To engage Toronto residents in this conversation, we reached out to the communities across the city and invited people into our branches to talk about how we can continue to best meet the needs of Torontonians.
We also provided an online forum to discuss our strategic planning priorities via blog posts and Twitter chats, and conducted a city-wide survey of library users and non-users. We held focus groups at branches across the city.
We heard from thousands of residents, city and cultural partners, and library staff. We talked to teen library volunteers, newcomers, parents, people living in priority neighbourhoods, children and caregivers, the Aboriginal community, the Toronto Public Library Foundation and others. We may even have spoken to you!
We also conducted a public and visitor survey that informed our strategic direction. A summary of key results is available.
During the consultations, we heard about the need to:
- provide more opportunities that facilitate conversations
- expand the definition of what "reading" entails, for example video games are often great works of interactive fiction
- encourage reading by forming partnerships with local schools and agencies
- provide access to more experts, for example the Human Library
- engage community members and local residents who have a wealth of professional experience, industry knowledge and Toronto connections
- continue to review and evolve circulation and fine policies and procedures
- communicate better to tell Torontonians more about the great wealth of programs and services the library has to offer
The entire public consultation process was overseen by a committee of the Toronto Public Library Board, the Library Board Strategic Planning Steering Committee. This group assessed and discussed the input and feedback from all of the research and consultations, identified goals and priorities, and provided direction for the final plan which was then approved by the Library Board. This process has resulted in a Strategic Plan that we hope is responsive to the needs of the city's residents and communities, and will help the library fulfill its vision of being recognized as the world’s leading library by informing and inspiring Toronto and its communities, by making us all more resilient, more knowledgeable, more connected and more successful.