EXECUTIVE SUMMARY  (5-12-01)

During Summer 1996, a long range planning team was formed by Executive Director Harold Steven Farlow, Jr.  The team was asked to examine the current mission of Burke County Public Library, Inc., the roles that it plays in the community, and how an average public library may achieve excellence in a highly competitive funding environment. The planning team studied socioeconomic data and performance statistics for the Library System.  Based on this information and our current service profile, the team determined the mission and roles of Burke County Public Library, Inc. needed more focus to achieve excellent results on a consistent basis.  In pursuit of the Library’s emphasis on continuous improvement of programs, services, and collections, the long range planning team developed an ambitious five-year plan that was revised in 1998 and 1999.
After the planning team’s revision process was completed for 2000, we again recommend an institutional focus on lifelong learning services, collections, and programs to produce quality results on a first time, every time basis.
Burke County Public Library’s major focus will be to provide excellent services, collections, and programs for preschoolers, public school students, home school students, private school students and lifelong learners. Major performance criteria for Burke County Public Library during the next five years are as follows:
Register of 75% of Burke County elementary and middle school students as customers by 2005.
Involve of 50% of Burke County preschoolers as customers by 2004.
Increase customer satisfaction (80% or higher very satisfied or excellent) with Burke County Public Library by 2005.
Increase local per capita funding from $6.93 (FY 2000-2001) to $8.98 (FY 2004-2005).
Trustees and staff are committed to the continued success of Burke County Public Library by providing superior informational services, collections, and programs to all area citizens.

BUDGETARY PROJECTIONS FOR 2001-2005
Burke County Public Library, Inc. currently receives $122,906 from the City of Morganton, $460,897 from Burke County, and $30,726 from the Town of Valdese.  A total of $3,500 was also received from the towns of Glen Alpine, Drexel, and Rutherford College.  Local per capita funding for Burke County Public Library is $6.93 per capita for FY 2001-2002.

According to a four year funding plan for local governmental support, revenue is projected to increase in the following manner:
YEAR        Burke County        Morganton        Valdese        TOTAL
2001        $460,897                $122,906        $30,726        $614,529
2002        $510,897                $136,239        $34,060        $681,196
2003        $550,897                $146,906        $36,726        $734,529
2004        $578,845                $154,359        $38,590        $771,794

To meet the goals and objectives established in the Library system’s five year plan, it will be necessary to request that local government increase its commitment by $100,907 during FY 2004-2005 compared to FY 2003-2004.  With this increase, local government funding for Burke County Public Library would be approximately $8.98 per capita or $872,701.

Please note that the State average for local income per capita for 76 public library systems in North Carolina was $15.22 in FY 99-2000.  Burke County Public Library’s local income per capita for FY 99-2000 of $6.09 per capita was 150% below the State average.

The following budgetary premises have been utilized to project expenditures and revenues for the period of FY 2002-2003, FY 2003-2004, and FY 2004-2005.
1.        Local government funding for FY 2001-2002 through FY 2003-2004 based on four year funding plan.
2.        Funding from State Library projected to increase by $35,706 or 23% FY 2001-2002 compared to FY 2004-2005.
3.        Although an increase of $102,780 is projected for BCPFC grant during FY 2001-2002, current budgetary conditions at the State level may prohibit this large increase for next fiscal year.
4.        No increase in Public Library staff size during five year plan.
5.        Increase from 4% to 6% retirement benefit (% of gross wages paid by employer for retirement) for Library staff during FY 2002-2003 (if BCPL, Inc. is not a County Department).
6.        Average increase in health insurance of 20% per year during five year plan.
7.        Increases in health insurance will be passed to employees beginning FY 2002-2003 (if BCPL, Inc. is not a County Department).  It is estimated that employees of BCPL, Inc. will pay approximately $195 per month (out of pocket) for health insurance during FY 2004-2005.
8.        Expenditures for books will be $61,000 (FY 2002-2003), $61,000 if BCPL, Inc. (FY 2003-2004), $52,000 if County Department (FY 2003-2004),  $134,134 if BCPL, Inc. (FY 2004-2005) and $100,759 if County Department (FY 2003-2004).
9.        Salaries line item is projected to increase by 2% during FY 2002-2003, 6% during FY 2003-2004, and 3% during FY 2004-2005.  Library will assume funding responsibility for full-time position of LRS in FY 2003-2004.  Actual salaries for employees are only projected to increase by an average of 2.25% from FY 2001-2002 through FY 2004-2005.
10.     During the five year plan, special projects will include a new children’s department for Valdese Public Library, an expanded meeting room for Morganton Public Library, retirement of debt for former Simmons property, and a new automated system for Burke County Public Library.  Special revenue in excess of operational funds and fund balances for these projects is projected to be at least $629,000.
11.     Fund balance will decrease from $182,716 (FY 2000-2001) to between $24,000 and $9,000 by end of FY 2004-2005.

BACKGROUND AND OVERVIEW
Library service in Burke County may be traced to 1921 when the Morganton Woman’s Club agitated for a local public library and formed a library association.  Other clubs became interested, and in November 1923 the Morganton Public Library opened in one room of the second floor of a building on West Union Street.
Erected by the Kistler family and friends as a memorial to A.M. Kistler, Senior, a new Morganton Public Library on King Street was formally opened on October 16, 1935.   Renovation projects were implemented during 1958, 1980, and 1999.  The current facility is 18,064 square feet.
The Burke County Public Library also includes affiliate libraries in Valdese and Hildebran.  The public library in Hildebran opened in 1997 and contains 2,000 square feet on one level.  The Valdese Public Library is 6,181 square feet in size and was last renovated in 1988.  Burke County Public Library, Inc. also maintains an outreach services van for preschoolers and day care providers.

SERVICE AREA OF PUBLIC LIBRARY

NAME OF TOWN/CITY        2000 POPULATION
Morganton                                17,310
Valdese                          4,485
Drexel                          1,938
Connelly Springs                                  1,814
Hildebran                                  1,472
Rutherford College                                       1,293
Glen Alpine                                   1,090
Long View (part)                                       592
Rhodhiss (part)                                       366
Hickory (part)                                       143
For persons 25 years or older (as of 1990), educational attainment was as follows for Burke County:
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT        NUMBER        PERCENTAGE
Less than 9th grade                           9,413        19%
9th-12th grade, no diploma                        10,603        21%
High school graduate        14,232        28%
Some college, no degree                          7,207        14%
Associate degree                                 3,442          7%
Baccalaureate degree                         3,539          7%
Graduate or professional degree                1,787                  4%
(Educational attainment statistics will be updated in early 2002)

As of 2000, the following age groups (estimated) resided in Burke County
:
AGE                        PERCENTAGE
0-4 years                                6.6%
5-9 years                                6.4%
10-14 years                                6.5%
15-19 years                                6.4%
20-24 years                                5.6%
25-29 years                                6.2%
30-34 years                                7.5%
35-39 years                                7.5%
40-44 years                                7.7%
45-49 years                                7.2%
50-54 years                                7.0%
55-59 years                                5.9%
60-64 years                                4.9%
65-69 years                                4.4%
70-74 years                                3.6%
75-79 years                                3.1%
80-84 years                                2.0%
85 year plus                                1.6%
TOTAL                        100%

The County population for Burke has increased from 75,740 in 1990 to 89,148 in 2000.  This represents an increase of 13,404 or 18%.
20% of Burke County households have an income of $50,000 or more.  This compares to 27% of North Carolina households with an effective buying income of $50,000 or more.  The median household effective income for Burke County was $30,218 during 1999 compared to the median household income of $32,300 for North Carolina.

BURKE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY’S CUSTOMER SURVEY RESULTS
According to a user survey conducted at the Morganton Public Library and Valdese Library in 1998, the average customer is female, age 30-39, and college educated. The average patron used the Public Library at least once per month and 41% of customers frequented the Burke County Public Library system at least once per week. A more recent customer questionnaire conducted in 2000 at Morganton Public Library revealed that 69% of current patrons rated overall services and collections as excellent.   Morganton Public Library’s overall rating for excellence has increased 97% since 1996 when only 35% of customers rated services and collections as excellent.

MISSION OF THE BURKE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Through collaboration and community involvement, the Burke County Public Library system provides free and equal access to information, knowledge of new technologies, lifelong learning opportunities, and the joys of reading for a diverse community of users.  Our major focus is to provide excellent services, collections, and programs for preschoolers, public school students, home school students, private school students, and lifelong learners.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF THE BURKE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY

Through the following guiding principles, your public library will:
Provide free public access to print information and new technologies
Teach customers to use these new technologies
Provide school students with research skills
Provide learning opportunities through innovative and educational programming
Plan future services in collaboration with area citizens

ROLES OF THE BURKE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
The Burke County Public Library will serve as a learning support center, popular materials center, and community activities center.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE BURKE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY

To fulfill its three major roles, the Public Library identified goals and objectives associated with these major roles to be achieved during the next five years.

I.  MAJOR ROLE FOR BURKE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY

Burke County Public Library will serve as a learning support center for area customers.

SERVICE GOAL A
Burke County Public Library will provide lifelong learning support services for customers to facilitate personal growth and will provide assistance for students enrolled in public schools, private schools, or home schools to achieve academic excellence as defined by standards, benchmarks, and competencies.

SERVICE OBJECTIVE 1 FOR GOAL A
Increase customer satisfaction with general informational services provided by Burke County Public Library from 85% (excellent rating) in 2000 to 95% (excellent rating) by 2004.

ACTION STEPS FOR SERVICE OBJECTIVE 1
1. Increase materials budget for Information Services Department at Morganton Public Library by 100% from $5,000 (FY 2000-2001) to $10,000 (FY 2004-2005).
2. Replace microcomputers as per schedule proposed in Library’s Computer Equipment Upgrade Policy Statement through FY 2004-2005.
3. Add position of Information Services Librarian at Morganton Public Library during FY 2000-2001.
4. Increase number of online public access workstations from 6 (FY 99-2000) to 18 (FY 2000-2001).
5. Provide free access for Burke County Public Library customers to other public library collections in Unifour area by FY 2004-2005.
6. Plan, develop, and implement a comprehensive staff development program for all employees of Burke County Public Library through FY 2004-2005.
7. Plan, develop, and implement limited email reference service to customers during FY 2002-2003.
8. Upgrade existing automated system with revised hardware and software during FY 2001-2002.
9. Create Gates Foundation Training Lab at Valdese Public Library during FY 2001-2002.
10. Increase DYNIX user licenses by 30% by FY 2003-2004 to accommodate growth in public access microcomputers for Valdese Public Library and Morganton Public Library.
11.  Plan, develop, and implement a five-year technology plan (2001-2005) for anticipated expenses associated with telecommunications expenses, hardware replacement
and software upgrades associated with the automated library system and public Internet access.
12.  Plan, develop, and implement (beginning FY 2001-2002) Level III, “Literacy Leaders” component of Children’s Library Outreach to Day Care project through FY 2004-2005.

SERVICE OBJECTIVE 2 FOR GOAL A
Register 75% or approximately 8,000 elementary and middle school students as Library customers by 2005.  Register 75% of home school students or approximately 300 students as Library customers by 2004.

ACTION STEPS SERVICE OBJECTIVE 2
1. Continue implementation of comprehensive registration drive for public school students, private school students, and home school students through FY 2005.
2. Increase book budget for Youth Services Department of Morganton Public Library by 50% from $38,000 (FY 2000-2001) to $57,000 (FY 2004-2005).
3. Increase registration for summer reading program by 50% from 1,600 (FY 99-2000) to 2,400 (FY 2004-2005).
4. Increase registration for YA summer reading program by 100% from 70 (FY 99-2000) to 140 (FY 2003-2004)
5.  Maintain reading clubs for ages 6-12 at Morganton Public Library FY 2001-2002 through FY 2004-2005.  Expand reading clubs for ages 6-12 to Valdese Public Library and C. B. Hildebrand Public Library by FY 2004-2005.

SERVICE GOAL B
As a discovery place for parents and children, the Burke County Public Library will instill in every preschooler a love of reading and active learning.

SERVICE OBJECTIVE FOR GOAL B

The Burke County Public Library will involve 50% of preschoolers as customers by 2004.

ACTION STEPS FOR SERVICE OBJECTIVE

1.  Plan, develop, and implement expansion project for meeting room at Morganton Public Library during FY 2002-2003.
2. Add position of Youth Services Librarian for Morganton Public Library during FY 2001-2002.
3. Increase number of programs delivered by Youth Services staff for BCPL by 30% from 871 (FY 99-2000) to 1,132 (FY 2004-2005).
4. Increase audience for Youth Services programs by 30% from 15,784 9FY 99-2000) to 20,519 (FY 2004-2005).
5. Design, develop, and implement marketing campaign to increase utilization of Library services by  preschoolers, parents, caregivers, and day care providers during FY 2001- 2002.
6. Provide theme boxes, books, story times, and educational classes for day care providers and preschoolers (Children’s Library Outreach to Day Care project) through FY 2004-2005.
7.  Assume funding responsibility for position of Library Resource Specialist (“Launching Literacy” component of Children’s Library Outreach to Day care project) during FY 2003-2004.
8.  Plan, develop, and implement a project to attract hispanic parents and children to the Library for programs and collections during FY 2001-2002.
9.  Plan, develop, and implement new children’s room for Valdese Public Library during FY 2002-2003.

II.  MAJOR ROLE FOR BURKE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Burke County Public Library will serve as a popular materials center for area customers.

SERVICE GOAL
Burke County Public Library will provide popular materials in all formats relevant to the recreational needs of area customers.

SERVICE OBJECTIVE
Increase customer satisfaction with books, audio cassettes, video cassettes, magazines, and newspapers from 35% (excellent rating) in 2000 to 80% (excellent rating) by 2005.

ACTION STEPS FOR SERVICE OBJECTIVE

1. Increase local per capita funding from $6.93 (FY 2000-2001) or $619,529 to $8.98 (FY 2004-2005) or $867,701.
2. Increase book budget for adult customers by 50% from $44,756 (FY 2000-2001) to $67,134 (FY 2004-2005).
3. Increase audiovisual budget by 200% from $5,252 (FY 2000-2001) to $15,756 (FY 2004-2005).
4. Increase periodicals budget by 50% from $12,065 (FY 2000-2001) to $18,098 (FY 2004-2005).
5. Conduct customer satisfaction surveys and focus groups on annual basis from FY 2000-2001 through FY 2004-2005.
6. Market collections for adult customers through all available media outlets in service area during next five years.
7.  Plan, develop, and implement a scheme to utilize community volunteers for Library support services during FY 2001-2002.
8. Increase percentage of collection (adult fiction and adult nonfiction) published within last five years to at least 40% of total collection (adult fiction and adult nonfiction) by 2005.

III.  MAJOR ROLE FOR BURKE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Burke County Public Library will serve as a community activities center for area customers.

SERVICE GOAL
Provide quality programs for adults that will meet their educational, recreational, and cultural needs.

SERVICE OBJECTIVE
Achieve customer satisfaction with adult programs of at least 80% (excellent rating) by FY 2003-2004.

ACTION STEPS FOR SERVICE OBJECTIVE

1.  Establish library foundation in FY 2001-2002 to defray expenses for adult programming in FY 2002-2003, 2003-2004, and 2004-2005.
2.  Contract for adult programming graphic design services and adult programming marketing services for FY 2001-2002, 2002-2003, 2003-2004, and 2004-2005.
3.  Plan, develop, and implement a schedule of educational seminars, programs, and classes for adults beginning FY 2001-2002 through FY 2004-2005.
4.  Market schedule of adult classes, programs, and seminars through organized marketing campaign through FY 2004-2005.
5.  Develop liaisons for cooperative adult programming with various local groups, agencies, and institutions beginning FY 2002-2003 through FY 2004-2005.
6.  Develop and market a yearly report for customers to increase patron awareness of Library programming, services, and achievements through FY 2004-2005.
7.  Plan, develop, and implement organized campaign during FY 2002-2003 to register at least 40% of adults in Burke County, 20 years and older, as Library customers by 2005.
8.  Plan, develop, and implement a project to digitize photographs relevant to the history of Burke County in cooperation with Burke County Historical Society, Burke County Genealogical Society, and the State Library of North Carolina beginning FY 2001-2002 through FY 2004-2005.

FOLLOW-UP
The planning team and trustees will review the Library’s progress concerning achievement of goals, objectives, and action steps listed in this document.
Citizens of Burke County are invited to comment on this plan for Burke County Public Library, Inc.

Please direct your comments to members of the planning team:
Ms. Lyvonne Ellison, Trustee
Ms. Cindy Coleman, Citizen
Mr. Steve Farlow, Executive Director
Mr. Jim Wilson, Assistant Director for Library Operations
Ms. Valerie Poust, Assistant Director for Youth Services and Marketing
Ms. Rhea Hebert, Branch Librarian
Ms. Wendy Evans, Information Services Department Head
Mr. Kevin Unrath, Information Services Librarian