Strategic Plan FY 2017 – FY2022

Dickinson Memorial Library FY2017-2022

Mission Statement

Community Description

Library History

Library Description

Planning Methodology

Assessment of Needs

Goals & Objectives FY2017-2022 Action Plan FY 2016

Acknowledgements

Mission Statement The Dickinson Memorial Library is essential to the vitality of the community, responding in a timely manner to the

townspeople’s informational, educational, cultural and

recreational needs. The Library provides carefully

selected print and non-print materials, offers programs

for children and adults, and assures that each patron is

served with enthusiasm and respect. It is the Library’s

mission to do this using the most up-to-date resources

and technology available without compromising the

historic integrity of our handsome 1897 granite building.

Community Description

The only town in Massachusetts situated on both sides of the Connecticut River, Northfield is a

rural community with an ideal location. It is a 20 minute drive to Greenfield, the heart of

Franklin County, and a 30 minute commute to employment in the academically and culturally

rich towns of Amherst, Northampton, Keene (New Hampshire) and Brattleboro (Vermont).

Boston is less than two hours away.

Attracted to the rich farmland along the banks of the Connecticut River, Northfield was settled

and abandoned twice due to attacks by Native Americans. It was permanently settled in 1714.

In 1879 Dwight L. Moody founded the Northfield Seminary for Young Ladies, and two years

later the Mount Hermon School for Boys in neighboring Gill. The schools merged in 1971 to

become the Northfield-Mt. Hermon School (NMH) attracting students from all over the world.

In September 2005 NMH consolidated the two campuses moving the school, students and

teacher housing to Gill. Eleven years later the Northfield campus, under the auspices of the

National Christian Foundation, remains empty.

During the late 1960s Northeast Utilities began a 3-part expansion plan that included creating

the largest pumped-storage hydroelectric plant in the country (at that time) at Northfield

Mountain. When the project was completed in the early 1970s the base of the mountain was

developed as the Northfield Recreation and Environmental Center, a year-round facility

providing hiking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing as well as many educational programs.

With the Connecticut River as a dominant feature, the town is one of open farmland, forested

hills, numerous streams, wetlands and wildlife. Northfield covers an area of 35 square miles

with 2,108 acres designated for agricultural use. The current population is just over 3,000.

Seniors (65 and older) make up 20% of the population, up 5% from 2002. The number of school

age children is down 16% from 2002, to 426. The majority attend the Northfield Elementary

School and the regional middle and high schools while quite a few students attend area private

schools or are homeschooled. Northfield is primarily a residential community with just few

retail establishments and 5 churches. The annual town budget is close to $8,000,000 and the

median household income hovers around $49,000.

Remaining true to its historic roots, Northfield’s stately Main Street, including the Dickinson

Memorial Library, was added to the National Register of Historic Places as a Historic District in

1982. A typical New England town, Northfield’s officials are mainly elected or appointed

volunteers. The town is governed by a three person Board of Selectman, a Town Administrator

and a variety of volunteer boards and committees. A sometimes passionate affair, the Annual

Town Meeting is held every year on the first Monday in May.

Northfield is on the verge of change. With no idea what the future may hold for the empty, 187

acre, Northfield-Mt. Hermon campus the town residents don’t know if it will bring in increased

revenue in the form of taxes, revitalize retail sales and improve opportunities for local

employment, or if the status quo will remain for another decade. In 2014 Kinder Morgan

proposed to build a high-pressure gas pipeline and compressor station that would run through

the town. Many, but certainly not all, residents are actively fighting against the pipeline.

Concerns about the pipeline dominate most conversations – public, private and political. The

empty school complex and the unknowns of the pipeline are challenging this traditional small

town community to appropriately integrate the old values with the inevitable changes of life in

the 21st century.

Statistics compiled from the 2012 Northfield Town Census and the 2010 U.S. Census.

Library History

In 1813, Northfield was a prosperous village of shops and farms and multiple small

manufacturers. As the nation and the town turned its attention to the War of 1812, a small

group of residents met in Houghton's Tavern and formed the Social Library corporation. Led by

Thomas Power, a young lawyer from Boston, the Northfield Social Library was the first in the

county to be formed under a 1798 act of the General Court which granted the "proprietors" of

such a library the right "to manage the same."

The original proprietors of the Northfield Social Library included members of some of the

town's oldest and most prominent families. Meeting for the first time on February 4, 1813, the

proprietors each paid $4--then roughly a month's salary for a day laborer-for the privilege of

membership in the Social Library. That money, plus fines for lost or overdue books, went to the

purchase of books. By the end of 1813, the library listed seventy works of non-fiction, all

housed at Houghton's Tavern located, conveniently, in the center of town. By 1825, the number

of titles held by the Social Library had risen to 500, many of them of a religious nature, perhaps

a reflection of the tastes of the chair of the purchasing committee, the Reverend Thomas

Mason.

Fifty years later, by which time the Social Library had relocated to the former Parson boot

factory on the southern end of Main Street, the shareholders voted to relinquish their control

of the now almost thousand volume collection. In 1878, the proprietors of the Northfield Social

Library leased to the town for a period of 900 years the contents of the library, "on condition

that the town spend at least $100 a year for new books." The town agreed to these terms and

the Northfield Public Library was soon opened in Town Hall until such time that a generous

benefactor would come forward and provide a suitable building. Twenty years later, such a

benefactor made possible the construction of the building now known as the Dickinson

Memorial Library. His name was Elijah Marsh Dickinson.

Written by Kathleen Banks Nutter

The Legacy of Elijah Dickinson

At the age of 80, successful Fitchburg shoe manufacturer Elijah Marsh Dickinson (1816-1902)

erected the Dickinson Memorial Library at a cost of $20,000 to honor his Northfield ancestors.

Elijah was born in a large brick farmhouse in West Northfield. At 22, like many of his

contemporaries, he left the farm to work in industrialized Marlborough, Massachusetts. Within

four years, in 1842, he founded his own shoemaking business and the next year married and

started a family. In 1854 he moved the enterprise to Fitchburg, where his E.M. Dickinson Shoe

Co. became a leading business. 150 workers made 1200 pairs of shoes daily for sale in Boston

and the west. Dickinson held various city offices and in 1890 built the Dickinson Block on Main

Street, then one of Fitchburg's finest commercial blocks. Also in 1890 he gave West Northfield

the combined Dickinson Hall and school near his boyhood home, which he owned and visited

regularly.

On October 1, 1894 Elijah Dickinson paid library trustee Charles Henry Green $875 for land

Green had bought the month before; it was an ideal library site, just yards south of the home

built by Elijah's great-grandfather Nathaniel in 1728, but no longer standing in our day. After

the town accepted the building and voted $2000 for furnishings, construction began in 1897

with granite quarried in Northfield's hills.

The architect was Henry Martyn Francis (1836-1908), who designed many of Fitchburg's major

downtown buildings during the booming late 1800s. While his 15 libraries in Massachusetts,

New Hampshire, and Vermont were all variations of his 1884 Fitchburg library plan, each

combined the design elements in a unique way; Dickinson Library, in light-colored native

granite and deeply carved limestone instead of the more usual brick and brownstone, is one of

the most enduringly handsome. Like many Victorian architects, Francis was influenced by the

Romanesque style of Boston giant Henry Hobson Richardson, reflected in Dickinson's round

arches over the deeply recessed doorway and above the column-sided windows, rough-faced

stone contrasting with horizontal bands of trim, and horizontal groupings of windows. On

Dickinson more than most buildings by Francis, exuberant carved vegetation engulfs figures

that represent functions of the library: owls for wisdom, Minerva the goddess of art and

culture, the father-god Zeus who guards morality, and at the gable corners wonderful heads of

Native Americans representing local history. One of the first acts of the library trustees in 1898

was to advertise in local papers for art, Native American artifacts, and town "relics" to fill the

three second-floor museum rooms and large adjoining art gallery, now the children's room.

Dickinson himself donated many paintings and antiques during his frequent trips to the library

in years to come.

On June 9, 1898 visitors flocked to the library dedication at the Congregational Church by

carriage, bicycle, and a large contingent by train from Fitchburg. The keys were received by Dr.

Norman P. Wood, who was to continue as chairman of the library trustees for 32 years. After

the Seminary girls sang, evangelist D. L. Moody, one of the speakers, asked them to turn toward

the elderly donor and sing the Northfield Benediction: "The Lord bless thee and keep thee..."

The final speaker, Rev. G. Glenn Atkins of Greenfield, reiterated that townspeople must now

keep the library vital by saying, "I reaffirm that your responsibility is great." He continued, "This

library will be what you make it. You must give it financial support, give generously, regularly,

and keep at it... Mr. Dickinson gave the library; see to it that it has a beautiful soul."

Written by Betty Congdon

Library Description

Library Governance and Operations

As a department of the town government, the library is governed by an elected six member

Board of Library Trustees. The Board’s authority is derived from Chapter 78, Sections 10 and 11

of the Massachusetts General Laws. Section 10 states in part that: “The board shall have the

custody and management of the library…and of all property owned by the town relating

thereto. All money raised or appropriated by the town for its support and maintenance shall be

expended by the board, and all money or property which the town may receive by gift or

bequest…shall be administered by the board…” Responsibility for library management,

collection development, and provision of library services to the public is delegated by the Board

to the library director. The director is appointed and directly responsible to the Board, and is

an employee of the Town of Northfield.

The library’s financial resources come from funds appropriated by the town. These funds cover

wages and ordinary operating expenses as well as major repairs and upkeep of the building.

Funds from the Community Preservation Act have been granted twice for improvements to

historical features of the building. Library programming is supported through the generosity of

the Friends of the Dickinson Memorial Library and Northfield Cultural Council grants. Trust and

Memorial Funds are used sparingly as the recession of 2008 and low interest rates have greatly

reduced the annual interest income. The library gift fund is supported by small donations and is

used for everything from coffee to materials to special projects.

Every year the library works to meet the minimum state requirements (605 CMR 4.00) for

certification. Certification means the library receives annual State Aid funds. State Aid money is

essential for the library to keep pace with changes in technology and in the library field. Funds

are used to upgrade the library’s computers and systems, to support subscription services like

Constant Contact (email marketing to patrons) and LogMeIn (remote access to work

computers), and to pay mileage and fees for staff to attend conferences and workshops.

Certification, along with a current Strategic Plan, also allows the library to apply for any state

and federal grants administered by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.

The library is staffed by a full-time director and two part-time library assistants – one in charge

of circulation, and the other programming and outreach. There is also a circulation assistant

and a 12 hour-a-week maintenance person. The total full-time equivalent (FTE) staff, excluding

maintenance is 2.35. The library is open 30 hours a week, double the number of open hours

required by Massachusetts Regulation (605 CMR 4.00) for towns with populations between

2,000 – 4,999. Open Tuesday through Saturday; hours include two mornings and one evening

with additional evening hours in the summer.

Affiliations

The library is part of the Massachusetts Library System, a state funded collaborative that was

formed in 2010 when the 6 regional library systems consolidated.

In 2002, the library graduated from a stand-alone computer system to become a C/W MARS

(Central Western Mass Automated Resource Sharing) Mini-Net member. As part of the C/W

MARS consortium, we circulate and catalog our materials through the open source Evergreen

circulation system. Other benefits of our membership include the acceptance of Northfield

library cards at over 100 libraries throughout central and western Mass, the ability to renew

and request library materials online, and access to the digital catalog, Overdrive, to download

audio, ebooks and magazines.

Collections and Circulation

The library’s physical collection consists of approximately 18,000 volumes in print, audio, video

and kits. It is well maintained and weeded regularly of dated, worn and unused titles. In the

fiscal year ending in June 2015, circulation of all items, including downloads, was 55,875. Using

State Aid funds the local history collection was cataloged and a finding aid was created by

archivist Kathleen Nutter. The collection is used consistently through the year by residents and

visitors alike.

The library building was willed to the Town for use as a library and museum so many gilt framed

portraits adorn the walls. Through the generosity of a few anonymous donors a few special

items, including the library land deed, a 1774 petition and 2 old postcards, were imaginatively

framed by a museum quality framer. The framed art, along with a rock, arrowhead and quoit

collection and a small selection of local artifacts lend depth and history to the library’s

offerings.

With an annual materials expenditure of approximately $24,000 the library tries to maintain a

collection that is current and relevant to community interests. Not only has the library been

increasing Overdrive contributions to help grow the digital catalog, but the library has been

providing patrons with e-readers and tablets to access the electronic collections.

Library Services

The library’s main service remains providing materials – books, audio, video and magazines -

but there has been steady growth in downloads from Overdrive, the digital catalog. With this

has come an increase in one-on-one sessions to teach patrons how to use Overdrive on their

personal devices. There has also been a steady increase in patron’s use of the library’s WIFI.

And the annual bookings in the community room have increased 50% in the last five years from

80 to 120 reservations.

To entice patrons library staff regularly creates themed fiction and non-fiction displays for both

children and adults. There are often pop-up displays commemorating a day in history or a

writer’s birth or death. A new whiteboard with varying questions, “What wildlife have you seen

around Northfield lately,” encourages participation and conversation. Many Northfield

Elementary classes come over during the school year giving us the opportunity to do book talks

and put in a plug for upcoming children’s programs.

The library regularly hosts 4 adult discussions (both book and movie), a knitting group, a

preschool story hour and an annual summer library program. In collaboration with the

Northfield Senior Center a noon-time movie is shown once a month. Tuesday Forums are held

sporadically offering everything from cheese tasting to stonewall building. The Friends of the

Dickinson sponsor an annual dog show in October and a children’s holiday bazaar in December.

Building Facilities

The building remains impressive. Built in 1897, the library was constructed with locally quarried

granite. Much of the original décor - the 18 stained glass windows, mosaic tile floors and

original stenciling on the walls and ceilings – still exist in varying conditions.

Two disastrous occurrences have had a lasting effect on the building. A leak in the skylight, in

the early 1900’s created a major crack and massive water stains in what was originally the

second floor museum room. A 1988 mold infestation that re-occurred in 1998 resulted in the

installation of central air conditioning to stabilize the building’s humidity levels.

In 2008 an elevator and accessible washrooms were installed through a Community

Development Block grant. The additional space allowed for an Art Gallery to be created on the

main floor as well as the opportunity to create a local history room on the more easily accessed

second floor.

The main floor houses adult fiction and non-fiction, magazines, DVDs and audio books. In

addition to the online catalog, there is one Chromebox , plus two laptops for the public to use.

A shared office space is situated behind the circulation desk.

Since 1995 the children’s collection has been located in the old “museum room,” a very

spacious area on the second floor. One wing off this room is a young adult room and the other

wing is the local history room. Two additional areas off the main hall house a sitting room and

the “Trustee’s Room,” a small meeting/study area.

The community room and the washrooms are located on the lower level. With a back entrance and a system to secure the upper floors the community room is available for community groups

to use outside of library hours. In the spring of 2015 the Friends of the Dickinson Memorial Library funded an upgrade that included a new ceiling, improved lighting and a projection system. In 2012, the Trustees were asked to house the fledgling Food Pantry in an underutilized section of the lower level. An agreement was reached and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Work Program and the Franklin County Tech School Electrical Shop painted and updated the lighting in the former “furnace room.” The Food Pantry is open the 2nd and 4th Saturdays. Beginning in 2012 the Northfield Energy committee received a Green Communities grant for energy saving improvements. The fluorescent lights were updated to be more efficient and all other lights were switched out to LED bulbs. The attic and basement were insulated. Indoor window inserts were installed on a majority of the library windows.

Planning Methodology

This plan began in February 2015 when the opportunity arose to send out a survey with the

town’s annual census form. The survey was developed with the help of librarians from all over

the state who very generously shared, through the allregions listserv, their own survey

successes and disasters. Surveys were mailed to 1600 households and by spring 259 responses

were received. The answers were compiled using Google forms.

At the end of March invitations were sent out through the library’s email list and Northfield’s I-

Neighbors electronic discussion list looking for volunteers for the Strategic Plan Focus group.

Thirteen residents agreed to participate including 2 library trustees and a high school student.

The group was split between men and women, young parents, senior citizens and newcomers

to town.

The first focus group was facilitated by Northfield resident and former Mass Library System

advisor Mary King. Mary led the SOAR (Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations and Results)

exercise. MLS Advisor Deb Hoadley conducted the second meeting using Northfield’s just

completed Master Plan and concentrated on community visioning and goals.

Needs Assessment

The results of the library’s 2015 survey, as well as the outcome of the two focus group sessions

were used to guide the Director and the Board of Library Trustees to form some basic direction.

Aligning these ideas, with the goals and visions of the recently completed 2014 Town of

Northfield Master Plan became the basis of this strategic plan.

Survey Results

The 11 question survey asked a range of questions beginning with library usage. Thirty six

percent of the 259 respondents said they had gotten out of the habit while another 20% said

they had no reason to use the library. These answers came from households with an average

age range between 30 – 64 years old.

Answers to questions regarding services were both disturbing and informative. The three areas

that ranked highest when asked to choose the most important library services were

providing books, audios and DVDs (92%), promoting childhood literacy through reading

programs and activities (63%) and providing space for community residents to gather(56%). A

hefty 57.1% respondents did not know the library offered digital resources accessible outside

the library. This response is similar to the same question asked in a 2011 survey. It is evident

this is an area that needs direct attention.

Five questions directly, or indirectly, had to with library programs. When asked how they

learned about library services 66% respondents answered they heard about programs from

fliers in the library and from speaking with library staff. This may indicate an area of weakness

where the library needs to work harder to advertise library services and programs outside of

the library.

Although hosting events such as author visits, concerts, lectures garnered only 43% of the

responses when asked about the most important library services. One hundred twenty (68%)

answers suggest programming for adults is an area that should be emphasized. Programs for

children (differentiated from babies and toddlers and teens) received 51% interest.

Fifteen program topics were listed with the option to choose all that might be of interest. A

total of 1096 “checks” were entered. The top five areas of interest, ranked in order:

Gardening/Nature, History, Environment, Art and Author Visits. There seem to be little interest

in Religion and Hunting. A call for people interested in presenting programs at the library

garnered at least a dozen names and phone numbers.

The question “Why will you be visiting the library in five years and what will we be offering?”

received a wide range of responses ranging from a comment that we would be replaced by

Google to a number of 90+ year old residents who said they would no longer be around. The

vast majority of comments declared they would be coming for books, DVDs and programs for

themselves and their children.

Focus Group: Strengths and Opportunities

Speaking to the library’s strong points the first focus group praised the staff for treating

patrons, adult and children, personally and respectfully. There was appreciation of the library

facility for its historic beauty, its location and easy parking. The wide-range of programs and

the browsing collection were deemed strengths.

There were many suggestions for improvements to library services:

More evening hours

Continue cataloguing the local history collection

Programs for teens

Technology help for the online catalog, databases and devices

Find better ways to communicate library programs and services

An oft repeated theme in each part of the S.O.A.R (Strengths Opportunities Aspirations

Results) exercise is for the library to, simultaneously, remain the same and move forward.

Keep the historic integrity of the building while offering access to 21st technologies and

services. And to remain at the heart of the community.

Focus Group: Community Vision

Northfield’s 2014 Master Plan was used as a basis for the second focus group meeting. The

key issues brought up by this group to be addressed by the library were the town’s need for

more gathering spaces, the synergy created by bringing different groups together and better

town-wide communications including a community shared calendar hosted by the library.

Northfield Master Plan References to the Library

The Master Plan’s vision statement begins: IMAGINE Northfield… sometime in the future,

when….

The small town feeling is further enjoyed by residents due to the

additional opportunities for gathering provided by Town‐wide events

as well as a community park where people can meet spontaneously.

The Town facilities such as the library, good schools and the Tool Lending

Library are also places where people continue to mingle.

The Dickinson Memorial Library is directly referenced in the objectives of each of the eight

goals laid out in the Northfield Master Plan.

Goal 1: To promote preservation of open space and natural features

The library is called upon to help provide opportunities for youth learn about the importance of

natural resources.

Goal 2: To promote opportunities for recreation and community gathering

The library is called upon to partner with other groups to help organize and sponsor, support

and create neighborhood-specific and community-wide events.

Goal 3: To promote economic development town-wide.

The resources of the Dickinson Memorial Library can be used to promote recreation, heritage

and eco-tourism including, specifically the area’s Native American heritage.

Goal 4: To preserve and revitalize Main Street

The library has potential to provide greater opportunities for community gathering

Goal 5: To maintain public facilities, improve public services, and enhance

communication.

The library is in fairly good condition and has the potential to play a broader role in the

community by providing more and varied opportunities for lifelong learning and community

gathering including an emphasis on needs for an increasingly elderly population.

Actions

Support the library’s efforts at improving the facility and expanding services.

Support Library’s efforts at planning events

Consider Sunday hours

Explore ways of better serving more remote areas of Town

Reach out to non‐users

Goal 6: To expand housing opportunities and support neighborhoods

The library is located on Main Street close to the retail area, Town Hall, Senior Center and

Police, Fire and EMT services.

Goal 7: To enhance transportation and circulation systems

The library can play a key role in a volunteer rideshare program.

Goal 8: To promote Northfield’s history and culture.

Space at the library can be used to develop or host exhibits focusing on Northfield history,

especially the town’s Native American culture.

Actions

Continue to invest in the library as a community hub and cultural center.

Library Goals and Objectives

We have worked hard to gather together stakeholders to produce a cohesive and useful

strategic plan. The plan combines the outcomes of Northfield’s new Master Plan with the

library’s recent survey, focus groups and staff discussions.

The Board of Library Trustees’ endorses the following goals as key to the Dickinson Memorial

Library’s continuing success.

Maintain, update and expand use of the library as an essential public facility

Provide exceptional customer service

Keep up-to-date with changing technologies and trends in library services locally and broader

Find innovative and effective ways to communicate with Northfield residents

Restore and preserve the historic integrity of the building

Improve access to the Northfield History Collection

MAINTAIN, UPDATE AND EXPAND USE OF THE LIBRARY AS AN ESSENTIAL PUBLIC FACILITY

Upgrade the meeting room for comfort and usability

Review meeting room policy

Publicize availability of space for meetings and events

Streamline the procedure for scheduling the meeting room

Promote the library as a place for conversation and community engagement

Identify more quiet spaces for study and conversation

Improve outdoor lighting and parking for safety and security

Identify areas that need more custodial attention

Advocate for a town facilities manager

Procure funding to update seating and bookcases in the Children’s Room

Improve signage throughout the building

PROVIDE EXCEPTIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE

…BY SUPPORTING LIBRARY STAFF

Increase the library budget to include funding for substitute staff

Evaluate schedules to ensure staff has the time and tools needed to work on

Establish a day a month for each staff member to be off desk to work solely on a library project

Ensure all public access computers and printers work consistently and as seamlessly as possible

to save staff time and frustration

Encourage staff to attend regional trainings and workshops

Trustees will recognize staff and volunteers annually

…BY BEING MORE ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC

Consider requests for evening and Sunday hours

Work collaboratively with the Field Library in Northfield Farms and the Northfield Highway

Dept. (or other entity) in West Northfield to offer limited library services such as picking up and

dropping off library items to reach underserved areas of Northfield

Bring a pop-up mini-library to places around Northfield such as Mim’s Porch, the Northfield

Elementary School ball field, Field Library, West Northfield playground and the Senior Center

Offer quarterly programs for elementary-aged children and their families

Devise a strategy to offer after-school diversions for half-day Fridays

Collaborate with the regional school to encourage more teens to use the library

Invigorate adult programming

Secure funding for adult and children’s programming on an annual basis for ease of planning

KEEP UP-TO-DATE WITH CHANGING TECHNOLOGIES AND LOCAL, REGIONAL AND NATIONAL

TRENDS IN LIBRARY SERVICES

Research options for more adequate charging stations for laptops and mobile devices

Offer consistently reliable computers, laptops and printing options for the public

Identify options for updating computer stations

Identify emerging technologies and provide time for staff training

Provide one-on-one patron training sessions for Overdrive and the new (2015) state e-book

collection.

Weed out-of-date formats

Identify and expand high-demand collections

FIND INNOVATIVE AND EFFECTIVE WAYS TO COMMUNICATE WITH NORTHFIELD RESIDENTS

Convert the website platform for easier updating

Make better use of available community tools such as NextDoor and Bernardston-Northfield

Cable

Incorporate posting to social media outlets into the regular workflow

Investigate options for new outdoor signage

Develop a system for disseminating town-wide information: meetings, workshops, closings,

school events, Senior Center schedules, church events, rideshare details in one central location

Reconfigure the front foyer for better way to display and offer local information

Identify populations of non-library users for a directed marketing campaign

RESTORE AND PRESERVE THE HISTORIC INTEGRITY OF THE BUILDING

Develop a strategic plan for restoration and conservation of the second floor walls and ceilings

Identify funding sources for restoration of historic buildings

Identify a consultant to guide restoration projects

IMPROVE ACCESS TO THE NORTHFIELD HISTORY COLLECTION

Investigate the possibilities of an accredited library school intern cataloging the backlog of local

materials

Choose local history materials to go to bindery

Sign up for the services of the Digital Commonwealth.

Find a volunteer to maintain order in the Northfield History room on a regular basis

Acknowledgements

The Dickinson Memorial Library is greatly indebted to the people of Northfield for their

contributions to the planning process and for their ongoing support of the library. We would

also like to acknowledge the Northfield Master Plan Committee for developing such a thorough

document.

In particular, we’d like to thank the following people for their participation in the development

of the strategic plan.

COMMUNITY PARTICIPANTS Brian Brault Lara Dubin Barbara Jacque Colby Johnson Gretchen Johnson Evaline MacDougall Barbara Moreau Tom Pinto Michael Ray Valerie Rogers Cate Woolner

TRUSTEE PARTICIPANTS JonMcGowan, Chair Paulina Borrego, Treasurer Nolan Kitfield, Secretary Margot Fleck Lloyd Parrill Deb Potee

FACILITATORS

Deb Hoadley Mary King

STAFF PARTICIPANTS

Matt Atwood

Deb Kern

Jane Lyle-Jaworski

Kathy O’Shea

Approved by the Dickinson Memorial Library Board of Trustees October 2015

Director: Deb Kern

Director Signature:_______________________________________________Date:_______________

Trustee Chair: Jon McGowan

Trustee Chair Signature:___________________________________________Date:_______________