Mission:
Protect, preserve, promote, and support quality public library service in Nova Scotia.

We will strive to achieve our mission by fulfilling these objectives:

• promote quality library service
• provide a forum for the exchange of ideas
• promote the development of co-operation among all Regional Library Boards within Nova Scotia
• provide a vehicle for the effective representation of the public library system
• advocate for the public library system with all departments, agencies and institutions that impact on public libraries in the province

Following the 1998 LBANS Conference, the Executive recognized the need for a Strategic Plan to guide it into the next millennium. Background work produced a proposed four-stage process:

1. Assessment - where we are
2. Strategic Plan Development - where we want to be
3. Consultation - input from Regional Library Boards
4. Working the Plan - the process timeline

This Plan was finalized and adopted at the April 1999 Annual General Meeting. The LBANS Executive views it as an important document charting a course for the next two years - we are Working the Plan.

STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS

I. Develop and carry out a public library advocacy program

1. Participate in the Provincial Library's production and distribution of the public library promotional video.
2. Investigate taking part via a booth and/or work-shops in the Nova Scotia School Board Association Annual Conference.
3. Encourage Regional Libraries to use the media to promote services and programs, in part by preparing a list of present and possible examples of media programs to be shared with all Regions.
4. Continue to encourage Regional Library Boards to inform and seek support from their MLAs, MPs, and Senators. The LBANS Executive will devote time at one of its meetings to sharing the present activities and issues affecting Regional Boards.
5. Continue to encourage regions to remain involved in community programs and events, such as floats in parades, farmer's markets, summer reading programs, etc.
6. Encourage Regions to produce guides, booklets, newsletters for their patrons and the general public.
7. Publish a newsletter for Board members and municipal councillors.
8. For use of all Boards, gather information on existing partnerships between Regional Libraries and other organizations such as health boards, school boards, universities, economic development organizations, and companies.
9. Develop an LBANS Web page and see whether it can be hosted by the Provincial Library server.
10. Develop a speaker's bureau available to local and provincial groups.
11. Promote the Library Advocacy Now program, ensuring that at least one workshop is offered yearly.
12. Continue to take part in the Provincial Library Marketing/PR Committee.
13. Offer to participate in Provincial Library initiatives, such as funding formula and core services.
14. Support expansion of Friends of the Library by providing Regional Boards with CLTA information on Friends groups' creation and by circulating information on Friends successes in Nova Scotia.
15. Start a resource file on including young people in the library. One area to be investigated would be Junior Friends.
16. Encourage school boards to publicize Regional Libraries' services to school children, especially in areas where mobile branches visit schools.
17. Prepare a fact sheet on public library service and distribute it to elected officials as well as the general public.
18. Conduct a study on effective method(s) of communicating with library users and the general public.

II. Increase relationships with municipal councils.

1. Identify methods of encouraging municipal decision-makers to visit the public libraries.
2. Encourage library CEOs and Board chairs to meet with all of their municipal councils in 2000 and to keep an ongoing relationship with them.
3. Develop an orientation package for newly elected municipal councillors outlining libraries' positive role and showing the benefits of municipal support for libraries.
4. Prepare backgrounders similar to those provided by the CLTA on issues faced by Nova Scotia Regional Libraries.
5. Develop a questionnaire for those seeking elected office.
6. Encourage Library Boards to make reports on board meetings available to all councillors. Encourage Board members to appear in person at council meetings, especially if the meeting is being televised or covered by me media.
7. Participate via a display and/or provide handouts at the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities Annual Conference.
8. Identify a method of encouraging municipal councils to appoint their representatives to Library Boards for terms longer than one year.
9. Write a letter to all municipal councils thanking them for their role in the success of public libraries.
10. Continue to lobby for universal participation.

III. Take an active part in the discussion regarding the revision of the Public Library Act.

1. Conduct a study of public library governance, looking for an equitable method for the composition of the Regional Library Boards without compromising municipal council representation.
2. Bring together the Chairs and Chiefs Committee to study the possibility of regionalization of services and/or boards in light of the core services program.
3. Take an active part in evaluating board services in relation to the Core Services document: provide a workshop, collect present goals and to share the information, ask urban and rural library to boards to share their experiences on the creation on their strategic plans.
4. Conduct a study of present Regional Library Board composition.

IV. Continue to monitor progress in meeting the standards for Core Services and the adequacy of the funding formula.

1. Offer to become involved in the Provincial Library evaluation process of how Boards are coping with Core Services in light of the current funding formula.
2. Lobby the provincial government for capital funding by creating a brief history of the capital funding processes, a policy statement on capital funding, an outline of the distribution process, and a selection of success stories involving capital funding in times of no formal provincial capital fund.

V. Study LBANS's structure, function, and governance.

1. Continue its research and consultation leading to the establishment of a permanent site and direction for an LBANS secretariat.
2. Carry out a strategic plan with the Executive responsible for monitoring progress.
3. Update and circulate the LBANS Trustee Handbook and distribute to trustees and chief librarians.
4. Solicit regional librarians' ideas for trustee and staff training. Ideas affecting staff will be forwarded to the Executive of Nova Scotia Library Association by the LBANS President.
5. Research current practices Regional Library Board practices in hiring and evaluating their chief librarians.

The Library Boards Association of Nova Scotia is made up of the trustees of the nine Regional Library Boars in Nova Scotia, about ninety people. It was formed in 1976 as part of the Nova Scotia Library Association, but in 1983 it became a separate organization seeking to support the best possible library service for the people of Nova Scotia.

Each April, LBANS has an annual general meeting to discuss the past year, chart the course for the coming year, and to elect te LBANS Executive that governs the association for the year. The nine Executive members represent the nine regional boards.

1999-2000 LBANS Executive:

• Rod MacArthur, President (Cape Breton)
• Alan Wilson, Vice-President (South Shore)
• Allister MacDonald, Past-President (Pictou-Antigonish)
• Gary Archibald, Treasurer (Western Counties)
• Linda Travis, Secretary (Eastern Counties)
• Shirley McNamara (Eastern Counties)
• Betty Thomas (Halifax)
• Shirley Pineo (Annapolis Valley)
• John Patterson (Colchester-East Hants)
• Ralph Welton (Cumberland)