ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION INC

Our goals reflect community priorities identified in the strategic development process. They are broadly defined to allow senior library leadership and individual branch managers the latitude to develop locally tailored programs and services to meet each community’s diverse needs.

-Better Collections, Better Access
• We provide materials in a variety of formats.
• We ensure Library collections are responsive to community interests and needs.
• We strive to eliminate all barriers to use, whether they be policy-, technical-, or ability based.
• We connect Library collections to everything we do: all our other services and programs naturally lead to increased readership.

-Thriving Minds
• We develop engaging and diverse programming to young learners – Every Child Ready to Read, 1000 Books Before Kindergarten - to build on the success of the previous strategic plan.
• We provide welcoming spaces and appealing programs for teens to prepare them for college or career as well as provide a safe place.
• We provide services and programs to enable adults to enjoy life fully and continue to contribute to the health of the community.

-Tailored Services
• We highlight community library services, including options to build specialized information collections on-site, in coordination with virtual holdings for the entire county.
• We provide the same core services through every branch and platform and allow flexibility for branch staff to adjust for local needs.
• We recognize and celebrate the diversity of community residents and their needs by providing access to a variety of high quality services and programs.
• We design all aspects of our services – how customers access our resources, material format, language, and program delivery – to meet needs at the local and individual scale

-Entrepreneurial Staff
• We empower all staff, at all levels and at every position, to innovate and experiment.
• We are creative in developing initiatives and programs to meet local needs, while remaining true to library-wide goals and coordination with the Board of Trustees.
• We are dedicated to professional, organizational, and individual development.

-Effective Partnerships
• We “connect it all,” leveraging past success in building relationships with community
partners, recognizing that needed services and programs are already provided by a variety of agencies and organizations and that the Library is best positioned to make these vital connections.
• We harmonize our services and programs with those of our partners to minimize duplications and take advantage of supporting opportunities.
• We use partnerships to their best effects, leveraging resources and talents to maximize the impact of the Library’s assets and our partners’ outcomes.

• Increase awareness of the impact of the Library and its myriad programs and service through communications, programs and events, including Foundation-sponsored activities, to encourage participation and giving by individuals, organizations and businesses
• Develop a major gift program by connecting the needs of the Library to the charitable interests of existing and prospective donors, and through proper and effective stewardship
• Engage area business leaders and their employees in the work of the Library to build partnerships and encourage giving
• Lead an on-going effort to communicate the value of the Library to increase public funds ensuring our Library has the resources it needs to remain up to date
• Enhance customer experience at all branches by supporting new and emerging technology for customers of all ages
• Support additional staff and staff training to give librarians the tools and expertise to continue to provide the highest level of support and service possible to all Library customers
• Create inviting, flexible and collaborative spaces inside all branches to better attract and serve all library customers