East Lansing Public Library FY2023 Action Plan

Date: July 2022

Mission

The East Lansing Public Library (ELPL) provides a place and resources where people gather to share information and ideas to enrich lives and foster community.

Vision

The East Lansing Public Library enriches, connects and transforms lives through knowledge and innovation.

Core Values

  • Accessibility
  • Community
  • Innovation
  • Knowledge

The following action items support the ELPL core values.

Accessibility

  • Start phase 2 of the site work and the installation of the interactive children’s garden in the spring of 2023
  • Create and adopt a library accessibility policy for elpl.org
  • Train staff on accessibility best practices for programming and marketing
  • Develop sensory-friendly maker and STEAM programming events to better accommodate neurodiverse patrons and their families
  • Investigate circulating streaming sticks and devices at ELPL
  • Partner with local international students and families to provide bilingual storytime quarterly
  • Investigate, create, and facilitate passive programming for outreach
  • Continue reviving outreach efforts and visits with childcare facilities
  • Enhance the Library of Things (telescopes, diversity kits)
  • Continue with the diversity audit of the collection; investigate using Ingrams collection audit service
  • Review and update policies to be more inclusive; this will be ongoing
  • Install a Little Free Library in the southside lobby of the Marriott where the Michigan Flyer loads and unloads
  • Install an electronic sign on the corner of Abbot Road and Library Lane to more easily and in a timely fashion advertise library events
  • Enhance the digital collections; investigate additional digital platforms and the possibility of the Overdrive Advantage Plan

Community

  • Continue to work on ELPL being an equitable, diverse, accessible and belonging environment
  • Develop the Community-building Committee as a staff-led change committee focused on DEI and community-building initiatives
  • Hire a consultant to work with the staff, library board and community members to develop, write and implement a new strategic plan
  • Host National Night Out in partnership with the ELPD in August 2022
  • Host East Lansing Welcomes the World in the fall of 2022
  • Create and revamp fundraisers; Books, Bites and Bids
  • Organize the library’s social media presence by going through all channels and creating consistency in playlists, who the official library page likes and follows, overall public impression, community interactions, etc
  • Create blog posts for families and caregivers regarding programs, as needed and in accordance with social media plan
  • Revive and create bi-monthly e-newsletters for patrons
  • Develop a film series to replace Monday Movie matinees for adults
  • Explore further ways to engage with patrons through email communications i.e., using Patron Point
  • Launch a library Tiktok account to expand teen reach and build a stronger sense of community
  • Purchase supplies for and create the Conscious Child: Family Book Discussion Kits (diversity reading kits) for circulation
  • Investigate grants and resources for developing age-relevant Race Discussion family kits for circulation, collaborating with DEI entities to cover missing intersectionalities
  • Determine best location to install a permanent storywalk in downtown East Lansing or at a city park
  • Explore resources for elementary and pre-k rotating classroom collection or similar outreach program
  • Determine location for remote library kiosk or additional library locker system to expand access of materials in community

Innovation

  • Organize regular programming meetings so staff can collaborate on ideas for programs, promotion and implementation
  • Establish automatic item renewal in Sierra
  • Implement electronic invoice processing in Sierra
  • Research purchasing a library card printer
  • Investigate options for new gate counting system
  • Investigate and determine if it is cost effective for the library to pursue adoption of an alternative ILS
  • Investigate a partnership with ELPS to develop a program to automatically sign students up for library cards via their student ID
  • Pursue grants to expand and modernize the maker technologies and STEAM resources of the Maker Studio
  • Complete the interactive mural on the exterior of the northwest wall
  • Purchase and upgrade end-of-life technology in the library including Chromebooks and staff/public computers
  • Reimagine and reopen the Maker Studio Recording Studio
  • Continue work on implementing a mobile app for the library
  • Install and make operational the AWE Early Literacy Station (ELS)
  • Restore remainder of pre-pandemic technology in public areas of the library (computers, iPads)

Knowledge

  • Create a social media policy outlining how ELPL’s online space is used, and sets standards for staff access and posting roles
  • Implement a strong media campaign about how essential ELPL is to the community
  • Write a proactive crisis communications plan and talking points
  • Train library staff on branding and marketing guidelines
  • Revive the Director’s Cut podcast, researching the current best platforms for podcasts
  • Create a digital literacy learning plan for staff
  • Develop a science seminar series bringing researchers from Michigan State University (MSU) to the library to talk about their work in accessible and engaging ways for a public audience
  • Develop and implement more diverse programs for all ages
  • Host a poetry workshop for children in the fall
  • Explore and develop a “Thoughtful Kids/Philosophy for kids” series of programs to help young thinkers develop critical thinking and logical reasoning skills while exploring important topics (like the Social Justice Reading Group for Kids program
  • Send staff to in-person professional development opportunities
  • Continue to cross train staff on various library departments and duties
  • Continue to work with East Lansing Public Schools to coordinate library visits, reflect curriculum needs and to train school staff and students on library databases
  • Participate in city-wide safety and security committee; create documents and trainings specific to the library
  • Consolidate online staff resources (calendars, policies, procedures, intranet) into a single shared program or application (Microsoft Teams/Office 365)
  • Implement a staff communication and project management application (Microsoft Teams)
  • Create and promote teacher collections
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