Strategic Plan

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Connecting Ames

Creating opportunities for the community to engage and connect.

Providing access to resources that serve diverse needs.

Enhancing the physical library building, property and bookmobile to create an accessible, welcoming and safe space for all users.
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Creating opportunities for the community to engage and connect.

Offer programs that build social and community connections.
Maintain a robust volunteer program.
Maintain relationships that support students of all ages, pre-K through higher education.

Expand partnerships to be reflective of the diversity of the community.
- Set meetings with representatives of diverse organizations to learn about their goals and priorities.
Find creative ways to tell the library’s story of community impact.
- Make use of multiple media platforms to tell the library’s story of non-programming uses and services.
- Expand cross-promotion of collections.
- Create an advocacy toolkit.
Review and strategize in-reach and outreach opportunities.
- Expand outreach to older adults.
- Continue to build on Ames Community School District (ACSD) and afterschool partnerships.
Develop a robust Iowa Center for the Book presence across Iowa.
- Create an in-house team to coordinate Iowa Center for the Book events, outreach opportunities, and select annual Great Reads from Great Places selections.

Create new opportunities for the community to engage with library services.
- Create a Citizen’s Library Academy for advocates to learn about the behind-the-scenes work of Ames Public Library.
- Work with City of Ames Human Resources to offer an Employee Development Center class about library resources and processes.
- Host a library open house to increase community knowledge of library services and resources.
- Create a Social Media Team to expand the content and reach of library social media channels.
Work with community partners to identify and facilitate conversations about community issues.
- Coordinate with City of Ames and partners for conversations around homelessness, sustainability, etc.
Partner with local organizations to support community social and mental health needs.
- Social service fair, YSS programs for teens, NAMI, etc.

Providing access to resources that serve diverse needs.

Maintain diverse, popular and robust collections to meet community needs both in the library and throughout Ames through deposit collections and ongoing data analysis.
Provide knowledgeable and unbiased assistance in locating trusted information.
Meet a range of practical community needs, including print, scan and fax services, meeting and study rooms, and notary services.

Collaborate with diverse communities to offer inclusive cultural programming, exhibits, and services.
Increase access to circulating technology to support digital equity.
Expand the IDEA Center to include additional equipment for audio recording.
- Create a community project to collect recorded stories focusing on diverse experiences and stories in our community.

Lead county-wide initiatives to increase access to the internet and support digital equity across Story County.
Identify strategies to increase local awareness of resources and promote active engagement in the Ames community.
- Install a bulletin board on the second floor to share community information.
- Create a marketing strategy which includes social media cross promotion of community events.
Create opportunities for job shadowing and cross-training for staff development.
- Utilize all-staff training days to increase understanding of the responsibilities of library workgroups.

Enhancing the physical library building, property and bookmobile to create an accessible, welcoming and safe space for all users.

Maintain a culture of welcoming staff through the hiring, training, development, and support of a diverse staff.
- Continue efforts to hire and retain diverse staff.
- Offer staff training to increase empathy and understanding of underrepresented groups.
Provide space for all ages to network, gather, and creatively play.
Prioritize safety of visitors and staff by maintaining clean, accessible and welcoming spaces.
- Expand upon existing de-escalation training for all staff, including revitalizing new PIC training.

Strategically increase wayfinding for successful independent use of the Library.
Prepare for a transition to a new Bookmobile.
Install new furniture in Adult Services.

Revitalize interior and exterior spaces to better support accessibility, safety, and patron needs.
- Review study spaces for possible expansion.
- Create an accessible entry for staff and volunteers.
- Renovate bathrooms to allow for greater accessibility and improved ventilation.
- Improve and update landscaping and exterior lighting around the building.
Join and complete Sustainable Library Initiative Certification Program.
Investigate sensory certification programs.