YOUNGSTOWN — The Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County is moving forward with a new strategic plan despite the ongoing pandemic, having just wrapped up a six-year, $48 million plan.

The new document will include community input, Executive Director Aimee Fifarek said. She plans to utilize outdoor spaces at libraries to have socially distanced conversations when the weather breaks.

“We really think … strategic planning is something that should be done with the community,” she said.

Framework for a new, shorter planning process will begin internally in the fall.

“There are a lot of benefits of having a strategic plan in place for guidance” so that the community sees direction, Fifarek said.

The new, shorter and “lightweight” plan was decided on after researching other library strategic plans around the nation. The leadership team has created three strategic priorities that encapsulate the library’s mission: connect, inspire and enrich.

The decision comes on the heels of a six-year strategic plan, called My Library 2020, which came to an end last year.

When Fifarek arrived at the library system in 2017, it was halfway through that plan cycle, she said.

A “large amount” of community input was involved in that original plan, Fifarek said, resulting in six focus areas: learning opportunities through programs and services; community presence by communication, outreach and partnership; collections and spaces at each facility, and the materials available; technology, both public and internal, and whether it considered the future; staff with internal development; and fiscal stewardship, looking at the budget and foundation.

About 75 percent of the goals listed were able to be completed, Fifarek said, despite wrapping up that plan up during a pandemic.

The library system planned for more than $48 million on building projects, including investment fees and contingencies, with the lion’s share for the renovation project at the main library in Youngstown. According to numbers from the treasurer’s office:

• In 2014, $4.8 million at the Canfield, Boardman and Main libraries;

• In 2015, $2.5 million for Canfield, Boardman and West libraries;

• In 2016, $4.4 million for Boardman, Canfield and West libraries;.

• In 2017, $523,750 for the Michael Kusalaba library, which took place of the West Library, and the beginning phases of a new Campbell location, including investment fees.

• In 2018, $$1.9 million for Main, Kusalaba, Austintown, Campbell and Brownlee Woods / Struthers libraries;

• In 2019, $3.9 million was planned for Main, Campbell, Poland and Newport libraries;

• In 2020, $30.5 million for Main, Campbell, Poland and Newport libraries. Construction for the Main library renovation project began, and more than $26 million was allocated for that project alone.

These funds were from the building and repair fund.

As library officials and administration completed My Library 2020, they began brainstorming ways to approach a new strategic plan.

“We really weren’t sure if we were going to do strategic planning at all” due to obstacles that the pandemic has caused, Fifarek said.

Ultimately the process was given a green light.

afox@tribtoday.com