Strategic Plan

Goal 1: Expand access to the library’s services, materials, and programs

• Expand the library’s Mobile Services to emphasize outreach to underserved areas and communities.
  • Expand and continue to evaluate the impact of book lockers as a way to reach remote and high traffic areas.
  • Launch new Bookmobile service in early 2023.
  • Analyze potential feasibility and potential impact of Books by Mail service to increase patron accessibility.
• Increase funding for high-circulation areas of the collection.
• Strengthen our partnership with the City of Salisbury and Downtown Salisbury business community.
• Focus on outreach and support for the growing Haitian community in Salisbury.
• Conduct a system-wide hours-of-operation impact assessment and adjust hours of operation for optimal user access and staffing and resource efficiency.

 

Goal 2: Fulfill the library’s pledge to promote equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in our culture, policies, and practices

• Focus the work of equity, diversity, and inclusion staff committee on producing policy and procedure recommendations and planning EDI training events.
• Review and adapt recruiting and hiring policies and procedures in consultation with the EDI committee with the goal of attracting diverse candidates.
• Provide regular EDI-focused staff training both as focused events and as a part of continuous staff development.

 

Goal 3: Increase visibility of library services and programs

• Ensure that communications about library resources and services are clear, branded, and extend far into the community.
• Increase staff participation in civic organizations representing the library.
• Produce a quarterly programming and services magazine and promotional mailing strategy.
• Complete the rollout of a new library website.
• Adapt the library’s social media strategy to current usage trends.

 

Goal 4: Develop and retain qualified staff to deliver quality service to the public

• Evaluate the results of the Maryland library cooperative salary study and make phased adjustments to library salaries and positions over FY23 - FY27.
• Develop and fund an annual staff awards program.
• Develop a strategy to evaluate the impact of 360 Training.
• Increase library staff participation--including in leadership positions--in the newly-formed Maryland Library Association Black Caucus.

 

Goal 5: Implement technologies to improve access, service to patrons, and staff efficiency

• Improve staff communication tools to provide an integrated platform for email, chat, and creative collaboration.
• Install and provide assistive technology computer systems to increase accessibility.

 

Goal 6: Create library spaces that are inspiring destinations, offering all county residents opportunities to learn, innovate, and discover

• Relocate the existing Pittsville Branch by Summer 2024.
• Complete capital improvements at the Sarbanes Branch, including carpet replacement, restroom upgrades, and HVAC and boiler replacements.
• Develop a strategy for funding a destination, flagship branch of Wicomico Public Library located in Salisbury.
• Maintain a physical service location in Downtown Salisbury or in a similarly central location for the purpose of ensuring equitable access to library services and in support of the vision of Downtown Salisbury as a vibrant hub for the community.

 

Goal 7: Embark on a comprehensive evaluation of programs and services to identify effective areas and areas for improvement

• Evaluate and develop a strategy for leveraging the library’s Community Support Center as a means for building cooperation among organizations serving vulnerable populations.
• Focus on expanding programming partnership with the Wicomico County Board of Education
• Establish an ongoing Battle of the Books program in partnership with schools.
• Develop a strategy for offering library programming and access to services at the partner space in the new Mardela Middle and High Schools.

 

Goal 8: Develop a plan to create sustainable alternative sources of funding for the library

• Assess the impact of the May 2023 Light of Literacy event as a tool for 1) promoting the library to the community and 2) fundraising on behalf of its services.
• Develop a strategy to formalize and improve staff support for Friends of the Library and Library Foundation administration.
• Develop a plan to re-establish the Library Foundation and to reorganize the Friends of the Library by merging the two entities into a single independent 501c3 Friends Foundation that advocates on behalf of the library, leads capital fundraising projects, and organizes other fundraising events.

Approved February 21, 2023

Revised April 16, 2024