SGPLD Strategic Plan 2025 – 2030 

We are your friendly neighborhood resource and trusted community partner. 

1. Strengthen Community Engagement and Outreach 

Objective: Expand the library's visibility and increase membership among new residents and underserved areas. 

Actions: 

1. Welcome Wagon Initiative: Develop a "New Resident Welcome Packet" for distribution through local real estate agents, the Chamber of Commerce, and community events. 
2. Outreach Partnerships: Leverage partnerships with organizations like Kiwanis, the Park District, Waubonsee Community College, Historical Society, and local schools to create co-branded events and shared marketing materials. 
3. Regular Programming for Families: Create programs specifically targeting young families, such as story hours, outdoor family events (e.g., outdoor movie nights). 

Success Metrics: Growth in membership among families, attendance rates at community partnered events, and survey feedback from new residents. 

2. Address Infrastructure and Technology Modernization 

Objective: Modernize library facilities and technology offerings to meet current and future needs. 

Actions: 

1. Capital Needs Assessment Execution: Prioritize maintenance (roof repairs, furnishings upgrades) and allocate funding based on urgency and usage. 
2. Technology Refresh Initiative: Update critical IT infrastructure, expand Wi-Fi capacity, and provide user-friendly access to digital resources, addressing issues with outdated technology. 
3. Training Program for Staff and Patrons: Establish regular training sessions for both staff and patrons, especially on newer technologies like the podcast studio and Niche Academy. 

Success Metrics: Reduced tech-related complaints, higher usage of digital services, and improved facility conditions based on patron surveys. 

3. Enhance Programming and Service Offerings to Diversify Patron Engagement 

Objective: Provide high-quality, relevant programs that meet a wide range of community needs, increasing library value perception. 

Actions: 

1. Volunteer-Led Programs: Utilize community subject matter experts to create unique, cost-effective programs (e.g., local history talks, tech help workshops}. 
2. Expanded Services: Promote new services such as voter registration, notary, and license plate renewal to position the library as a one-stop community hub. 
3. Outdoor Space Utilization: Develop a proposal for a playground or an outdoor programming space to make the library a family-friendly destination. 

Success Metrics: Increased program attendance, number of unique patrons engaging in new services, and survey feedback on program satisfaction. 

4. Develop a Robust Marketing and Communications Plan 

Objective: Strengthen the library's brand awareness and address district boundary confusion, helping to combat competition from nearby libraries. Make the community feel welcome and connected to their library, regardless of where in the District they live. 

Actions: 

1. Monthly Marketing Calendar: Implement a monthly calendar meeting for staff to plan coordinated, multi-platform campaigns. 
2. Targeted Marketing: Use demographic data to develop targeted social media and local print campaigns, especially in growth areas where new homes are planned. 
3. Community Champion Initiative: Engage key community members (volunteers, board members, and partners) to share positive messaging about library services. 

Success Metrics: Improved public perception as measured by survey feedback, social media engagement, and growth in membership within targeted areas. 

About Our Strategic Planning Process:

The Library utilized survey responses from the last three surveys and four focus groups as they contained rich data of what our patrons are hoping for now that the Library has additional funding from the successful passage of the April 2023 referendum. The goal is to balance the need for building repairs with the demand for patron programming, resources, and engagement. Planning a careful message and developing personalized relationships with our partners, groups, and individual patrons will help us to be more fully embedded in the community to recognize and respond to needs and trends.  

In addition to survey responses, a strategic planning meeting was held and a workshop conducted by a nonprofit management consultant in October 2024. The Library Management Team as well as some members of the Board of Trustees and the Sugar Grove Library Foundation attended the meeting to share ideas and brainstorm solutions.  

The Library Board of Trustees is made up of seven members of the public who are elected and appointed to the trustee term and serve without compensation. The Board provides financial oversight of the Library District and the Library Director. The Library staff includes 8 full-time employees and 13 part-time employees who serve 6,500 cardholders in the district that covers Sugar Grove and parts of Montgomery, Aurora, and others.