5.4 LIBSR 01-26-2021GREAT RIVER REGIONAL LIBRARY - Exalore. Learn. Connect.
5.4
Patron Services SWavisor RMod
To: Elk River Library Board
CC: Robbie Schake, LSC
From: Ryan McCormick, Patron Services Supervisor
Date: January 12, 2021
Change in Regional Support Staff
Hello, I am the new Patron Services Supervisor working with Elk River. I have worked in public libraries for over
a decade, and at GRRL for about seven years. I have also been active on the statewide level, serving as
President of the Minnesota Library Association in 2018. My professional interests include community outreach
and collaboration, early childhood literacy, and space planning, among others. I am looking forward to
working with you!
One Year Sustainability Plan
GRRL's Strategic Plan concluded in 2020. To guide our efforts moving forward, and given the uncertainty of
providing library service in 2021, we decided to create a one-year sustainability plan for the region instead of
the more typical five-year plan. The new plan's objectives, from which local goals have been created, include:
• Improving access inside the library
• Serving those who are homebound
• Supporting at-home learners
• Training to support access and awareness
• Training and transition plans for all staff at all levels
• Continuity of operations
• Awareness of library services
• Efforts to address diversity, equity and inclusion in the library
• Network penetration testing
• Improving wireless connectivity
• Updating the fundraising plan to support new and existing library services
Regional Programming and Service Initiatives
Even though library programming has been scaled back significantly over the past year, we have continued finding ways
11D' rA
+ ■
to engage with our patrons. The Winter Reading Program is on now through February, and patrons can participate
online or at the library. The theme is "Light up the Mind," and incentives include mugs and winter hats. We also
completed our second "Library Card Design Contest" in 2020. Winners were selected in the children, teen, and adult
categories, and the new library card designs are beginning to arrive in the branches. We have also been busy exploring
regional approaches to the Sustainability Plan. For example, our Patron Services Librarians have recently been trained on
a distance -education platform to help answer questions from at-home learners, and through our online "Personalized
Book Picks" service, patrons can find their new favorite read without leaving home.