Baltimore County Public Library System By Jennifer Ruberti

Fast Facts  805,029 Baltimore County residents  18 Branches  4 Bookmobiles  479,000 total BCPL cardholders  Approx. 679,000 items in collection  Approx. 5,263,429 visitors to BCPL branches  Approx. 957,135 uses of the branch’s PC computers and 182,787 uses of the Wi-Fi network

 Baltimore County Public Library Vision Statement:  The place to be empowered, inspired, informed and to succeed.  Baltimore County Public Library Mission Statement:  Baltimore County Public Library will connect our diverse community with innovative, quality services as we:  Create welcoming physical and virtual spaces  Champion an early and lifelong love of reading  Excel as an essential information resource

Strategic Planning Process  2011 was the year BCPL branches and departments worked to update a plan to ensure a thriving Baltimore County 10 years from now  Dubbed the plan SWOT analysis to list the county’s: strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats  BCPL Steering Committee listed community needs based on this SWOT analysis Process 1. Steering Committee created goals and visions for each of the proposed service responses 2. Branch managers reviewed and provided feedback to the committee 3. The Board of Library Trustees approved the strategic plan

Strategic Plan Service Responses, Goals, and Objectives 1. Stimulate Imagination: Reading, Viewing and Listening for Pleasure 2. Create Young Readers: Early Literacy 3. Visit a Comfortable Place: Physical and Virtual Space 4. Satisfy Curiosity: Lifelong Learning 5. Succeed in School: Homework Help 6. Connect to the Online World: Public Internet Access

Management Goals  Facilities  More facilities will be added, upgraded, or maintained.  Technology  BCPL will continue to use technology to improve public service and/or efficiencies.  Marketing and Development  The library system will develop and implement marketing plans to support targeted programs and services to ensure that county residents are aware of all the library offers.  Collections  BCPL will continue to acquire, maintain and share collections which are of interest and use to county residents.

The Library & Affiliated Organizations  Community College of Baltimore County  Foundation for BCPL  Friends of the Arbutus Library  Friends of Catonsville Library  Friends of Cockeysville Library  Friends of Hereford Library  Friends of the Loch Raven Library  Friends of the North Point Library  Friends of the Perry Hall Library  Friends of the Randallstown Library  Friends of the Towson Library

Trends Facing the Community  Population increase: 2000 Census (754,292) 2010 Census (805,029)  Baltimore County’s 55+ population grew from 23.6 to 26.4 percent  The county’s non-white population grew from 24.6 percent in 2000 to 32.1 percent from recent data  Hispanic or Latino population doubled to 3.8 percent, but remains well below that of the state and the country  Baltimore County families with children under the age of 18 represent 28.7 percent of the total households, lower than the 2000 Census percentage of 30.2 and the current state rate of 31.2 percent

Community Needs and Resources  Storyville  Kits (Baby Boosters, Book Club, and Read Along)  World Language Collections  Events for patrons based on needs

Cockeysville Branch Towson Branch Owings Mills Branch

Works Cited  Baltimore County Public Library Webpage. Retrieved from.  Baltimore County Public Library: Annual Report. Retrieved from. on_annualreport_2014.pdf