Library’s New Strategic Plan Focuses on Partnerships, Connecting Patrons

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Library entrance

Greeting you as you enter, the bird and fountain (in warmer times) at Darien Library.

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After six months of community meetings and staff workshops, Darien Library has unveiled its 2017-2020 Strategic Plan.

The plan sets three goals for the Library:

  • Grow new and existing partnerships to expand the reach of our core services and strategic priorities.
  • Connect our patrons discreetly with experts and information to improve our community’s well-being.
  • Prepare our staff and building to serve our community in extraordinary circumstances, during disasters, and through rapid change.

The entire plan can be viewed on the library’s website.

In a change from previous strategic plans, this plan was developed by Library administration after a series of community meetings. “We felt it was crucial to start by understanding how different parts of the community are thinking about the future of Darien,” said Stephanie Anderson, Assistant Director for Public Services.

Staff members met with representatives from several dozen groups like the League of Women Voters, Darien Men’s Association, Post 53, and the YWCA, as well as local churches, Town boards, and internal advisory boards.

Rather than asking about the Library, though, meetings asked participants to answer questions like: What do you think Darien will be like in ten years? What are your hopes for Darien? What are your concerns? Patrons were also given the chance to submit feedback on the same questions anonymously through the Library website.

“By understanding what a wide range of patrons want for the future, we could identify which Library services and resources we should focus on,” said library Director Alan Kirk Gray.

Condensed answers from the meetings and survey were shared with all Library employees, who began to analyze and evaluate the feedback in a half-day workshop in order to start establishing areas of focus and brainstorm ideas for the next three years.

“Based on what we heard from our community, we know that our core services are as important as ever to Darien, and they’re not going anywhere,” said Anderson. “This plan isn’t about reinventing everything we do. Instead, it’s about focusing on three of our existing priorities: building partnerships to improve our reach, helping patrons improve their well-being, and being prepared to help our community no matter what happens.”

The Library will host a public presentation and Q&A on the new plan on the evening of Jan. 25, where library administrators and staff will also share an overview of the community feedback they collected during planning so that other organizations can benefit from their research. In advance of the meeting, questions and feedback can be emailed to Anderson  at sanderson@darienlibrary.org.

About Darien Library

Darien Library is a Library Journal Five Star Library. The Library is among the busiest in the state with over 1,300 people visiting on an average day and has the highest per capita circulation of items in Connecticut. The Library collection includes 125,000 books and 300 newspaper and magazine subscriptions. In addition, the Library presents over 1,500 public events annually, hosting a lineup of bestselling authors, technology classes, early literacy programs, and workshops for small business owners and entrepreneurs.

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