Strategic Plan, 2012-2015

Scarborough Public Library
Strategic Plan 2012-2015
Strategic Priorities

  1. Improve access to services and collections
    1. Examine policies and procedures related to services
    2. Examine policies and procedures related to use of services
    3. Examine policies and procedures related to use of facilities
    4. Review selection, purchasing and processing procedures for fastest delivery to the user
    5. Support excellence in customer relations
    6. Increase means for patrons’ access to collections and services
    7. Identify barriers to patrons’ access to collections and services
    8. Make a plan to reduce barriers
    9. Implement plan to reduce barriers
  2. Provide materials in formats that respond to the wishes of the community
    1. Examine policies and procedures related to acquisition of collections
    2. Determine current formats through measurement of existing collections and identifying what’s missing
    3. Acquire materials commensurate with demand 
  3. Evaluate facilities and technologies to support services
    1. Review existing facilities evaluations
    2. Identify current deficiencies
    3. Develop scope and schedule for correction of deficiencies
    4. Maintain and upgrade technologies to support the best user experience and to improve staff efficiency
    5. Provide safe, healthy and esthetically pleasing environment
  4. Provide exceptional programming that meets the interests and needs of the community
    1. Identify barriers and strategies for overcoming these barriers
    2. Identify and engage partners for success
    3. Identify trends and opportunities for future services
  5. Promote Awareness and Use of the Library
    1. Create comprehensive marketing plan
    2. Review role of staff in ongoing promotion
    3. Articulate Library’s role in the community
  6. Maximize Resources
    1. Identify resources and gaps
    2. Increase fundraising and development activities: Planned Giving Campaign 
    3. Develop partnerships especially those that are mutually beneficial to all participants 
    4. Conduct a “return on investment” analysis 
  7. Review internal organizational structure
    1. Align job descriptions and duties with organization’s goals 
    2. Review best practices for services and design staff training program 
    3. Create succession plan for key staff
    4. Review strategic intent statements: mission, vision, values, goals 




The Strategic Planners, an ad hoc committee of the Library Board of Trustees and the Library Director, began to meet weekly in November, 2011 to develop a plan for library operation for the future. The plan was expected to cover a period extending three years but the committee chose not to fix the duration to encourage discussion of a longer view of five to ten years as well. The process was to include a review of the community, consideration of current and emerging library trends, recognition of the library’ strengths and weaknesses, identification of our “stakeholder”, and feedback opportunities through focus groups, surveys and conversations with users and non-­‐users.

In the first months of meetings, the committee read materials on library and technology trends. It reviewed statistical summaries from the Census and reports of library use. The Library staff was surveyed for opinions on current and future services and how they see their role in the organization’s mission.

The committee members identified stakeholders in the Library’s success and met with groups from the community to learn what current services and features are most valued. Focus group participants were also asked to suggest improvements and changes that might strengthen the library’s role in the community. Participants were selected based on their affiliation with a stakeholder group and were not necessarily active library users. Facilitation was provided by Karen Martin, Communications Director for SEDCO.

A series of surveys gathered information from library users. These electronic surveys were distributed through the Library’s website and to email addresses of library card holders. Parents of story time attendees were surveyed during their visit about their experience with youth services. Additional surveys similar to the online survey were offered to other visitors during the same period. The Youth Services Librarian also interviewed middle school students to collect their perspective on library services.

The Board of Trustees reviewed the existing Vision and Mission statements. A new Vision Statement and the Library’s first Values Statement were added to the existing Mission Statement. They were aided in this discussion by Dana Morris-­‐Jones and John Shorb of the Delphi Group. The Board also conducted a SWOT (strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) exercise.

Again, using the results of all of the data gathered, a list of themes was created. These became the basis for the seven Strategic Priorities. The Priorities were divided among the Board Committees and the Library Staff. These groups developed their assigned areas into a Work Plan with Goals reflecting the Priorities. The Plan includes objectives, or active statements, and assigns responsibility for completion, a time frame, resources needed, and measurement criteria. The time frame for the Work Plan is 2012-­‐2015.


The Scarborough Public Library Board of Trustees wishes to thank the Committee members who demonstrated their intelligence, creativity, loyalty, and persistence.
The Strategic Planning Committee: Nancy Kelleher, Co-Chair, Anne Janak, Co‐Chair, Susan Trent, Patsy Wiggins, Kevin Carbin, Emily Read, Nancy Crowell, Library Director

The Committee is grateful to:

Library Director, Nancy Crowell, for her guidance throughout the process. She scheduled the meetings, provided the committee with outside resources
and examples, skillfully took notes at the Focus Group meetings, and provided motivation to the group.

Focus Group Moderator: Karen Martin, Communications Manager for SEDCO

Consultants: Dana Morris-Jones and John Shorb, The Delphi Group Library 

Department Heads: Susan Winch, Joshua Tiffany, Catherine Morrison, Louise Capizzo, and Nancy Crowell, Director.

Library Staff: Gail Dobriko, Karen Spak, Denise Menard, Leo Salvato, Jr, Joshua Meyer, Joshua Tiffany, Emma Gibbon, Lauren Isele, Brenda Birkner, Christie Stuntz, Celeste Shinay, Marilyn Taylor, Linda Herrick, Susan Karam, Mary Porada, Jeffrey Ertman.

Focus Groups:

Town Council, February 15, 2012: Jim Benedict, Jessica Holbrook, Judy Roy, Carol Rancourt, Tom Hall, Town Manager.

Business, March 2, 2012: Stu Axelrod, Casella Waste; Jim Elkins, Career Planning Services; Guy Gledhill, Real Estate Broker, RE/MAX; Norm Forgey, Maine Day Trips; Jim Damicis, Camoine Associates; Karen Martin, SEDCO.

Education, March 8, 2012: Barbara Merritt, Christine Koch, Peggy Wallace, Martha Whitton, Karen Rand, Joyce Wheeler, Monique Culbertson, Patrick Reagan, John Thurlow.

Senior Services, March 16, 2012: Mary Celia O’Neil, Hospice of Southern Maine; Ken Libby, Maudie Libby, Senior citizens; Debbie DiDominicus, Southern Maine Agency on Aging; Debbie Jones, Scarborough

Community Services; Ginny Ketch, Piper Shores; Joe Giacomantonio, Scarborough Police Department.

Friends of the Library, March 23, 2012: Beth Bellemere, Pat Buttner, Jim Czimbal, Bert Follansbee, Maurissa Guibord, Lee Jones, Jack Kelley, Casey McKeown, Deb Pierce, Sybil Riemenschneider, Marjorie Rosenbaum, Bob Lynn

General Public, March 30, 2012: Bruce Gullifer, Scarborough Community Services; Rich Spies, Tilson Technology; Stan Gawron, Gawron Turgeon Architects; Dick Cervizzi, former library attorney; Tim Byrne, Tim Byrne Photography; Bud Hanson, Community Volunteer.

And our thanks to the hundreds of people who completed our surveys.