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Prince Memorial Library unveils 3‑year strategic plan after 1,000‑response community survey
Summary
New library director Stacy Mazer presented a three‑year strategic plan developed after about 1,000 survey responses and listening sessions; priorities include flexible spaces, sustainability, municipal partnerships, and programming to reduce isolation.
Stacy Mazer, director of the Prince Memorial Library, presented a draft three‑year strategic plan to the Cumberland Town Council on Feb. 24, reporting roughly 1,000 community survey responses and multiple listening sessions used to shape the document.
The plan frames a vision of the library as a place that champions environmental, economic and social responsibility while fostering community connection and curiosity. Mazer said the process began in August 2024 with a resident‑staff advisory team and closed the community survey in November after receiving approximately 1,000 responses.
Four strategic priorities guide the plan: (1) flexible spaces — balancing busy programming with quieter areas and evaluating possible building changes; (2) environmental sustainability — both building improvements and community education; (3) municipal and community partnerships — expanding outreach beyond library walls and coordinating with local committees such as the Orchard and Environmental Sustainability committees; and (4) learning and discovery — strengthening collections and neutral civic programming.
Mazer described specific, early actions: forming staff teams to develop concrete activities from the plan’s recommendations, exploring the library’s role as a potential warming center in coordination with town emergency management, and expanding cross‑generational programming such as the recent Puzzlepalooza event. "We want to make sure our community sees us as a trusted and responsive organization," Mazer told the council.
Councilors praised the depth of the survey and suggested the library form a small working group to translate the plan into an actionable facilities and funding timeline should the advisory group recommend an expansion. Mazer said the plan is intended to be a living document and staff will continue to refine priorities with community input.
Ending: The council received the plan and encouraged follow‑up work to translate strategic priorities into implementation steps; the library will begin internal team work and community outreach to move from strategy to action.
