Okaloosa County BOCC — September 1, 2015 — Okaloosa Strategic Plan 2014-2016

Okaloosa County Public Library Cooperative Strategic Plan for 2014 – 2016 Adopted by the OCPLC governing board on August 28, 2013 www.readokaloosa.org 1 OUR MISSION The Okaloosa County Public Library Cooperative (OCPLC) provides convenient, free access to information, ideas, books and technology that enriches, educates and empowers the residents of Okaloosa County. OUR VISION The Okaloosa County Public Library Cooperative will foster the spirit of exploration, the joy of reading, and the pursuit of knowledge for all ages and cultures. It will offer individual enlightenment in every aspect of information and technology in a welcoming environment that provides challenge, collaboration and entertainment through proactive service that exceeds customer expectations. OUR PHILOSOPHY The Okaloosa County Public Library Cooperative values free public access to information resources collected to satisfy all segments of our service area, provided through exceptionally personal and innovative public service. We recognize and respect diversity of cultures, thinking, literacy, learning styles, age, background and talents. We recognize the value of rapidly changing technological, economic, political and social environments, and strive to incorporate the changes wherever it is feasible and appropriate for our library culture and operations. Lunch & used book sale, Mary Esther Library Fort Walton Beach Library celebrates the facility’s 10th anniversary. 2 Understanding library users guides our strategy: Surveys of library customers provide insight into how people use libraries, their expectations for service, and how they view the importance of libraries. We use this data to ensure we are providing the most-desired services, and to benchmark our libraries against those across the nation. National comparison positions us to meet the needs of people moving into our county as well as the needs of current residents. Of the 53% of Americans who visited a library or bookmobile in the past 12 months, the % who have done the following activities Borrow print books 73% Browse the shelves for books or media 73% Research topics of interest 54% Get help from a librarian 50% Sit, read, and study, or watch or listen to 49% Use a research database 46% Attend or bring a younger person to a class, program or 41% event designed for children or teens Borrow a DVD or videotape of a movie or TV program 40% Read or check out printed magazines or newspapers 31% Use library computers or WiFi connection 26% Attend a meeting of a group 23% Attend a class, program, or lecture for adults 21% Borrow or download an audio book 17% Borrow a music CD 16% Data source: Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Library Services Survey of 2,252 people age 16 and older conducted October 15-November 10, 2012. The survey was conducted in English and Spanish and on landline and cell phones. http://libraries.pewinte