Library strategic planning focused on diversity, patron needs

As another year of challenges for the Putnam County Public Library closes, staff and its stakeholders are looking to the next five years as a period of growth and connecting better with the community.

Affirming these aspirations, the library’s board of trustees recently gave its support of a public strategic plan detailing goals and objectives which staff will seek to accomplish between 2022 and 2026. It also approved an internal “to-do” list on how these goals could be met.

The documents were drafted by a committee that included Library Asst. Director and Board Treasurer Jane Hazelton, board members Barbara Boese and Tiffany Shields and two staff members.

The public document sets forth six goals moving forward: Story, Sustain, Connect, Outreach, Empower and Include.

The Story goal provides that the library will grow as a community resource for the community’s past as well as its future. As such, the objectives will be to be innovative with making its physical and digital collections available.

The Sustain goal is geared toward ensuring the long-term financial and physical stability of the library. In general, this will mean updating its technological infrastructure and continuing to recruit qualified staff, as well as being good stewards of it finances.

The Connect goal will mean to offer community members equitable access to the library for a variety of needs. While this means maintaining and expanding the space as a whole, this also entails developing programming for all ages and different interests.

The Outreach goal will set out a plan to expand the library’s digital as well as physical presence throughout Putnam County. As such, the objective will be to devote more resources to PCPL’s outreach and raising awareness of its offerings.

The Empower goal means that the library will encourage community members to utilize the library. This will mean connecting them with programming and tools for them to be creative with different media types.

Finally, the Include goal will mean that the library is a welcoming space for everyone. In essence, this will be done by fostering an inclusive and diverse culture within the library.

“Each of our goals was chosen with the intent of emphasizing what we do well and improving in vital areas which we feel would be beneficial to our community moving forward,” Director Matt McCelland provided in a letter. “The next five years will be an exciting time for PCPL as we look to the future and we hope you and your family will take the journey with us.”