(360) 943-5001 - Fax (360) 586-6838 - 415 Tumwater Blvd. SW - Tumwater, WA 98501
Reference & Information line: 704-INFO (360-704-4636) in Olympia area or toll-free 1-800-562-6022.
TRL Web site: http://www.trlib.org

Media Contact: Leanne Ingle, Communications Specialist, 360-704-4508, or outside Olympia calling area: (877) 284-6237, ext. 2508; e-mail: lingle@trlib.org.

Library’s new strategic plan builds bridge to tomorrow

Timberland Regional Library (TRL) has developed a five-year plan to guide the library in providing services that will help the people of Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason, Pacific and Thurston counties reach their personal and professional goals and improve the life of their communities. The Timberland Board of Trustees adopted the plan, entitled Bridge to Tomorrow: Timberland Regional Library 2005-2010 Strategic Plan, on May 25. The plan was developed through a process of community information gathering, research, analysis, and discussion among the TRL staff, Board of Trustees, and members of the public to ensure that people will receive all needed services, both effectively and efficiently.

Seven areas of focus comprise the core of the plan. Under each area is a list of priorities with a target date and evaluation methods by which staff can annually measure how the priority has benefited each community. “A continual process of review and modification is built into the plan so that we can respond to community needs that are also continually changing,” said TRL Director, Jodi Reng. “We want the people of Timberland’s five counties to get full value from their libraries. We want to enrich their lives, support their endeavors, and be recognized by every resident as an integral part of each community.”

The seven focus areas

• Services and Programs: Services and programs will respond to the existing and emerging needs of communities and individuals as expressed in surveys and during community chats. Each will be evaluated annually based on results.
   
• People: The focus here is on retaining Timberland’s excellent staff and hiring, training and mentoring qualified employees and volunteers who reflect the demographics of Timberland’s five counties. The staff motto is: “People are the heart of our library. Quality service begins with me.” The goal is and will always be 100% patron satisfaction.
   
• Collections: Timberland will maintain a collection that is responsive and relevant for its communities and will continue to reserve at least 16% of the annual budget for materials such as books, magazines, newspapers, audiocassettes, DVDs, CDs, videos, electronic books, MP3s, online information databases and other formats. Timberland will be a leader in resource sharing in the state of Washington.
   
• Finances: Timberland is funded mainly by property taxes. As a public entity, the library is accountable to taxpayers for management of resources. Timberland will reinforce cost-conscious practices and continue to ensure that financial matters are managed responsibly.
   
• Facilities: Timberland is seeking creative ways to provide new service points based on the level of service needed in each location, funds available, and cooperation with community partners. The library will conduct a service points needs assessment every other year.
   
• Marketing: Surveys show that many people are not aware of all the benefits of the library. Because the people of Timberland’s five counties support their libraries with their property tax dollars, Timberland is launching a vigorous awareness campaign to let people know how to get full value from their libraries.
   
• Community Involvement and Partnerships: As an integral part of each community, Timberland will actively seek to partner with agencies, organizations and groups to meet community needs and multiply the library’s effectiveness while avoiding duplication of effort.

To read the complete Bridge to Tomorrow 2005-2010 Strategic Plan document, please visit the TRL website at http://www.trlib.org or telephone the library’s Executive Assistant at 360-704-4501.

Revised 11/16/05