2026 - 2029 Strategic Priorities

 

 

Director's Message

As PVLD approaches its 100th anniversary, we are proud to see generations of patrons continuing to find inspiration and connection in our libraries. Children who once attended Storytime are now returning with their own children, passing down a love of reading and libraries. Adults turn to PVLD for lifelong learning, cultural enrichment, and a welcoming space to engage with ideas and community members. Looking ahead, our goal is to establish a strategic plan that responds to a changing world and ensures that PVLD remains a vital resource for the next 100 years.

PVLD is more than three buildings and a collection of materials. When we think of why the library exists, why what we do is so important, and how we are uniquely positioned to contribute to our ambitious vision, a mission statement emerges. It expresses our commitment to be a transformational organization that keeps inspiration and connection at the forefront.

Our vision statement expresses the desire we've heard time and again from our community and staff: to live and work in an environment that welcomes and embraces new people and ideas. While ambitious, it's an idea worth working for and making a reality.

Strategic Priorities

The 2026–2029 Strategic Plan is organized around four Strategic Priorities. Each priority includes major objectives and sample initiatives that describe how PVLD will work toward its mission and vision.

Organizational Excellence

PVLD prioritizes organizational success through exceptional customer service, financial stability, governance, and the development and maintenance of a collaborative and supportive environment that nurtures trust among our patrons and staff.

Objectives and sample initiatives

• PVLD maintains a high level of customer service through professional development, collecting feedback, and promoting a culture of listening and responsiveness.
  • Conduct assessments of customer service interactions across all service desks and report on identified strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities based on staff and community feedback.
  • Continue to develop customer service statements to ensure a shared customer service philosophy District-wide.
• PVLD develops engagement and advocacy strategies that resonate with community members, celebrate our services, and uphold our mission.
  • Cultivate and strengthen established relationships with support agencies, foundations, and non-profit groups in order to foster an environment where shared objectives are prioritized and collaborative initiatives are actively encouraged.
  • Review and revise the District's Marketing Plan to strategically enhance the library's brand, ensure that services and programs meet desired audiences, and streamline staff workflows if applicable.
• PVLD's role within the broader community is strengthened through its support networks.
  • Cultivate relationships with elected officials, educational institutions, and community leaders to build and maintain a library-focused support network to ensure advocates are informed of library needs and concerns within the community.
  • Assess, respond to, and communicate legal and legislative changes that may impact library services and programs.
  • Engage various communities to ensure the library continues to meet community needs effectively.
• PVLD fosters and supports a staff culture of continuous learning, engagement, and professional development.
  • Promote and encourage access to diverse training programs, professional conferences, and relevant networking opportunities aimed at enhancing staff skills and knowledge.
  • Support, develop, and coordinate interdepartmental projects and initiatives to enhance employee collaboration throughout the organization.
  • Share knowledge and best practices to further develop a sense of teamwork and innovation.

Access to Information and Community Environments

PVLD is committed to providing access to a diverse range of resources in various formats, and strives to create an inclusive environment that supports lifelong learning and enriches the lives of all community members.

Objectives and sample initiatives

• Innovations and new technologies are actively explored and evaluated to ensure that PVLD remains current and aware of potential improvements and opportunities.
  • Support mechanisms where staff can suggest innovative tools or practices based on their training or experience that align with community needs.
  • PVLD aims to continuously monitor and explore digital resources and materials to complement and enhance our diverse physical collection.
• Collection scope and size aligns with community interests and allows patrons to access needed materials.
  • Identify core collections and ensure that they are reviewed and actively maintained.
  • Conduct a comprehensive evaluation of collection procurement practices, identify gaps in existing systems, and explore new strategies to enhance accessibility and timeliness.
  • Provide expanded access to shared collections.
• PVLD's physical and online spaces are accessible, inclusive and welcoming, and in accordance with best practices and established government standards.
  • Explore funding and operational enhancements to expand access to library spaces.
  • Ensure online spaces meet all local and federal accessibility guidelines.
  • Conduct an accessibility audit to identify and address any barriers to programs or physical collections.

Learning, Inspiration, and Imagination

PVLD offers a vibrant, multigenerational destination where people come together to explore, learn, and grow.

Objectives and sample initiatives

• PVLD inspires curiosity and connection through physical collections, electronic resources, technologies, programs, and environments that meet diverse interests and needs.
  • Explore opportunities to celebrate and promote the value of books and reading.
  • Explore potential collaborations with local schools, universities, and community organizations to create joint initiatives that promote educational attainment and creativity.
  • Highlight various collections throughout PVLD to encourage personal exploration.
• PVLD ensures programs and displays reflect our diverse communities and are accessible to patrons.
  • Provide opportunities for exploration and shared discovery through programming designed for all ages.
  • Review programming policies and calendars to identify potential gaps.
  • Create methods to ensure programs celebrate the cultures and identities of our community.

Inclusion and Belonging

PVLD honors our identities and histories — both individual and collective — and upholds the principles of respect, access, and collaboration to create a space that is welcoming for all.

Objectives and sample initiatives

• PVLD ensures that diverse cultures, languages, and experiences within the community are represented and celebrated.
  • Offer a range of programming and collections where community members can feel respected, represented, and empowered to engage.
  • Gather feedback and input from under-represented local community groups and non-library community organizations through surveys and conversations.
  • Collect, preserve, and promote the unique history of the peninsula.
• Create library environments that are safe and judgement-free, in which people of all backgrounds can gather, learn, and connect.
  • Ensure all policies are clear, understandable, and equitably enforced.
  • Provide training to all staff that reinforces the tenets of empathy, understanding, and compassion.
  • Design spaces that are accessible to all abilities, embracing the principles of respect and inclusion.
• PVLD fosters a staff culture supportive of inclusivity, respect, and diversity.
  • Provide opportunities for all staff to participate on internal committees and teams that foster professional and personal growth.
  • Provide mechanisms for individuals, teams, and committees to share knowledge with fellow staff through internal communication methods.
  • Ensure HR recruitment and hiring practices are impartial and inclusive of diverse communities.