About the Library
About the Library
Our Mission
The Long Beach Public Library is committed to meeting the information needs of our culturally diverse and dynamic population.
- We provide quality library service through a staff that is responsive, expert, and takes pride in service.
- We offer a wide selection of resources and materials representing all points of view.
- We support lifelong learning, intellectual curiosity, and free and equal access to information.
Our Vision
The Long Beach Public Library connects people, inspires ideas, and transforms lives.
- We link patrons to resources, spaces, and partnerships that fuel innovation.
- We promote continuous learning and freedom to explore interests that enrich the community.
- We offer opportunities to enhance the skills and personal development of our patrons and community.
Our Goals
2017–2020 Strategic Goals
Beyond Library Walls
What: Utilize the Mobile Studio to provide classes and workshops for those with limited access to Library locations. They will range from development of basic computer skills to STEM classes (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math).
How: Add 20 new classes and workshops outside the Library in the first year, assess and add new measures for subsequent years.
Expand Our Expertise
What: Strengthen strategic partnerships with other city departments such as Parks, Recreation and Marine, and Health and Human Services to provide superior workshops and resources for residents of all ages.
How: Add 10 new workshops focused on health and wellness in the first year, assess and add new measures in subsequent years.
Self-Directed Learning
What: Use our reach in the community to promote and provide equal and open access to free, self-directed learning resources such as online courses, homework help, job search assistance, and career coaching.
How: Increase the usage of digital learning resources 10% by 2020.
Children's "First" Teachers
What: Focus efforts on new and expecting parents, connecting them with early literacy resources and workshops. Utilize partnerships with community organizations such as WIC to reach at-risk populations.
How: Increase Library engagement from new and expecting parents to 5,000 parents by 2020, a 44% increase, and increase early literacy participation by 10%.
Support School-Age Learning
What: Strengthen relationships with Long Beach Unified School District to provide life skills and educational resources to school-age children, and utilize the Library’s Family Learning Centers to provide resources for our community’s youth.
How: Increase Library engagement from schoolage children to 7,500 by 2020, an 18% increase in current reach, and increase participation in school-age children's programming by 10%.
Promote Teen Development
What: Engage teens by promoting targeted library services offered to them, seeking their input, and offering mobile access.
How: Increase engagement from teens to 3,000 by 2020, a 42% increase, and increase participation in teen activities by 10%.
Measure Customer Loyalty
What: Collect ongoing feedback from our customers using the Net Promoter Score (NPS) methodology, a customer loyalty measure used by many industries.
How: Achieve a NPS score of 65 or higher in the first year, and assess goals for subsequent years.
Foster Community Conversations
What: Inspire community engagement by hosting community conversations based on the Harwood Public Innovators Lab model.
How: Host 3 community conversations each year at all Library locations.
Connect Customers to Community Resources
What: Enhance personal skills and improve the well-being of customers by linking them to resources available throughout the city in partnership with community organizations.
How: Each Library location will foster a new community partnership each year that benefits the unique community surrounding the library location.
Promote Online Presence
What: Launch an enhanced website to connect the Long Beach community with all Library resources, events, and collections.
How: Conduct website usability tests to improve user experience.
Plan Library Activities
What: Inform our Long Beach community of events, promotions, outreach, and customer service efforts.
How: Develop a master schedule in the first year, assess and update subsequent years. Include awareness-building before events and evaluation afterwards.
Target Library Communications
What: Use targeted communications and in-library promotions to market services and collections to customers based on their interests.
How: Develop a messaging schedule to market Library events and services, achieving a library industry open rate of 18% or higher.
Share Our Success
What: Develop an annual report to demonstrate community impact.
How: Publish the report annually and share with stakeholders to provide insights about the Library's engagement within the community.
Share Information with Staff
What: Promote collaboration, information sharing, and transparency.
How: Create the infrastructure to support staff communication and information sharing.
Expand Participating and Training Opportunities
What: Create a 12-month meeting plan that encompasses monthly Library operations meetings, general staff meetings, and an annual staff development day.
How: Present and promote 12-month meeting plan to increase staff participation in meetings and training. All staff will attend a minimum of 6 staff meetings or trainings each year.
Increase Involvement in Library Committees
What: Create and promote standing and ad-hoc committees to increase staff participation and offer virtual access to committee meetings.
How: Achieve a 10% increase in staff participation in Library committees.