As a result of community apathy and economic difficulties, an executive summary for this library focused upon an immediate objective of creating a space in which the community would want to visit. Strategic aims included library board education and training toward advocacy, fundraising, and implementation of library policies. In addition, community focused customer service instruction, innovative services, and creative uses of technology to communicate knowledge were suggested.
As a means to bring the vision to fruition, networking toward a community bridge through partnering and contracting with local resource agencies and community resource individuals; building an educational advancement service through the initiating of basic education programs; building a recreational and historical collection offering local culture through plugging into resident authors and artisans; and building a positive, open, and friendly personality and public image through creative promotional methods were presented as a means to promote this library as an essential communty source.
Embracing the idea of engagement, the Settlement Library Project initiative sought to offer this small rural library relevant and useful suggestions for custom tailored information services equipping the residents of this community.
After all, a library's strategy is the bridge to its future.
