Many thanks to The Smoky Mountain News for the recent article by Becky Johnson (www.smokymountainnews.com/news/item/19193) to update the citizens of Haywood County about the library system survey many will receive in early February. The feedback from that survey is important to shape the development of the library system strategic plan. If you receive one of the 4,500 surveys in the mail, please take a few moments to fill out the two-sided form and then place it in the postage-paid envelope and return in the mail.  The Public Policy Institute of Western Carolina University will tabulate the results of your feedback and present them to the library task force in mid-March. The draft strategic plan should be completed in time to inform the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) of citizen interests this spring.

Why is this library survey important?  The key stakeholders  — the Haywood County leadership (including the county board, county manager, library director and appointed, volunteer board of trustees) and the nonprofit library support organizations (Friends of the Library and Library Foundation) have agreed to share resources to fund this county-wide, broad-sample survey so that we have the most current ideas to work with to complete the multi-year library system strategic plan.

Haywood County citizens have much to be proud of from the talented library team led by Sharon Woodrow. In 2016, the Haywood County Public Library won a state award (from among our 100 counties) for one innovative program and a second national level award for a separate initiative called “plug in and read” to inspire preschoolers. The library team wants to provide even better service to the citizens and needs your feedback on how to best meet that goal.     

The Friends of the Library provide both extensive volunteer hours and significant nonprofit resources to ensure maximum, quality programs are made available to citizens across all ages and interests. The Library Foundation, another nonprofit organization, provides infrastructure support across the library system. Both nonprofits rely on citizen donations to meet those needs and initiatives.

Thanks for your interest in helping to even better “connect the community” by completing the library survey and returning your feedback!   

David E McCracken

President

Haywood County Library Foundation

Kevin P. Murphy,

President

Friends of the Library Foundation