Simsbury Library Seeks Input Planning Its Future

SIMSBURY, CT — The Simsbury Public Library, nationally recognized in 2022 as one of only two Star Libraries in Connecticut, has begun work on a five-year strategic plan aimed at strengthening services and aligning them with community needs.

The library’s board of trustees has formed a strategic planning committee made up of residents representing a range of community interests.

The committee will develop recommendations that trustees will use to set the library’s direction.

Helping them, committee members hope, will be residents and library supporters.

Residents can complete a Simsbury Public Library Planning Survey online at simsburylibrary.info or in person at the library.

Committee members may also reach out directly to residents for feedback.

Meanwhile, two public listening sessions are scheduled at the Simsbury Public Library, 725 Hopmeadow St., on March 11 at 7 p.m. and March 16 at 10 a.m.

Additional sessions at other locations are expected to be announced.

“We have a unique opportunity to help shape the library’s future, ensuring it continues to evolve and serve Simsbury residents in the coming years,” said Jennifer Kirkland, a Simsbury resident and member of the strategic planning Committee who uses the library frequently with her family.

The planning process will begin with the community survey available online and in print.

Committee members also plan to hold in-person sessions inside and outside the library over the next two to three months to gather broader input. The data collected will be used to identify residents’ priorities and expectations.

“To address the changing needs of our diverse community, our committee will rely on community input as to which programs and resources are most valued,” said Dan Sommer, a committee member who moved to Simsbury two years ago. “We urge residents to take a moment to fill out the upcoming survey and contribute to the library's vibrant future.”

Simsbury Library Director Lisa Miceli said the outreach effort is guided by a process designed by the Harwood Institute for Public Innovation and the American Library Association.

“The Library is looking to the community as a whole through this process designed by the Harwood Institute for Public Innovation and the American Library Association,” Miceli said.

“We want to hear from as many people as possible to help us plan for the future in a way that directs priorities and uses resources as efficiently as possible. Libraries have the ability to transform lives if the opportunities they offer are in line with community aspirations.”

For more information on the survey and to take the survey, click on this link.