Strategic Planning at NRPL

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Strategic Plan?

The purpose of a strategic plan is to outline the Library’s mission, goals, activities, and intended results, and describe how the Library is meeting the service needs of its community and its participation in meeting statewide library service goals.

How Often Does the New Rochelle Public Library Create a Strategic Plan?

The New York State Education Department requires that all public library systems develop a five-year Plan of Service that serves as the basic agreement between the State and the governing board of the Library, making possible the payment of state aid to the system. Failure to have a strategic plan puts the Library’s eligibility for state grants (such as Construction, Arts & Culture, Economic Development, etc.) at risk. 

The strategic planning process is led by the Director and Board of Trustees of the New Rochelle Public Library (NRPL). Due to the pandemic, the planning process for an updated plan was delayed, and in May of 2021, the Board of Trustees embarked on the process of creating the strategic plan to be implemented 2022-2026. The five-year plan was released in April 2022.

What was the Process for Creating a Strategic Plan?

The Board of Trustees engaged Public Works Partners, an independent consulting firm, to plan and facilitate the strategic planning process which included gathering and analyzing input from:

• Library patrons
• Library staff
• The broader New Rochelle community
• Leadership of The New Rochelle Public Library Foundation (NRPLF) and the Friends of the New Rochelle Public Library. These organizations raise funds to support the Library’s robust programming and initiatives such as The Museum Pass Program, computers in the libraries, facility renovations, and more.
• Other stakeholders and community partners

Input was gathered through a survey administered to the public both online and via paper copies available throughout New Rochelle. Two Town-Hall style meetings were held to encourage the New Rochelle community to participate in providing input on how they’d best like to be served by their library. Working groups with the Board of Trustees, Library staff and others were also held.

The NRPL Director and Board of Trustees are grateful to Public Works Partners for their work in creating this strategic plan, and to the New Rochelle community for their input and contributions to the evolution of our library.

If you have additional questions, please email info@nrpl.org. Thank you for being an integral part of our community!