Library Board presents Strategic Plan
by Michelle Minnoch

The Innisfil Public Library Board gave a presentation to council Wednesday night regarding their Strategic Plan.

The Library's Strategic Plan is made of fur pillars; people, spaces and places, infrastructure, and marketing and communication.

"Everyone in the library will be provided with training," said Ann Kell, Vice Chair of the Board. "At the end of the year, we will document the staff training process."

The second pillar, spaces and places, is encouraging residents to make the library their third home, after homes and workplace/school. Success measures for this pillar include holding staff workshops on merchandising, purchase a new collection management system, and the development of a plan for the integration of social spaces into existing facilities, which may includes wireless internet stations.

Board member Monica Goodfellow explained the infrastructure pillar to members of council. "Our physical and virtual spaces and places will be built in partnership with our municipal, school, business and community colleagues, and will balance then practicality and ability of today's technology and construction with tomorrow's realities."

Deputy Chief Librarian Cindy Weir said the library is known throughout the community, and they are developing a marketing plan, including signage for the facility. "We may revisit our branding - the logo and slogan."

Mayor Brian Jackson commented on the new audio book program recently started at the Innisfil Public Library, along with three other branches in Ontario. "They are a great asset," he said.

Councilor Lynn Dollin said she saw the challenges facing the librarians as their service was already top notch and so good.

Councilor Rod Boynton, a member of the Board, said he had never been so impressed with the way their board operates."They set goals, and then revisit them. Everything the library does is fantastic."

Mayor Jackson concurred, saying "we've got a forward thinking library service."