Dakota County Library Strategic Plan

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Dakota County Library's Strategic Plan sets goals and identifies strategies shaped by valued community, stakeholder and staff feedback. Over the next three years, the plan will guide the library in strengthening services and developing new initiatives to improve the library experience and expand our impact.

Strategic Plan goals and strategies

The library identified three goals that focus on equitable and joyful experiences, an accessible collection and increasing awareness. Our mission remains our foundation: To cultivate community, creativity and learning.

Equitable and joyful experiences

Goal 1: Cultivate belonging by creating equitable and joyful experiences.

Work collectively to create a library culture that is joyful and inclusive.
Foster well-being and safety at the library.
Support and equip staff to deliver welcoming, responsive, and helpful customer service across differences in identity, culture, and values.
Deepen partnerships with community-based organizations to support staff to more effectively engage with people from specific communities, including newer immigrants, Spanish speakers, and teens.
Creatively adapt existing library spaces so they can be used for a range of needs, including both quiet and social.
Examine Library roles to support the hiring and retention of staff who can represent and serve the full range of racial, ethnic, cultural and linguistic identities in Dakota County.
Develop more proactive service models that prioritize human interaction to increase a sense of belonging at the library.

Accessible and enriching collections

Goal 2: Deliver accessible and enriching collections that are responsive to people's diverse interests and needs.

Assess the collections to determine new ways to most efficiently use resources to provide materials responsive to people's interests and needs.
Collectively share responsibility for engaging community members to learn about their interests and needs to inform the library's work and collections.
Assess, improve and evaluate the website to make it easier to find materials, resources, programs and other library offerings.

Increase awareness

Goal 3: Increase awareness about the library's many offerings.

Identify specific communities each year to target engagement and communication efforts towards, with a focus on communities that have not historically been prioritized or who are using the library in disproportionately low numbers.
Equip community advocates to act as ambassadors to promote the library's offerings.
Leverage online and community marketing to increase awareness of offerings.

Plan development

Vision, mission and values

Our vision
Dakota County Library acts as a catalyst, connector and partner to empower residents to build a successful community.

Our mission
Dakota County Library cultivates community, creativity and learning.

Our values
We provide positive and welcoming experiences.
We act inclusively, valuing and respecting differences.
We are knowledgeable, engaged, and culturally aware.
We value free and open access to information, community talent and technology.

Teens enjoy the flexibility of the library's spaces, including quiet and social spaces.
Representation and belonging are significant for immigrants and communities of color.
Free and easy access to technology is vital to many.

Creating the plan

A library project team worked with consultants from Terraluna Collaborative to create the new strategic plan. The team organized work in four phases and conducted planning over twelve months. Dakota County Board of Commissioners provided direction. All library staff had opportunities to give input on their experiences, to debrief on community input themes, and to reflect on draft goals and strategies.

Process timeline

Spring 2024: Launch
Summer 2024: Community engagement
Fall 2024: Meaning-making and planning
Winter 2024-2025: Documentation and action

Community input

The library received more than 11,500 survey responses. Library staff facilitated one-on-one and small group conversations at 35 community events. Community input themes were developed from the feedback. The library is grateful to all those who contributed.

Themes

The library is a loved and used resource.
Collections, programs, technology and multi-use space are valued.
The majority have a great experience and value staff help. You like to see us outside library locations and in the community too.
Many are surprised to hear about all the library's offerings and resources. We received many requests for services we offer, such as Self-Service Hours.
People want more of what they love, including books, shorter wait times, more study spaces and more events.
Online service is the third-most used library 'location.'
The library is a liaison between residents and other resources, including job applications, social services, housing assistance and recreation.
Residents use the library in a variety of ways important to them. Some of the most shared examples include:
Families consider the library a safe space for themselves and their children.

Thank you for sharing your feedback with us.

Last updated: 12/18/2024 12:18 PM