THE FUTURE OF

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THE FUTURE OF PUBLIC LIBRARY SERVICES IN
MAHONING COUNTY December 2003

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STRATEGICPLAN
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How can the Library best use its limited
resources to maximize the quality and quantity
of the library and information services it
offers to the people of Mahoning County?
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Strategic planning starts by examining the
issues that stand in the way of success. In
other words, what might prevent the Library from
serving the people of the area well.
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Over the last few months, a group made up of
Library Board members, Library staff, and
representatives of the general public have been
meeting to look at the future of the Public
Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County
(PLYMC).
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Theyve been working hard to create a plan that
is both practical and progressive visionary
and responsible.
Its harder than it might seem!
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The Planning Committee has established some goals
that make a lot of sense. Unfortunately, some of
them call for some tough decisions.
Weve been asked to help the Library work
through some of those tough decisions. Thats
why were here.
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Since the Library exists to serve the people of
Mahoning County, the Library wants to make
sure that the people have a say in the decisions
that are made.
Thats why YOURE here!
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Lets start with a couple of facts.
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The Countys Population has declined

But Library USE has INCREASED!
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Strategic Issues What are the major
issues that the Public Library of Youngstown
and Mahoning County (PLYMC) must face in the
next 5 years?
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FUNDING State revenues have declined
significantly in recent years and will not
increase for several years (if ever).
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FACILITIES The Public Library of Youngstown and
Mahoning County has a large number of facilities
given its population and many of these buildings
are old.
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CUSTOMER EXPECTATIONS Customer expectations have
increased significantly in recent years.
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ANTI-TAX MOOD The general mood regarding
increased local taxation is negative while the
mood toward increased taxes for library purposes
is, at best, mixed.
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People WANT more but the MONEY to pay for what
the public wants is hard to get!
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GOAL The PLYMC will provide high quality
library and information services from highly
efficient facilities that are safe, attractive,
well-equipped, well-staffed and conveniently
located throughout Mahoning County.
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GOAL The PLYMC will be an exceptionally good
steward of public funds.
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• PLYMC has a lot of libraries!
• PLYMC has 19 locations
• (Main and 18 Branches)
• Thats one library for
• every 13,327 people

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Each library building needs a collection of
materials, staff, furniture, equipment, a roof,
a furnace, etc., etc., etc.
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Some Comparisons Chicago - 1 bldg. for 37,349
people Cincinnati - 1 bldg. for 19,867 people
Toledo - 1 bldg. for 25,145 people PLYMC - 1
bldg. for 13,327 people
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Facilities Applying PLYMC ratio to
Chicago Chicago (has 78 locations) Would have
218 if it had the same ratio as PLYMC!
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Facilities Applying PLYMC ratio to Toledo Toledo
(has 18 locations) Would have 34 if it had the
same ratio as PLYMC!
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The Struthers and Brownlee Woods Libraries are
only 2 miles apart.
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180,000 people live within a 20 minute drive of
Canfield.
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The North Branch Library is less than 1.25 miles
from the Main Library.
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Facilities Practical to build branches to Serve
30,000 people or more Austintown - 36,923
(estimate) Boardman - 28,226 (estimate)
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Number of Items Borrowed in 2002.
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Ten Libraries Make Up 90 of ALL USE.
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Facilities If PLYMC had one library for every
30,000 people, it would only have 8 or 9
branches Ideal in some ways, but perhaps not
practical because of geography and natural
barriers.
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Conveniently Located? Whats REASONABLE to
expect in terms of travel time? 10 minutes
walking? 10 minutes driving? 15 minutes
walking? 15 minutes driving?
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Some branches serve as few as 2,000 people while
others serve 30,000 or more. Some branches
circulate as few as 8 items per hour open while
others check out more than 120 per hour. Some
branches have as few as 4 visitors per hour open
while as many as an average of 65 persons per
hour open visit other branches.
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What IS practical for PLYMC? Reducing the number
of branches? Replacing some branches? Updating
some branches? Combining some branches? Fewer,
but larger buildings? More services offered
off-site?
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What criteria should be used to make the
decisions? Who needs to be involved? How can
residents of the areas a farther away from the
libraries be served adequately?
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What are YOUR ideas for Offering high quality
library Services at an affordable price?
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Bill Wilson Himmel Wilson, Library
Consultants 417 E. High St. Milton, WI
53563 [phone] Voice [phone]
FAX [phone] or [phone]
Mobile himmel_at_libraryconsultant.com wilson_at_library
consultant.com