Osceola Public Library

Community Needs Response Plan

2019-2022

 

 

Introduction

The first library in Osceola started in 1895 located at a local business.

A permanent library on our present location was built in 1949, and an addition was completed in 1998.

The library has not only grown in size but also in the services offered through the library. We offer a lending collection of over 15,000 items including books, films, music, audio books, periodicals, and cake pans. We participate in Nebraska Overdrive, which has over 25,000 downloadable ebooks and over 13,000 downloadable audiobooks available for our patrons. We have public access computers, wi-fi, copy, and fax services. We offer different programming throughout the year for our patrons.

Our Mission

Our mission statement says, “We shall serve the residents of the community as a resource center and provide services for educational, recreational and cultural development for all ages.”

Our library has strived to accomplish this as it has changed and improved throughout the years, and we intend to continue improving. Advances in technology are continually changing how people access information and how they interact. Our unpredictable economy has affected the services people need from the library. We need to plan for the future and keep pace with technology in order to remain a relevant and vital part of our community.

This strategic plan was written with the input of the Osceola Public Library staff, board members, the Osceola Community Action Group, patrons, and other community members. The Osceola Public Library is here to be of assistance to the community by providing needed services. The input from the community is an important part of this plan that will help guide us now and into the future.

Community Profile

 

Osceola is the county seat of Polk County and is located in east-central Nebraska. Osceola is 27 miles southwest of Columbus, which is the nearest city with a population of more than 20,000, 49 miles northeast of Grand Island, 70 miles northwest of Lincoln, and 90 miles west of Omaha.

Population

According to the 2017 American Community Survey the population of Osceola is 840.

• 25.6% of the population is school aged.
• 21% is 65 years and older.

Education

There is an elementary school, which also offers a preschool, and a high school within the city limits. Osceola Public School is not consolidated with anyone else. The nearest colleges are located in York and Columbus, both within 30 miles of Osceola. York College is a four-year Christian liberal arts college and Columbus Central Community College is a two-year public college.

• 92.8% of the population 25 years and over have completed high school.
• 20.6% of the same population group have a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Language and Ethnicity

• 98.9% speak only English at home.
• 0.9% speaks Spanish.
• 0.3% speaks another language.
• 93.1% of the population is one race, white.
• 1.6 % of the population is Hispanic.

Employment and Economic Status

• 63.7% of the population 16 and above is in the labor force with

< 1% unemployed.

• 28.7% are in education and healthcare.
• 13.1% are in manufacturing.
• 11.1% are in agriculture.
• 8.4% are in retail.
• 8% are in construction..
• 59.4% of workers commute to work with an average travel time of 21.3 minutes.
• 63% of families have all parents in the labor force.
• 3.8% of the population had an income below the poverty level in the past 12 months.
• 31.8% of students in the public schools qualified or free or reduced priced lunches.

Cultural Summary

Osceola is the home of the Polk County fairgrounds. There is one city park with picnic and playground areas, a swimming pool, the Polk County museum, a golf course, camping areas, sports fields, and historical sites. Osceola has three churches, a nursing home, a dentist, the only hospital in the county, a fitness center at the hospital, a country club, a newly remodeled senior center, a grocery store, two thrift stores, an exercise studio, yoga classes, several retail stores, a Dollar General store, an antique store, and the Polk County Sheriff’s Department. There are various community groups including the Polk County Historical Society, the Osceola Community Action Group, PEO, Masons and Eastern Star, the American Legion, and the American Legion Auxiliary.

Library SWOT Analysis

 

Internal Strengths

 

• The number of public access computers is more than sufficient for our community’s needs.
• Our location offers plenty of parking.
• We offer a wide collection of materials including periodicals, books in regular and large print, cake pans, DVDs, CDs, audio books, graphic novels, history items, Overdrive, county-wide digitized newspapers, and various databases through NebraskAccess.
• The library has an above average collection size.
• The library offers a children’s story hour and summer reading programs for children, teens, and adults.
• The library offers free Wi-Fi, interlibrary loan, fax services, and copy services.
• The library has a foundation that supplements our special needs budget.
• Local income is equal to the median figure for our peer group.
• We offer help with new technology.

 

Internal Weaknesses

• The library is below our peer group average in open hours, expenditures on staff, annual circulation of items, turnover rate, and attendance per capita to programs.
• There is no separate meeting room.
• Outside sign is in poor condition.
• No area for a maker space.

External Opportunities

• The older population is looking for help with new technology.
• The local community action group will promote and work with businesses.
• Community volunteers.
• Advertise community activities.

External Threats

 

• There is a decline in suitable housing.
• Rising costs and declining revenue.
• Declining population.
• Transient populations.
• Teens busy with sports and other school activities

Community Needs Survey Results

Osceola residents are on the average satisfied to very satisfied with living in the community. Those that completed the survey liked the friendly people and small town atmosphere of Osceola.

The most critical issues facing Osceola today are as follows:

1. Lack of suitable housing
2. Lack of usable or updated community calendar
3. Senior population underserved
4. Need for more daycare

Additional activities or resources that the community would like to have available:

1. Coffee Shop/ more food options
2. Housing for singles
3. More entertainment or activities

Community Need # 1

The community of Osceola has a very limited calendar of events on the city website that is underused and an outdoor sign that is limited on what can legally be posted. Better coordination regarding community events between organizations, schools, and businesses is greatly needed to keep all community members informed and engaged in the community.

Goal

To help coordinate a community calendar with other interested parties then advertise community activities without limitations.

Objectives

 

1. Coordinate with the local Osceola Community Action Group regarding the creation of a community calendar by January 15^th, 2020.
2. Research and install an electronic message board by June 1^st, 2020.
3. Create a form where the public can submit information about an event to be advertised.

Community Need # 2

Daycare in Osceola has experienced recent closures of facilities, high waiting lists, and low staffing resulting in difficulty for the overworked daycare facilities.

Goal

To provide support to the daycare facilities throughout the community by providing resources to supplement their activities and promote literacy.

Objectives

1. A member of the library staff will contact local daycare providers by August 1, 2020, to see what materials would be of most interest to them.
2. The library staff will create a minimum of four resource kits within the next three years, which will include age appropriate print and non-print materials that daycare providers can check out for an extended period of time.
3. A member of the library staff will offer delivery of materials to daycare providers at least once a month during the school year (August through May).

Community Need # 3

The senior citizen population in Osceola is growing and has needs that are not being met such as transportation and technology issues.

Goal

To provide mobile library services to those who cannot get to the library on their own. To provide technology support to patrons as needed. We would like to retain this goal to continue working on it and to keep it in the forefront of our activities.

Objectives

1. A member of the library staff will have contact with someone from the Good Samaritan Center monthly to ensure the lending program is functioning well.
2. A member of the library staff will monitor requests for library materials from the nursing home residents monthly.
3. A member of the library staff will offer technology help as needed with the book-a-librarian program or provide traditional teaching programs and will advertise this at the local senior center by July 1^st, 2020.

Evaluation Plan

The Osceola Public Library will review the overall strategic plan annually the first of the year. The five member library board plus the library staff, will evaluate, critique, and update the plan as indicated by the various goals and objectives. The library board meets monthly so if reviews or changes are needed more often or a problem presents, it can be corrected prior to the next annual review. We obtain patron input through feedback from our monthly article in the local newspaper, a suggestion box in the library, facebook page comments, and web site comments. We also take daily input from patrons via face-to-face contact.