Strategic Planning That Sticks: How Pike County Public Library Is Making a Lasting Impact
When Stephanie Rawlins first stepped into her role as Director of the Pike County Public Library in 2016, she was new to the community—but she wasn’t new to libraries. She knew that Indiana’s requirement for libraries to update their strategic plans every three to five years could be either a check-the-box exercise or a real opportunity for change. She chose the latter.
“I didn’t want my perspective as a newcomer to guide the whole process,” Stephanie said. “Bringing in an outside consultant allowed us to have conversations that were genuinely community-led.”
Enter ReThinking Libraries (RTL), which worked with Stephanie and her team to guide a strategic planning process that centered on listening to the community and creating a truly usable plan. That was back in 2016, and the resulting plan helped the library define its role in a small, rural county of just over 12,000 residents—a region known for its agricultural and mining roots, about 30 minutes north of Evansville, Indiana.
Fast forward to 2024, and Pike County Public Library once again partnered with RTL to create a fresh plan that reflects the evolving needs of its community. Why bring back the same consultants eight years later?
“Because the plan wasn’t just a report to put on the shelf—it was something I used every day,” Stephanie explained. “RTL helped create a living document that kept me aligned with what the community actually wanted to see.”
Filling Gaps—and Finding Focus
Like many rural libraries, Pike County faces the challenge of serving a geographically dispersed population with limited resources. But rather than trying to be everything to everyone, the library took a different approach.
“We looked at the gaps,” Stephanie said. “We don’t have a lot of kids and families here. Our median age is 47, and we have a high number of veterans and former miners. So instead of focusing on traditional family programming, we asked how we could lift the whole community—especially adults and young adults.”
The 2024 strategic planning process, led once again by RTL, included new team members who brought fresh ideas to the table. One major addition this time around was a focus on communications and marketing—something that wasn’t part of the original 2016 plan.
Building a Stronger Brand
Thanks to the latest strategic plan, Pike County Public Library is making a concerted effort to raise its visibility—both digitally and physically.
“We’re working with a branding company to develop swag and new logo items,” Stephanie shared. “We’ve added communications and marketing duties to our staff job descriptions, and we’ve started sending a monthly newsletter through Constant Contact.”
The library is also making better use of its existing tools, like Springshare’s LibCal software, to create eye-catching flyers and program listings. And it’s working: event attendance is up, and patrons are more aware than ever of what the library has to offer.
“We’re already seeing an uptick in registrations for programs,” Stephanie said. “For example, we’re doing a big summer reading kickoff called Twinkle Teddies as part of our ‘Color My World’ theme. In the past, we might have hesitated to plan something that big because we weren’t sure if people would come. Now we know they will—and that makes it worth the investment.”
Innovation That Meets the Moment
One of the library’s standout innovations is its telehealth program, which began long before remote medical care became the norm.
“When we designed our expansion in 2019, we built a study room with no windows, specifically for telehealth appointments,” Stephanie explained. “We didn’t know then just how important that would become.”
The space, opened in 2020, now serves as a private and secure location for patrons to connect with healthcare providers. The library also partnered with Indiana University’s School of Social Work to offer social work hours, expanding access to vital services. The program was so innovative, in fact, that it earned Stephanie national recognition as San Jose State University School of Information’s Most Innovative Librarian in 2019.
Adapting to Change Without Losing Touch
Another major decision the library faced during the past planning cycle was what to do with its Otwell branch—a location with low usage but strong community attachment.
“Back in 2016, Rob led a focus group there, and it had one of the highest per-capita turnouts RTL had ever seen,” Stephanie recalled. “So we knew the people cared deeply about the space.”
When Pike County experienced a significant loss in assessed value due to a major utility company relocating, the library had to make difficult budget decisions. Ultimately, they transitioned the Otwell branch into a digital branch located inside the town’s community center. The library continues to provide Wi-Fi, internet access, and monthly programming—allowing the space to evolve without disappearing.
“We donated the facility back to the community center,” Stephanie said. “Now, the people who truly value the space are the ones taking care of it.”
Why Work with ReThinking Libraries?
For Stephanie, the decision to return to RTL for a second round of planning was an easy one. Having a consultant brought clarity, direction, and most importantly, accountability.
“It’s so helpful to have professionals who will not only listen but also challenge your thinking,” she said. “I could have taken all the data and made a Venn diagram on my own—but having Rob and the RTL team to brainstorm with, to offer perspective from hundreds of libraries, made the final plan so much better.”
And sometimes, it’s not just about ideas—it’s about navigating personalities. “RTL did a staff focus group and had to handle some pretty sticky personalities,” Stephanie added with a smile. “They managed it beautifully.”
From strategic planning to swag bags, Pike County Public Library is proof that the right plan—crafted with the right partner—can have lasting impact. Whether it’s expanding access to healthcare, reimagining underused spaces, or simply getting the word out more effectively, Stephanie and her team are showing what’s possible when libraries plan with purpose.
Ready to create a plan you’ll actually use? Let’s talk.
