Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
UI11 <br />The Planning Process <br />This Strategic Plan is the product of a thorough consideration of the current and future role of Orange County Public Library (OCPL). With input from library <br />customers, Orange County Government management, community leaders and library staff, we evaluated what is most important to the community, and <br />identified areas for improvement and adaptation to remain relevant in a changing world. This data and feedback informed the contents of the plan. The steps <br />taken in the planning process included: <br />❖ Conducting the Community Needs Assessment (CNA) - <br />September through November 2012. Dr. Anthony Chow, a <br />State Library of North Carolina consultant, collected <br />community input via: <br />• Interviews - Eleven people were interviewed <br />including County Board Chair (s), County Manager, <br />Library Director and Assistant Director, Library <br />Systems Manager, Library Admin Assistant, Friends <br />Board Chairs of Main and Carrboro, Presidents of the <br />Hillsborough and Chapel Hill Chambers of Commerce, <br />Orange County Schools Superintendent, and Chapel <br />Hill - Carrboro City Schools Assistant Superintendent. <br />• Community Forums (5) and Online Survey — 1,500 <br />randomly selected households were surveyed, which <br />included 150 in the Town of Chapel Hill. A total of <br />387 residents participated. <br />Staff Survey and Focus Groups - More than 50 people <br />participated. <br />❖ Drafting the Strategic Plan - January through April 2013. The <br />first draft of the Strategic Plan was written based on the <br />results of the CNA, along with input from library staff and <br />representatives from select County departments. <br />❖ Collecting Feedback on Draft Plan —April and May 2013. The <br />draft of the strategic plan was shared with the public and <br />elected officials. Feedback on the initial vision and mission <br />statements, as well as goals and objectives, were collected <br />via: <br />• Focus Groups - Nine focus groups representing <br />seniors, teenagers, Hispanic and Karen communities, <br />and northern Orange County residents. More than 50 <br />people participated. <br />• Survey - 1,000 randomly selected households <br />received surveys in the mail, which included 100 in <br />the Town of Chapel Hill. This same survey was also <br />made available at the OCPL Main Library. <br />Approximately 125 people participated. <br />• Online Survey - Approximately 215 people <br />participated. <br />❖ Revising the Strategic Plan -June through August 2013. In <br />order to effectively incorporate the community's feedback <br />and create a plan that fit Orange County's needs, the library <br />engaged Dr. Lydian Altman of the UNC School of Government <br />and Dr. Colleen Bridger, Orange County Health Department <br />director. Working with senior staff, Altman and Bridger <br />facilitated the revision process to produce a clear and <br />workable plan. <br />❖ Finalizing the Strategic Plan - September 2013. The strategic <br />plan, which incorporates all of the elected official, staff, and <br />leadership feedback, was completed and presented to the <br />BOCC for review. <br />OCPL DRAFT Strategic Plan 2013 -2016 Page 8 <br />