Blog

Every three years, we embark on a thorough strategic planning process designed to reexamine our vision, mission, values, and strategic goals. Recently, we completed the process that resulted in the new Strategic Plan 2016-2019.

Many people participated in the process, including the library’s Board of Trustees, various community leaders, and many of our staff. Discussions took place over a period of five months and resulted in clear strategic priorities for the next three years.

Throughout the process, a core planning committee examined demographic data and broader trends that point to new opportunities for the library to better serve the community. Skokie continues to be defined in large part by its diverse population, including diversity of income, race, ethnicity, and culture. We see clear signs of growing income inequality, with approximately 29% of Skokie households struggling financially and 43% of public school students qualifying for the free or reduced-price lunch program. For some, this also means low technology adoption and a fall into the digital divide. Other trends that are becoming increasingly relevant include the fast casual concept popular in today’s restaurants, the connected learning model emphasizing social experiences and digital resources, and the collective impact movement characterized by organizations working together to pursue common interests.

In light of this strategic environment, the library continues to play a vital role in standing with the community and making it a better place to live and work for all of its members.

Our six goals for 2016-2019 are:

1. To address community aspirations and concerns through sustainable partnerships.
2. To further a sense of community and spur personal growth through learning that is social, participatory, interest-driven, and relevant for people of all ages.
3. To make data-driven decisions that lead to the best use of resources, guide effective advocacy, and maximize the impact on our community.
4. To promote equity of opportunity through development of resources, programs, and services that reflect Skokie’s diversity and are accessible to all.
5. To incorporate user-centered design in our planning and practice to achieve convenient, intuitive, intentional, and engaging experiences for our community.
6. To build a healthy organizational culture that enables staff to thrive and maximize our effectiveness.

To learn more about these goals and our strategic planning process, please read our Strategic Plan 2016-2019.