By Kezia Royer-Burkett, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Burlington Public Library is looking ahead with a fresh vision for 2026–2027, one shaped directly by the voices, needs, and hopes of the community it serves. The new strategic plan, entitled Burlington Public Library Strategic Plan 2026-27: Bringing People Together, builds on the library’s recent achievements, including eliminating daily late fines and relocating the New Appleby Branch, while confronting the challenges many Burlington residents continue to face: rising isolation, growing polarization, and increasing concerns about affordability.
The plan is grounded in feedback gathered from residents across the city and paired with library service data to better understand what matters most to the people walking through its doors. That input helped shape three priorities that aim to strengthen community well-being, spark creativity and learning, and reinforce the values that guide the library’s staff and services.
Burlington Public Library (BPL) CEO Lita Barrie believes the impact of library services stretches far beyond the walls of any branch.
“The library sparks positive change by empowering each person who uses our services, programs, and resources,” she said. “When someone benefits from the Library — whether by learning a new skill, finding a great book, or meeting a new neighbour — they can share that benefit with the people around them. A parent who attends a program may bring what they’ve learned to their family. A newcomer who finds support at the library may help another newcomer feel welcome. A young person inspired by a book may introduce new ideas to their friends. Each positive experience has the potential to multiply, as people carry what they gain at the library into their workplaces, schools, neighbourhoods, and beyond.”
At the heart of the plan is a commitment to enhancing community well-being by helping people feel connected, accepted, and empowered to reach their goals. Library spaces will continue to evolve into places of belonging — spaces where residents can build relationships, attend engaging programs, and access support when they need it. Strengthened partnerships with cultural organizations and community groups will help ensure more people feel represented and included.
The plan also focuses on inspiring discovery. Visitors can expect more intuitive and accessible spaces across all branches, with clearer signage and designated areas for quiet study, group work, playful learning, and casual browsing. BPL will make it easier for patrons to explore new interests by refreshing its Maker Space services and offering creative alternatives for those waiting on popular book titles, ensuring discovery is always within reach.
A third priority emphasizes nurturing a strong organizational culture rooted in the library’s values. Investments in staff training and workflow improvements will support services that feel personal, welcoming, and human. BPL will also pilot new automation tools to streamline tasks like reshelving, making more time for meaningful interactions between staff and customers.
For many Burlington residents, knowing what’s happening at the library is as important as accessing the services themselves. Elise Copps, director of communications and engagement, says one of the best ways to stay connected is through the library’s eNewsletter.
“One of the best ways for community members to keep in the loop about new library programs and initiatives is to sign up for our eNewsletter, which has more than 70,000 subscribers,” she explained. She noted that under the current plan, the library strengthened its outreach and inclusion efforts and was recognized at the 2025 Business Excellence Awards with the Mayor’s Award for its progress in Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI).
Looking ahead, the library plans to continue expanding its relationships, especially with equity-deserving groups.
“While we have established many collaborations to offer programs and services under our current plan, we want to create more connections with equity-deserving groups we are not already reaching,” Copps said. “We’ve made outreach and engagement with equity-deserving groups a priority in our 2026–2027 Strategic Plan to improve our relationships with different communities, learn from them about how we can improve our services to better meet their needs, and help them discover what the library offers.”
Copps shared that the library’s strategic direction is rooted in robust participation from the community. “Our new plan reflects extensive community input, including our annual customer satisfaction survey, which had more than 4,600 respondents, including more than 500 comments specifically on the strategic plan,” she said. “Our two-year plan will guide the library’s work to strengthen community connection, learning, and civic engagement. Connection is at the heart of this plan, and collaborating with organizations in the community is essential to this. The strategic plan is our road map for the next two years, and it will be supported by a range of projects and initiatives.”
The details for a new learning and networking program for small businesses and nonprofit organizations are still being finalized, but Copps assures the public that accessibility will remain a priority. She emphasized that programs will continue to be offered at varied dates, times, and locations, including virtual options, to ensure everyone can participate regardless of their schedule.
Through this new strategic plan, the Burlington Public Library is reaffirming its commitment to being more than a place to borrow books. It is stepping forward as a community connector and a catalyst for personal and collective growth. And for residents, the message is clear: the library is here to support their journey, wherever it leads and however it evolves.
