Local Programming Update

Thank you so much for the hard work and dedication you brought to a successful Summer Reading this year and to the engagement-related tasks you complete daily.  We acknowledge the pause was a source of frustration and confusion and we want to thank you so much for your patience as we developed the tools needed to provide a view of what our community needs.  The work with our Community Needs Assessment (CNA) will help us create more responsive programming in our libraries.  As a reminder, our CNA identified six areas where the library can direct its resources.     

To further the direction of the CNA, Engagement Managers and EPS staff are now in the process of identifying the overall system-wide direction our engagement-related activities within each of the outcomes.  This is still in progress and results are expected in late October / early November.  

As the work for the system-wide initiatives, programs, and services are being developed, we are happy to announce that we are moving forward with local programming.   Yes, that means we are pushing the play button!  

Throughout the last two weeks EPS has worked on communicating with Engagement Managers on moving forward with local programming.  Each Engagement Manager can provide guidance for local programming and can provide understanding of the direction of system-wide programming. 

EPS trusts frontline Engagement Staff, Engagement Managers and Library Managers in planning thoughtful and purposeful programs at their libraries.  Local engagement staff know the community they serve better than anyone and can help identify what is best for their library and community.  

Don’t know where to start with new programming? Here are some questions to talk about with your supervisor and items to consider when adding new programs:

• Is there a need in your community?  
• Is there a demand from your community?  
• Do you have the resources (budget/staff time) to support a new program at this time? Are you factoring in other engagement commitments like outreach, school visits, and serving on system-wide project teams?
• Are there any existing programs that could be substituted for a new program?
• Looking at the complete offering of library programs at your location – are there any gaps in service or any areas that could be enhanced through additional programming?
• Are there any programs that have run their course and do not yield the results they initial had?  Should these programs be modified or removed from the program offerings?
• Is a program best suited on a local level or should we collaborate across the system?

Where do we go from here? Engagement Managers are continuing to meet and work on how to achieve our outcomes. Here’s a timeline of the next few months, including when to expect the formation of our first project teams.

• October 2018 – 6 Outcome Workgroups will continue to meet and finalize findings from previous tasks and will develop proposals addressing new services and programs to help meet the objectives of our Outcomes.  
• November 2018 – Project Teams will be formed addressing the highest priority programs and services. 
• December 2018 – Additional Project Teams will be formed addressing secondary priority programs and services.  
• 2019 – Implementation of newly created programs and services.