Increased accessibility, reconfiguration of the main lobby, professional development and expanding educational programming are all part of a recently announced Sewickley Public Library’s strategic plan.
The five-year vision of 500 Thorn St. in Sewickley was crafted through community and employee surveys, staff forums and planning sessions in partnership with Virginia-based marketing agency The Ivy Group.
The planning committee and the agency also collected feedback from local leaders and demographic data for many months with joint efforts officially launched in early March.
Richelle Klug, head of communications, said many people contributed to the plan’s development and folks are excited about the library’s future.
“This was a community-driven strategic plan,” Klug said. “This is not just the board’s plan. This is not (Executive Director Ruth M. Nelly’s) plan. This is not staff’s plan. We went above and beyond to make sure that we have the data to back up everything that is in this plan.
“If it’s in here, it’s because there was a reason. Either the people were demanding it, or research data shows us some trends happening within our community.”
The strategic plan is available on the library’s website at sewickeylibrary.org.
Ground-level aesthetics
An overhaul of the first floor with professional and public participation is part of the plan.
Officials said they want to hire an architect to explore alternate layouts that foster a more inviting and accessible first floor.
Possibilities include a reimagined entrance hall as a gathering space, which could result in the removal of the circulation desk.
They also want local youths and staff in the collection and circulation department to co-design the teen and tween space to create a destination that inspires learning and social connection.
“We want to make sure that the space is both welcoming and inviting, but that it also has sort of flexibility in the way it works where it can do more things and be more robust,” Klug said. “Right now, we’re in the very early stages of thinking how that might work for the front lobby area and first floor in general.”
The first step in moving the strategic plan forward is an Americans with Disabilities Act audit to identify top-priority fixes.
Some possible projects include more ADA-compliant ramps and automatic doors, adding adjustable-height tables and accessible computer stations.
Other possibilities include adding movable furniture to allow flexible use of space and interactive and quiet zones to accommodate competing use needs.
Offerings
The strategic plan also calls for adapting adult services to cultivate in-person connections for an aging population, training staff in trauma-informed customer service and cultural competency. It also seeks to offer multilingual storytime kits for families to use at home.
“We want to continue growing those kind of things that help bridge the gap,” Klug said.
The library also may expand its world language collections and partnerships. It also calls for offering workshops that address economic needs, life skills and promote citizenship resources and legal information in multiple languages.
Klug said it is very important to provide “so many opportunities here where we’re just trying to meet people where they’re at and help them continue building both their skills and their knowledge.”
Funding
The funding segment of the strategic plan calls for consistent dialogue between the Quaker Valley School District and Sewickley Public Library, including presenting to the school board annually.
It includes evaluating internal and external fundraising and donor development, develop a recognition structure for legacy gifts and explore predictable support models.
“Right now, it’s really hard for us to predict future budgets because (funding support) is not necessarily set in stone,” Klug said. “We want to work on that going forward. It’s kind of a changing landscape in terms of major funding and grants.
“We recognize that and we want to provide additional and varied donor opportunities. Further ways of securing more funding to make sure we can continue our mission and be really good stewards of the funding that we do receive.”
This segment bleeds into the partnership pillar of the plan.
Library officials want to promote the work of regional nonprofits addressing local needs as well as strengthen community ties by establishing agreements with partners to creatively use library space and materials.
“We recognize we can’t do everything, but what we are good at is information,” Klug said. “If we can connect our users to the information that is useful to them, that is going to be really helpful for everyone in our community. A lot of this plan really ties together.”
Friends of the Sewickley Public Library is the main fundraising arm of the library. It hosts a book sale and multiple events, including Savoring Sewickley.
Quaker Valley Assistant Superintendent Andrew Surloff was part of the planning committee.
“I’m really excited about the Sewickley Public Library’s strategic plan,” he said via email Jan. 28. “The vision they’ve laid out is great for the whole Quaker Valley community. It really strengthens the library’s role as a knowledge, service and social hub, making sure everyone has equitable access to resources and support.
“Our partnership with the library has always been important, and it continues to be mutually beneficial. It helps educators and students by expanding access to learning materials, supporting literacy efforts and creating even more opportunities for collaboration. When the library succeeds, it directly supports the work happening in our schools — and ultimately benefits the entire community.”
Frequent visitors
Marine Capt. J. Blaine Griffith Jr. of Sewickley is a frequent library visitor. He said he went to church with the Clause family and was mentored by them.
The library formally moved from Mozart Hall at the corner of Beaver and Broad streets to its present location in 1923 after William L. Clause donated a building in memory of his wife, Elizabeth Ann Clause.
The building has gone through multiple renovations and additions since then.
“I think they are incredibly proud to see how well it is run and how well it is received,” Griffith said. He often can be found on the library’s computers searching the world and its art.
“We paid for this library with our tax dollars,” Griffith said. “The people here are extremely professional.”
Christine Walton of Ambridge brings her clients to the library at least twice a week. She works as a habilitation specialist assisting young adults with special needs.
“Everything about this library makes it great,” she said. “The fellow patrons that are here, the workers. It has state-of-the-art everything. Great selection of books. We love coming here.”
Recent upgrades
New carpeting was installed in the reference area following an incident in September. A heating and air conditioning system malfunction caused flooding in its community room and nonfiction area and resulted in a six-day closure.
About 100 items in the nonfiction print and audio collections were damaged.
Most of the flooding affected the ceilings, drywall, shelving and flooring.
Repairs recently were completed, and all areas reopened in early January.
Library stats
Library officials still are crunching the numbers from last year as far as visitors, materials borrowed and other statistics. Its annual report is routinely released in April.
Klug said preliminary reviews indicate library usage went up last year compared to 2024.
The library’s 2024 report showed 15,107 total library card holders, including 2,196 new cards issued. There were about 177,000 library visits, 15,735 public computer sessions and 203,000 website visits.
There were nearly 60 one-on-one tech sessions with librarians, about 1,300 programs offered and about 245,370 print books borrowed.
Patrons also borrowed thousands of audio books, movies, music albums, print magazines, ebooks and emagazines and digital streaming sessions. That saved users an estimated $10.67 million, according to the report.
Total library expenses were about $1.519 million, and revenue was listed at about $1.466 million, leaving a shortfall of about $53,000.
Quaker Valley School District contributes about $550,000 annually. The library also receives about $390,000 in grants and money from various foundations.
Its biggest expense is personnel at about $1.069 million. There are about 45 staffers including Klug, Neely, several department heads, managers, librarians and clerks.