Surprise library sets accelerated strategic-plan timeline; staff cite surge in Mayor's Literacy Challenge participation

SURPRISE, Ariz. — At its Feb. 13 meeting, the Library Advisory Commission heard staff lay out a fast-track timeline to complete a library strategic plan by June and reported rising participation in the Mayor’s Literacy Challenge.

The acting city librarian (staff member) told commissioners the library has 1,617 registered users for the current Mayor’s Literacy Challenge, up from about 1,300 at the end of last year, and that participants had recorded 951,657 minutes read as of Monday. The acting city librarian said the challenge closes Feb. 15 and that staff expect those totals to rise as participants finish entering minutes.

The strategic plan will be used as a guide for library decisions and budgeting, the acting city librarian said, and staff plan multiple engagement steps including community surveys, stakeholder focus groups, open community forums and a short commission retreat in March to draft priorities.

“We’re gonna be on a very quick trajectory,” the acting city librarian said, outlining an April push to gather staff input, a May draft for commission review and a June meeting for final approval. The acting city librarian said the commission and library staff aim to align the library plan with the city council’s concurrent strategic-planning work.

Staff introduced Kate Mollstaff as the new branch manager for Surprise Regional and Hollyhock libraries. “I came here after 14 and a half years spent in Scottsdale Public Library System. Prior to that, I was working for the LaPorte County Public Library System in Northwest Indiana. So close to 20 years of library experience,” Mollstaff said.

Commissioners and staff discussed outreach plans to ensure the plan captures diverse user groups. Staff said they will recruit “super users” (frequent program participants and heavy borrowers), seek people who don’t currently use the library, pursue partnerships with local schools and the university, and try on-site or off-site focus groups to reach 18–25-year-olds and military families living on the nearby base.

Staff reported other recent events and programming: a touch-a-truck community day drew about 2,200 attendees this year, up from an estimated 500–600 last year; the libraries run 16 story times a week across locations; and the library will hold four stadium story-time events this season. Staff also said the new pool facility opens on Memorial Day weekend and that the library will offer related programming.

Staff asked commissioners to suggest stakeholders and community contacts for focus groups; they also said they will publish dates and invite the public through social media, flyers and partner outreach. The acting city librarian said staff plan both targeted stakeholder sessions and open forums to capture a range of perspectives.

On routine business, the commission approved the Jan. 9 meeting minutes by voice vote and later moved to adjourn.

Staff said next steps are to schedule the commission retreat, finalize focus-group dates and fold public and staff input into a May draft strategic plan for commission review.

The meeting adjourned after the presentation and routine items.