In order to best serve the changing needs of our community, ensure the long-term sustainability of our library, and fulfill New York State Division of Library Development minimum standards for public and association libraries, the Altamont Free Library establishes this Long Range Planning Policy.

Long Range Plan Development

New York State Education Law section 254 allows the state Commissioner of Education to set minimum standards for public and association libraries. NYSED Commissioners’ Regulation 90.2 establishes those standards. Among these standards is the requirement that every chartered public and association library have a “community-based, board-approved, written long-range plan of service developed by the library board and staff.” In order to fulfill this requirement, Altamont Free Library regularly creates and adopts a new Long Range Plan (LRP). In order to ensure that progress is made towards the goals established in each LRP, this policy establishes a procedure for its regular evaluation.

Policy

1. The period covered by Altamont Free Library’s LRP shall be determined by the Board of Trustees no less than six months before the sunset date of the prior LRP.
2. The Board of Trustees may elect to extend the period covered by an LRP by no more than two years.
3. The development and periodic review of the Library’s Long-Range Plan of Service shall be informed by broad, meaningful, and inclusive community engagement.
   1. In the collection of feedback from our community, the greatest care possible should be taken to maximize the number of respondents, whether or not they are active library users.
      1. Options for both remote and in-person feedback will be made available. The Library will consider barriers that may prevent participation, including disability, lack of reliable transportation, work schedules, childcare responsibilities, technology access, language, age, and unfamiliarity with the Library.
      2. To the greatest extent possible, feedback shall be actively solicited from members of the community with diverse needs and backgrounds.
      3. Methods of feedback collection may include online surveys, in-person focus groups and interviews, paper surveys and other methods that shall seem useful and appropriate.
      4. Anonymously submitted comments shall be given the same consideration as comments submitted by named individuals.
4. No later than one year prior to the termination of each LRP, the Board President shall appoint Trustees to a Long Range Plan Ad-Hoc Subcommittee of the standing AFL Sustainability Subcommittee who will take primary responsibility for the collection of community feedback and the crafting of the new LRP.
5. In setting long range goals, the LRP Ad-Hoc Subcommittee shall consider all of the community feedback collected in addition to insight provided by the members of the Board of Trustees. The subcommittee may seek additional guidance from former Trustees, municipal officials, professional organizations such as the Upper Hudson Library System and others.
6. Approval of the Long Range Plan shall be by a majority vote of the sitting Board of Trustees.
7. After approval by the AFL Board of Trustees, the LRP will be made available to the public on the Library’s website and as a printed version upon request.

Evaluation and Reporting Procedure

Purpose
The purpose of this procedure is to ensure that the Library’s Long Range Plan (LRP) remains an active tool for strategic planning, decision-making, accountability, and continuous improvement.

The Board of Trustees shall periodically review the Long Range Plan and evaluate progress toward its goals and priorities. The Board recognizes that long-range planning is an ongoing process and that the plan should remain responsive to changing community needs, organizational priorities, and operating conditions. Progress toward the Long Range Plan shall be considered regularly by the Board and used to inform planning, budgeting, policy development, and resource allocation.

Procedure

Ongoing Review
Long-range planning shall be included as a recurring topic of Board discussion. The Board may receive updates on progress toward strategic goals as needed.

Periodic Evaluation
The Board shall periodically evaluate progress toward the Long Range Plan. Such evaluations may consider:

• Progress toward strategic goals and priorities
• Community feedback and emerging needs
• Financial, operational, and facility considerations
• External factors that may influence the Library’s direction
• Opportunities for improvement or adjustment

Action Planning
Following evaluation of the Long Range Plan, the Board may establish, revise, or prioritize annual or multi-year action plans to support achievement of the Library’s strategic goals.

Public Reporting
The Board shall communicate significant progress, accomplishments, and updates related to the Long Range Plan through appropriate public channels.

Plan Review and Amendment
The Board may review, amend, extend, or replace the Long Range Plan whenever it determines such action to be in the best interest of the Library and community.

 Adopted August 17, 2026