Competency D
LIBR 204 – Organizations and Management

LIBR 204 – Organizations and Management

Unit 5_Thomson_Unit 5 Assignment: Assigning a Project-specific Strategic Plan

Vision

 The Santa Monica Library is a viable resource and popular learning center for Asian Americans in the City of Santa Monica as well as residents of neighboring communities.

Background:

Third and fourth generation Asian Americans who are born in America are losing touch with their country of origins’ identity. Initially targeting the Japanese Americans in Santa Monica and neighboring communities, the library will continue to aim services to Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Filipino communities respectively.

 Goal #1

 The Santa Monica Library hopes to provide better service for various third and fourth generation Asian Americans in the community to maintain a link to their country of origin’s language, traditions, and cultural heritage.

Objective #1

Starting with Japanese Americans in the community, the Branch Manager will hire a professional survey firm to create, administer, and analyze a focus group/survey process within two months.

Objective #2

 To accomplish Objective #1, the professional survey firm will organize and schedule a focus group including the following members from the Japanese American community: a clergyperson, a business owner, at least one local politician, and a member of the Friends of S.M. Library. As an incentive for community members to attend the focus group, refreshments and gift certificates will be donated from S.M. Barnes and Noble Bookstore.

Objective #3

 After the professional survey firm completes planning the focus group, they will schedule the meeting within a period of six months. Based on the focus group’s survey/research results, a work team from the Public Service Department will create a strategy to plan at least four to five events targeting the Japanese American community over the following six months.

 Evaluation

The branch manager and library staff will create a progress report approximately 9 months after completion of the above-mentioned steps. The evaluation report will measure the success of the focus group based on the following survey methods: program attendance, program survey cards completed, new library card sign-ups, and follow-up telephone survey.                                                                                                                                                                                  Constraints/Challenges/Costs

Challenges:

The challenge is competition from larger Asian Americans communities in nearby communities adjacent to the City of Santa Monica. These communities already provide instructional services and cultural support to pre-existing Asian American communities.

Strengths:

The strength of the strategy is based on the fact that there are no other services targeting Asian Americans in the City of Santa Monica, and as a result is necessary. In addition, Japanese Americans as well as other Asian Americans who can afford to live in the City of Santa Monica are great sources of donation and income for the City including the Santa Monica Library. Therefore, the Asian American community’s library patronage and resources are definitely worth tapping into for long-term financial success.

Experimental Project:

The above effort targeting the Japanese American community is experimental, and whether further programs aimed at other Asian American communities are worthwhile or not will be determined after the results of the initial evaluation report.

Costs:

  • Branch manager’s time will be compensated by the library budget.
  • The professional survey firm will be compensated by the library budget.
  • The effort of the library’s public service work team will be conducted during work hours and will be compensated from their regular wages.
  • The focus group comprised of members from Santa Monica’s Japanese American community will be on a voluntary basis. Gift certificates from Barnes and Noble Bookstore will be offered in return for their attendance and time.
  • Santa Monica Library will supply the space for the scheduled focus group assembled by the survey firm within the library building.
  • Friends of Santa Monica Library will pledge up to $500 for printing, publicity, and refreshments towards the focus group.
  • New programs, exhibits, and events developed as a result of the focus group will be accomplished within the existing library budget.
  • Air time will be donated by the City of Santa Monica TV Station to advertise the library programs and events.