Table of Contents

1.1     What and who the manual is for
1.2     What needs assessment and strategic planning are all about
1.3     Why do a needs assessment: direct and indirect benefits
1.4     How this manual was developed
1.5     How to use the manual

2.1     Setting your objectives
2.2     Gaining commitment
2.3     A partnership approach
2.4     Developing a study team and an advisory committee
2.5     Getting some outside help
2.6     Developing a schedule
2.7     Determining a budget

3.1     Determining what you need to know
3.2     Identifying information sources
3.3     Analyzing and packaging the data

4.1     Identifying iportant groups: your stakeholders
4.2     Different ways of gaining public input
4.3     Interviewing community leaders
4.4     Meeting with the public
4.5     Doing a community survey
4.6     Analyzing the results
4.7     Analyzing the results
4.8     Training volunteers

5.1     The components of the plan
5.2     Developing the plan
5.3     Putting the plan into action
5.4     Monitoring your results
5.5     Doing it again

6.1     Background information on Oxford County
6.2     Getting ready in Oxford County
6.3     Developing the information base
6.4     Consulting with the communities
6.5     Starting a strategic plan
6.6     Lessons learned

A.     Bibliography
B.     The Oxford County Library Survey
C.     The Oxford County Needs Study Report - Executive Summary
D.     Survey Design
       (Excerpts from: Assessing Your Community Planning, Ministry of Culture and Communications, 1987)

1.     Needs Assessment and Strategic Planning
2.     Potential Roles A Library can play In the Community
3.     Why Do a Needs Assessment?
4.     Potential Partners In Your Community
5.     Suggest Team and Advisory Committee Roles
6.     A Possible Study Schedule
7.     Data Requirements (And Their Relevance to Library Services)
8.     Valuable Data Sources
9.     Sample Graphs of Information Analyzed
10.     Summary of Community Consultation Methods
11.     Different Ways of Gaining Community Input
12.     Interview Guide
13.     Oxford County Public Meeting Media Release, Poster and Newspaper Clipping
14.     Presentation Used at Public Meeting
15.     Survey Questions: What to Ask & Why
16.     Examples of Survey Analysis
17.     Components of A Strategic Plan
18.     Examples of Action Plans
19.     Chronology of the C.A.R.M.L./ Oxford Needs Assessment Manual Project
20.     Do's and Don'ts of Needs Assessment and Strategic Planning