Library Strategy and Performance

• Nine focus groups that included 73 Library partners, stakeholders and staff; 
• Thirteen interviews involving 16 key staff and Library partners; 
• An online community survey with 938 respondents; and 
• An online staff survey with 163 respondents. 

Later, the Library’s cross-departmental Senior Management Team and additional staff shaped the plan through two collaborative design sessions and fifteen goals discussions. 

Overview of Findings 

Engagement findings highlighted DCPL’s value in providing core services including books, cultural programming, technology access and welcoming community spaces. They also identified opportunities to improve the Library’s reach and impact by better distributing programs and services across neighborhood library locations, improving multilingual access, addressing safety concerns and demands for social services, strengthening staff capacity and development, expanding and expediting partnerships, and improving awareness of library offerings. 

• Focus Groups: Nine focus groups were held with Library partners, stakeholders and staff. Summary reports for the following focus groups can be found here:
  • Board of Library Trustees 
  • DC Public Library Foundation Board 
  • Friends of the DC Public Library  
  • Teen Services 
  • Youth and Family Services 
  • Social Services 
  • Reading and Literary Programs and Services 
  • Workforce Development, Entrepreneurship, Small Business 
  • Art, Culture, Local History 
• Interviews: Sixteen people were included in thirteen interviews with Library leaders and staff, partners and stakeholders. A summary report of those interviews can be found here.
• Community Survey: An online community survey received 938 responses. A community survey summary report can be found here.
• Staff Survey: An online staff survey received 163 responses. A staff survey summary report can be found here.