2012-2016 Strategic Plan

Executive Summary

Since 1973 Friends of the Free Library (FFL) has been the voice of the community and library patrons in support of the nation's oldest free public library system. Working alongside residents and volunteers, FFL promotes more comprehensive services and resources, such as relevant materials and programs in every neighborhood, rich or poor. Even in the face of economic challenges, such as in 2005 and 2008, FFL's leadership and successful citywide advocacy resulted in the preservation of the 54-branch Free Library system, while continuing to stabilize neighborhoods and engage citizens by forming new and strengthening established groups.

Many years of special focus on diversifying and activating groups in communities where 25 percent of residents live in poverty have enabled us to become the city's largest citizen-led consortium of volunteers, with a vibrant group in almost every library, closing in on our primary strategic vision. In 2009 we published an operations guide for groups, Library Friends; a Best Practices Manual. In 2010 we increased our presence with the opening of a second retail bookstore, The Next Page, at 722 Chestnut St., attracting more book lovers and doubling the volume of recycling quality books from donors to readers.

In thinking about the next 5 years, following significant growth to both our neighborhood and book operations, and our leadership role in increasing public and policymaker awareness and understanding of the stabilizing effects of open libraries in neighborhoods and to the entire city, we spent a fruitful year of pre-planning. Understanding the increasingly complex and varied role of the public library in modern life, we designed outreach activities to help us gather and ignite real input from our primary stakeholders, Friends Groups, and from our secondary groups including library patrons, the general public, library staff, and board. The following activities preceded the first meeting of the Strategic Planning committee:

Surveyed the capacity and future needs of our Friends Groups
Libraries of the Future Public Forums, spring 2010, in which the general public was invited to talk about how the library serves the life of their communities and families
The Penn Fels Institute of Government monitored and included the public forums in The Economic Value of the Free Library of Philadelphia
"Blue Sky" session for Friends Group leaders, board members and library personnel to envision FFL without restraint

In October 2010 FFL's working Strategic Planning committee, led by Arts and Business Council volunteer facilitator Marlin Kinsey, convened. The committee was composed of FFL board members Jane Lamb, Roseann Gill, Marjorie Dugan, Amy Greer, Mary Kilroy and Gary Giogioso; Free Library Director Siobhan Reardon, Co-director Joe Mc Peak and branch managers Darren Cottman, Sara Palmer and Suzin Rigsby; Friends Group leaders Joe Baker, Susan Posternock, Katie McDonald, Claudette Raynor, and Sheila Washington; and FFL staffer Amy Dougherty.

What we learned during the pre-planning from FFL's extensive community organizing field work and from our stakeholders is that the ready access to books, periodicals, DVDs, computers, internet and digital resources, along with the guidance of professional librarians, continues to fill a very real and widespread need, across all demographics, for the city's children and adults. In addition, open libraries acting as modern day community centers provide a multi-faceted array of opportunities for many such as free meeting space and book clubs; free literacy, computer, English as a Second language, GED classes and more. This increase to the public value of libraries contributes to more successful and stable lives, and verifiably generates higher property values.

In their seminal study of 2010, The Economic Value of the Free Library in Philadelphia, The Penn Fels Institute of Government, working with the Friends of the Free Library (FFL) and the Free Library, found that the city's free library system with its Central and 53 branches in particular, added measurable dollar value to the city in the following areas:

Literacy: $21.8 million in 2010
Workforce Readiness: $6 million in 2010
Entrepreneurial and small business development: $3.8 million in 2010
Property and neighborhoods: $698 million in property value; $18.5 million in 2010 property taxes

We also note value-adds of libraries to citizens, that are, among other things, cultural and social havens, the value of which is not measurable.

If we at the Friends of the Free Library of Philadelphia with our neighborhood stewards known as Friends Groups, succeed in continuing to make the neighborhood branch better and in amplifying the 'library' effect that the Fels study quantifies and that we know qualitatively exists, then the economic value of the library in, and more importantly to, Philadelphia should measurably increase.

In of the most compelling Fels metric - neighborhood value - they report that homes within a quarter mile of a library are worth $9,630 more than homes outside that radius; and homes within a half-mile of a library are worth more than $650 than homes outside that radius.

This study means, and further implies, a great deal. It more than justifies keeping the 54-branch system open and intact. It reinforces FFL's efforts to focus library resources in neighborhoods. And it informs us that our vision, as outlined in this five-year strategic plan, is correctly focused on community stewardship and the subsequent expansion of social capital through trust and reciprocity between the citizens and their libraries - a vibrant government agency.

Friends of the Free Library's mission and progressive vision is to expand the valuable radius of the 'library effect' that is demonstrated to be so important not only to the lives of individuals but to the city itself, so rich in the history and traditions of democracy. This is what we support. This is what we do.

The 2012-16 Strategic Plan envisions an increasingly comprehensive and stable 54-branch Free Library system and a more literate citizenry, more fully participating in a knowledge-based economy, and in the rich cultural life of Philadelphia. This plan emphasis neighborhood enhancement and vibrancy through the generation of deeper Friends Group capacity, and the building of social capital through sustainable library stewardship. We will provide tools for group growth, stability, mentorship, collaborations, and empowerment resulting in enhanced civic participation.

The FFL organization and groups of neighborhood stewards, in collaboration with the Free Library of Philadelphia, will continue to emphasize and advocate for cutting edge services now and in the future. We will continue to educate citizens and elected officials; enhancing their understanding and support for the value of the public library in the life of the city, and the region.

Finally, with gratitude, the Friends of the Free Library board and staff wish to acknowledge the dedication of hundreds of Philadelphians who volunteer to take an active part in expanding, safeguarding and supporting our beloved world-class free library system.

Strategic Goals

Mission: The Friends of the Free Library of Philadelphia (FFL), founded in 1973, is an independent, non-profit organization that supports the 54-branch Free Library system by establishing and assisting a network of neighborhood-based Friends Groups who volunteer to strengthen and promote their local library and advocate for stable, equitable and significant library services for the city's children and adults.

A. Capacity Building/Friends Groups: Strengthen and serve associate Friends Groups by providing organizational, operational and technical assistance in order to steward, stabilize and strengthen groups' resources so that they effectively support their library in the provision of the relevant and needed services to their communities.

54 Friends Groups have high functionality and the knowledge to seek and obtain financial resources that augment the Free Library's budget with the materials and programs relevant to their neighborhoods' interests, needs and challenges.
54 Friends Groups engaged in Best Practice operations and strategies for self-sustainability.
A vibrant Alliance of Friends association of groups has built a stable city-wide network of active and connected library stewards who determine and achieve individual group and association goals through partnership and collaboration with one another, with library staff and administration, and with other community-based organizations and individuals, including policy makers.

B. Capacity Building/FFL Organization: Increase FFL's capital so that it can sustain and strengthen its association of 54 Friends Groups and explore and implement opportunities for citywide and regional alliances, leadership and growth.

Friends of the Free Library is a well-funded, stable association of citywide library stewards who work in concert with FFL staff.
Friends of the Free Library has a staff of committed community organizers who provide hands-on technical, operational and advocacy assistance; acting as effective conduits to build and sustain relationships and coalitions between the Alliance of Friends, library administration, city officials and other neighborhood organizations and schools.
Friends of the Free Library's bookstore operations constitute a highly regarded, patronized and profitable go-to place for printed literature and a vehicle for the donation of books for readers.

C. Advocacy: Advocate for an adequately funded 54-branch Library System that provides stable and sustainable system-wide services, which includes relevant and targeted programs and materials for the city's children and adults regardless of ethnicity or economic standing.

The Free Library of Philadelphia is a fully funded city agency providing informational, educational, cultural literacy, and leisure resources for children and adults in every neighborhood.
The Free Library of Philadelphia is an equitable library service provider in all neighborhoods, throughout the city, rich or poor.