Sponsor Spotlight: Goshen Public Library Long-Range Strategic Planning
Interview by Pete Freeman, enFocus Second Year Innovation Fellow and project leader
Why did Goshen Public Library choose enFocus to lead its state-required long-range planning effort?
Long-range planning is a requirement for all public libraries in the State of Indiana. Plans last three-to-five years. Goshen Public Library is required to identify specific goals internally and externally. With enFocus’s help, we focused primarily on strengthening our relationship to our community. We also prioritized building a better library.
We had never undertaken a plan to the extent that enFocus helped us to create. With your help, we conducted focus groups, community surveys, staff consultations, and more. Goshen Public Library now has a foundational long-range plan. We knew that we would need outside consultants to assist because we had no prior experience with it.
We chose enFocus as our partner in long-range planning because of the connection that I made with Allison Egan through another enFocus project that I briefly participated in. Allison remembered what I had said about the library getting a new director and that we’d be tackling new projects. Allison reached out to me about the new director and, at that point, it looked like it would be me. We made a strong connection from the get-go. I appreciated her enthusiasm for the community and her memory of the things I had shared.
How had the Library completed long-range planning before 2020?
The previous director oversaw past planning processes. A very brief document was produced to meet the requirements set by the Indiana State Library. In the past, Goshen Public Library did not gather data or feedback from the public. Instead, the library produced a simple plan to meet state requirements so that we would be compliant.
What is the greatest value that enFocus delivered?
Enthusiasm. enFocus brought a lot of enthusiasm to the table for the project. enFocus also brought a lot of knowledge for how to organize and undertake a public library long-range plan. They took a lot off my plate in the beginning. In fact, in the beginning, I sometimes wondered what my role was because enFocus handled a lot of the details for me. The organizing of the focus groups, survey questions, data collections – all of that was very valuable what enFocus brought to the process.
As the Library moves into 2021, which components of the plan will you look to prioritize?
We’ve already begun to put the plan into action. We’ve had managers’ meetings and staff meetings. We reviewed the whole plan with the staff and discussed action steps. Now, we’re emphasizing organizational strength by taking a good close look at our policies, procedures, and internal infrastructure. We’re focusing on outward expression of the library’s community engagement, drumming up more support, and better telling our story so that we can prepare for a large-scale renovation of our building.
What was the most memorable moment of the planning process?
There were several. I expressed my inexperience to this end. Even though I’m twice the age of all of the folks at enFocus, you assured me that you’d hold my hand throughout the process and produce something that I’d be proud of. That reassurance came early and was sustained throughout the project.
When the community feedback began, one thing stood out that was surprising and disappointing: some of the feedback about our collections and services didn’t reflect our work in practice. We realized that either we don’t tell our story very well or that people aren’t aware of our services. So, I recognized that we could do a better job of expressing ourselves to our community.
Lastly, it became clear just how much work we need to do toward engaging Latinx communities. I thought we had done a fair job engaging this community, but when it came time to drum up focus groups, survey responses, and people to participate in the planning process, we struggled. And in the end, we managed to get Latinx community members who are typically already participating in the community. I wonder if we ended up getting all that we could have or needed to hear from Latinx communities. Since, we’ve been making connections, working with Radio Horizonte, exploring the possibility of bringing a Latinx community engagement team member on our staff full time, these kinds of things. The voices we captured are important voices, and we want to go a step further and connect with more of our patrons.
Outside of the plan, what did you take away from our collaboration?
One of the things that enFocus did for us was strengthen our relationship with the Community Foundation of Elkhart County. That relationship is so important to have for us. Because of our relationship with enFocus, the library is now able to connect with a whole host of people and services through the community foundation: managerial workshops, additional grant opportunities, etc. The value of that relationship extends way beyond the grant. enFocus put together the grant and all but submitted it for the Goshen Public Library.
You all are an enthusiastic bunch of folks! You keep the ball moving forward and provide lots of reassurance. In the end, we came out with what the State Library said was one of the best long-range plans they had seen in a long time and an exemplar for other state libraries to follow. Bravo!
Learn more about enFocus’s work with regional organizations in our next Sponsor Spotlight.