Strategic Plan

We are pleased to announce the completion of “Dream Big with MCPL,” the strategic plan that will guide our efforts to serve the public over the next five years (2024–2029)! 

We’ve spent the past year looking back at where we’ve been, where we are now, and where we’re headed as a community and as a library. We completed a community survey that generated more than 400 responses, we held staff planning sessions, and based on all of that effort, we’ve developed a plan that focuses on four key areas of service:

• Increase awareness of the library and its offerings
• Strengthen our service as your community hub
• Enhance the user experience at our libraries
• Support our staff

We encourage you to read through the plan and—even though it is complete—we always welcome your input on ways we can best serve our communities. We know from the plan’s development that we can “Dream Big” together, and now we can work together to turn these dreams into reality at the Marathon County Public Library! Contact us with any questions or feedback.

The following is a “fact sheet” summary of the full plan. View the full strategic plan online or at the library upon request.

Strategic plan summary:

Mission: To enrich lives by providing access to information, inspiration, and opportunities to connect.

Vision: Connecting people to endless possibilities

Goal: Increase awareness

Our community knows there is something for everyone at Marathon County Public Library. The library’s mission and offerings are shared through a robust, adaptable communications and marketing strategy to increase awareness and help community members see the library
in their lives.

Measurable objectives:

• Implement a communication campaign to articulate the library’s mission, value, and role throughout the county.
• Improve community awareness of library events and resources through a targeted marketing and outreach campaign highlighting specific aspects of the library’s offerings.

Goal: Serve as a community hub

Marathon County is full of possibilities. There are many natural and recreational resources, a strong network of community-based organizations, and the region is primed for economic growth. The library is a hub where resources, services, and partnerships combine to elevate Marathon County’s opportunities based on surveyed community needs.

Measurable objectives:

• Develop data and information-gathering processes and location-specific engagement strategies to ensure services, programming, spaces, and partnerships align with community needs.
• Develop or refine services, collections, and programs
  to meet our community’s innovation and learning
  needs.
• Increase awareness of and engagement with countywide events and initiatives, using the library’s branch
  network to spread the word.

Goal: Enhance user experience

Library spaces across the county encourage people to gather, learn something new, connect with neighbors, and accomplish tasks. Visitors can easily find what they’re looking for and feel a sense of belonging at the library.

Measurable objectives:

• Increase library visits and new visitors through improvements and updates to library spaces.
• Improve access to library buildings, services, and resources by implementing universal design practices.
• Utilize technology to streamline frontline services, improve patron experience, and increase organizational efficiency.
• Conduct a space assessment that engages partners to narrow possibilities for Wausau’s third-floor space.

Goal: Support our staff

The knowledgeable and welcoming staff of Marathon County Public Library can grow professionally, balance their workloads, and feel supported in their work by library colleagues, the library board, and county stakeholders.

Measurable objectives:

• Improve employee satisfaction through increased staff empowerment and expanded capacity.
• Increase opportunities for staff to expand job knowledge by offering continuing education on relevant and timely topics.
• Establish mechanisms to increase the safety and security of library staff.