Friday Follow-up – Focus Groups Start Strong for 2017 – 2021 Plan of Service

June 17, 2016 By Melissa Morrissey With no comments yet
Friday Follow-up:
a weekly message from Brian M. Hildreth, STLS Executive Director
Focus Groups Start Strong for 2017 – 2021 Plan of Service
 
Trustees and directors from Angelica, Bolivar, Richburg, Scio, Whitesville and Wellsville were very excited to stand for a picture after working for 3 hours on developing library and system services, which address community social issues.

 

Two things that motivate me most are fear and frustration. “Fear” challenges me to engage in activities that are completely out of my comfort zone. Great things can happen when we participate in the unknown. “Frustration” motivates me to fix things that are broken. We start to focus on solutions when we recognize shortcomings in our specific activities.

 

I know this is a strange way to start a Friday Follow-up, but after leading 2 of 5 STLS Plan of Service Focus Groups… I can’t help but feel motivated by the ideas and solutions of our member libraries.

 

On Tuesday, June 7th our first Focus Group was held at the David A. Howe Public Library in Wellsville. The participating libraries represented some of the smaller communities in our region. Their challenges are similar to most public libraries, but they also maintain unique obstacles. The rural library with one or two librarians does not exist in suburban or urban centers. So, how does the small rural library provide equitable community impacts?

 

Representatives from Angelica, Bolivar, Richburg, Scio, Wellsville and Whitesville assisted STLS in developing solutions to community challenges that might prove beneficial to small rural communities. They also identified member library services along with system services that are necessary over the next five years.

 

Cathy Fuller of Bolivar helps identify library system services with her Focus Group teammates.

 

Janice Porter of Wellsville takes notes for her Focus Group team as they align system services with high priority library services.

 

Our second Focus Group took place this past Wednesday at Dormann Library in Bath. There was a great mix of directors, staff and trustees lending a voice to mid-size libraries. Participating communities were: Bath, Cuba, Cohocton, Dundee, Hornell, Watkins Glen and Wayland. The 17 attendees’ recognized library services that assist communities with health care, transportation and legal assistance as most important. They also established how STLS can help facilitate such services. We have much work to do!

 

Margo Gustina gets all three Focus Group teams ready for the final leg of planning at Dorman Library.

 

Identifying solutions to Southern Tier community social issues was probably my most favorite exercise of the morning.

 

Lorie Brown does a fantastic job leading her team of representatives from  Bath, Dundee, Hornell and Wayland.

 

The next Focus Group will take place at STLS Headquarters with our largest libraries. My amazing project team, which includes Lorie Brown, Margo Gustina and Al Oliveras look forward to meeting with trustees, staff and directors from CCLD, SSCL, Penn Yan and Wellsville. We also can’t wait to meet with the remaining member libraries to finalize the information gathering process for the 2017 – 2021 Plan of Service. The ultimate goal is to enrich the quality of life for all Southern Tier residents through fantastic public library services.

 

If you haven’t yet registered for your library’s Focus Group, please click here for a schedule of time, date and location. Your participation is truly valued.

Have a great weekend, STLS. Enjoy what seems to be summer!

Kindest Regards,

Brian Hildreth, Executive Director
Southern Tier Library System

Follow me on Twitter: @comlibpartner
Read past Friday Follow-ups: http://www.stls.org/blog