The West Florida Public Library is planning for its future and invites the community to attend a Public Meeting to assist in the Library’s strategic planning process. All are invited—frequent as well as infrequent users of the Library—who are willing to spend approximately an hour thinking and discussing the future of libraries in general and how our West Florida Public Library services, collections and facility can continue to meet our patrons needs in the future. No preparation or expertise on public libraries is required. The Public Meeting will be held at the Escambia County Extension Services Office, 3740 Stefani Road in Cantonment, on January 16, 2013 from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m..

The City of Pensacola and Escambia County began the project this fall by appointing a Blue Ribbon Task Force Committee. The library has arranged for Sandy Newell, the public library administration consultant with the Division of Library and Information Services, Bureau of Library Development, to assist in strategic planning for the future. She provides technical assistance on library planning, library governance, working with library leaders and more. She also facilitates library planning meetings and was recently in St. Johns County. As a library director, Newell was involved in planning in Florida and Georgia. She also was part of a management team developing plans for the Northwest Regional Library System in Panama City.

Library officials anticipate the project will take 6 months for completion. The plan has to be filed as part of the State Aid Grant Application by September 30, 2013.

The Blue Ribbon Task Force Committee includes: Rodney Kendig, Jane Dysart, Lisa Bartusik, Robin Reshard, Ruth Gordon, Larry G. Beall, Jack Beverly, Auriette Hahn Lindsey, and Frances Yeo, Library Board liaison.

No registration is required. For more information contact Dondie Roper by phone at 850.436.5037, or by email at droper@cityofpensacola.com.

WHEN: Wednesday, January 16, 2013
6:00 p.m.

WHERE: Escambia County Extension Service
3740 Stefani Road
Cantonment, FL 32533