Cathlamet Public Library Strategic Plan 2026-2029

PURPOSE -

A strategic plan is a useful road map for library trustees, staff and the community to follow in

meeting goals. The three corner stones of our plan are the vision, the mission statement and

the organizational values. Everything in the strategic plan should uphold and reflect these

corner stones.

OUR VISION -

To be a cornerstone of our community where all come to learn, discover, and connect.

OUR MISSION STATEMENT -

The mission of the Cathlamet Public Library is to inspire lifelong learning, promote literacy, and improve the quality of life in Wahkiakum County.

OUR ORGANIZATIONAL VALUES -

V1: We serve the community as a reliable source of information.

V2: We provide opportunity and encouragement for all patrons and community members to

educate themselves continuously.

V3: We provide access to information so that inquiring minds may encounter original, diverse

and critical ideas.

V4: We are responsive and helpful.

V5: We fill our library with a wide variety of materials and services.

V6: We develop and maintain clean, inviting library facilities and render services that keep pace

with anticipated population growth and changing community needs.

V7: We provide opportunity for and collaborate with other organizations to provide recreation

through the use of literature, music, videos, and other electronic media.

V8: We provide reference, readers’ advisory, and borrower services for use by patrons of all

ages and backgrounds.

V9: We offer the opportunity to learn and use information technology services.

V10: We actively support and defend intellectual freedom and the confidentiality of each

patron’s use of the library.

V11: We explore and develop alternative library services.

V12: We collaborate with schools and other organizations providing services that complement

rather than compete.

GOAL #1: PATRON ENGAGEMENT AND SERVICES

It is the library’s foremost responsibility to provide services desired by the residents of the

County.

Objective 1

Host an array of events to meet the community request for free or low-cost educational

opportunities.

• Outreach events to our schools, home schooled, and community.

• Host adult-enrichment events.

• Teen-focused events such as Table Top Role-Playing Games.

• Story Time, Summer Reading Program, Adult Book club, and seasonal family programs.

• Publicly acknowledge and celebrate library contributors via media and direct correspondence.

Objective 2

Provide complementary educational programming to fill gaps in community education.

• Seed library and gardening lectures and presentations.

• Provide workforce training opportunities.

• Increase early childhood education opportunities.

Objective 3

Actively seek and respond to the input from the community members to encourage personal connection with the library.

• Conduct annual public engagement surveys to elicit input from patrons and stakeholders, including patrons not currently using the library.

• Provide event participants with short evaluation forms or an online evaluation form to provide feedback to staff.

• Post reminders on promotional materials that Wahkiakum on the Move is available.

• Monitor public advertising to ensure information is current.

Objective 4

Ensure that services and programming are accessible to all participating patrons.

• Have the ability to host virtual events.

• Provide user-friendly and accessible website and social media.

• Conduct programs outside the library.

GOAL #2: COLLABORATION

The library will focus on maintaining and nurturing relationships with community partners,

bringing our resources to complement rather than compete with community organizations.

Objective 1

Equip board and staff to advocate for the library in the community.

• Assisting with marketing materials.

Objective 2

Increase Board and library staff collaboration with regional libraries.

• Board members and Director attending conferences, connecting with Washington Library Association resources, or similar organizations.

• Field trips to other libraries.

Objective 3

Continue to assist in identifying and meeting community needs.

• Maintain and strengthen collaborative relationships with local agencies, schools, government, and other community partners such as the Wahkiakum School District, Wahkiakum Health Department, Wahkiakum Historical Society, Cathlamet Town Council, Wahkiakum County Board of Commissioners.

• Establish and build new relationships with partners not already included when possible.

GOAL #3: STAFF TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT

The library will provide a supportive atmosphere for ongoing professional and personal

advancement of all staff members.

Objective 1

Regularly provide robust training to staff so they can proficiently interchange responsibilities as needed.

• Ensure two (2) hours of training or professional development per fiscal quarter for employees.

• Create employee evaluation rubrics that include criteria such as patron satisfaction, program development and implementation, employee performance, and training completion for use in regular employee feedback and evaluation.

• Provide time for coaching and mentoring of employees.

Objective 2

Strengthen staff training so each staff member can successfully interface with the community through multiple forms of communication, including written communication and online through social media.

• Use training offered through the American Library Association (ALA), the Washington Library Association (WLA), and others to improve and remain up to date in community access information.

GOAL #4: TECHNOLOGY

The library will use technology to strengthen the delivery of services and enrich the pursuits

and interests of its patrons.

Objective 1

Utilize current technology to meet operation needs of the library.

• Remove non-working, unused items to be sold or donated; allowing space for high quality technology.

• Offer newer tech resources.

Objective 2

Provide and host opportunities to teach the public about current technology.

• Conduct in person demonstrations of online Library resources.

Objective 3

Provide community access to current technology within the library and via internet services.

• Add/create additional public access computer workstations.

GOAL #5: FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY

The Board will work with the Library Director to make financial decisions based on library goals

and objectives, budget history, current fundraising opportunities and fiscal projections.

Objective 1

To limit current year operational expenses to current year projected revenues.

• The Director and Town Treasurer will monitor and adjust the budget as necessary.

• The Director and Board Chair will consult with Town Treasurer prior to development of annual budgets and adjust budget projections.

Objective 2

To optimize utilization of grants and donations to supplement revenues generated from tax dollars, the Director will identify the amount and use of supplemental funds during budget creation.

GOAL #6: PROPERTY IMPROVEMENT AND CAPITAL EXPENDITURES

The Board will work with the Library Director to make financial decisions based on library goals

and objectives, budget history, current fundraising opportunities and fiscal projections.

Objective 1

Optimize utilization of the library building.

• Increase patron access to all library physical resources.

Objective 2

Maintain or improve the interior/exterior of the building to make it more inviting, visually appealing, and accessible to all patrons.

• Work with volunteers to maintain and enhance current landscaping and flower beds.

Objective 3

Consider long-term conservation as an integral part of capital improvements.

• Use non-chemical cleaners, weed-killer, and insecticides.

• Investigate energy conservation programs that may be available to public entities.

GOAL #7: STAFF AND PATRON SAFETY

Objective 1

The Director will create and annually review an emergency preparedness plan, including but not limited to emergency evacuations, evacuation drills, CPR training, enforcement of safety policies, and communication within the library and pubic emergency service personnel.

• Using best available practices, maintain first aid supplies as directed and permitted by law.

• Schedule CPR training and evacuation drills.

Objective 2

All staff will be trained in best practices for maintaining workplace safety.

• Annual workplace safety training will be provided for all staff.

• De-escalation techniques will be included in customer service training.

Objective 3

The Director will monitor and adhere to best practices for patron and staff safety relating to health or safety hazards identified by the State of Washington for public entities.

Appendix A

Public Engagement Plan

Purpose

1. To actively seek and respond to input from community members in order to foster a

personal connection with the library.

2. To provide clear strategies for staff, trustees and the public for positive communication.

Background

Our Public Engagement Plan is intended as a framework identifying ways to interact

with our community, with special attention made to identifying and developing ways to

work with underserved or hard to reach populations in our County. This is a starting

point -- offering guidance to staff and trustees for ongoing community engagement.

Identifying our Stakeholders:

· Active or occasional patrons of all ages (children, adults, elders, families), including users of internet services, copier service, after hours programs

· Public officials (local, state)

· Schools, community groups and other organizations

· People with limited internet access and or limited use of social media

· Those with difficulties reading standard print materials

· Individuals with mobility issues, in residential care

· Individuals for whom English is not their first language

· Veterans

· Those incarcerated in the local jail

· Cooperating agencies and libraries

Identified Strategies, Marketing and Informational, Current and Ongoing:

· Production and distribution of flyers, brochures, in library and events

· Posters in downtown business windows, Chamber of Commerce

· Weekly Library News article in Wahkiakum Eagle

· Facebook, webpage information, paid advertising

· Web page calendar of events

· Online posted Board of Trustees, minutes, agenda, policies

New Initiatives:

· Develop Library-Discover Pass program (provide one-year passes via sponsorship)

· Explore possibility of a library branch outlet at Johnson Park (actual small physical space)

· Investigate mini-branches at Welcome House, Norse Hall, Eagle Pointe (provide internet)

Community Outreach:

· Summer Reading Program to expose community members to the library

· Targeted out-of-library programming and events

· Weekly Westend Delivery is provided to Rosburg

· Attend Westend Senior Lunch at Rosburg Hall each month

· Have a table at West Wahkiakum Farmers Market, July – September

· Attend Norse Hall Bingo night once a month

· Direct outreach and coordinating activities with schools

· Working directly with teachers to sign up students for cards and library tours

· Involvement in community activities such as the county fair and Bald Eagle Days

· Use grant funds to offer free activities to targeted groups

· Direct contact with representatives of underserved groups

New and Renewed Initiatives:

· Social media outreach via Facebook polls and other interactive posts

· Boost community volunteerism by Trustees with the library staff

· Encourage trustees to attend or assist with library programming

Direct Services, Current and Ongoing:

· Direct in-library, phone, and online assistance and reference services

· Scheduled staffed curbside outdoor services

New and Renewed Initiatives:

· Promote community member participation as guest readers, story tellers, book

reviewers, travel or lecture presenters

· Ongoing customer service training and mentoring for front desk employees

· Identify other specific actions that target underserved identified above

Library Board

Approved and adopted: May 5 2025

Amended and adopted: Aug 3 2026