2023 Community Report - Flipbook - Page 4
From Our CEO
2023 was all about engagement. Whether it was for our
customer service revamp, our Naturespace enhancement
project or our new strategic plan, we had many great
conversations with you, our community, about what you would
like to see at your library.
Through these conversations we learned a lot. You talked
about modern public spaces that function well for study, work
and play. You dreamed about outdoor spaces for gardening,
intergenerational learning and relaxing with a good book. You
told us you wanted a future ready library system that made
it easy to learn something new, no matter what life stage you
were at. You wanted everyone to be able to access everything
the library has to offer.
We took action on your suggestions quickly. We added shaded space for relaxing outdoors
and equipment for outdoor learning to the Naturespace at our Eastside Branch. We expanded
our cool things to borrow collection to add skates, sports equipment and games. With more
resources to borrow our community could try instead of buy, investing in the sharing economy.
We added holds lockers at our John M. Harper Branch to make it easier for customers to pick
up materials, even when we aren’t open.
As we look ahead there is lots more to come. A new website, a new customer service
strategy, spaces where partners can provide services onsite and improved features for
work and play at the library. Most excitingly, we are working with our partners at the City of
Waterloo to substantially renovate our McCormick Branch! As this project moves into its design
phase in 2024, we look forward to new conversations with you about the future of that branch.
Growing a library system that meets the needs of our community, now and for generations
to come, is a team effort. It is work that requires a strong board of directors that bring vision,
dedication and a commitment to centering community good in decision-making. It also takes
a diverse staff team who see things from different perspectives but share the goal of making
the library great. I am fortunate to work with a team of people who love the library and
want to see it thrive. They invest their talents in the library every day to make it the incredible
community hub it is.
Kelly Kipfer
CEO, Waterloo Public Library
4 | Community Report 2023
