2023-2026 Strategic Plan
Our Library is Preparing for the Future
Our Vision (The vision speaks to our hope for the future of Wayne County, as well as the library’s role in helping the community reach our desired destination):
We envision a Wayne County where library services adapt to the ever-changing needs of its community to ensure that all people have the opportunity to reach their full potential, pursue their passions, and advance understanding.
Our Mission (The Mission provides a pathway whereby the library can achieve its vision):
We bring people together to explore, discover, and connect to ensure opportunity for growth both as a community and individually.
Our Promises – To fulfill our mission and vision, and live out the County’s core values of customer service, continuous improvement, diversity and inclusion, employee engagement and workforce development, we make the following promises:
- Engage with our community
- Encourage lifelong learning
- Respond to our patrons
- Support our staff
- Cultivate and sustain a respectful and supportive environment where all individuals feel welcome
Through these promises, Wayne County Public Library strives to be a leader in library service, innovation and excellence, and will be a library system that is community-based, patron-focused, and one that holds up excellent staff as the heart of our service.
This plan is informed by the needs and priorities of our community, is aligned with the library’s vision, and is organized into interrelated areas of focus. Although they do not capture every possible aspect of our activity and work, the following three areas of focus highlight key impacts we want to make in our community over the next three years.
Focus Area 1. Center of knowledge and lifelong learning
Goal 1.1 Provide excellent library resources and services to support our diverse community’s capacity for learning at any age
Action Steps:
- Plan and execute the Creative Arts program, bringing fine arts programming to seniors
- Increase manipulatives in children’s area
- Re-evaluate library electronic resources
- Revitalize Reader’s Advisory services
Goal 1.2 Provide opportunities that builds on the interests of community members, promotes community dialogue, and creates better informed citizens
Action Steps:
- Revitalize community conversation programs
- Launch the Civics Lab program
- Plan and execute programming to create global understanding and celebrate the diverse population of Wayne County
Goal 1.3 Recognize and address the digital and technology gap in our community
Action Steps:
- Revitalize digital navigator services
- Review technology needs and identify potential funding sources to replace equipment at end of life
- Revitalize Dudley project and re-evaluate use of project’s resources
Potential measures of success for Focus Area 1:
- Increase in number of programs held
- Increase in library program attendance
- Increase in technology available
- Increase in technology use
- Programming survey results
Focus Area 2. Innovation through collaboration and community engagement
Goal 2.1 Continue to grow and establish partnerships that address barriers to growth in our community
Action Steps:
- Hold regular meetings of the READ Wayne Coalition
- Launch 300 books before 3rd grade campaign
Goal 2.2 Provide new services to cultivate the workforce of tomorrow
Action Steps:
- Hold regular meetings of the Wayne County Pathfinders
- Hold monthly STEM programming for school age children; expanding programs in Northern Wayne County
- Hold monthly business programming.
- Expand partnership with Wayne Community College’s Small Business Center
- Become further embedded in Launch Goldsboro
Goal 2.3 Continue to identify and grow partnerships to serve underrepresented groups in an innovative manner
Action Steps:
- Re-train staff on 211 and other community non-profits
- Host programs partnering with area non-profits
- Host programs led by diverse speakers
Potential measures of success for Focus Area 2:
- Increase number of community partners
- Increase in number of related programs
- Increase in diversity of speakers
Focus Area 3. Growth and capacity building
Goal 3.1 Create flexible facilities and services where all community members feel welcome to utilize library services
Action Steps:
- Launch mobile library
- Expand early literacy initiative to communities where transportation is a barrier via mobile library
- Launch the Learning Studio program
- Expand makerspace and/or STEM labs to branch locations
- Update accessibility tools at all locations
Goal 3.2 Create virtual spaces to deliver and market library collections, programs, and services
Action Steps:
- Create intentional, multi-faceted marketing approaches using social media, word of mouth, etc.
- Reassess the library’s marketing goals and redistribute marketing duties
- Add exhibits to Pass It Down on a quarterly basis
- Attend local events with the mobile library to expand library visibility
Goal 3.3 Enhance user experience by implementing intentional customer service standards
Action Steps:
- Create a customer service statement
- Provide customer service training for all staff
- Provide additional training regarding difficult conversations
Goal 3.4 Provide adequately staffed facilities with trained staff who reflect our diverse community
Action Steps:
- Provide quantifiable continuing education goals in staff performance appraisals
- Provide communication training for all staff
- Provide DEI training to all staff
Potential measures of success for Focus Area 3:
- Increase in library square footage
- Increase in cardholders
- Increase in subscribers, followers, and interactions on social media, website, and/or other virtual platforms
- Increase in programming attendance outside of library
- Increase in library visits
- Circulation of Learning Studio resources