“There were several components we looked at in order to find out what our citizens want in a public library, and one of the first steps we took was looking at a community profile,” Phelan said. “And it’s not that you make all your decisions based on this, but it does inform you.”
Among demographics analyzed were the continued increase in population, racial and ethnic background of citizens, poverty rates, education levels and more.
“If we have a higher rate of folks not graduating ... then we think, ‘Do we need more resources in those areas to help people?’” Phelan said.
There are six key goals and objectives within the plan to ensure the library serves the community to support literacy and knowledge, according to the document.
The library will partner with community members and businesses, partner with local artists and provide inclusive programs to encourage the arts and honor diverse cultures.
The library will also strive to provide educational opportunities for personal and professional development through partnerships with local schools, literacy assistance and other programs.
The library will also promote digital literacy and offer technology resources through partnerships, programs and grant opportunities.
In addition, the library will provide services to aid and encourage community participation; provide and curate comprehensive print, audio, video and other collections; and expand services to meet the city's growth.
“It’s good that we’ve talked about the goals for our library in years to come,” Council Member Michael Tobias said. “It was very interesting to see the enthusiasm from all over the board and the passion that you want to show for the community.”
