Our Mission

The mission of the Youngstown Free Library is to be a community center which inspires learning and provides access to a vast range of information and resources for patrons of all ages.

Our Vision

Everyone is welcome at the Youngstown Free Library. Everyone is encouraged to discover, play, engage, socialize, and grow in lifelong learning at the Youngstown Free Library.

Strategic Plan 2018-2025

Goals

Goal 1: Sustainability
Goal 2: Responsiveness to the Community
Goal 3: Transparency and Communication
Goal 4: Partnerships and Collaboration

Goal 1: Sustainability

Ensure that the library is well-positioned to provide for the needs of current and future generations of members of the community of the Youngstown Free Library.
1. Ensure sustainable Library funding for the long-term future.
2. Ensure sustainable building and physical needs for the long-term future.
3. Recruit and maintain well-qualified Board of Trustee members who will use their tenure to represent, promote and fundraise on behalf of the Library.
4. Support the health and work of the Friends of the Library.
5. Ensure that the Library policies and by-laws are kept current.

Objectives:
1. Develop strong financial funding model to match income to 95% spending by December 2023.
2. Renovate existing building space or locate another building and make plans to renovate it to match the Library’s needs by December 2025.
3. Develop strong Board of Trustee education plan and involvement culture with professional workshops and defined and accountable involvement within the Board.
4. Sign a Memo of Understanding with the Friends of the Library by December 2019.
5. Update and pass with Board approval all policies on the Recommended Policies Checklist ( (Handbook for Library Trustees, 2023) by December 2025.

Goal 2: Responsiveness to the Community

Integrate community needs with Library offerings.
1. Create an environment that encourages all members of the community to participate, making it a valuable center of the community.
2. Provide or host Library programs that respond to community requests and interests.
3. Provide Library materials that respond to community interests and requests.
4. Provide Library services that respond to community needs.

Objectives:
1. Develop and distribute a survey of adult programming needs by December 2022, and a survey of children’s programming needs by December 2025.
2. Progress staff procedures by December 2023 to ensure that every material request is acknowledged and attempted using Nioga, inter-library loan, and digital collections available to the Library.
3. Run inventory on the Library material collection to match catalog records with physical collection by December 2024.
4. Update material browsing collections to better match patron requests by December 2025.
5. Provide new materials to the public with reduced waiting periods by December 2025.

Goal 3: Transparency and Communication

Inform, listen and communicate openly with the Youngstown community on all matters.
1. Originate, facilitate and operate a broad cross-community information exchange to enlighten and inform the community.
2. Ensure all modes of dispersing information about the Library are accessible, transparent, up-to-date and accurate.
3. Anticipate and provide for community information needs.
4. Develop working relationships with local leaders, organizations and community groups within the Youngstown Free Library service area.

Objectives
1. Provide and maintain an updated website with up-to-date information on Library programs, Library collections, Library leadership, Friends, and policies by December 2025.
2. Provide all Library Board and Friends meetings’ documents accessible in the Library and online by December 2025.
3. Utilize social media and newsletters regularly to share Library news and information by December 2025.

Goal 4: Partnerships and Collaboration

Strengthen the position of the Library within the Youngstown community with ongoing partnerships and collaboration with government, organizations, businesses and individuals.
1. Cooperate with local organizations to offer programming to the community.
2. Strengthen connections with local government leaders individually and as a group in order to facilitate camaraderie and partnerships.
3. Collaborate with local businesses and individuals for Library fundraising opportunities that will lead to financial sustainability.

Objectives:
1. Confirm membership in the Youngstown Business and Professional Association and attend networking meetings regularly.
2. Extend outreach programs and opportunities to community groups and area businesses.
3. Cultivate cordial relationships with local government leaders, and extend invitations to them for large programs and fundraisers.