Title: The Librarys Contribution to Your Community Illinois State Library Workshop
1The Librarys Contribution to Your
CommunityIllinois State Library Workshop
2Agenda
- Session 1 Background The LCTYC Project
- Session 2 Planning Evaluating Library Services
- Session 3 The LCTYC Manual The Measures
- Break
- Session 4 The LCTYC Manual How To Use It In
Your Community - Lunch
- Session 5 Case Studies
- Session 6 Implementation
- Break
- Session 7 A Work Program for Documenting
Benefits - Conclusion
3The Purpose of the Workshop
- Discuss the Challenges of Documenting the
Librarys Contribution
- Introduce the LCTYC Resource Manual
- Encourage and Inspire You to Use the Manual to
Document Your Contribution
4Session One The Librarys Contribution to Your
Community Background on the Project
- Purpose of the LCTYC Project
- The Challenge of Preparing An Effective Resource
Manual - The Context The Need to Document Benefits
5Why Was the LCTYC Resource Manual Prepared?
- Purposedemonstrate the value of libraries to
their communities, substantiating budget
requests municipal funders (politicians and
administrators) are the primary target.
6The Ontario Context 1995
- New provincial government with an agenda of
reform - Smaller government
- Greater accountability
- Reduced expenditure
7What We Would Keep if the Budget Was Cut
What We Value
- Snow removal
- Fire protection
- Road maintenance/construction
- Sewer maintenance/construction
- Recreation facilities/programs
- Street lighting
- Parks
- Planning, Building and Economic Development
- By-law enforcement
- Library services
- Cultural facilities and programs
- Parks and recreation
- Libraries
- Cleanliness
- Safety
- Parks and green
- Accessibility to services/facility
- Balanced budget/low taxes
- Sense of community
8Survey of Ontario Residents - 2001
- 45 view the library as an essential public
institution that deserves to be supported on that
basis - 55 view the library as one of many information
providers in a competitive environment
- Less than 50 were confident the library would
make significant changes to meet future needs
- 60 of residents have Internet access at home
and 32 reported decreased library use since
Internet access.
9The Future of the Library- Four Perspectives
VIEW OF LIBRARY
Public Institution
Competitor
Pro Active
LIBRARY CAPACITY FOR CHANGE
Status Quo
10Repositioning the Library in Our Community
- Transition to Digital Information Environment
- Support for the New Economy Small Business,
Home Business, Information Economy
- Improved Access 24/7 and the Economically
Disadvantaged
- Enhanced Support to the School System
- Community Development Role Social Focus, Civic
Role, Multilingual Populations
11Repositioning the Library in IllinoisNeeds
Identified in Long Range Plan for LSTA
- Transition from a place to facilitation of access
to information - Accessible information to enable life long
learning - Trained staff and current technology
- Distance learning
- Adequate resources
- Ongoing professional development
- Partnerships
12What Do We Need to Reposition the Library?
- Community Understanding Support of the
Librarys Possible Role
- Support and Funding Will Only Be Realized If We
Have A Strategy to Reposition the Library
13The LCTYC Resource Manual The Challenge
- To Send A Persuasive Message To
Funders/Stakeholders - To Produce A Tool That All Libraries Could Use
14What Funders/Stakeholders Want to Hear
- Local data not benefits from the literature
- Hard data not opinions
- Community support / satisfaction
- Broad based benefits contribution to a wide
range of corporate / community objectives - Comparison to others to demonstrate cost
effectiveness
15What Local Libraries Need
- A Tool That Can Be Used Regardless of Library
Size and Resources - A Complete Package Easy to Use
- Flexible and Adaptable to Individual Libraries
16Session Two Planning Evaluating Library
Services
- Performance Measures and Managing Library Service
Delivery - The Dangers of Benchmarking
17The LCTYC Approach to Planning and Managing
Library Services A Checklist
Never Do It
Sort of Do It
Always Do It
- We have documented goals for library service
delivery which we review update regularly - We regularly evaluate our performance against our
goals - We prepare annual action plans for service areas
with clearly specified targets - Staff are held accountable for meeting targets
- We regularly compile information on the needs and
preferences of our users through surveys or other
means - We regularly collect information on the changing
social and demographic character of the community
and use it to plan our services - We track our performance on a year-to-year basis
with key service indicators and use this
information to evaluate and plan our services - We document the results of our annual planning
process and make it available to the Board,
Municipal Council and the community
1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5
18Where the LCTYC Performance Measures Fit in the
Management of Library Service Delivery
Municipal Strategic Plan
Library Strategic Plan
Core Service Review
Performance Measures
19Performance Measurement For Management
- Support Small Business Growth Development
- Provide Services to Small Businesses/Home Based
Business - Business Collection Development
- Marketing/Awareness
- Staff Expertise
- Program Development
- Partnerships
- Municipal Goal
- Library Goal
- Business Plan
20Performance Measurement ManagementThe Measures
21Performance Measurement and ManagementSupport
for Local Business Possible Measures
- Total circulation of business manuals/periodicals
- Dollar value of business materials in the
collection - Number of business users
- Number of program hours devoted to business
issues/topics - Number of business staff trained on the internet
- Satisfaction of business with library services
- Number of new partnerships for business services
22Benchmarking for Libraries
Definition Comparing Performance
Measures Among Various Library Systems
- No Comparable Library Systems
The Danger
23Benchmarking Potential Problems
- An ever decreasing financial target
- Misleading and inappropriate comparisons among
different library systems - Limited sensitivity to local needs / interests
24Benchmarking Against Yourself
- Describe the Current Situation
- Set Goals/Objectives
- Develop a Business Plan - Establish Targets
- Make A Commitment In Response To Resource
Requirements - Monitor With Performance Measures
- Evaluate
- Adjust Target/Plans
25Addressing the Challenges The LCTYC Approach
- Strongly rooted in your community local data
base that is relevant in your community
- Possible to implement with limited resources
can be phased in
26Addressing the Challenges The LCTYC Approach
- Use a variety of approaches and types of
information to be practical and persuasive
- Uses historical benchmarks to demonstrate
improvement in your system compared to other
systems with extreme caution
27Addressing the Challenges The LCTYC Approach
- Tied to strategic plan/service delivery plans
that identify desired outcomes use as a tool
for planning and managing service delivery
- Flexible Tool Starting Point Instead of a
Template
28Session Three The 21 Benefits
29The Resource Manual Organization Contents
Why You Need to Document Benefits
- Chapter 1 Introduction
- Chapter 2 Successfully Demonstrating the Social
and Economic Contribution of the Library in Your
Community - Chapter 3 Documenting Benefits - Challenges and
Opportunities
30The Resource Manual Organization Contents
How to Design Your Work Program Select Your
Measures
- Chapter 4 How to Use the Resource Manual
- Chapter 5 Measuring the Librarys Contribution
31The Resource Manual Organization Contents
How to Communicate the Results
- Chapter 6 Communicating the Benefits
32The Resource Manual Organization Contents
What You Need to Collect the Information
- Chapter 7 Tools
- Chapter 8 Resources
33Four Types of Measures
- Performance Indicators
- Benefit Measures
- Benchmarks
- Customer Satisfaction Indicators
- Inputs
- Outcomes
- Comparative Input or Outcomes
- Perceived Benefits
34Types of MeasuresAn example Pre-School Reading
Program
- Number of children attending program
- Number of program hours
- Number of children who are first exposed to the
library through the program
35Types of MeasuresAn example Pre-School Reading
Program
- Improvement in childrens reading skills due to
the program - Increase in library use due to involvement in the
program
36Types of MeasuresAn example Pre-School Reading
Program
- Number of children attending program per capita
- Proportion of children who are library members
attending programs - Cost of the program per program hour
- Cost of the program per child in attendance
37Types of MeasuresAn example Pre-School Reading
Program
- Customer Satisfaction Indicators
- Child/parents satisfaction with the program
- Perceived importance of program to library users
- Perceived importance of program to teachers the
community
38The Librarys Contribution Twenty One Benefits
- Twenty One Benefits
- Focused on Measurable Benefits
- Based on Available Information (Inputs) and
Customer Satisfaction Measures - Divided Into Two Broad Areas
- Social/Personal Benefits
- Economic Benefits
39The LCTYC Manual A User-Friendly Format
- Category
- Benefit
- Description
- Information to be Compiled The Performance
Measures - Resources
- Constructing the Argument
- The Counter Argument
- Other Relevant Benefits
40Social/Personal Contribution
- Three Categories
- Personal Growth /Development
- Community Development
- Support to Community Groups/Agencies
41Economic Contribution
- Three Categories
- Direct Economic Impact
- Support of Local Business/Investors
- Indirect Economic Impact
42Social/Personal Contribution - The Benefits
43Social/Personal Contribution - The Benefits
44Social/Personal Contribution - The Benefits
45Economic Contribution - The Benefits
46Economic Contribution - The Benefits
47Economic Contribution - The Benefits
48Documenting Benefits in Your Community
49Documenting Benefits in Your Community
- In Column A Give your library system a score
based on how significant your contribution is for
each of the benefits. - 1 Not Significant
- 3 Somewhat Significant
- 5 Very Significant
50Documenting Benefits in Your Community
- In Column B Indicate how much importance your
local politicians would place on the librarys
contribution in each benefit area. - 1 Not Important
- 3 Somewhat Important
- 5 Very Important
- In Column C Calculate the difference between A
and B.
51Documenting Benefits in Your Community
52Documenting Benefits Important Questions
forScores Over 50
- Can/should we expand services in underserved
areas? - What are the implications for communicating
benefits? - How can we promote the value of services that are
not valued by funders/stakeholders?
53Session Four The LCTYC Collecting Information
- Information gathering techniques options and
implications - Levels of effort
- LCTYC surveys.
54Documenting Benefits Information Gathering
Options
- The literature / research elsewhere
- Existing library database
- Expanded library database
- Key informants / focus groups
- In-library questionnaires
- Surveys of library users
- Survey of community stakeholders
- General community survey
- Research.
55Information Gathering OptionsMeasure Support
for Individuals in the Education System
- Cite Wikel
- Total circulation to students
- Number of students instructed on Internet use
- Teacher testimonials
- Home schooler focus group
- Use and perceived satisfaction of students using
the library - Publics perception of librarys importance to
schools
56Levels of Effort
- use the benefit measures / the literature
- support by repackaging existing information
Level One -Minimum Effort
57Levels of Effort
- reorganize existing information collection based
on benefit measures - key informant interviews
Level Two -Moderate Effort
58Levels of Effort
Level Three -Survey Library Users
59Levels of Effort
Level Four -Community and Special Users Survey
- community survey
- other surveys
60Levels of Effort
- primary research
- longitudinal studies
- networking
Level Five -Ongoing Research
61Information Gathering Options
- Library Data Base
- Key Informants
- Focus Groups
- Surveys
62(No Transcript)
63Key Informants
- Persuasive
- Cost Effective
- Builds Networks
- Credible/Respected
- Expert
- Recruitment
64Focus Groups
Definition
- Six Eight Individuals with a Shared
Interest/Lifestyle - Two Three Hour Structured Discussion
- Facilitated Discussion
Advantages
- Focus on Special Interests and Key Benefit Areas
- Persuasive and Cost Effective
- Personal Feedback
65Focus Groups - Issues
- Recruitment of Participants
- Structured Discussion Documenting Feedback
- Skilled Facilitator
- Not Quantifiable Information Best to Use With
Surveys
66The Surveys In The Resource Manual
1. General Community 2. Library Users 3.
Business Users 4. Community Groups and
Agencies 5. Program Participants
67Using the Surveys
- Cross-referenced to the benefits
- Sample size and cost
68The Surveys Important Considerations
- The Sample Size and Cost
- The Questions
- Interpretation
- Format and Distribution
69Sample Size and Confidence Levels
Population Size (N) 500 1,000
1,500 2,000 3,000 5,000
10,000 20,000 50,000 100,000
/- 10 81 88 91 92 94 95
96 96 96 96
/- 3 250 500 624 696 788 880
965 1,014 1,045 1,058
/- 5 218 278 306 323 341 357 370
377 382 383
70The Meaning of Survey Results
- Use Comparable Questions
- Track Changes Over Time
- Multi-Variant Analysis
71Survey Format Distribution
- Completed by Respondent
- Close Ended Questions
- Diminish Halo Effect
- In Library Sampling Frame
72Session Five Case Studies
- Overview
- Two Case Studies
73The Use of the Manual Pilot Projects
- 8 communities
- Wide range of library systems
- Two Level 2 Studies Three Level 3 Studies and
Three Level Four Studies - 9 social measures tested
- 5 economic measures tested
74Selected Outcomes Attributed to LCTYC
- Increase in local per capita support from 21.70
in 1998 to 27.27 in 2000 - Relocation of Business Self-Help Desk from
municipal hall to the library - 23 increase in municipal contribution to the
library
75Selected Outcomes Attributed to LCTYC
76LCTYC Accomplishments
- Financial improvements
- Service improvements
- Enhanced profile and awareness
- Partners and new networks
- New information and research skills for libraries
- Introduction to performance measures
77LCTYC Continuing Challenges
- Ongoing project instead of a study
- Use to manage/evaluate services
- Wide spread use
78Library Profile for Huron County Library
79How Did They Do It?Measures Selected
- Satisfaction with the Community as a Place to
Live - Reading Readiness
- Use of Leisure Time
- Support for the Retail Sector.
80How Did They Do It?Information Gathering
Techniques (Level 4)
- data collection from library statistics and
collection - focus groups (3)
- key informant interviews (3)
- user survey
- community survey
- special survey (Business Improvement Association)
81Support for the Retail Sector
- Key findings
- 60 of library users combined trip to library
with downtown shopping - 37 of library users are non-residents
- 50.00 average expenditure by library users
- 1.4 million annual expenditure in downtown by
library users - support for library to occupy key location
downtown.
82Library Profile for Barrie Public Library
- Population Served 100,000
- Service Points 1
- 1999 Budget 2.6 million
- Local Support 20 per capita
- Circulation in 1999 1.2 million
- Hours 62 hrs/week (7 days)
- Total FTEs 33.34
-
-
83Why Did They Do It?
- Hard data to demonstrate librarys value to local
business and the community - Increase the library budget
- To verify librarys perception of our value to
the community - To support the library strategic plan
84Measures Selected
- Information Services to Local Businesses
- Lifelong Learning
- Satisfaction with the Community as a Place to
Live
85Information Gathering Techniques (Level 3)
- 1999 staff deployment study in the library
- integrated library system (with sampling)
- focus groups (4)
- key informant interviews (3)
- in-house survey of users
- special survey of business users
86The Benefits InputsInformation Service to
Local Businesses
87Information Service to Local BusinessesThe
Benefits Key Informants/Focus Groups
88Information Service to Local BusinessesThe
Benefits Business Survey
- Use of the Library for work or business
35.5 - Satisfaction of business respondents 73
- Number of respondents working from their home 63
89LCTYC Accomplishments in Barrie
- 23 increase in municipal contribution (370,000)
- Expanded partnerships with the business community
- New relationship with the Municipal Economic
Development Department - Hiring of Business Librarian
90Session Six - Implementation
- Developing a LCTYC strategy
91Communicating the Benefits
- Understand Your Audience/Understand their
Concerns - Use Relevant Information
- Be Credible
- Time Release of Information to Maximize Your
Advantage - Develop/Improve Presentation Skills
- Involve Your Secondary Audiences
- Present Information Professionally
- Evaluate the Audiences Response
92Case Study Questions
1. Strengths/Weaknesses of Library
2. Community Issues
4. How can Library Contribute to Issues to
Support Objectives
3. Library Objectives
5. Benefits to Document
93The LCTYC Strategy
- Establish Credibility Accentuate the Positive
- Get Their Attention Focus of Community Concerns
- What Should We Offer? What Can the Library
Contribute? - Assess Your Resources
- Select 3 5 Benefits the Measures You Will Use
to Collect Information - Make Your Pitch Monitor Response
- Decide How to Build on Your Success