NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The New Rochelle Public Library Board of Trustees today released a new strategic plan to guide the organization’s services, programs, resources and stewardship of the Library’s facilities over the next five years.
“This strategic plan sets forth the Library’s goals and actions to continue our pursuit of building a best-in-class library that serves all members of our diverse city”, said Whitney Barrat, President, New Rochelle Public Library Board of Trustees. “The Library is so much more than a treasure trove of books; we are the center of New Rochelle’s downtown community, serving as the town square where locals can come to learn, socialize, access services and engage in cultural and civic activity. We are confident this plan reflects the input we received and represents the best way forward to ensuring our Library remains a vibrant, state-of-the art resource for the community”, commented Barrat.
The strategic planning process began in 2020 but was paused due to the pandemic. In May, 2021 the Board of Trustees and Library Director, Tom Geoffino, engaged Public Works Partners, an independent public sector consulting firm, to plan and facilitate the planning process. The process gathered input from Library patrons and staff, the Board and the broader New Rochelle community through various methods, including focus groups, community meetings, and a public survey. “The community’s input was crucial in the development of this plan. We worked closely with community partners, including the City School District, the City of New Rochelle, houses of worship and more to disseminate information about the meetings and survey”, said Geoffino. “We are thankful to our residents, Library staff and other stakeholders for providing their valuable feedback”
The new plan outlines five strategic goals that will inform library initiatives:
Enhance the Library’s facility so that it is best-in-class and built for the future.
Upgrade technology to elevate the Library’s programming and service delivery.
Strengthen existing and establish new trusted lines of communication with residents across New Rochelle through partnerships with the New Rochelle School District, community-based organizations, local businesses, entrepreneurs, religious institutions, elected officials, City agencies, and other local stakeholders.
Prioritize outreach to communities of color, Spanish-speaking residents, and underserved neighborhoods in New Rochelle to ensure that the Library’s visitors and card users reflect the diversity of New Rochelle residents.
Increase the visibility, access, and relevance of the library’s programs and services to encourage patronage among youth and young working professionals, ages 16- 35, and residents of downtown New Rochelle.
These five goals will guide NRPL through the next five years, alongside ongoing feedback from the Board, staff, and library patrons. A working committee of members of the Board of Trustees and library staff, led by Barrat and Geoffino will assess the agency’s progress in achieving these goals.
“We are excited for the next chapter in the evolution of our library. As we look ahead, our vision is to be bold, to be nimble and expansive in the kinds of services we offer, to be open-minded about how we use our facilities, and to be both forward-thinking and realistic in determining what is possible”, said Barrat.
The 2022- 2026 strategic plan can be accessed on the library’s website.