Strategic Plan 2016-19 Midpoint Progress Report

Strategic Plan 2016-2019 January 2018 Midpoint Progress Report

OUR VISION

We enhance the quality of life for our entire community.

OUR MISSION

We help our customers learn, create and share.

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Projects | Enhance the Customer Experience

Our customers are happier, smarter and more productive by interacting with us.

GOAL 1 RICHLAND LIBRARY WILL BE A PREFERRED DESTINATION AND POINT OF PRIDE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

OUTCOME: The community has an increased awareness of the library’s value.

Revise meeting room policies and include outdoor spaces so that customers can present, play and share freely.

128%

increase in room reservations at renovated locations.

Now available for tutoring, job interviews, small business meetings.

OUTCOME: Richland Library is present in communities in surprising and unconventional ways.

Lower Richland Library Summer Partnership

407% increase in attendance over 2016

Renovated the DJJ Library and donated 1507 books

Intentionally increase the library’s media presence via marketing and public relations.

2121 media mentions, a

45% increase over previous year

53,988,200 impressions, a

29% increase over previous year

OUTCOME: Our customers and partners co-create and present programs and learning opportunities in our libraries.

Partnering with the Women’s Rights and Empowerment Network (WREN) to host community conversations on a variety of issues, including sexual harassment, work, financial security, and health care access.

Left: Richland Library Ballentine Below: Richland Library Cooper Teen Space

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Walker Local and Family History Center Digital Collection Top Left: Freedom Rider B. Elton Cox, 1961 4 Bottom Left: Faculty at Five Points School, 1988

Top Right: Aerial view of the State House and downtown Columbia, 1976 Bottom Right: Entertainers rehearse at the State Fair, 1955

Projects | Enhance the Customer Experience

Our customers are happier, smarter and more productive by interacting with us.

GOAL 2 MAKE IT MORE CONVENIENT AND ENJOYABLE TO INTERACT WITH THE LIBRARY. OUTCOME: Existing customers use more of our library programs, collections and services.

Local History is digitizing thousands of photos from The State that otherwise might have been lost forever. Library customers can access these previously unavailable images through our Walker Local and Family History Center Digital Collections.

OUTCOME: Our commitment to an enhanced customer experience guides and informs the design of all services, projects and initiatives.

Finalized the Service Needs Assessment document on Lower Richland and Edgewood library needs and distributed to county council and other stakeholders, compiling our research into the needs of the community and our plans moving forward.

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boxes containing countless images from 1955–2000

2,000 digital images cataloged by the end of 2018.

700

images have been scanned and uploaded to date

Right: Staff utilizing service design techniques to improve customer service.

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Projects | Engage Our Team Our culture of caring and learning creates a workplace where staff find personal meaning in their work and feel they are making a difference in the community.

GOAL 1 BE THE MOST PROGRESSIVE AND SOUGHT-AFTER EMPLOYER IN THE COUNTRY. OUTCOME: The diversity of library staff, in its many forms, increases to further an inclusive culture.

Since July 1, 2016

40%

increase in non-white management staff.

OUTCOME: Staff are rewarded and recognized for their accomplishments.

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National Awards

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Richland Library won the 2017 National Medal for Museum and Library Service presented by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

OUTCOME: Policies and practices support a work-life balance that results in engaged staff and loyal customers.

In memory of our beloved Valerie Rowe-Jackson, we implemented Project Play to promote staff engagement.

New and improved policies: paid FMLA and combined PTO

Lowest staff turnover in 21 years.

“Helps relieve stress, makes work fun, and I have learned things that I eventually used as a part of my job.”

OUTCOME: Staff are empowered with the tools and knowledge to excel in their work.

State Awards 23 supervisors participated in Learning Circles — staff meet together to watch online classes, discuss in real time with real library scenarios.

Left: Banners line Main Street announcing the award given to Richland Library of the 2017 National Medal for Museum and Library Service

6142.35 Hours of staff training overall

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Projects | Engage Our Team Our culture of caring and learning creates a workplace where staff find personal meaning in their work and feel they are making a difference in the community.

GOAL 2 STAFF ARE INVESTED IN THE COMMUNITY AND COMMITTED TO THE MISSION OF THE LIBRARY. OUTCOME: Staff are encouraged to pursue, develop and share special interests and talents.

Learning Engagement developed the #staffitup initiative to encourage staff to participate in the library’s learning opportunities on work time.

We’ve had

145

occurrences of #staffitup.

OUTCOME: Staff serve as respected experts in a variety of fields and are consulted for their talents and expertise.

Staff led service design workshops in the community for EngenuitySC, DoGood Columbia, Historic Columbia, Vista Guild, Oktoberfest Columbia, and Center City Partnership

“I also got a chance to experience first-hand some of the skills and approaches that your staff employ, based on the strategic (and tactical) goals that you have in regard to engaging this public … you all are doing a lot right and I can tell that it is something that occurs across the board!”

— John Sherrer, Director of Cultural Resources, Historic Columbia

Left: Richland Library St. Andrews Librarian Rod Franco with vegetables from their Teen Gardening event Above: A Girls Rock Columbia participant

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Richland County Chairperson Joyce Dickerson

Projects | Advance Our Community Our Richland Library is a vital partner and catalyst for bringing diverse peoples together to solve community problems. We believe that continuous, customized learning for all ages is the foundation for a strong economy and high quality of life.

GOAL 1 HELP CREATE A STRONG AND RESILIENT ECONOMY. OUTCOME: We are viewed as valued partners to elected officials and business leaders in support of economic and community development.

OUTCOME: Jobseekers and entrepreneurs see the library as vital to their employment, career and business development aspirations.

Hosted several Town Halls with elected officials so that they can meet with their constituents.

398 programs with 2,956 attendees • Franchise ownership • Small Business Administration • Becoming a certified minority business contractor

OUTCOME: Library facility improvements serve as catalysts for greater investment in neighborhoods and increased opportunities for residents.

OUTCOME: We help grow and support creative individuals and communities within the county.

Richland Library Main now hosts 1 Million Cups, a free program designed to educate, engage, and connect entrepreneurs with their communities. Since its move to the library, 1,275 people have attended, many of whom hadn’t been to a library in years.

Richland Library North Main hosted Finding Your Voice – Music Entrepreneur Group • 17 participants • 90 attendees at the showcase • 3 partners • 8 special guest instructors

“I enjoy the opportunity to network and learn from the strengths and limitations of other business owners.”

SUCCESS STORY

Alhamisi Grimes (stage name OG Ko) is a military veteran. The Finding Your Voice Music Entrepreneur Group helped him develop as an artist and entrepreneur and gave him a platform to share his music.

After participating in FYVMEG, he now has an album on iTunes, has received his first profits from his music, and is collaborating with other artists.

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Projects | Advance Our Community Our Richland Library is a vital partner and catalyst for bringing diverse peoples together to solve community problems. We believe that continuous, customized learning for all ages is the foundation for a strong economy and high quality of life.

GOAL 2 STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY COHESION. OUTCOME: There are an increased number of opportunities for diverse groups of people to convene, communicate and learn together.

As a response to racial unrest after the Charleston Shooting, the library began a Social Awareness Taskforce • 12 diverse staff members, trained to lead difficult discussions • 11 community forums • 4 book clubs • 350 attendees • 1000 attendees at Bryan Stevenson event for his book Just Mercy Attendees are clamoring for more sessions, leave feeling more hopeful about their communities, and motivated to get more proximate with their neighbors.

OUTCOME: Public, non-profit and private sectors convene at the library in an effort to solve community problems.

OUTCOME: Neighborhoods recognize and celebrate their assets and strengthen their identities.

North Main Finding Your Voice Fashion Show brought together community members to present appropriate work and interview-wear, showcasing community models and business partners, and giving each attendee clothing to take home.

• 120 people attended • 12 community partners • 1200 pieces of clothing donated • 22 volunteer models

Ensuring that each renovation budget included 1% for public art showcases local artists and involves the community in the process.

Richland Library Main Artists in Residence program showcases local artists and displays their work in the new Gallery • Four 3-month residencies so far

Do Good Columbia convened 60 artists, entrepreneurs, community activists and river enthusiasts to re-envision Columbia’s access and enjoyment of the rivers using service design techniques. Partners provided capital and project management to execute the winning idea.

Left: Finding Your Voice Fashion Show participant

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Projects | Advance Our Community Our Richland Library is a vital partner and catalyst for bringing diverse peoples together to solve community problems. We believe that continuous, customized learning for all ages is the foundation for a strong economy and high quality of life.

GOAL 3 TRANSFORM EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES FOR YOUTH. OUTCOME: The level of access to high quality out-of-school time opportunities increases.

Richland Library convened over 300 Read to Succeed Summer Camp district coordinators from all over the state to illuminate best practices and improve outcomes for children not reading on grade level.

• 73 attendees improved their camps because of something they learned • 78% of the attendees rated the value of the information as Very Valuable • State Department of Education will sustain the program because the initial symposium was so highly successful and praised.

OUTCOME: Partnerships and services that support the path from high school to careers and college are strengthened.

Teen Center turned a $10,000 grant from First Citizens into

$42,000

worth of ACT/SAT test prep for 105 students.

OUTCOME: Parents and caregivers have the knowledge and support necessary to help their children be successful in school.

2016 Project Summer Stride students averaged 4 points higher than their control group peers on standardized tests

The 2017 Summer Learning Challenge provided the unique opportunity to showcase astronomy and eclipse-based programming • 479 attendees at 13 special eclipse-related programs • 23,057 SLC participants, 8% increase over last year.

• 4,614 attendees at all SLC programs.

• Distributed 35,000 pairs of solar glasses.

• On August 18 alone we handed out 9,000 in 2 ½ hours! Many folks commented that they hadn’t been to the library in years.

Left: Read to Succeed Symposium Above: Sunspotters at Richland Library Ballentine

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16 An Alvin S. Glenn detainee participating in the Life Skills program presented by Richland Library

Projects | Advance Our Community Our Richland Library is a vital partner and catalyst for bringing diverse peoples together to solve community problems. We believe that continuous, customized learning for all ages is the foundation for a strong economy and high quality of life.

GOAL 4 HELP BREAK THE CYCLE OF POVERTY. OUTCOME: Partnerships with service providers are created and strengthened, eliminating barriers for those customers with specific, basic needs.

Over 500 diapers donated by staff and the community to Power in Changing, a local nonprofit, and our only diaper bank. We accept diapers at Sandhills and Main. Power in Changing provides them to the community in a gift bag with toys and clothes - for free.

OUTCOME: Learning outcomes and access to educational opportunities of those living in poverty in Richland County are increased.

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Learn Freely Bus Route frequently stops at Columbia Housing Authority sites to provide wifi, books, storytime and more.

550 children received books through the Books to Boys and Books to Girls partnership with the Mayor’s Office

Prison Life Skills program offers hope to the incarcerated.

“There is no doubt in my mind that the impact of this brief program has not only changed my life, but also the lives of my four beautiful children.”

Below: Mayor Steve Benjamin at the Books to Girls event

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Produced in January 2018, this document highlights progress on many of our Strategic Plan goals.