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Our mission is to nourish minds, transform lives and build community together. We are a national leader of library service, innovation and excellence. We envision a Hennepin County where library services ensure every person has the opportunity and resources to read, graduate, engage, work and learn.

1. Deliver relevant patron services

• Solicit and act on patron feedback
• Quickly recognize and respond to changing communities and demographics
• Develop innovative services
• Provide services that are community-based

2. Engage readers and learners of all ages

• Build and maintain our collections
• Remove barriers to information and content
• Preserve historical collections
• Embrace new technologies
• Build confident, self-reliant library users
• Set Library policy and make investments to ensure youth graduate from high school

3. Expand community engagement and collaborations

• Re-energize our partnerships with schools, businesses, nonprofits, foundations and the community
• Use volunteers and the commitment of each of us individually to support our community
• Create a strong brand
• Creatively market library services

4. Develop physical and virtual services that support patron access

• Implement the ongoing digital revolution that complements but is not bound by bricks and mortar
• Configure space to reflect new and broader purposes
• Upgrade and maintain facilities based on Hennepin County standards
• Create library environments that are welcoming, safe and secure
• Provide innovative service points such as kiosks, co-locations, partnerships and virtual opportunities

5. Build staff confidence and commitment to innovation, creativity and diversity

• Revolutionize customer service
• Embrace new technologies
• Use research-based information when developing library service
• Value diversity and inclusion to support an environment of creativity and innovation

6. Optimize funding of library services with private and public dollars

• Demonstrate the value of library services to residents, the County Board of Commissioners and other stakeholders
• Strengthen the Library's partnership with the Friends of the Hennepin County Library
• Partner with businesses and other foundations

7. Further leverage the leadership of the Library's governing and advisory Boards

• Strengthen the relationship between the County Board, Library Board and staff
• Support the Library Board as it fulfills the roles and expectations of the County Board of Commissioners