the SPC were taken to the library staff and the Library Board for comment and input. Library staff developed core institutional values to support the selected roles of the library. The resulting Strategic Plan, 2020-2025, is a flexible document that can be expanded or contracted with varying levels of available resources.
ALTERNATIVES
No Alternative recommendation.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
This action does not affect the Alameda Municipal Code.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This action does not require Environmental Review.
CLIMATE IMPACTS
This action does not have a climate impact.
RECOMMENDATION
Accept the Alameda Free Library Strategic Plan, 2020-2025.
CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATION
The City Manager recommends accepting the Alameda Free Library Strategic Plan.
Respectfully submitted,
Jane Chisaki, Library Director
Exhibit:
1. Strategic Plan 2020-2025
cc: Eric Levitt, City Manager