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Public libraries have always been trusted sources of information. From clay tablets to touch screens, they have preserved knowledge and connected people with the resources they need. But as communities change, libraries must evolve with them.
Since becoming Director and CEO of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County in 2017, I have seen this county evolve and persevere without losing sight of what makes the Mahoning Valley special. Now, PLYMC is asking for your help as we plan how to serve our community even better.
Earlier this year, with guidance from PLYMC's Board of Trustees, our administrative team began preparing for our next strategic plan. After interviews and discussions, we engaged ReThinking Libraries, a firm specializing in strategic planning. The firm will help us combine community data with the perspectives of residents and staff so we can make informed decisions about the future.
PLYMC is a countywide system serving a varied population, from urban neighborhoods to rural villages and townships. Each branch has distinct needs, and every patron brings different questions, hopes, and expectations. As those needs change, we must keep asking why we make the choices we do.
Our "why" is you, Mahoning County. PLYMC exists to provide free and unencumbered access to information, whether digital, printed, or delivered through instruction. Our collections, programs, and services strengthen literacy, education, workforce development, and -- most importantly -- a sense of community and belonging. Everyone deserves meaningful library service, and this planning process will help us understand how to do better.
We will examine what makes our system special, where our programs and services can improve, and how PLYMC can remain an essential part of Mahoning County's public-service infrastructure over the next five years.
Beginning in November, our team will host several community feedback sessions facilitated by ReThinking Libraries. These discussions will give the public an opportunity to share honest feedback -- positive and negative -- about our programs, services, facilities, operating hours, and other concerns. We can improve and adapt only by listening fully to the people we serve.
Details about the sessions will be shared in the coming days. I hope we hear from patrons, friends, neighbors, community leaders, and even those who have been critical of us. Sometimes we learn the most from people who disagree with us. Those unable to attend in person, or who prefer to participate online, may complete a survey at www.libraryvisit.org.
We will consider this feedback alongside demographic information, service data, and employee experience. Together, these perspectives will identify practical, equitable priorities. The resulting plan will guide decisions about programs, facilities, partnerships, technology, and the responsible use of public resources while clearly explaining where PLYMC is going and why.
These sessions are not designed to promote PLYMC or advocate for political support. We need candid accounts of our successes and disappointments -- what makes us strong and what we could do better. We owe it to our patrons, staff, and neighbors to listen, learn, and keep becoming the library our community needs. I encourage everyone to make time to participate in this important process. Your voice will help shape PLYMC's future.
Aimee Fifarek is Director and CEO of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County.