Charting our Future Together

The Free Library of Philadelphia and the Free Library Foundation are working with several expert teams to create a new strategic plan. These teams include The ROZ Group, Consult Econ, Erica Booth Tax & Accounting Services, LLC, and Creative Repute. The goal is to make sure the Library and Foundation are open, responsible, and welcoming to everyone. They want to hear from the community and all the people who care about the Library.

What's Happening?

The team is working on two big three-to-five-year plans that will help the Library and Foundation grow and improve. These plans will:

  • Make the Library and Foundation stronger
  • Help more people enjoy and use Library services
  • Improve how things are run
  • Build new partnerships

How Will This Happen?

The planning process includes:

  • Talking to People - Meetings with staff, leaders, board members, and community members
  • Listening to Ideas - Interviews, town halls, and surveys across the city
  • Visiting Libraries - Checking out different branches and looking at what works well and what could be better
  • Tracking Progress - Regular updates to see how things are moving forward

The plan will focus on:

  • Making the Library a better place to work and visit
  • Finding ways to help more people in the community
  • Improving branding and marketing so more people know about Library programs
  • Setting clear goals and ways to measure success
  • Looking at how to improve money management, decision-making, and technology

Key Steps and Timeline

  • November 2024 – June 2025: Learning about Library needs (data, interviews, visits)
  • February 2025: First report on what has been learned so far
  • March 2025: Talking with Library staff and leaders
  • April 2025: Launching a city-wide public survey
  • March – May 2025: Visiting library branches, holding town halls, and gathering feedback
  • April 2025 – January 2026: Creating business, branding, and marketing plans
  • November 2025: First draft of the new strategic plan
  • February – June 2026: Final strategic plan and steps to put it into action
  • June 2027: Checking on progress and results

What's Happening Right Now?

  • Writing a report about what has been learned so far (due February 2025)
  • Completing interviews with important stakeholders (March 2025)
  • Creating a city-wide survey to hear from the public (April 2025)
  • Planning library visits, town halls, and more surveys to gather ideas (March – May 2025)

The Library and Foundation are committed to making big, positive changes. They want to reach more people, create fair and accessible programs, and find new ways to use technology to help the community.

If you have any questions or ideas, please fill out this feedback form. Your voice matters, and we want to hear from you!