Method

Stakeholder engagement was a central pillar of the work. We facilitated a multi-layered process that brought together leadership, frontline staff, community partners, and residents—including those not typically represented in planning efforts. Through interviews, focus groups, listening sessions, and interactive workshops, we created accessible and meaningful ways for people to participate. Our facilitation emphasized creativity and openness, using future-state visioning and scenario exercises to surface both immediate needs and long-term aspirations. This approach not only generated strong insights, but also built shared ownership of the plan.

In parallel, we have addressed internal organizational challenges that had previously limited implementation and integrated organizational assessment directly into the planning process, shaping recommendations around governance, decision-making, staffing, and resource alignment.

The result will be a strategic framework that positions the Library as a platform to advance belonging, literacy, and civic life, supported by practical tools to ensure execution. These include a Branch Action Framework to connect systemwide priorities to neighborhood-level action, a partnership model to strengthen collaboration, and the concept of a “Digital Branch” to reflect evolving access patterns. The plan also embeds mechanisms for prioritization, piloting, and evaluation, enabling the Library to adapt and improve over time. This work reflects Cityfi’s ability to lead complex stakeholder engagement, navigate organizational challenges, and deliver strategic solutions that are both ambitious and implementable.