• In 2001 Duval County voters agreed to tax themselves with anaddition to the sales tax to fund the Better Jacksonville Plan (BJP)projected to cost over $2 billion.

• The Plan included the construction of 7 new libraries, including anew 300,000 SF Main Library, the expansion of 2 existing librariesand some improvements to all but one of the remaining branches.

• New libraries opened in 2004 & 2005; Jacksonville now has 21 libraries.

BACK TO THE FUTURETHE BETTER JACKSONVILLE PLAN

• People loved their new libraries – and used them – circ up; gate count up; computer/website usage up; meeting room use up and more.

• After rolling back the millage rate for many years however, the city found that funding operations in its new libraries had become problematic (before some were even open)

• Result – FY 2005 was a high point with 6 of the 7 new libraries opening. But with the FY 2006 budget and every budget since, library fundinghas been reduced. We face a$3.5M cut for FY 2012 (October 1).

GOOD NEWS – BAD NEWS

• Staffing:

FY 2005 – 548 FTE;

FY 2011 447 FTE;

FY 2012 (proposed) 393 FTE.

Decrease of 28%.

• Materials budget down by 41% -

FY 05-12

• Activity measures (2005-10)

– Website use up 74%

– Gate count up 34%

– Circulation up 48%

GOOD NEWS – BAD NEWS

• No end in sight to budget reductions

• No opportunity to plan even for

short term

• Changing environment in which

the library operates – impact of

electronic information delivery

• Library Board approves an RFP

to hire a consultant team to create

a “capacity plan” – a strategic plan

focused on the capacity of the

city/library to provide quality

library services into the future.

HOW TO RESPOND?THE JPL CAPACITY PLAN

• Spring 2010 selected

Godfrey’s Associates consultants:

– Team comprised of

library consultants, architect,

engineers, IT expert,

Buxton Inc. a market

segmentation/analysis company,

local PR consultant.

Report issued in May 2011.Capacity Plan Final Report

JPL CAPACITY PLAN

JPL CAPACITY PLANBY THE NUMBERS

Nov. 12, 2009 Board of Library Trustees voted unanimously to authorize hiring a consultant to develop a capacity plan

July 19, 2010 JPL entered into contract with Godfrey’s Associates Inc.

May 16, 2011 Final plan received

174 - Online comments from the public providing input on developing the plan

181 - Jacksonville residents attending 8 community meetings

21 - Community leaders interviewed by the consultants

209 - Staff members providing input into the plan

37 - Capacity Plan Staff Team meetings

12 - Ad hoc Capacity Planning Committee meetings

15 - Board of Library Trustee meetings during which the Capacity Plan was discussed

744 - Pages in the final report

26 - Total recommendations from Godfrey’s Associates Inc.

$182,484.88 - Total Cost of the Capacity Plan

1. STRENGTHEN INFORMATION DELIVERY.

2. MAINTAIN BUILDINGS ADEQUATELY.

3. REMEDY INEQUITIES IN LIBRARY SERVICE.

4. STABILIZE FUNDING.

5. ENSURE FLEXIBILITY IN STAFFING.

Board Recommendations Report

LIBRARY BOARD RECOMMENDATIONSTO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL

• Historic meeting – all 5 existing library Friends groups helda joint meeting

• Advocacy network - www.savejaxlibraries.com

NEXT STEPS

• Meetings with city council membersabout the Capacity Plan

• Transition to a new mayor and a$60M shortfall in the FY 2012 budgethas generated difficulties in gettingtraction for change in the longer term. Everyone looking for short term fixes –cut hours and staff rather than closelibraries or change service delivery orfinancing model.

• Capacity Plan and the response to datehas made it clear we need to embrace –“confront” a more radical service andfinancing model in the future – some ofthe change is evident in the plan.

NEXT STEPS

• Spring 2011 ALA Office for InformationTechnology Policy issued:Confronting the Future: Strategic Visionsfor the 21st Century. http://www.ala.org.oitp

• Challenges public libraries face – lookingout at the world: Advances in digital mediaand technologies; heightened competition;demographic changes; financial constraints.

• Role of public libraries and their advantages:collect, circulate, catalogue, inform,readers advisory, computer access,services to all ages including special needcustomers, exhibits and programs,reading space/quiet space, meeting spacesand service as a community center,services are traditionally free.

CONFRONTING THE FUTURE

• The library brand is still books –75% think so.

• Most trusted source for information – 22% search engine; 1% librarian.

• Appreciate librarians when they use libraries – 83% - but the belief that librarians add value to a searchprocess has not transferred to theonline library.

• Value of libraries to individuals andeven more to their communities hasincreased – books, videos, music,literacy instruction, free Internet access.OCLC Perceptions of Libraries 2010: Context and Community. OCLC 2011.

HOW WE ARE VIEWED

“The choices described in this policy brief respondto the possible outcomes of the economic, social, and technological forces and trends that will affect libraries.

Yet they all assume that public libraries will continue to exist. Unfortunately, it is not impossible to imagine a future without

libraries. If that is to be avoided …They must play an active role in shaping their future.”

ALA OITP Confronting the Future. June 2011.

• OITP brief proposes four service“dimensions” for public libraryconsideration:

• Dimension 1: Physical to Virtual Libraries.

• Dimension 2:Individual to Community Libraries.

• Dimension 3:Collection to Creation Libraries

• Dimension 4:Portal to Archive Libraries

MANAGING THE FUTURE

• Today and at one end of the dimension:physical library with both actual andvirtual media (on site or off site)

• At the other end of the dimension: an all virtuallibrary – media, reference services, programming.Re-think how library contacts customers; providesaccess to a totally virtual collection. Website takesplace of building for virtual collection. Individuallibraries likely to morph into library collaborativesmore like Amazon. Send physical items tocustomers from storage facilities.

• Where along this dimension do you plan to move?What are the advantages/disadvantages?Could libraries compete with vendors (Amazon,Netflix, iTunes) who supply the same collections?

ONE:PHYSICAL TO VIRTUAL

• What is your library’s point of focus?The individual or the community?

• Individual service includes one-on-onereference services; reader’s advisory forthe individual; physical layout toaccommodate individual use of resources.

• Community focus: “the library that respondsto advances in technologies and media byfocusing on the needs … of the localcommunity instead of competing withcommercial media delivery services.The physical library becomes a centerfor a wide range of community activities.”

TWO:INDIVIDUAL TO COMMUNITY

• Collections are a very high priority;provide actual or virtual collectionsto serve as information sources,for reading etc.

• Creation: Priority is placed on helpingcommunity to create its own collectionusing new technologies with equipmentand software provided by the library.Does not mean the existing collectionsgo away but are built on andstrengthened.

THREE:COLLECTION TO CREATION

• This dimension is built around the issue of“ownership” – collection/information servicesare accessed through a library portal butnot owned by the library. May be a physicalor virtual library but the library has nocollection of its own. Likely that such a“library” would be in non-traditional locationswith librarians playing a critical rolelocating/pointing to/advising oninformation for customers.

• Archive library would focus on uniquematerials of local interest –“an enduring storehouse of localknowledge and information.”

FOUR:PORTAL TO ARCHIVE

• Librarian competencies:“Future librarians will becomedigital media mentors…”Librarians needed for archiving,organizing, preservation as well asdigital media mentors.

• Collaboration and Consolidation:virtual collections can be sharedacross libraries/communities.

• Digital collections

• Personalization of serviceand social networking

• Advantage of free services

COMMONALITIESACROSS DIMENSIONS

• Immediate future: continuing uncertainty and budget cuts.Stabilize Funding has become a higher priority.

• Digital future: Strengthen Information Delivery –manage our own IT platform and determine service priorities if we areto consider a virtual library and digital services.

• Library as “the community center.”Strike a balance between a library which serves individuals and the community.Maintain Buildings Adequately Improve maintenance and physical condition ofexisting libraries. Remedy Inequities in Library Service Provide librarieswhich can meet demands of both individuals and the community.

• Ensure Flexibility in Staffing Staff competencies –library staff must become “digital media mentors.”

STRATEGIC IMPERATIVES:JPL CAPACITY PLAN

• Focused tracking of external trends and forces.

• Keep community informed and involved.

• Identify and test assumptions being made.

• Set a strategic course.

• Monitor and evaluate – Monitor and evaluate.

• Focus on outcomes and stick to the course.

(Don’t be distracted by a $3.5M budget cut.)

Your customers will stick with you if they

understand the direction you are taking.

ADD TO OURCAPACITY PLAN “MIX”