County libraries strategically planning to best serve residents

Every five years or so, the Prince Edward County Public Library Board takes on the daunting task of creating a new strategic plan. The end result is a big-picture document informed by broader trends in libraries, changes locally, and conversations and input from as many community members as possible.

The library circulated surveys, held focus groups and had conversations at local events. Through this work, three priorities were made clear: six branches, collections, and children and youth services.

“My local branch is a neighbourhood anchor. It’s where I get the latest news and find out about what’s happening in my village. It’s more than just a place to get books – I meet people here and I stay connected.” This, and variations on the sentiment, came up repeatedly in the focus groups and conversations.

We recognize that the six branches – Ameliasburgh, Bloomfield, Consecon, Milford, Picton and Wellington – are stronger together and make library services more convenient and a vital part of people’s lives. One of the strategies to do this is to respond to the community, adapting to changes in our neighbourhoods and planning for strategic open hours.

We’ve already made a first step to achieving this goal by adding extended hours at every branch, with most open until six one night a week and Bloomfield open until 7 p.m. on Tuesdays.

Another frequent refrain was “We want books! Books, books, books!” Although participants value the additional services offered by the library, the message that the written word is still alive and well in Prince Edward County came through loud and clear. In addition to ensuring we commit a sufficient purchasing budget to meet the needs of the community, we’ll also enhance the collection through programs featuring authors, specialists and other experts, ensuring that programs and collections support each other.

The public library is a welcoming place for children and youth, supporting education, socialization, and growth, and the strategic plan identifies service to children, youth, and their families as a core tenant. As part of this goal, we will provide opportunities for children and families to connect with each other, with a good example being a playgroup June 5 held by the Hub at the Bloomfield Branch Library. There are also regular story times at the Picton Branch, welcoming everyone.

These are just a few highlights from the plan. You can find the whole plan at peclibrary.org or at any branch of the Library and reach library CEO Barbara Sweet at ceo@peclibrary.org (613) 476-5962 for more information. Our thanks to everyone who took the time to share their ideas and opinions and helped shape this vision for the next five years of library service.