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Library director reports rising outreach, large flute festival and plans for LibraryCon and strategic plan
Summary
Library Director Pam Harrison reported growth in outreach programming, a Native American-style flute festival that drew an estimated 1,000–1,200 people, a winter lecture series with 594 attendees across eight programs, a Blue Heeler Bash with about 500 attendees, and plans for LibraryCon and a strategic planning process beginning in July.
Pam Harrison, Apache Junction library director, told the Library Board on March 12 that outreach programming is growing and that the library is preparing a strategic plan to guide services over the next three years.
"Pretty soon, our outreach is going to surpass our on-site," Harrison said, pointing to January and February statistics showing rising off-site program attendance. She reported 594 attendees across eight winter-lecture programs, with the most-attended lecture about Amelia Earhart drawing about 150 people.
Harrison described a first-time Native American-style flute festival the library organized March 1 on the north lawn. She said organizers estimate about 1,000 to 1,200 visitors attended the daylong event, which featured 13 regional performers, vendor booths and an open mic. The festival used library volunteers and staff, and Harrison said the library ran press outreach in state and community outlets and in relevant interest-group channels.
The library also partnered with Parks and Recreation for a January "Blue Heeler Bash" at the dog park that drew roughly 500 people; the first 200 attendees received free hot dogs courtesy of Cabot's Ace Hardware, Harrison said.
Harrison previewed LibraryCon (listed in materials as "Chapter 12") as an annual, family-focused comic/pop culture event supported by the Friends of the Library and scheduled "next Saturday" from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. She said vendors, cosplay workshops, a costume runway and food trucks were planned.
On administrative matters, Harrison said the library will start a strategic planning process in July, aligned with the fiscal year. She reported nearly 400 patron survey responses so far and said staff surveys and community focus groups will follow; the goal is to produce a three-year plan of goals and strategies. Harrison said staff and the board will receive interim updates as the consultant/landscape architect compiles findings.
Harrison also noted other outreach efforts, including a volunteer appreciation lunch attended by the assistant city manager and other city staff, and that some programs (such as the winter lecture series funded through Arizona Humanities) may have recording restrictions under grant terms.
Board members asked clarifying questions about recording, marketing to schools through Peachjar, survey distribution and garden plans; Harrison replied that marketing is distributed via school Peachjar where appropriate, the patron survey is on the library website and in the newsletter, and garden planning is still in a staff-and-board review stage with public input planned later.
Harrison said the library will circulate links and reminders about the patron surveys and share updates on the garden and strategic plan at future meetings.
