APL Looks Ahead with New Strategic Plan
Read the full 2026-2029 APL strategic plan
Albany Public Library’s Board of Trustees approved a new strategic plan that will guide initiatives across the seven-branch system over the next three years. The plan includes five major goals and related strategies, and is available on APL’s website and at each branch location.
“This plan will challenge us and inspire us to be better. There’s a lot to look forward to, including a new Library of Things for APL, and hopefully a partnership with the school district to give every student a library card, among many other things,” said APL Executive Director Andrea Nicolay. “Some elements of the plan came straight from people in the community, and others we’ve been dreaming of for a while.”
“More than 1,300 library users and non-users gave us direct input through surveys, focus groups, and interviews,” said Board of Trustees President Paige Allen. “This level of engagement is what we hoped for in order to build a responsive plan that reflects what Albany wants from its library system.”
The five-month strategic planning process was co-designed by Library Strategies Consulting Group and overseen by a board-designated steering committee of nine community representatives. In addition to extensive community input, the plan included a data-driven benchmarking analysis of peer libraries, plus a review of APL usage metrics, staffing, services, and resources. The library’s elected Board of Trustees approved the final strategic plan in June.
The plan, which runs from July 2026 through June 2029, has five major goals:
1. Elevate the visitor experience: Provide functional, comfortable, and safe spaces for learning and community engagement.
2. Refine collections and digital resources: Optimize the library’s finite collection budget through responsive, data-driven development priorities.
3. Build a firm financial foundation: Anchor the library’s work in financial stability through stewardship of public funds and cultivation of private funding support.
4. Expand community awareness and access: Promote and broaden access and awareness of the valuable resources and opportunities that APL provides for all residents.
5. Support a strong and engaged workforce: Cultivate an internal culture of equity, clarity, and open dialogue to maintain a strong foundation for institutional excellence.
Quarterly progress updates will be shared at Board of Trustees meetings, through the library’s email newsletter, and on the library website.
“Libraries must evolve along with our community. We also need to work within our budget to accomplish these goals, or seek grants that can help us get there faster. Good stewardship of public funds is critical, as well as the ability to cultivate private funding and grants, and that’s actually spelled out in goal three of the plan, ‘Build a firm financial foundation,’” said Nicolay.
Stephanie Simon
Stephanie Simon is manager of APL's Communication and Creative Services Department, which provides content and information for the library's website, social media, publications, videos, and other outlets. Stephanie also manages APL's public relations and marketing efforts.