New Year's Resolutions @ your library

By Hilery Walker, Community Relations Coordinator

December 29 , 2005

As 2005 comes to a close, many people seeking self-improvement turn to the age-old tradition of making New Year’s resolutions.  Popular resolutions range from health-related lifestyle changes (such as quitting smoking and losing weight) to goals like spending more time with family and friends.  According to studies conducted by the psychology department at the University of Washington, the success of your New Year’s resolution lies less in what you chose and more in the level of commitment to the resolution.  To improve your odds of success, these experts suggest planning well ahead, developing coping strategies for when times get tough, tracking your progress and sharing your resolution with others for accountability purposes.

Successful resolutions can be just as important and life-altering for an organization as for an individual.  Natrona County Public Library is currently in the process of creating resolutions via a strategic plan for the next 4 years.  The success of this plan, like a New Year’s resolution, lies in detailed preparation and strong dedication to implement that change.  The process for developing the plan’s details has involved multiple steps, including holding several brainstorming sessions with community leaders and library staff, conducting a community survey, and engaging professional library consultants to process the collected data.  

Here is what we are resolving to do in 2006 and beyond:

1. Natrona County will be a better place to live because the Library works with other organizations and agencies in the community to address important community issues.  We promise to develop strategic partnerships and actively help reduce substance abuse, foster workforce development and find better ways to serve the growing senior population. 
2. The people of Natrona County will have access to highly relevant library and information services that will help them succeed in school and at work as well as enrich their lives.  We promise to ask for your input and suggestions and to prepare your staff to be even more knowledgeable and responsive to your needs.  We promise to offer even more programs and to continue to develop an up-to-date collection of materials.
3. All residents of Natrona County will be aware of the services that NCPL offers that are relevant to their lives.  Those could be vocational, educational or recreational.
4. All the people in Natrona County will have access to high quality library and information services through safe, inviting, and convenient library facilities and exceptional technology-based services.  We promise to evaluate existing library facilities and to provide exceptional technology-based services such as self check-out machines and wireless hotspots. 
5. The people of Natrona County will be served by a Library that has the funding necessary to offer high quality library and information services.  In 2006, we are especially looking forward to the One Cent process to continue providing an up to date collection of materials.  NCPL is grateful to the citizens of Natrona County for their continued support of the One Cent process.

We look forward to fulfilling these resolutions.  True to the University of Washington guidelines for successful resolutions we are planning well ahead, developing strategies, tracking our progress and sharing our resolutions with you.  Most importantly, we’ll ask you to be our accountability partners.

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