For the past few years, the Coquitlam Public Library has looked inward to restructure.
Now, with the release of its three-year strategic plan on Wednesday, its eye will focus predominately outward — that is, helping the people who visit the two branches as well as its mobile and online services with the aim to draw in new users and partners.
Its new vision, which will be unveiled at the City Centre branch at 3:30 p.m. on Nov. 21, lays out four goals for how the library will move forward until 2021.
And its planks will zero in on the broad themes of: excellence in governance and service; engaging with the future; strengthening community connections; and “library everywhere.”
Executive director Todd Gnissios, who was hired in 2013, said the library’s future push is driven by more than 500 survey respondents, interviews with city council and library staff and consultations with focus groups earlier this year.
Their feedback? The library is much more than books.
“We have about 80 staff and we need to get these people out in the community,” Gnissios said. “The library is a service — not a building.”
Over the next three years, the Coquitlam Public Library hopes to make better connections with residents on Burke Mountain — a rapidly growing neighbourhood in northeast Coquitlam, where the city plans 30,000 residents who will primarily use the City Centre branch — and along North Road, which is also changing quickly with towers rising around the Evergreen Extension.
There’ll be a boost to connect with new Canadians, especially the Farsi and Korean populations, to reach out to seniors (through a possible grant from the city) and to juice up the library’s marketing department.
As for non-profits and community groups looking much-needed cash, the library can also be a first stop, Gnissios said, with librarians sourcing out funding applications.
The strategic plan also calls for more technology and innovation at the City Centre digital hub and more presence of librarians on steering groups such as the Tri-Cities Local Immigration Partnership —with the intention to raise awareness of what the library can provide.
“We want to attend as many local events as well can,” Gnissios said.
Besides the outreach, the physical layout at the City Centre branch will also get a makeover and its furniture will be updated in the new year.
“We have made a lot of changes over the past five years and all of our metrics have gone up as a result,” he said. “But there’s more to tap into. We need to get out there.”
• The Coquitlam Public Library strategic plan will be unveiled at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the City Centre branch (1169 Pinetree Way). There will be a short presentation followed by a question period. Refreshments will be served. Visit coqlibrary.ca.
jcleugh@tricitynews.com
