Patch Blog: 5 Goals of the Library's Strategic Plan

The South Pasadena Public Library began a new Strategic Planning process in 2010 and recently the Library Board of Trustees approved the finished product, a document entitled “Library Strategic Plan 2011-2015”.

To start the project, a Strategic Planning Subcommittee comprised of two members of the Library Board of Trustees, the Strategic Planning Consultant, and the City Librarian developed a Strategic Planning Survey that was posted on the Library and Friends’ websites, and distributed online and in print copy. More than 750 completed surveys were received from the public. Around this time five lively Stakeholder meetings were conducted in the Community Room. Every club, organization, school, and church in South Pasadena was invited, along with the general public at large which included Library users and non-users alike.

Using input gathered from the broad cross-section of survey respondents and the many Stakeholders, the Strategic Planning Subcommittee analyzed the data and developed Goals and Objectives. They also tweaked the Library’s Mission Statement. The completed Strategic Plan was presented to the City Council on September 7, 2011 who officially received it after asking a few questions and complimenting all involved. Now that the new Strategic Plan is in place the Library will be working to align its services and resources to meet the stated Goals and Objectives. This planning effort will enable the Library to set its course for the next four years based on the real-life needs expressed by the community.

Throughout the entire process, able guidance was provided by the Library Strategic Planning Consultant, Linda Demmers, who facilitated all of the meetings, including those for Stakeholders, the Subcommittee, and the Library staff.   

In the new Strategic Plan the Library Mission Statement is
slightly revamped:

The South Pasadena Public Library will provide high quality, professional, and
friendly services in a welcoming and accommodating environment. The Library
will strive to inform, enrich and empower every person in the community by
fostering the pursuit of knowledge, the love of reading, and the greater
appreciation and support of local culture.

The Strategic Plan also contains 5 main Goals and measurable
performance objectives for each:

1.  The South Pasadena Public Library will expand and improve its use of new technologies to provide access to library materials, information about library services, and help its customers connect to the on‐line world.

2.  The South Pasadena Public Library will provide a facility that is welcoming, comfortable, easily accessible and flexible.

3.   All South Pasadena Public Library users will have  access  to access library materials that reflect community needs and local culture. 

4.   The South Pasadena Public Library will provide youths with the resources to succeed in school, and to nurture a life‐long love of reading and learning.

5.   The South Pasadena Library will work to ensure financial stability while providing cost effective operations.

The entire Strategic Plan appears on the Library and Friends websites and will be widely distributed in a handout booklet.