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29 <br />Orange County Public Library Strategic Plan 2013 -2016 <br />Executive Summary <br />Funded by the North Carolina State Library, Dr. Anthony Chow, a state library consultant, helped <br />conduct a community needs analysis (CNA) for the Orange County Public Library (OCPL) over a three <br />month period from September to November 2012. This was followed up by a comprehensive four <br />month strategic planning process that took place from January to April 2013. Approximately 500 <br />community members participated in the initial community needs analysis (involving interviews of <br />community leaders (n =11), community forums (n =4), two staff focus groups, and online and hard copy <br />survey responses gathered both inside the library and outside in the community) and another 300 <br />members participated in nine community focus groups and hard copy and online surveys focused on <br />community input into the strategic plan. <br />The State of Public Libraries <br />The arrival of the information age has actually led to an increase in the use of public libraries across the <br />nation and diversified the way libraries are being used. A recent Pew study funded by the Bill and <br />Melinda Gates Foundation found that 60% of American youth 16 through 29 still visit libraries' and total <br />per capita visits and circulation have seen a steady increase in North Carolina libraries since 20002. Fifty - <br />nine percent of Americans used a public library in the past 12 months and their primary uses were <br />browsing (73%), borrowing print books (73%), conducting research (54%), and seeking help from a <br />librarian (50%)3. A series of North Carolina community needs assessments found they prioritize five <br />primary services — books and other print and non -print material to read, children and youth <br />programming, technology use and access, library as place, and education and self - enlightenment (Chow, <br />2013). <br />eel° —Aw 15 min. mi, <br />Demographics and Needs <br />_� <br />I, <br />21St Century Libraries <br />The library needs of people differ across age, race, socio- <br />economic status, regional location, etc. The information <br />age has brought with it the age of data and the ability for <br />organizations and information systems to be more <br />responsive and agile in meeting the unique needs of its <br />users. What does the 21St Century library look like? The <br />answer depends on the people that will be using it, which <br />continue to evolve and diversify in the United States and is <br />1 Haughney, C. (2012). Young People Frequent Libraries, Study Finds. New York Times, October 22, 2012 <br />2 IMLS (2010). North Carolina Public Libraries FY 2010. Retrieved on May 1, 2013 from <br />http: / /www.imis.gov /assets /1 /AssetManager /PLS FY2010 SP NorthCarolina.pdf <br />3 Zickuhr,K, Rainie, L, Purcell, K. (2013). Library Services in the Digital Age. Pew Internet and American Life <br />Research Project. Retrieved on May 1, 2013 from http: // libraries. pewinternet .org /2013 /01/22 /1ibrary- services/ <br />21 Page <br />ORANGE -ZOU NfTY <br />