Public library service has been available to the citizens of the greater Ann Arbor community for 138 years. The current District Library is about to enter its second decade. In light of continual and increasing changes in society and technology, it was very important to engage many voices in the Strategic Planning process.
The Strategic Plan is a guide that helps inform decisions and focus energy. It does not supercede current policies or any laws governing district library practices. It is a flexible, living document that will be visible and updated annually. The Ann Arbor District Library Board and Staff worked together with representatives of the community to establish a guide for public library service for the years 2004-2010. The underlying goals of the Strategic Plan are to:
Strengthen community awareness of the role and value of a public library
Develop a sustainable and adaptable organization
Provide long-term adequate and stable funding
Complete the branch expansion program and determine the future of the Downtown library
Built into the initiatives, goals, and actions of the Strategic Plan is the understanding that we must maintain current core services essential to providing quality public library service. Among these core services are the circulation of print, audiovisual and digital resources, access to gathering spaces and public computing, programming for entertainment and education, and story times.
I. Services Develop services, programs and collections that balance community demand and Ann Arbor District Library resources
II. Finances Develop a multi-year financial process that assures adequate, sustainable funding for the next twenty years
III. Facilities Develop and maintain clean, safe, physical facilities that creatively meet the needs of the community and staff with an emphasis on sustainability, accessibility and flexibility
IV. Organizational Development Develop sustainable, adaptive, organizational practices that allows the Library to thrive internally and externally
V. Technology Integrate technologies that improve and enhance the delivery of all aspects of library services
VI. Communications Develop high-level internal and external communications that get the message out, to all, about what we do and how we do it