<p>LIBRARIES BRANCH 2016 PROVINCIAL LIBRARY FEDERATION GRANT REPORT INSTRUCTIONS</p><p>Below you will find the instructions for completing and submitting your library federation’s Provincial Public Library Grant reports for 2016. By continuing to complete this annual report, you are helping to demonstrate that public libraries have measurable positive impacts on communities across this province. This report is a way to reflect, celebrate and share your work. The Provincial Library Federation Grant Report is one piece of the overall accountability framework for public libraries and federations who receive public funds. The information you provide in the grant report will be used in part to demonstrate the value of public funds in relation to the priorities of the Provincial government and to provide valuable information, which will be used towards the Libraries Branch new annual report. Use of Outcome Based Evaluation and other qualitative methods help to demonstrate the value and impact of your services and programs. This year, we are shifting the framework to integrate the new provincial strategic plan, Inspiring Libraries Connecting Communities: a vision for public library service in British Columbia. This is as a result of feedback we received from libraries and federations. We heard that libraries and federations wanted the opportunity to showcase their innovations and new services, which may not have directly aligned with past provincial priorities, yet still tell an important story of how BC public libraries and federations are adapting and changing to meet community needs. </p><p>REQUIREMENTS AND INSTRUCTIONS</p><p>1. Due: March 31, 2017</p><p>2. Please submit your 2016 Library Federation Grants Report as a Word document via the Commons Results Section (commons.bclibraries.ca/results). Once your board has reviewed and approved the report, Federation Coordinators have permission to submit and review these reports. </p><p> If you would like another staff member to have permission to submit on behalf of your organization, please email us at [email protected]. </p><p>3. Please note that reports received by the Libraries Branch may be published online in the Commons and/or the Ministry of Education’s website.</p><p>PROVINCIAL EXPECTATIONS FOR FEDERATIONS AND PRIORITIES FOR LIBRARIES IN 2016 The following expectations were outlined in the Spring 2016 Conveyance Letter which accompanied your grant as well as those for libraries. Federation Expectations:</p><p> Support and engage with the ministry to build a new strategic vision for BC Public Libraries. </p><p>1 of 3  Work toward the development of a vision for future of resource sharing in BC with the other federations and the ministry.</p><p> Update the federation training plan for 2016-2017.</p><p> Report on the impacts your training programs have had on professional development of library staff and describe how you have been able to assess these impacts.</p><p> Develop a plan for sharing resources such as professional expertise to support your strategic initiatives and build on current projects, to increase the access to resources in your region. </p><p> Focus on efforts to work across the library network, federations and the BC Libraries Cooperative on common programs and services, including procurement of standards-based equipment, supplies, collections and information technology to maximize economies of scale, to increase access to resources, build capacity and find cost-avoidance options. </p><p> Focus on efforts to improve collaboration between libraries within the federation.</p><p> Increase the use and support for Interlibrary Connect by member libraries (where applicable).</p><p>2016 Provincial Priorities:</p><p>1. A focus on equitable access to library services for all British Columbians, including efforts to extend library programs and services, to under-represented populations.</p><p>2. Continued supports for education transformation, as outlined in the BC Education Plan. Libraries, as key partners in providing supports to students and parents outside of the classroom, should continue organizing and collaborating on community-based, personalized learning opportunities for all learners which allows them to realize their full potential in reaching personal learning goals.</p><p>3. Support for BC’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint and #BCTECH Strategy by improving outcomes for job seekers in BC. Specifically, libraries should focus on tools, programs and essential literacy supports that help your community explore new skills for high demand employment opportunities, for long-term job security in today’s growing economy.</p><p>4. Work across the library sector in the development of new shared-services and on collaboration with other partners to find efficiencies and build on current infrastructure and opportunities. For example, the development of shared service models and resources which extend or improve seamless access, involving public, academic and/or school libraries. </p><p>REQUIREMENTS AND INSTRUCTIONS</p><p>2 of 3 Section 1: Please report on your federation deliverables and expectations as outlined in your Federation’s Funding Letter and as noted above. Section 2: Please report on your federation goals for 2016. For each goal describe, where applicable:  Programs and Services: A key program and/or service your federation offered this year that supports your goal;  Key Partnerships: Identify and describe any key partnerships you formed, or continued with this year, which helped to support your federation meeting the goal;  Describe the linkages of this goal to Provincial expectations for federations to work specifically on collaboration, professional learning/training and resource sharing initiatives. When describing your federation goals, there must be an emphasis on outcomes and on what outcome based evaluation methods were used. This is also your opportunity to share what challenges you faced, or are currently facing when reaching this goal. You may also wish to include some of your yearly statistics, where needed, to demonstrate use and impacts of federation services and programs. Section 3: NEW Libraries in action – success stories from BC’s public libraries. Two stories of libraries in action were included in the new strategic plan (on pages 18 & 23). Looking to the future, we would like to share more of these stories of innovation, creativity and community support to demonstrate the changing roles that libraries are playing in their respective communities. Please describe: (the example can be for the benefit for the federation as a whole, or as a benefit for a member library via the federation)  How the federation identified the opportunity or need;  How the federation met that opportunity or need;  The outcome of the new program or service to libraries and users.</p><p>THANK YOU Thank you for the work you do every day. By completing this report you are helping to demonstrate the value of collaborative approaches to library services to reduce costs, improve services and expand access across the province. This report is a way to celebrate and share the work of federations. </p><p>CAN WE HELP? If you have any questions about the provincial library grants report please contact Cindy Ralph [email protected] or Denise McGeachy [email protected] at 800.663.7051.</p><p>3 of 3</p>