This document is based on a model called New Planning for Results (NPFR), a strategic planning process adopted by the Public Library Association.

At the core of NPFR is community input. The staff of the Alpine Public Library selected individuals from the community to form a Planning Committee. This Committee generated vision statements, a current conditions analysis, and library service responses to community needs.

The Committee selected three library service responses from a standard list of thirteen that are used by libraries across the country. A service response is simply a way for a library to address community needs. After adopting a service response, the library staff then worked out goals, objectives and activities that relate to that service.

From the beginning, the Planning Committee took a strong stance that library facilities must be expanded. Library staff and the Planning Committee saw few, if any, possibilities for reallocating their minimal library resources to achieve growth for the library. The Committee and other members of the community made several suggestions for ways to accomplish this task. The three most persistent ideas were:

_ Form a private non-profit organization to raise building funds and establish an endowment to operate a new library independently of the District.

_ Form a private non-profit organization to raise funds to purchase private land where the Library is currently located. The existing building would then be expanded or new construction begun. The organization owning the building would enter into an interagency agreement with Apache County Library District. The organization would maintain the facility, while the District provided library staff and services.

_ Work with existing organizations (such as the Alpine Area Library Friends and the Alpine Action Alliance) to raise matching grant funds to construct a library building in the future community center complex. The current District/branch structure would remain intact.

A member of the Planning Committee drafted a breakdown of estimated funds needed to build and operate a private library in Alpine (Appendix A). Everyone on the Committee agreed that, while there are a number of potential avenues available to fund building construction, it seemed unlikely that a private entity could fund the library's operating expenses. The Committee members had the following suggestions for furthering the new library project:

_ Approach the County on the need for a new library building.

_ Work with the County to apply for a grant of approximately $300,000 for construction, with the stipulation of matching funds from the County and through community donations. Private donations could be tax deductible.

_ Work with the County to establish an Alpine Area Library Improvement District and issue a bond for the costs of construction.

_ Build the new building on existing County property, such as the future Community Center complex.

_ The Library District continues to bear all costs related to operation.

Everyone involved with this planning process (which appeared to be everyone in Alpine!) seemed dedicated to

enriching their library services. The first step, then, was to determine what community needs those services should address. Beginning with vision statements about the Alpine of the future and working through an assessment of current conditions, the Committee arrived at some specific community needs.

_ Retirees will be involved in the community through volunteering and receiving services.

_ All residents will enjoy a quiet lifestyle, natural beauty, less traffic and less crime.

_ Generations young and old will merge, come together, take care of each other, appreciate the past, and have mutual respect for each stage of life.

_ All residents will benefit from improved economy with the addition of restaurants, lodging, convention/meeting space, camps, campgrounds (private), and cottage industries.

_ Small business owners will provide a livelihood for themselves and their families, and other community members.

_ All residents will receive continuing education opportunities (lecture circuit, workshops for organizations, etc.) to allow outside stimulus.

_ All residents will have a new library that will be a central location for learning activities, enhance children's education, help keep adults current with new technology and education, and be a meeting place for the community.

_ All residents will have direct access to state, law and medical information.

_ All residents will have access to a county-wide library system.

_ Parents and young adults will find alternative entertainment, such as a resource place for all interests, such as drama, writing, sports, health and veterinary sciences, hiking, birding, photography, etc.

_ Grandparents will have a place to learn about parenting issues and to get support.

_ New library

_ Centrally located "bulletin board," electronic or otherwise.

_ High-speed digital access

_ Meeting place

Commons

A library that provides a COMMONS environment helps address the need of people to meet and interact with others in their community and to participate in public discourse about community issues. The Alpine Public Library has served as the Commons in Alpine for years. Staff is strongly oriented toward delivering programming and events. Although a Community Center may be developed for Alpine, the Planning Committee and Library staff believe that programs should still be held at the Library in order to expose the public to library resources. In addition, the Library's small staff (1.1 FTE) precludes off-premises activities: either the Library would have to be closed during the program, or staff would have to work additional (unpaid) hours.

Lifelong Learning

A library that provides LIFELONG LEARNING service helps address the desire for self-directed personal growth and development opportunities. A strength of the Alpine Public Library is providing programs and collections that offer learning opportunities for different age groups. Currently, however, the number of programs and materials (especially up-to-date materials) is too low to meet community needs, primarily because of inadequate meeting and collections space.

Current Topics & Titles

A library that provides CURRENT TOPICS & TITLES helps to fulfill community residents' appetite for information about popular cultural and social trends and their desire for satisfying recreational experiences. People in Alpine let their Library staff know what they want! The staff is competent to acquire bestsellers and other new materials from review sources. They listen and respond to community desires and needs. Members of the Committee expressed concern about delays in receiving new titles from the central processing department in St. Johns. If the Alpine Public Library can maintain current topics and titles, there is an opportunity to increase circulation and to give patrons what they want.

Mission Statement

The Alpine Public Library offers Alpine area residents of all ages: 1) a public space for meeting and gathering, especially for library- sponsored programs; 2) services that help address the desire for personal growth in a variety of areas; 3) current titles to help fulfill the need for information about popular trends and to provide recreation and entertainment.

Goals and Objectives

Members of the Planning Committee emphasized that Alpine is a small but diverse community. In more populated areas with a large number of permanent residents, it's typical for a Planning Committee to determine specific target audiences for services. In Alpine, however, all residents were the focus of each service response. Virtually all of the goals and objectives below should be viewed as facility programming issues. The following items are contingent upon vastly improved facilities, i.e. a new library building.

Goal #1 Alpine residents of all ages will gather together to enjoy library programs. 1. The number of library programs offered to the public will double within two years. 2. The number of people (including summer residents) attending programs will increase by 300% within three years.

Goal #2 All Alpine residents will benefit from educational library materials and programs. 1. In informal surveys, 90% of program attendees will say that they found the programs informative and enjoyable. 2. Circulation of new non-fiction will increase by 10% each year. Goal #3 All Alpine residents will find current library materials that are relevant to their recreational needs. 1. At least 30 new titles will be added each month. 2. Overall circulation will increase by 20% each year. 3. Survey cards at the circulation desk will show that 75% of patrons are finding the desired current titles in the Alpine Public Library.

_ Quilting Classes

_ Sewing Classes

_ Stain Glass Classes

_ Crafts-Seasonal

_ Story Time

_ Art Lessons

_ Homework Help with Volunteers

_ Basic Computer, Basic Web Page, Advanced Web Page, HTML, XML, Beginning Programming, etc...

_ Painting Classes

_ Cowboy Poets

_ Puppet Shows

_ Movies

_ Traveling Theater

_ CPR Classes

_ Genealogy Workshops

_ Grant Writing Workshop

_ Cheese Making Classes

_ Community Show and Tell

_ Self Improvement Classes

_ Exercise Classes (Yoga, etc...)

Planning Committee: Frank Barnes, Chuck Corey, Ron Creighton, Judy Hayes, Paul Kuenstler, Margie Lock, Wendy McMillan, Mary Phelan, Dink Robart, Thom Tedford, Rita Warne

Library Staff: Robin Maly and Evelyn Williams

Apache County Library District Director: Judith Pepple

Facilitator: Janet Ball, Copper Queen Library Director

Funding for this project provided by the federal Library Services Technology Act, administered by the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records.

Special Thanks to Janie Heiserman-Horak, Michelle Ralston, Diane Schuring, and all the other people in the Alpine area who came forward with enthusiasm and ideas.

REAL PROPERTY:

Land: ................................................................................................................................................$ 40,000.00+

(a)Building:

$162.00 per sq. ft. x 4000 (30 year rated code compliance) ...............................................................648,000.00

Design and Plans: (at 8% of cost) .........................................................................................................50,000.00

Furniture/Book Racks: .........................................................................................................................50,000.00

FURNISHING:

Books (unless county donates) .............................................................................................................75,000.00

Related library materials .........................................................................................................................5,000.00

Copy machine ........................................................................................................................................2,500.00

ESTIMATED START UP: ............................................................................................................$870,500.00

RECURRING ANNUAL EXPENSE:

(b) Salaries ......................................................................................................................................$ 72,000.00

Benefits* ..............................................................................................................................................15,000.00

*Social Security and Medicare fund

*State Unemployment compensation

*Medical and Hospitalization

*Retirement fund

*Accrued vacation

Administrative costs* ............................................................................................................................25,000.00

*operating fund management

*payroll, payroll tax records and reporting,

*purchasing, banking, correspondence,

*accounts payable, receivables, etc.

Electricity/Heating ..................................................................................................................................6,000.00

Telephone and computer service ............................................................................................................1,500.00

Computer up grades and repairs ............................................................................................................1,000.00

Annual facilities repair ............................................................................................................................5,000.00

Equipment replacement and repair ..........................................................................................................2,500.00

Facilities liability insurance ......................................................................................................................3,000.00

Board liability insurance .........................................................................................................................2,500.00

Property Insurance ................................................................................................................................5,000.00

(c)Operating fund accounting (Audits, Corporation Commission, etc.) ................................................8,000.00

Operating bond may be required for board to administer endowment ................................................................?

(d)State and County taxes ............................................................................................................................?

(e)IRS reporting (under certain conditions) ................................................................................................?

RECURRING ANNUAL EXPENSES AT TODAY'S COSTS ..................................................$146,500.00

Based on today's return on long term bonds, a 3.5 million dollar endowment or investment will return close to

$157,500.00 annually, minus cost of administering fund and maybe federal tax. Estimate 4.4 million dollars needed to build and for perpetual operation of a 4,000 square foot private library.

(a)Estimated cost per square foot is based on 2002 estimated cost of $135.00 per foot for the new Alpine school, plus a 20% construction cost increase for this area since that date.

(b)Current hours of operation do not provide for use of library by local residents who work 8 hours or more per day, 5 days per week, or for local high school students. Staff should be expanded to allow for at least 11 hours per day, five days per week.

(c)A standing fund derived from donated monies or endowment and administered by a board, most likely requires an annual audit.

(d) Real property may be taxable at the State and County levels.

(e)Tax Exempt 501(c)(3) organizations are required to make periodic reports to the IRS if annual income exceeds certain amounts.