Public Library representative presented its five-year strategic plan to members of a city committee on Monday and said the Library's board of directors are seeking opportunities to expand service to the community.--NEWS PHOTO BRENDAN MILLER
bmiller@medicinehatnews.com
Over the next five years the Medicine Hat Public Library plans to expand services and enhance programming, including more intergenerational events and partnerships to offer collaborative opportunities.
Library officials on Monday provided members of the public services committee a five-year strategic plan. The plan was created with feedback from hundreds of residents who shared opinions on how the library could improve service and reach more community members.
Committee members were told that before MHPL’s board of directors began drafting the plan, several focus groups and in-person interviews were held, and with an online survey as well, more than 450 residents offered feedback.
Common themes heard from the community included seeing MHPL “supercharge” its role within the community, expand geographically to reach more residents, prioritize its function as a community hub and expand efforts to connect with under represented and diverse groups in the community.
Over the next five years board members plan to explore other locations around the city that could be used for drop-off and pickup services to help residents access physical materials, particularly in the south end of the city.
Through collaborative opportunities the library is also hoping to create more physical spaces similar to its satellite location at the Big Marble Go Centre, which opened in 2024.
“Our downtown location and our lack of parking, there’s just people who do not come downtown,” said Ken Feser, chief librarian. “So we need to do some things about that.”
Library officials were clear they are not seeking to build another branch in the city.
To reach more diverse and under served groups in Medicine Hat, the library plans to expand programming and host more events.
“This is really about trying to find who we’re not currently serving and who might benefit from the library’s services,” said Mark Kaethler, board chair. “This is about us reaching out to community groups and finding out what is needed and finding out how we can support that through programming.”
The library also hopes to address activity gaps in Medicine Hat and plans to increase the frequency of inter-generational and inter-cultural events, with a goal of meeting more unique needs.
Board members say they will reach out where possible to make connections with diverse community groups and plan to facilitate club and social mixers for those communities.
“Part of that is also tied to connection through thinking about things like reconciliation,” said Kaethler. “In terms of goals and vision for the library we’ve added a focus on reconciliation into that and we’re currently working on the land acknowledgement at the board level.”
MHPL is also planning a large update to its website and officials say resources will be easier to access.
Public feedback also identified social issues like affordability and isolation, seeking a focus on more affordable events that include free community dinners and cultural events.
The library plans to reallocate existing resources as well as seek donations and sponsorships from the community in order to execute the full five-year plan.
