The Omaha Public Library Board of Trustees will consider a resolution to begin planning for the future operations, services, staffing, and financing of the public library system including the proposed Central Public Library.
The resolution lists customer-focused priorities identified through the public survey, interviews with community leaders and organizations, and patrons, including books, technology, digital content, public spaces, programming, and improvements throughout the library system that will be possible with the Automatic Storage and Retrieval Systems (ASRS) technology.
The City and the Board of Trustees are recommending the formation of an advisory committee to make reports and recommendations to the Board and the City on milestones and long-range strategic planning opportunities for the library system including organizational and staffing needs, job descriptions, and financial projections relating to the costs of services to be offered in the Central Public Library.
The newly formed advisory committee will include representatives of the City of Omaha departments and non-profit partners:
Omaha Public Library Executive Director
Omaha Public Library Assistant Director
Senior OPL Staff Member
City of Omaha Finance Director
City of Omaha Human Resources Director
Representative of Mayor’s Office
Representative of Omaha Public Library Foundation
Representative of Omaha Public Library Board of Trustees
Do Space Executive Director
Community Information Trust CEO
“This resolution is part of our continuing support for and commitment to our public libraries and the Central Library proposed by Heritage Services,” said Mayor Jean Stothert. “The advisory committee will bring our partners together to collaborate on recommendations to operate and activate our libraries with programs and resources that respond to the input we have received and anticipate future needs and expectations of our patrons.”
“Based on the engagement with our patrons and community partners, we understand that traditional library services - access to books, literacy, resources and accurate information - are wanted and needed now more than ever. Being able to offer everything that our community has come to expect and deserve from their libraries alongside much-needed and innovative technology is a dream come true for library staff and patrons,” said OPL Executive Laura Marlane. “We are looking forward to continuing this important work with our partner organizations to design a library that will best meet the needs of Omaha and Douglas County.”
The advisory committee will present recommendations regularly to the Board of Trustees and the City.
“I am grateful that the Omaha Public Library Board of Trustees has partners willing to roll-up their sleeves alongside us to help tackle the work necessary to move our library system forward,” said Board of Trustees President Mike Kennedy.
The resolution will be on the Board of Trustees agenda June 16.
The Board of Trustees previously approved a resolution in November 2021 to support development of the Central Library.
Original source can be found here.
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