Missouri River Regional Library looking to create new strategic plan

The Missouri River Regional Library administration and board started discussions of a new strategic plan for the library during its monthly board meeting Tuesday night.

The planning committee will reconvene in January to further the conversation on the plan, which needs to be completed by December 2016, MRRL Director Claudia Schoonover said. Though the process is in its infancy, Schoonover has some objectives she would like to be included, such as more author visits, re-establishment of a storytelling festival and facilities improvements to better the library's atmosphere.

"We'll be planning ahead and dreaming about where we'd like the library to be in the future," Schoonover said.

She added that the library will not seek a new building and wishes to remain in downtown Jefferson City. In the past, the library has been interested in purchasing its next-door neighbor, the Carnegie building the Cole County government currently occupies. Schoonover said the library can only pursue the building if the county decides to move out.

The current strategic plan, which expires in nearly a year, came into effect in 2013, and many major initiatives - enhance e-collections, strengthen MRRL's virtual presence and improve physical experience - have been completed since, Schoonover said. Using Zinio, an online magazine distribution service, the library offers 80 magazines digitally. It also provides e-audio and e-book collection services. Over the summer, MRRL introduced a new website.

In 2014, Schoonover said the library upgraded its facility by replacing the electric board and ceiling in the main room. Recently, MRRL bought a new chiller and cooling tower.

"We've been able to do some pretty big, expensive projects with our operating budget," Schoonover said.

The library also independently purchased popular books not for its shared consortium to alleviate long holds, she added.

Library administrators will seek public input during its strategic planning process.