County Administrator
Government/Citizen Resources
Strategic Plan

On May 24, 2000, County Administrator Percy C. Ashcraft met with Donnell Howard, Cynthia Green, and Kay Brooks to discuss revision to the Strategic Plan regarding the quality of life for the citizens of Caroline County. This subcommittee was charged with addressing goals and objectives that relate to their particular agency regarding the quality of life.

A survey was mailed/delivered to Library Board members, staff, volunteers, and dedicated patrons addressing their vision of the library, and their branch in particular regarding programs, facility and staffing. A draft of these responses was presented to the Library Board on August 18, 2000 for their approval. The following is the Board’s recommendations for objectives on the subject.

Caroline County will support and provide programs and activities that help to maintain and improve the quality of life for all of its residents.

1. 1. The County government, its residents and the greater community will work together to continue to develop and maintain a broad based recreation program to serve multiple constituencies, such as adults, youth and senior residents.
2. 2. The County will work with other public sector agencies, the private sector and volunteer community organizations to assure that essential human services programs and other basic services that promote the health and wellbeing of County residents are provided in an efficient manner without duplication.
3. 3. The County will maintain policies and programs and will work with appropriate public agencies and the private sector to improve the quality, quantity, and affordability of housing in the County.
4. 4. The County will provide a library system that will serve as a multimedia learning center providing a wide range of information in printed and non-printed formats.
5. 5. The County will support a variety of youth services programs designed to focus on youth educational and recreational programming.
6. 6. Cultural and performing arts, developed and supported by the private sector and community organizations and volunteers, will be supported by the County government to the extent possible.
7. 7. County government policies and programs will be developed and implemented with due diligence to protect and maintain the environmental quality of the county.

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Planning is an essential element in developing library services to meet the needs of the community and should incorporate the original roles of libraries as well as reflect the growing application of technology in the library environment. Each community within the confines of Caroline County deserves quality service that results from effective planning. The Library Board reviewed recommendations from the survey and the following suggestions are in no order of priority:

A. The Caroline Library will continue to serve as a multimedia learning center working to achieve the highest level of services, resources, and management practices.

1. 1. All Branches will continue to offer an inviting, user-friendly environment conducive to providing a wide range of information services, reference services, reader's advisory services, collections and programs for people of all ages.
2. 2. Holdings of all Branches will be continually expanded for said educational and recreational pursuits of information with special consideration given to: classics; videotapes; books on tape; and electronic databases.
3. 3. Electronic databases will be available via links on a library web page.
4. 4. The library will provide public training in the use of its resources to ensure that all citizens have the necessary skills to take advantage of printed and electronic resources.
5. 5. The library will continue to participate in regional and statewide opportunities to share information and resources.
6. 6. The library will continue to cooperate with other local agencies and organizations when possible and appropriate.

B. The Caroline Library will be more accessible providing a full range of services via technological advances, expanded hours, and increased staff.

1. 1. Citizens will be able to access the library holdings from their homes via the Internet.
2. 2. The Library will continually evaluate, upgrade and replace hardware, software and information resources.
3. 3. Hours of all branches will be increased to 60 hours per week to include more evening and weekend hours for a full range of services
4. . 4. Hours and program schedules of all branches will be posted in all facilities for the convenience of the public.
5. 5. Staffing of the system will be increased to meet these needs to include one full-time Library Director responsible for the administration of library services; four full-time Assistant Directors, one in each Branch; four part-time Branch assistants, one in each Branch; and corps of volunteers in each branch.
6. 6. The library will have competent, qualified and sufficient staff with the up-to-date skills to provide library effective services to meet the needs of the community. Said staff will receive regular training to learn new skills and improve existing ones.
7. 7. The library board, the director, and the staff will communicate a positive image of the Library and its services.
8. 8. The Library will pursue internships with students at Mary Washington College to address additional and cultural programs offered by the Library.

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C. Facilities at all Branches of the Library will be conducive to provide quality service offering the communities a compelling invitation to enter, read, listen and learn.

1. 1. All Branches will meet minimum requirements in regards to square footage to provide ample space for educational and recreational use to each community.
2. 2. All Branches will be duplicated so as to provide each community with the same areas to include a main room, reference/meeting room, young adult area, children’s area, computer lab, staff and storage area.
3. 3. All branches will comply with the regulations of The Americans with Disabilities Act.
4. 4. All branches will be flexible in design to respond to the changing use and service patterns, accommodate growing collections, and encourage extensive public use, support staff efficiency and encourage economy.

D. Programs will continue to be developed and/or expanded to address educational and recreational needs of patrons of all ages.

1. 1. Family programs will be introduced to address illiteracy and reading within the home.
2. 2. Children’s programs will be expanded to address improvements in standards of learning scores.
3. 3. Teens will be encouraged to participate in after-school activities that encourage tutoring, mentoring and reading to younger students.
4. 4. Teen Programs will be expanded to include “lock-ins” and book discussions on popular authors and/or titles
5. 5. Cultural and performing arts programs will be developed to include writing forums, movie nights, author readings, computer classes, film series, genealogy workshops, retirement planning,

E. The Library will work with the County government, local agencies and organizations to assist with outreach programs:

1. 1. The library will develop a public relations program reaching staff, trustees, volunteers, friends' group, community leaders, as well as users and non-users of the library.
2. 2. The library will cooperate in local, regional, state and national efforts to promote library services to the communities.
3. 3. All branches will be available as satellite locations for surveys, workshops, payment of fees, field trips, neighborhood meetings, voter registration, and suggestion boxes.
4. 4. A Speaker’s Bureau will be compiled with directories available in all branches.
5. 5. The Friends of Caroline Library will be encouraged to expand membership to young adults who might then participate and/or assist in library programs.
6. 6. The Friends of Caroline Library will be encouraged to expand the book sale room to include a gift shop for future fundraising projects.
7. 7. The Library will assist County agencies by providing children’s programs in conjunction with their agency services.
8. 8. The Library will continue to work with the Community Collaborative Coalition in community efforts and make the directory of services available in all branches.

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The recommendations made by the Library Board are aimed at addressing ways that the library can improve the quality of life for the citizens of Caroline County. All recommendations would be developed and implemented to compliment the current services offered by the Library.

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