This past Monday morning, I had the pleasure of participating in the first of a two-part strategic planning session for Baxter Memorial Library. The library’s Board of Trustees sponsored the planning project and hired Gorham resident Mary Jo O’Connor to facilitate.
Prior to the session, library staff posted surveys on the library's Web site and distributed questionnaires to patrons, staff, and volunteers. Besides reviewing the survey and questionnaire results, O’Connor asked strategic planning participants to read an article by Margaret J. Wheatley and Myron Keller-Rogers entitled “The Irresistible Future of Organizing.” The surveys and the article formed the framework for the morning’s discussion.
By the end of the 4-hour session, the group had identified core issues in three categories: Identity, Information, and Relationships that we will address at the second strategic planning session.
The second and final planning session will take place next Monday morning, June 8, 2009. At this session, the group will identify specific strategies and goals that will guide Baxter Memorial Library’s future growth. Newly formed workgroups will then carry out the library’s new strategic plan.
The last time our library undertook a strategic planning session was in 1994. At that time, the planning committee identified five key areas that needed attention. From that plan came the building expansion and renovation as well as the formation of Friends of Baxter Memorial Library.
Although the current planning process is underway, we still welcome input from interested community members. If you are a current library patron and have thoughts, questions, or concerns, please feel free to contact any of the planning participants (listed below) and/or complete the online survey. If you are not a library patron, we would like to know how Baxter Memorial Library could serve your education, entertainment, and social needs. We invite you to complete the online survey and/or talk with planning participants. We encourage your comments and participation in the strategic planning process. Please join us!
Baxter Memorial Library belongs to each one of us. Please let us know how Gorham’s community library can become YOUR library.
That’s all for now…I’ll post the planning results in the future.
Thanks for reading,
Dede Perkins
Director, Gorham Business & Civic Exchange
Past Treasurer and Trustee, Baxter Memorial Library
Participant, Baxter Memorial Library Strategic Planning Committee
Participants in the first planning session: Mary Jo O’Connor, Facilitator, Deb Buker, Rita Cantor, Mary Collins, Gerry Day, Linda Frinsko, Deb Loveitt, Peggy Marchand, Frank Nejezchleba, Dede Perkins, James Rathbun, Cathy Stevens, Pam Turner
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