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Many communities in Contra Costa County, as well as communities throughout the country, have concluded that public libraries are going to continue to be as important in the future as they have been in the past and that their existing library facility is inadequate to meet the needs of the 21st century. Challenges to public libraries include balancing sufficient books and other print resources with demand for electronic media. The new interest in libraries as "destinations", the continuing increase in County Library use, demand for new and expanded services, and the complexity of modern information technology are additional challenges faced by public libraries.
Over the last two years, library staff and the Library Commission have worked with library consultant Joan Frye Williams to conduct an in-depth strategic planning process. This study is primarily based on new data about county residents' needs and preferences, community needs assessments, and data gathered for new library building studies.
Analysis of the data showed that a number of community needs and preferences are consistent countywide:
- Emphasis on children and teens
- Library as a leader/advocate for reading
- Information support for lifelong reading
- Library as a "destination"
- Easy, independent exploration of the library's resources
- Tie-in with the arts
I would like to invite you to take a look at the draft of the new strategic plan. You will see that, after considering all of the information gathered, the library has identified 4 top strategic priorities, proposed a new organizational model, and developed new service approaches to customer service, reference service, collection development, staff development and innovation.
I welcome your comments on the strategic plan, so that we achieve our expected results, which are:
- Service more in line with your needs and preferences
- Faster, one-stop library service
- Better integration of the libraries in your community
- More cost effective library operations
- Improved flexibility and capacity for future growth
Thank you for your comments and suggestions. Together, we can meet the needs of the library public in the 21st century.
Anne Cain
County Librarian
Download the Strategic Plan Send Comments or Questions