Jackson, WY- Teton County Library announces the release of vision statements for its strategic plan “Our Future, Your Library” from 2006 to 2010. Created by a 20-member, community-wide Strategic Planning Committee, the vision completes the second of three phases in the library’s strategic plan.

“The vision statements are the broad strokes that will guide the library for the next five years, and they are steeped in the thoughtful feedback we have received from the community,” said Teton County Library Director, Deb Adams. “The best part of this community process has been hearing everyone’s ideas, enthusiasm, energy and support for the Library.”

The first phase of the strategic plan involved the formation of the Strategic Planning Committee, as well as an opportunity for all community members to give the library input on its direction for the next five years during 20 focus group sessions. Nearly 150 citizens took the library up on the offer and attended a session where they answered the questions: What will our community look like in five years? What will the needs of the community be? And, how should the library respond to that future?

The Strategic Planning Committee then reviewed all comments from the focus group participants, as well as reports on current library operations, library trends, and economic and demographic analyses. The result was the library’s vision statements (see below).

In the last phase of the strategic plan, library personnel will create specific goals to complement the library’s vision and mission. The goals will then be reviewed by the Teton County Library board before final approval. The results, which will help direct library priorities for the next five years, will be released in December, 2005 and followed by a celebration thanking all who participated in the process during the annual January celebration of the library’s birthday.

VISION

By 2010, the Teton County Library will...

• Provide excellent collections in a variety of formats that meet the needs of our community.

• Be a community center for traditional library uses, resourceful technologies, and cultural and social forums.

• Offer programming that encourages inspiration, discussion, learning and participation in our community.

• Address the cross-cultural needs of our population to serve as a gateway to our community.

• Be a model work environment, innovator and leader in our community.

• Actively communicate with and listen to our community in order to be responsive and relevant.

• Seek effective collaborations to build relationships and optimize library and community resources.

• Enhance services to local and outlying communities through traditional and innovative methods.

• Continue its public-private funding partnership to advance our mission .

• Complete the next five year strategic plan and a longer term master plan for facilities and community needs.