WARRENVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

WORKSHOP & STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION MINUTES

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2007

CALL TO ORDER: The Board Workshop and Strategic Planning Session was called to order by President Goodman at 9:13 a.m.

In attendance were Trustees Arlowe, Brown, Clark, DuRocher, Goodman, and Stull. Also in attendance were Library Director Whitmer and facilitators Kurt & Peg Anderson of Pairadox, Inc. Trustee Johnston arrived at 9:27 a.m.

The facilitators explained the anticipated outcomes of the work session as well as future steps in the planning process including a staff brainstorming and planning session that will be followed by a trustee/staff workshop to draft action steps for a revised Strategic Plan.

A presentation by the facilitators focused on personality types and how they may affect the dynamics of the board. Each trustee reflected on his or her personality type as well as the personality types of the other members of the board.

Director Whitmer then presented a report on the status of the current strategic priorities, including successes and challenges. The board took time to create a list of celebrations to be shared with the library staff.

Drs. Anderson led the board through a review of the library’s mission. The board recommended that some minor changes be made to the mission statement as follows:

“It is the mission of the Warrenville Public Library to collect, organize and make available the carefully selected representative records of humanity’s actions, concerns and aspirations. It exists for the common good to support an a literate and informed citizenry.”

The board also reviewed the prioritized roles of the library as stated in the Strategic Plan. After considerable discussion, it was agreed that Director Whitmer will create a draft revision of the roles matching the existing roles to the re-named roles from the recently revised Public Library Association list of roles for public libraries. In addition to the prioritized roles, she will provide the board with a list of other roles for consideration.

The board agreed that no changes were necessary to the “Principles of Professionalism” as these principles are working as intended.

During lunch, the trustees were asked to work independently on a task involving the libraries current strategic priorities. The trustees examined each priority and were asked to note positive comments, changes that may be needed, questions regarding the priority, and any other comments related to the priorities.

Following lunch, the facilitators led the trustees in a discussion of the comments shared about each of the first five strategic priorities. After discussing the priorities, it was determined that two of the priorities – “Uphold the Principles of Professionalism” and “Expand Relationship with the Library Foundation” – could be placed in a new section of the Strategic Plan entitled “Strategic Principles.” These will no longer be strategic priorities, but rather principles that should be maintained from this point forward.

The remaining strategic priorities, “Connect with the Community,” “Build Bibliographic Resources,” “Promote Library Programs and Services” and “Plan for the Future” will continue as priorities.

The final strategic priority, “Plan for the Future,” was discussed at length. Trustees examined two issues related to planning for the future: land acquisition and building expansion. The board determined that another planning session would be necessary to continue this discussion and invited Dr. Anderson to return to the library on Wednesday, December 5 at 7:00 p.m. for another Committee of the Whole meeting.

Trustee Clark left at 3:10 p.m.

ADJOURNMENT: Trustee Brown moved to adjourn the meeting at 3:56 p.m. Trustee DuRocher seconded. All ayes. (Trustee Clark absent.) Motion carried.

Respectfully submitted,

_________________________________

Heather Stull