If you’ve ever worked in a library system with a wide geographic reach and diverse communities, you know how hard it can be to provide equitable service across the board. That’s exactly the challenge facing Erika Connelly, Director of the Kanawha County Public Library System in West Virginia. A couple of years ago, Connelly and her team partnered with ReThinking Libraries to conduct a community analysis as the first step in a broader planning process. “We wanted to really understand who our community is, where they are, and what makes up that community,” she said. “That gave us the foundation for our strategic plan.” 

Change is inevitable in any organization, and libraries are no exception. Whether it's a new building, updated technology, or shifts in staffing or service models, the challenge isn't just the change itself, it’s how people respond to it. At ReThinking Libraries (RTL), we see this struggle frequently in our work with public libraries. While library staff and leadership often agree on the need for change, actually carrying it out can be difficult. 

When you walk through the doors of Indian Prairie Public Library, just across the street from a busy high school in Darien, Illinois, you’ll find a space that’s buzzing with energy. Hundreds of teens come through each afternoon. Families with deep roots in the area—many who’ve lived here for generations—share the space with newcomers from all over the world.

It’s a community that’s constantly evolving, and Indian Prairie is committed to evolving with it. But after a major building renovation and the disruptive detour of a global pandemic, Birmingham and her team realized it was time to re-evaluate. Was the library still offering what their community needed most? 

Mount Prospect Public Library showcases how libraries can adapt to meet their communities’ evolving needs, stay relevant in an increasingly digital world, and continue to offer valuable services to all residents.

Change can be challenging for any library, especially when it involves leadership transitions, a shifting community demographic, and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. For Cromaine District Library in Hartland, Michigan, the past few years have been a period of transition.  The Library’s new strategic plan has energized both staff and community members alike.