Approved by the LibraryLinkNJ Executive Board at their meeting on October 19, 2017

Connection. Community. Opportunity.

LibraryLinkNJ — The New Jersey Library Cooperative — and its services are funded by the New Jersey State Library, which is responsible for the coordination, promotion and funding of the New Jersey Library Network.

44 Stelton Rd., Suite 330, Piscataway, NJ 08854 http://librarylinknj.org

STRATEGIC PLAN FY18 – FY20

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OurmissionWeconnectallNewJersey’slibrariestoeachotherandtheresourcestheyneedtoservetheircommunities.

WehavecreatedthefollowingsetofprinciplestoguideourthinkingandactioninimplementingtheLibraryLinkNJStrategicPlan:

● Wefocusonourmulti-typemembers,theircommunitiesandtheirperspectives.

● Wevaluediversityandinclusionandsupportourmembersinputtingthesevaluesintoaction.

● Wepracticeopen,transparentcommunicationwithourmembers.

● Weprovideguidancetoourmemberlibrariesastheyadapttoevolvingideasabouttheplacelibrariesofalltypesholdinthecultureatlarge.

●

● Wehelplibrariesrespondstrategicallytothechallengesandopportunitiestheyface.

● Weofferopportunitiesforcollaborationandconnectioninordertocounterbalancetheisolationthatsomelibrariesmayexperience.

● Wearepreparedtomeetthechallengesandopportunitiesofthefuturethroughadaptiveplanningandsecuringmultiplefundingstreams.

● Weassistourmembersinmakingthebestpossibledecisionsfortheircommunities,understandingthatsuccessforeachlibraryisuniquelydefined.

● Weinvestindevelopingtheleadershipskillsofourmembers,ourBoard,andourstafftostrengthenourorganizationatalllevels.

● Wereturnourbudgettoourmembersviaourservicesandnewinitiatives.

PRINCIPLES TO GUIDE THE STRATEGIC PLAN

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Goal1:EconomicSavingsThroughResourceSharing

LibraryLinkNJmembersenjoyenhancedopportunitiestoservetheircommunitiesthroughsharedservicesandeconomiesofscale.

StrategiesA. Provideastatewidedeliveryservicethatis

sustainable,cost-effective,efficient,andequitable.

(Measure:Financialmeasuresforsustainabilityandefficiency,figuresaboutwhoisservedandhow.)

ActionItems

1. Deliveryservicecontract:Re-bidandconducttheprocessforanewdeliveryservicecontract,perourpurchasingguidelines(FY18)

2. Manageandreviewthecurrentdeliveryservicevendorforcontractcompliance.(FY18&beyond)

3. EngageDeliveryServiceTaskForceinadvising,supportingandevaluatingstatewidedeliveryservice.(FY18)

4. Throughonlinetraining,promotekeyelementsofthedeliveryservicespolicytostaffinparticipatinglibraries.(FY18)

B. Provideopportunitiesfordiscountsandgrouppurchasesofdatabasesandotherlibraryresources.

(Measure:Numberofopportunitiesfordiscounts.)

ActionItems

1. EngageDiscountAdvisoryGroupinadvising,supportingandevaluatingdiscountprogram.(FY18&beyond)

2. Explorethelibrarymarketplaceforstreaminganddownloadablemediaproducts,eBooks,andotherresourcessuitablefordiscount.(FY18&beyond)

Goal2:Collaboration,PartnershipsandCommunication

GOALS, STRATEGIES & ACTION ITEMS

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LibraryLinkNJmemberscollaborateproductivelywitheachotherandwiththeircommunitiestocreatevalueforthepeopleofNewJersey.

StrategiesA. Supportlibrariesofalltypesindeveloping

partnershipsthatbuildthriving/successfulcommunities.

(Measure:Numberandqualityofpartnerships,reportsfrommembersaboutimpacts,challenges,andbenefits.)

ActionItems

1. Buildcommunitiesofpracticeamongmembersacrosslibrarytypes(MentorNJ,ProjectManagement,FacilitationSkills,Makerspaces,DiversityandInclusion).(FY19&beyond)

2. Organizeanannualmeetingtofacilitatecollaborativeprogrammingpartnershipsamongstatewidelibraryorganizations.(FY18&beyond)

B. Increaseopportunitiesforlibrariestodemonstratevalueinandtotheircommunities.

(Measure:WhoisparticipatingininitiativessuchasOutsidetheLinesandLibraryLinkNJinitiativespertainingtothistopic?Howmanymemberlibrariestakeadvantageof

ourSocialMediaConsultationservice?Selectivelymeasureoutcomesbyfollowingupwithparticipants.)

ActionItems

1. PromotecommunityengagementandoutreachthroughmemberlibraryparticipationinOutsidetheLinesweekeachSeptember.(FY18&beyond)

2. ProvideaprogramaroundthethemeofConnectingCommunityandLibrary,ensuringthatwearemeetingourcommunitieswheretheyare,includingtheirvoicesindecision-making,andhonoringtheirinput.(FY19or20)

3. Offercustomizedconsultationstomemberlibrariesonsocialmediastrategyandcommunications.(FY18&beyond)

C. Growandsustainpartnershipsacrossalltypesoflibraries,relatedagencies,andstrategicaffiliationstoachievecommongoals.

(Measure:Numbersofpartnershipsandtheoutcomestheyproduce.)

ActionItems

1. ParticipateactivelyinstatewideandnationallibraryawarenessandadvocacyprogramssuchasNJLA’sUnlockStudentPotentialandALA’sLibrariesTransform.(FY18&beyond)

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2. PartnerwiththeNewJerseyStateLibrary(NJSL)toestablishtheDigitalPublicLibraryofAmerica(DPLA)ServiceHubasaservicetothelibrary,archivesandmuseumcommunityinNewJersey.(FY18&beyond)

3. MaintaintheDiversityResourceWebPageincollaborationwiththeNJLADiversity&OutreachSection.(FY18&beyond)

4. ContinuetheconversationwiththeNewJerseyStateLibraryaboutastatewidelibrarycard.StartapilotprojectincollaborationwiththeNewJerseyStateLibrary.(FY19)

Goal3:Knowledge,SkillsandProfessionalGrowth

StaffinLibraryLinkNJmemberlibrarieshavetheskillstheyneedtorun,developandadvocateforvibrantorganizationsandthecommunitiestheyserve.

StrategiesA. Producehighquality,low-costonlineand

in-personcontinuingeducationformemberlibrariesofalltypesandsizes.

(Measure:Immediateimpactwithprogramevaluations.Surveytomeasurelong-termoutcomesofourprograms.)

Actionitems:

1. PresentourintroductoryseriesofSuperLibrarySupervisorworkshopsuptotwiceayear,asneededtomeetstatewidetrainingneedsandmemberdemand.(FY18)

2. OfferaFacilitationSkillsworkshopseriestopositionlibrariestobekeypartnersincommunityconversations.(FY18)

3. OfferaProjectManagementtrainingseriesformembers.(FY18)

4. OrganizeaReaders’AdvisoryandCulturalAdvisoryUnconference.(FY19&20)

5. SupportMentorNJservicesandprogramsthatpromoteprofessionalnetworkingandcollaborationamonglibrarystaffinthestate.(FY18&beyond)

6. Offerprogramsandotheropportunitiestosharetechnologyawarenessandtrends,andtobuildmemberawarenessofemergingconsumertechnologytrends.(FY19&20)

7. Provideregularupdatestomembershiponnewtoolsanddevelopingissuesinlibrarianshipasawhole,viasocialmediachannelsandemailnewsletters.(FY18andbeyond)

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B. Fosterandsustainpartnershipstoachievecommonprofessionaldevelopmentgoals,withtheNewJerseyStateLibraryandotherassociations.

(Measure:Numberofprogramsdelivered,amountoffundsprovidedtopartnerorganizationsfortheircontinuingeducationprograms.)

ActionItems

1. PartnerwiththeNewJerseyStateLibraryonaPublicLibraryDirectors’Summit.(FY18)

2. CommunicateregularlywithCE-focusedcommitteesandstaffofotherstatewidelibraryorganizations.(FY18&beyond)

3. Providesubsidiesforcontinuingeducationeventsforselectstatewidelibraryandlibrary-adjacentorganizations.(FY18&beyond)

C. Developtheskillsofmemberstobecometheirownbestadvocatesbydemonstratingthevalueoflibrariestotheircommunities.

(Measure:Selectivelymeasureoutcomesbyfollowingupwithparticipants.)

ActionItems

1. Incollaborationwithotherlibraryagencies,identifyandpromoteexistingmethodsandtoolsthatdemonstrate

libraries’monetary,cultural,andsocialvaluetotheircommunities.(FY18&beyond)

Goal4:LibraryInnovationandReinvention

StaffinLibraryLinkNJmemberlibrariesareleadersinlibraryinnovationandreinvention,meetingthepresentandfutureneedsofourcommunities.

StrategiesA. Provideeducationandsubsidiesthat

supportservicedevelopmentandinnovationformemberlibraries.

(Measure:Programandprojectparticipation,andoutcomesreportedbyparticipants.)

ActionItems

1. CreateaLibrarySuccessSharingworkshopdevotedtothemutualsupport,honestconversation,andcreativityofourmembers.(FY18)

2. OffersubsidiestomemberlibrariestodefraythecostofhiringalibraryconsultantfortargetedserviceimprovementsthroughaRent-a-Consultantinitiative.(FY18&beyond)

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3. Provideprogrammingon21stcenturycustomerservicetobestmeettheneedsofthemanygenerationsandpeoplefromwidelyvaryingculturalbackgroundswhoweserveatalltypesoflibraries.

4. Developapilot/incubatorprojectdemonstratingafullyavailablestaffinthelibraryprovidingservicewithmobiledeviceswithouttheneedforacentralservicepoint.

B. Provideaforumforconversationsonlibrarytrends,promisingpracticesandinnovativeservicemodels,aswellasshareideasandsuccesses.

(Measure:Numberofprogramparticipantsandideasshared.)

ActionItems

1. CollaboratewiththeNewJerseyStateLibraryontheFuturesConferenceforLibraries.(FY18)

2. ScheduleTechFestworkshopsaroundthestate.(FY19)

3. DevelopanIncubatorProjectTaskForcetoofferfeedbackandsuggestionsforprojectstofundonalargescale.(FY18)

C. Identifyandpromoteawarenessofexistingbrandingandmarketingtoolsandeventstomemberlibraries.

(Measure:Surveymemberlibraryparticipationinmarketingcampaigns,selectivelyfollowupwithparticipantsintrainingevents.)

ActionItems

1. Supportmemberlibraryparticipationin:

▪ LibrariesTransformcampaignfromALA(FY18&beyond)

▪ UnlockStudentPotentialcampaignfromNJLA(FY18&beyond)

▪ OutsidetheLinesannualeventfromColorado’sAnythinkLibraries(FY18&

beyond)

2. CreateaprojecttooffertrainingandsupportacommunityofpracticeacrosslibrarytypesinNewJerseyfocusedonreinventingstaffandpatronexperiences.[Weenvisionareframingoftherelationshipandexpectationsbetweenlibrarystaffandcommunitymembers,PLUSafully-developedmarketingstrategyaroundthethemeof“Yes,YouCan!”]

D. Supportmemberlibrariesinidentifyingandtransformingpoliciesandpracticesthatarebarrierstoaccessandservice.

(Measure:Trackusersatisfaction,participation,libraryusageasreportedbyparticipatinglibraries.)

ActionItems

1. Developastatewideinitiativetoencouragemulti-typelibrariestoeliminateorradicallyreducefines.(FY19&beyond)

2. Provideaforumforconversationsonpoliciesandaccess.(FY19&beyond)

3. Developapilotdemonstrationprojecttoremovebarrierstoaccessandservicebasedonpolicyrestrictions.(FY19&beyond)

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Goal5:OrganizationalDevelopmentforLibraryLinkNJ

Asaresilient,future-readyandsustainablyfundedorganization,LibraryLinkNJeffectivelyservesanddelivershighvaluetoitsmembers.

StrategiesA. Developfutureleadersamongmember

librarystaff,theExecutiveBoardandLibraryLinkNJstaff.

(Measure:Regularassessmentofleadershipneedsandcurrentcapacity,andthedevelopmentofstaffandBoardmemberswithinLibraryLinkNJ.)

ActionItems

1. CreateandmaintainaskillsinventoryofBoardmemberstomeetcapacityneedsofLibraryLinkNJ.(FY18)

2. AnnuallyrecruitnewBoardmembersforcontinuedeffectiveness,neededskills,anddiversity.(FY18&beyond)

3. ProvideastaffdevelopmenteventannuallyforCooperativestaff.(FY18&beyond)

4. ProvidefundingforleadershiptrainingamongstaffintheNJlibrarycommunity.(FY18&beyond)

B. ExploreandputinplacediversifiedstreamsoffundingtoensurefinancialsustainabilityofLibraryLinkNJ.

(Measure:DevelopmentandimplementationofFundsDevelopmentPlan.)

ActionItems

1. CreateaFundsDevelopmentTaskForce,drawingontheExecutiveBoardandmembership.(FY18)

2. Developafundingplanwithgoalsfortheshort,medium,andlongterm.(FY18)

3. Collaboratewithotherpartnerorganizationsonasymposiumtoexplorepromisingpracticesinnext-generationlibraryfunding.(FY19or20)

C. Developaplanfortransitioningleadershipatthestafflevelthroughsuccessionplanning.

(Measure:Developmentandimplementationofasuccessionplan.)

ActionItems

1. Aspartofaninternalstaffdevelopmentexperience,staffwilldescribeLibraryLinkNJ’sorganizationalcultureandcreateaninventoryofprocessesneedingwrittenprocedures.(FY18)

2. Documentproceduresandannualtasktimelinesforreplacementstaff,andcross-traincurrentstaff.(FY18)

3. Developaprogramforotherorganizationsaroundsuccessionplanning,capturing,preserving,andbuildingoninstitutionalknowledge.(FY19or20)

D. FacilitateactivecommunicationbetweenLibraryLinkNJandmemberstoimproveservicesandinitiatives.ContinuetofostertransparentcommunicationandtrustbetweentheCooperativeandmemberlibraries.

(Measure:Opportunitiesformemberfeedbackforeveryprojectandprogramweundertake.)

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ActionItems

1. Solicitfeedbackandinputfromstaffatmemberlibrariesbeforeembarkingonnewinitiatives.(FY18&beyond)

2. Invitestaffatmemberlibrariestoshare

howLibraryLinkNJservicesandinitiativeshavehelpedthemsucceed,andtelluswhatbarrierstoaccessingourservicesweshouldconsiderdismantling.(FY18&beyond)

3. Providecontinuousimprovementtotheuserexperience,responsivedesign,andvisualaccessibilityoftheLibraryLinkNJwebsite.(FY18&beyond)

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We’dliketothanktheStrategicPlanSteeringCommitteeforgenerouslysupportingtheirtimetothecreationoftheLibraryLinkNJFY18–20strategicplan.

LLNJBoardPlanningCommittee• JaniceCooper,MediaSpecialist,Northern

ValleyRegionalHighSchoolatOldTappan

• HeatherCraven,LRCDirector,CountyCollegeofMorris

• RanjnaDas,Director,BurlingtonCountyLibrarySystem

• MichelleMcGreivey,MediaSpecialist,HobokenHighSchool

• KimberlyPaone,LLNJBoardPresident(exofficio)&Director,MatawanAberdeenPublicLibrary

• IreneSterling,TrusteePatersonLibrary&LLNJBoardLayRepresentative

LLNJMemberRepresentatives• MaryChute,StateLibrarian,NewJersey

StateLibrary

• TonyaGarcia,Director,LongBranchFreePublicLibrary

• DeborahMagnan,FormerPresident,HSLANJ,Samuel&SandraHekemianMedicalLibrary

• LucaManna,ExecutiveDirector,PalsPlus

• MichaelMaziekien,2017-18NJLAPresident,Director,KenilworthPublicLibrary

• Dr.EdwardOwusu-Ansah,Dean,DavidandLorraineChengLibraryWilliamPatersonUniversity

LLNJStaffKathySchalk-Greene,Director(exofficio),LibraryLinkNJ

JoanneRoukens,AssistantDirector(exofficio),LibraryLinkNJ

SophieBrookover,ProgramCoordinator&SocialMediaManager(exofficio),LibraryLinkNJ

AbbyStraus,President,Maverick&Boutique,Consultant

Over300memberlibrarystaffandNewJerseyandnationallibraryandnonprofitleadersparticipatedinthecreationofthisStrategicPlanthrough:

• Stakeholderworkshops• Onlinesurveys• Focusgroups

LLNJ STRATEGIC PLAN STEERING COMMITTEE