Milton Public Library Master Plan
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MILTON PUBLIC LIBRARY / TOWN OF MILTON LIBRARY MASTER PLAN Final Report May 2008 Libraries in mbpc In Monteith Brown association planning consultants with Transition Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS Section One: Introduction 1 1. Destiny Milton 2 1 2. The Library Master Plan 1 Section Two: Description of the Library & the Community 3 1. Mission Statement & Library Roles 3 2. Library Organization 7 3. Library Facilities 8 4. Library Collections & Usage 10 5. Local Context 11 Section Three: Strategic Plan Goals & Directions 16 Section Four: Library Facility Action Plans 19 1. Current Situation 19 2. Space Needs & Distribution 20 3. Recommended Library Space Provision Strategy 22 4. Action Plans 25 Section Five: Library Service Delivery Action Plans 26 1. Overview 26 2. Service Delivery Areas 27 3. Action Plans 31 Section Six: Implementation & Phasing 35 1. Overview 35 2. Action Plans not Covered by Sections 4 and 5 37 3. Implementation Strategy 38 Appendix A: Demographic Profile B: Library Trends & Best Practices C: Public & Internal Input D: Mission Statement & Roles of the Milton Public Library E: Facility Needs Assessment F: Service Delivery Assessment i Library Master Plan – Destiny Milton 2 Town of Milton / Milton Public Library – May 2008 Section One: Introduction SECTION ONE: INTRODUCTION 1. DESTINY MILTON 2 Destiny Milton 21 (DM2) is the broad vision for Milton for the next ten years, setting priorities for Milton's quality of life and service delivery. It will guide and provide context for all short and long-term planning for the Town through the implementation of Service Area Plans to ensure that the right services are being delivered to Milton's growing population. This Library Master Plan is one of the seven Service Area Master Plans that will identify how services are to be delivered based on the context established by DM2. All the initiatives conducted as part of Destiny Milton 2 will culminate in the development of the Town’s overall Strategic Plan, which is intended to guide municipal decision making at a corporate level, a departmental level, and a personal staff level. 2. THE LIBRARY MASTER PLAN The purpose of the Library Master Plan is to identify future directions that reflect the key roles and values of today’s users (while forecasting the anticipated requirements of the residents who are not yet here), suitable for a community of the proposed size and location such as Milton. In short, the Plan establishes a collective community vision for library services, programs, and facilities in the Town of Milton. 1 Adopted by Town Council on June 26, 2006. 1 Library Master Plan – Destiny Milton 2 Town of Milton / Milton Public Library – May 2008 Section One: Introduction Specifically, the Master Plan builds upon the goals, directions, and initiatives identified by Destiny Milton 2 by developing action plans to ensure that the right services are being provided to a growing population. An emphasis is placed on developing a pragmatic 3- Year Action Plan that identifies high priority initiatives (including costs, timing, funding sources, and staffing/resourcing); however, a longer view to the year 2016 is taken where necessary. The Library Master Plan is organized into the following sections: Section 1: Introduction Describes the purpose and organization of the Master Plan. Section 2: Description of the Library & the Community Provides a ‘snapshot’ of the Library, a description of recent initiatives, and a discussion of the factors affecting current and future needs. Section 3: Strategic Plan Goals & Directions Contains a description of the relevant goals and directions from Destiny Milton 2. Section 4: Library Facility Action Plans Identifies the action plans related to library facility development. Section 5 Library Service Delivery Action Plans Identifies the action plans related to library programming, services, collections, organization, etc. Section 6: Implementation & Phasing Identifies the priority and timing of each action plan. 2 Library Master Plan – Destiny Milton 2 Town of Milton / Milton Public Library – May 2008 Section Two: Description of the Library SECTION TWO: DESCRIPTION OF THE LIBRARY & THE COMMUNITY 1. MISSION STATEMENT & LIBRARY ROLES The importance of public libraries is spelled out in recognized publications such as Long Overdue (Public Agenda, 2006), Realizing Our Full Potential (Association Resource Centre Inc., 2003), and Ontario Public Libraries Market Survey (Market Probe Canada, 2006). These studies and a variety of other sources suggest the following: • Libraries are at the heart of a strong, well-informed community; • Libraries are accessible and welcoming to all; • Libraries provide free, unlimited, and universal access to knowledge, culture, and information; and • Libraries are even more important now than ever before as the power of knowledge translates into greater socio-economic benefits. Despite the proliferation of electronic media and the Internet over recent years, it is essential to continue to stress the importance of physical library systems. Public libraries are leaders in the adoption of advanced technological applications; however, the “virtual library” is still many years away, and they may never totally replace the actual functions or “human” qualities of a physical library. Public libraries are more than just a source of information – they are integral institutions with far-reaching implications. The Milton Public Library should strive to maintain a healthy and responsive library system for these very reasons. In recognizing the numerous benefits of public libraries, it is strongly recommended that the Milton Public Library be provided with adequate financial support to implement the action plans of this Library Master Plan during the next ten year (2006-2016) planning period. 3 Library Master Plan – Destiny Milton 2 Town of Milton / Milton Public Library – May 2008 Section Two: Description of the Library The Milton Public Library’s (MPL) current “Mission Statement” was developed in the 1980s and reaffirmed in the 1990s through separate strategic planning processes. Four predominant “Roles” were also defined for the Milton Public Library in the 1980s. These roles were taken from a selection of roles suggested by the American Library Association. The development of a new Master Plan for Library Services presents an opportunity to make adjustments to the Mission Statement and Library Roles in order to ensure that they are properly aligned with the present and future directions of the Library. The need to revise the MPL Mission Statement and Roles has been brought about as a result of changes in society, technology, information needs, the economy, and community characteristics. Some of these factors include: • the Library’s transition to a multi-branch system; • services provided by others and the benefits of partnerships; • the growing perception of the Library as a community gathering space; • demand for – and increasing options with regard to – technology and automation; • demographic changes, including rapid population growth (particularly younger families, commuters, and ethnic populations); • heightened expectations of patrons; and • shifts in employment and growth in demand for business resources. This matter is discussed in brief below and more fully in Appendix D. Suggested Revisions to the MPL Mission Statement A mission statement is a clear, concise, and realistic observation of the Library’s reason for being. It should be referenced when making important decisions about what activities and services to provide, what markets to serve, what new initiatives to focus on, what partners to co-operate with, what to emphasize in developing a collection policy, and so on. It can create clarity, inspire and motivate volunteers and staff, and create unity, particularly if it has been put together with the assistance of staff and board members. 4 Library Master Plan – Destiny Milton 2 Town of Milton / Milton Public Library – May 2008 Section Two: Description of the Library The following is the new Mission Statement recommended for the Milton Public Library: Recommended Mission Statement The Milton Public Library is committed to nourishing growing minds, promoting the love of reading, and providing a gateway that connects people, ideas, and information. Suggested Revisions to the MPL Roles Library “roles” are essentially aims that represent an elaboration of the mission statement, providing extra detail where the mission is broader. They are intended to address the following questions: What is the library trying to do? Whom is the library trying to serve? What resources does the library need to achieve these ends? By establishing more detailed roles, this allows the mission statement to remain broad and to succinctly define the library’s purpose. The following are the Library Roles recommended for the Milton Public Library. Not all roles may be applicable to all branches of the MPL, nor will the emphasis on each role be equal between the branches. That is, as branch libraries are developed, the MPL may wish to establish a different set of roles for each library facility within the system. 5 Library Master Plan – Destiny Milton 2 Town of Milton / Milton Public Library – May 2008 Section Two: Description of the Library Recommended PRIMARY Library Roles 1a. Popular Materials Library – The Library features current, high demand, high interest materials in a variety of formats for persons of all ages, abilities, and cultural heritages. 1b. Life-long Learning Centre –