Executive Summary
Introduction
» Community Needs
Library Service Priorities
Vision Statement
Mission Statement
Goals and Objectives:
Current Titles and Topics
Lifelong Learning
Information Literacy
General Information
Formal Learning Support
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The first task of the Planning Committee was to identify a community vision for Harnett County and to use that vision to identify the most important needs of the community. The Committee then identified the needs that the Harnett County Public Library is well suited to meet or provide support for and suggested service priorities for the library.
The community vision consisted of the following statements, which embody the dreams that the members of the Task Force, as representatives of all the people of the community, have for the place that they, their children, and the residents of the entire community will inhabit in the future.
- All citizens are provided an exceptionally strong economic base.
- All elderly people have affordable housing in a safe community.
- Western Harnett has access to library services, medical care, preschool services, housing, and retail outlets.
- Everyone has adequate recreation, entertainment, and enrichment outlets.
- All citizens (especially seniors) have access to a total health care system.
- Businesses have a skilled work force with adequate training, good roads, and good schools.
- Hispanics have access to ESL, legal services, driver training, and citizenship preparation.
- Everyone (especially ethnic minorities) lives in an environment with mutual cooperation, respect for other cultures, and cultural awareness (their own culture and that of others).
- All citizens live in a safe environment.
- Handicapped people have accessibility, local services, and transportation.
- All children have access to real literacy materials and good day care service.
- All children have excellent educational opportunities in a safe, supportive environment.
- All citizens are provided with appropriate transportation to meet their needs.
- Teens have excellent entertainment.
- Retired people have computer and information literacy training.
- The work force has places for re-training and career counseling, resulting in increased employment and job satisfaction.
- All citizens live in an aesthetically appealing environment.
- All citizens have equal access to parks and recreation, hotels, and restaurants.
- Everyone has genealogical information and a sense of connectedness to the past.
- Everyone has spiritual opportunities and feels valued.
After considering the strengths and weaknesses of the community and the opportunities and threats presented by these vision statements, the Planning Committee identified the following community needs. The Committee further identified the first six of these needs as those that the Harnett County Public Library could either meet or provide support for.
- High-speed Internet access and cable
- Education – facilities, teachers, and resources
- Countywide leadership in planning
- Open communications – countywide identity
- Parks and recreation – including youth centers and cultural activities
- Community identities
- Industry / tax base
- Countywide leadership in zoning
- Adequate health care, better hospitals and EMS
- Improved transportation
- Successful economic recruitment
- Adequate housing
- Hotels, convention center
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