Library committee to begin new strategic planning with community input and grant‑funded outreach

The library committee discussed plans to begin a new strategic planning process that would broaden community and board participation and use a consultant to streamline development.

Director Ben Gocker told the committee the library plans to start strategic planning in July of the next fiscal year, hire a consultant, and target implementation of the new plan by Jan. 1, 2027. The committee discussed pulling consultant funds from the operating budget and the potential need to issue an RFP depending on consultant cost.

Patty Sussman and staff described work to secure a grant from IREX, an international nonprofit, to support “bridge‑building” community conversations. Sussman said the grant would fund convenings that bring new homeowners and longer‑term Newburgh residents together to surface different perspectives and to increase awareness of library services among newer residents. She specifically described outreach to new homeowners who moved to the area in the last year and to community stakeholders who attended a staff development session featuring facilitator Shamika Holman.

Committee members emphasized including board members, staff and diverse community voices in the planning committee. One member recalled that the previous plan (developed in‑house and completed before) had limited community input and said community perspective is important for the library’s next three‑to‑five year goals. “I think that there was a good representation of staff members, but for the community … the community perspective is important,” the committee member said.

Discussion vs. decision: the committee discussed a proposed timeline, agreed on the need for community engagement and consultant support, and requested staff to proceed with planning steps. No formal vote to hire a consultant or to award a grant was recorded at the meeting.

Next steps: staff said they plan to begin the strategic planning process in July, seek consultant proposals as needed, use operating funds to pay for consultant work if feasible, and pursue the IREX grant to help convene community dialogues that will inform the plan.

Other community outreach: staff also announced a limited‑time special edition library card designed by NFA graduate Roxanne Contreras, to be unveiled in September during Library Card Sign‑up Month, and described promotional items such as tote bags and T‑shirts to increase visibility.