PCPL forums seek community input for strategic plan

Putnam County Public Library Board members and staff will be hosting a series of community forums throughout the county to gather input for the updated strategic plan.

Director Grier Carson noted the five-year strategic plan is updated periodically and each time the public is invited to learn more about the library's current projects in order to provide input for future projects.

Carson noted three forums will be hosted throughout the county to ensure those interested in the library's future are able to provide information. The one-hour public forums start at 6 p.m. and are scheduled for Oct. 21 at Cloverdale Town Hall, Oct. 27 at Bainbridge Community Center and Nov. 9 at the Putnam County Public Library.

"The forums are designed to facilitate public input on some specific aspects of library services," Carson explained.

Board members, administrators and staff will provide insight on projects completed in the last few years and ask specific questions to learn what the community would like to see in the future.

For example, patrons will be asked what kind of on-site and remote training and workshops they would like to see offered at the library, as well as what types of materials -- whether it be physical or electronic -- they would like to see offered at the library. Patrons will also be asked what type of public spaces they would like to be offered by the library.

A community survey will be distributed at the meeting to procure more detailed answers to open-ended questions, such as the services they believe the library should focus on in the future.

Those who are not able to attend one of the three forums can access the survey online at www.pcpl21.org.

Carson noted the importance of hosting the three separate forums in different areas of the county, rather than just the library's Greencastle location.

"Rather than hosting one big community forum at the library, we're hosting three respective forums in three strategic locations throughout Putnam County during the months of October and November. PCPL has done this in the past during its strategic planning work, and we believe the flexibility allows for more residents to attend," Carson explained.

Following the series of meetings in November, the Library Improvement Committee -- consisting of board members, staff and community members -- will meet to discuss the same topics.

"Our hope is to garner as much public input as possible as we work toward finalizing our latest strategic plan," Carson said.