Central Florida Library Cooperative
Long Range Plan
For Fiscal Years
2004/2005
2005/2006
2006/2007
2007/2008
2008/2009
Table of Contents
Goals, Objectives, and Action Strategies
The Central Florida Library Cooperative has a historical commitment to being a member driven organization. In keeping with this ideal, the membership was very involved with developing this most recent strategic plan for the organization's future.
Periodically, the Board of Directors of CFLC appoints a Planning Committee to review and revise the Central Florida Library Cooperative Long Range Plan. In 2001 the Board appointed representatives of a special library, a county public library system, a county law library and a private academic library to gather input and present the Board with a proposed plan. Input was gathered at a “Town Meeting” held for all members at Maitland Public Library. The meeting was facilitated by a staff person from the State Library of Florida. Prior to the Town Meeting, all delegates were furnished with a copy of the 1998 plan for review and comment. At the Town Meeting, attended by individual librarians from a broad cross section of member institutions, each point in the plan was discussed and suggestions for revision were made. The Board officially adopted this document in July 2002.
It is hoped that this plan will provide a framework for CFLC’s continued development and growth over the next five year period. Program objectives and action strategies will be reviewed on an annual basis and adjusted accordingly to reflect changing conditions or newly identified needs.
Goal 1 Resource Sharing
Goal 2 Continuing Education
Goal 3 Coordinated Leadership
Goal 4 Internal Administrative Excellence
Goal 5 External Administrative Excellence
The Central Florida Library Cooperative is dedicated to making information available to all citizens of Central Florida, through a seamless interface to information resources by coordinating the efforts of its members to identify and share resources, by providing continuing education, and by serving as a central focus for exploring new technologies, resources and methods of accessing information.
The multitype membership and focus of CFLC enables broad-based cooperative efforts toward enhancing the necessary research, development, and collaborative programs that will continue to benefit all types of libraries.
The Central Florida Library Cooperative is a non-profit organization of libraries, information providers and other organizations in the Central Florida community working together to identify and improve library resources and services, to strengthen cooperative library resource sharing, to enhance the effectiveness of member libraries and their staffs, and to meet the information needs of Central Florida by providing seamless access to the wealth of information.
CFLC plans and activities are complementary to and coordinated with the State Library of Florida and the regional multitype library cooperatives.
Goal 1 - Resource Sharing
CFLC should provide leadership and assistance to member libraries to encourage and facilitate the sharing of resources among its members in order to contribute toward equity and enrichment in information access.
Objectives:
1. Improve and expand access to information in Central Florida Libraries.
- Investigate and implement when appropriate, standards for input and maintenance of CFLC holdings on OCLC and or other state sponsored lists.
- Maintain and expand the union list of serials project.
- Increase access to all library resources through expanded participation in library and information networks.
2. Continue support and enhancement of ILL activities between member libraries.
- Ensure that members participate in interlibrary loan in accordance with statewide agreements to provide information and materials to Florida patrons.
- Improve methods for delivery of documents and information.
3. Promote a reciprocal borrowing program between member libraries.
- Participate in the State plan.
4. Increase access to bibliographic and informational databases. And expand participation in library and information networks.
- Participate and contribute to the State Library’s development of the virtual library.
- Promote and coordinate cooperative acquisitions of all library resources.
5. Serve as a community, library, and government information resource.
Action Strategies:
Activities described in attached annual updates assume adequate funding available.
Goal 2
Goal 2 - Continuing Education
CFLC should seek to coordinate, improve and increase continuing education and training for CFLC members and community organizations. In this document, continuing education is defined as any discussion format, demonstration of methods and practical skills, or event that furthers the knowledge of participants. Training sessions focus on developing technical skills and proficiencies.
Objectives:
1. Assess the continuing education needs of members.
2. Offer continuing education and training that reflects the needs of members.
3. Coordinate continuing education and training with the State Library, other library cooperatives and other organizations.
4. Provide training opportunities both at CFLC, local libraries, and/or community organizations.
5. Demonstrate emerging training methods and models.
6. Investigate, coordinate and implement continuing education program certification.
Action Strategies:
Activities described in attached annual updates assume adequate funding available.
Goal 3
Goal 3 - Coordinated Leadership
CFLC will provide coordinated leadership and representation for member libraries to promote the role of libraries and librarians, recognizing that librarians are uniquely qualified and educated to act as information professionals. CFLC will develop and advocate for the role of Central Florida Libraries and librarians as information professionals.
CFLC will provide a professional forum enabling experimentation and exploration of ideas and new methods of information service
Objectives:
1.Continue and expand activities sponsored by the CFLC Legislative Committee.
2. Serve as a forum for information on issues of interest to libraries and librarians in the region.
3. Coordinate research and development of new methods of service by establishing committees and/or working groups to explore issues and design pilot projects.
4. When necessary, provide an organizational “home” for projects without a logical or available organizational sponsor.
5. Represent CFLC libraries when appropriate.
Action Strategies:
Activities described in attached annual updates assume adequate funding available.
Goal 4
Goal 4 - Internal Administrative Excellence
CFLC will manage internal operations to achieve a strong and positive future for the organization.
Objectives:
1. Explore additional sources of funding and support.
2. Expand continuing education opportunities to community organizations.
3. Develop partnerships with community organizations.
4. Assure adequate funding for training and development for CFLC staff.
5. Market CFLC to increase CFLC’s visibility.
6. Conduct training for new Board members and an annual planning retreat for Board members.
7. Periodically review services from a cost/benefit analysis.
8. Provide a mechanism for communication and assessment of the accomplishment of the goals and objectives of the organization.
Action Strategies:
Activities described in attached annual updates assume adequate funding available.
Goal 5
Goal 5 - External Administrative Excellence
CFLC will manage external operations and relationships to achieve a strong and positive future for the organization.
Create a synergistic environment for professional development.
Objectives:
1. Support the State Library of Florida’s activities and initiatives.
2. Coordinate with SOLINET in the provision of local services.
3. Participate and cooperate in joint activities of the multitype library cooperatives of Florida.
4. Participate in Florida Library Association activities.
5. Encourage participation in library and professional associations.
The Central Florida Library Cooperative, Inc. (CFLC) is one of six regional multitype library cooperatives in the State of Florida. CFLC operates as a non-profit membership organization devoted to the sharing of resources among libraries and corporate information centers in 8 Central Florida counties: Brevard, Indian River, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, St. Lucie, and Volusia.
Since its organization and incorporation in 1989, CFLC has grown from approximately 20 member libraries to over 85 libraries and institutions. Current membership consists of county public library systems and municipal public libraries, all of the area’s community colleges and public universities, several private academic colleges and proprietary schools, public school districts, and many research, corporate and special libraries, representing some of Central Florida’s largest and most prestigious companies. Staff of member libraries are encouraged to participate in their organization through active involvement on a variety of standing Committees and Special Interest Groups.
While the methods for attaining CFLC’s goals have changed over the years to meet the diverse and ever-changing needs of member libraries and their users, the overall mission remains “to identify and improve library resources and services, to strengthen cooperative library resource sharing, to enhance the effectiveness of member libraries and their staffs, and to meet the information needs of Central Florida residents by providing seamless access to the wealth of information available through member libraries.”
CFLC’s focus on technology and “high-tech” training for Central Florida’s citizens and information providers underscores the many programs and services. The Board of Directors and Staff of CFLC are very proud of a state-of-the-art Training Facility at the Maitland headquarters, where a wide range of hands-on Internet and computer skills workshops and continuing education workshops are offered. CFLC is also committed to continuing to host a series of forums and lectures on topics of interest to our members and the community, featuring prominent speakers in librarianship and related professions.
The Cooperative is governed by a nine member Board of Directors, representing each type of [full] member institution elected by the membership. CFLC’s daily operations are administered by an Executive Director, assisted by a professional staff.