What would the best Monroe County Public Library provide five years from now?

A three-day conference to identify a library future that generates enthusiasm and energy

Sixty-one participants reflecting both our local community and library

arrive ready to work

Introducing Future Search Have the whole system in the room.

Explore the whole before seeking to fix any part.

Focus on common ground and action.

Work in self-managed groups.

Preparing Timelines Personal, Global and Monroe County Public Library

The 1990s, for example

Analyzing timelines and reporting out

The Mind MapTrends Related to Library and Community

Voting on the trends that matter most

Sharing what the trends mean for the library

Time to refresh and recharge

Creating scenarios focusing on hopes for the library’s future

Small groups presenting their visions of the library’s future

Determining common themes

and grouping them

Bringing it all togetherEveryone chose a group and helped write a statement explaining its common theme.

By the end of Future Search,

groups had developed and presented action plans for each common theme.

Monroe County Public Library’s

2012 Strategic Planning

What’s next? A statistically valid community survey of current

use, satisfaction, and future priorities (July-August 2012)

Action planning by staff, adding activities, timelines, and responsibilities (October 2012)

Presentation of draft plan for approval by Library Board of Trustees (November 2012)

Strategic Plan submitted to Indiana State Library (December 2012)

Our thanks to every Future Search participant

for your engagement, enthusiasm,

and contribution!