We are excited to introduce our four-year Long Range Plan. The Shelby County Public Library has a historic background that is supported by a visionary Board of Trustees and devoted staff. We will continue to move forward together with appreciation for the past and embracing the future to come.
You can read the details of the plan below, or click the button labeled “Download” to download and/or print the Long Range Plan. A limited number of copies of the Long Range Plan are available at the Circulation Desk.
If you would like to download a PDF of the Long Range Plan, you can do so by clicking the button below labeled “Download.”
Our Long Range Plan is divided into nine sections—including the revised mission statement. Each numbered section contains a list of goals to be accomplished in the next four years. Click on the section header to find more information.
The mission statement of an organization serves as its overall guiding force, identifying the goals and priorities of the staff and Board. While creating this Long Range Plan, the following mission statement was identified:
The Shelby County Public Library shall provide services, programs, and materials to enrich people’s lives while fostering a love of reading, providing access to information, and encouraging lifelong learning.
Any library is only as valuable as its collections. The Shelby County Public Library has an already expansive collection, but there is room for improvement.
As part of this Long Range Plan, we will continue to establish and maintain a collection of books and materials, in a variety of formats, to meet the informational and recreational needs of the community.
A list of the general goals of the library regarding collection development is below.
A major component of a library’s daily task is to promote literacy and the joy of reading.
It is vital to spread awareness of the Library as a central clearinghouse for everything related to reading and literacy and to encourage and support readers as they explore new reading opportunities.
Our goals to promote literacy and the joys of reading are listed below.
We strive to deliver exceptional customer service. The library staff must be helpful, positive, informative, and always go above and beyond in their interactions with library patrons.
Developing and maintaining exceptional customer service skills requires the support of a strong program of staff development and training which includes ever-changing technology.
Our goals to improve and sustain exceptional customer service are below.
We will stay at the forefront of changing technologies in the delivery of materials, information, and patron access.
Rapid changes in technology continue to drive patron expectations.
The library will be aware of how such changes impact library services in the delivery of materials in different formats, in providing access to information and library materials, and in communicating with the residents of the community.
Our goals to continue to improve technology access are below.
Our goal is to make Library services accessible to all members of the community.
We will identify target areas where not all residents are served equally, and determine methods provide services (i.e., the Bookmobile, collection development, etc.).
Physical disabilities, transportation issues, language, and/or literacy difficulties can all impose barriers to obtaining library services.
Our goals to mitigate some of those limiting factors are below.
We will, as an organization, continue to be aware of and responsive to community needs. The Library must stay informed about changing needs and trends within our community.
Our goals to continue to support the needs of the community are below.
We will maintain an environment that is safe and welcoming for library patrons and staff through review of policies and renovation of the Adult Services and Youth Services areas.
Our goals to maintain an environment that is both safe and welcoming are below.
We will increase community awareness of library services.
The Library will move beyond traditional methods of publicizing its services and programs and explore ways to use more effective marketing strategies.
Our goals to improve community awareness of the library are below.
This Long Range Plan is designed to be accomplished within four years and was approved by the Board of Trustees by unanimous consent on February 18, 2020. The plan will end in December 2024.