Draft Hernando County Library Master Plan recommends reusing existing branches, boosting programs and partnerships

Library staff and consultants from Kimley‑Horn presented a draft Hernando County Library Master Plan on June 23 that assessed facilities, operations and community needs and suggested an implementation roadmap.

The consulting team said they conducted stakeholder workshops, pop‑up events and an online survey with more than 500 responses. The findings show strong community support for libraries' core services — physical and digital materials, programs for children and teens, and museum passes — and flagged two consistent opportunities: better public awareness of services and more flexible space for programming. The consultants recommended focusing on reorganizing and optimizing existing branches rather than adding new branches, pursuing grants and private partnerships (programmatic and facility partnerships with colleges, nonprofits, and private operators), and piloting improvements to hours and program offerings. Library Services Manager Cynthia Loftus Cole said the final master plan will include prioritized, costed recommendations for the board to consider within upcoming budget cycles.

"The Master Plan provides an assessment of current library facilities, operations and services, identifies community needs and priorities, and outlines strategic goals and implementation recommendations to guide the future of library services in Hernando County," Cindy Loftus Cole said. Commissioners asked for more detail on unique‑user metrics, seasonal patterns and which services are predominantly digital versus in‑person; staff offered to provide follow‑up data.