MONROE, CT — What would your dream library look like? Community members can offer their ideas and thoughts on the direction Edith Wheeler Memorial Library might pursue, while updating its Strategic Plan this March. The plan will cover 2025 through 2028.
“Strategic planning is fun,” Director Nicole Cignoli said. “You’re on the cusp of the next four years. What cool things can we do for our community? What do they need?”
This is the second time the library has included community conversations and a survey as part of the process.
The library’s strategic planning team consists of eight members: staff, Library Board of Trustees members, and a community leader, who will assist the library in mapping out its strategic goals for the next four years.
“We invite everyone to stop in one of our hour-long conversations in the coming weeks,” Cignoli said. “They are open conversations, guided by a series of questions to gather your ideas and perspectives.”
Planning team members will hold a session in the library’s Ehlers Room this Wednesday, March 13, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. It is open to the public.
If you are unable to attend, consider taking the survey by clicking here. It is available in digital form that can be taken on a smartphone or computer, and is also available for download on the library website.
Hard copies are available at the library and QR codes around town. Paper copies should be returned to the service desks at the library by Monday, March 25.
“Between the survey and community conversations, the strategic planning team will gather a lot of information about our town and then be able to issue a report recommending three to five goals for the library,” Cignoli said.
The library joined seven Connecticut public libraries as part of the Connecticut Library Consortium’s (CLC) Strategic Planning Cohort program. The cohort works under the guidance of nationally-renowned library consultant Maureen Sullivan, providing concurrent consulting services for each library to develop its unique plan for the future at the end of the process.
CLC is a statewide nonprofit membership organization that is state mandated to provide group purchasing, discounts, and other efficiencies for Connecticut libraries.
The plan will go to the first selectman, Town Council, and the Library Board of Trustees for final approval. For information, visit www.ewml.org or call the Reference Desk at 203-452-2852.
All respectful comments with the commenter’s first and last name are welcome.
Planning team members will hold another “Community Conversation” session in the library’s Ehlers Room next Tuesday, March 19 because we really want to hear from you!
Please consider stopping in and participating anytime from 6:30-7:30 p.m.