Cumberland County Public Library
& Information Center received a $21,080 federally funded Library Services
and Technology Act grant from the State Library of North Carolina. The grant
will provide funding for a consultant to assist in developing the library’s
five-year strategic plan. The current plan ends in 2020.
During October, the library is
encouraging Cumberland County residents to complete a survey that will provide important feedback for the strategic
plan. Survey participants will have a chance to win a $100 VISA gift card
donated by the Friends of the Library, Inc. The survey is available online at
cumberland.lib.nc.us. Paper copies may be completed at any library
location, and 1,000 surveys will be mailed to randomly selected Cumberland
County addresses.
“A strategic plan will guide the
library staff in areas that have the most impact in Cumberland County and for
the community's well-being. It's an exciting process to be involved in,” said
Library Director Jody Risacher.
Anthony Chow, Ph.D., who serves on the faculty at the University
of North Carolina Greensboro, is the consultant guiding the process. The
project includes a community needs assessment, public surveys and interviews
with local leaders. The information gathered will contribute to developing
a flexible strategic plan to help the library effectively manage resources for
services and programs.
“I am delighted to have the opportunity to work with the
Cumberland County Public Library on their long-range strategic plan. Like most
organizations, libraries must continue to evolve based on the needs of the
people they serve. We will be using a wide array of data collection methods to
ensure we have a valid and reliable sample. Once we understand the wishes of
the community, we will develop a comprehensive plan to address those needs,”
Chow said.
The previous plan, released in 2015, outlined six organizational
goals: to provide access to information; support self-directed learning;
support diversity in the community; provide safe, comfortable and welcoming
spaces; support connecting and participating in the digital world; and
encouraging lifelong literacy and creative expression.
For more information about the Cumberland County Public
Library, visit cumberland.lib.nc.us/ccplsite.
The grant is made possible by funding from the federal Institute
of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and
Technology Act (LSTA) as administered by the State Library of North Carolina, a
division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (IMLS grant number
LS-00-19-0034-19).