Chapel Hill Public Library seeks new mission statement

Following the 2013 renovation of the Chapel Hill Public Library, the library staff is also looking to update their current mission statement.

“The library has a beautiful, modern, new building and we are looking for a new mission statement to go along with that,” said Susan Brown, director of the Chapel Hill Public Library.

The library remains on the hunt for a new mission statement and aims to revamp the current version, which was last updated in 2005. 

The current mission statement, at 139 words, is extremely long according to Brown, although she said it is true to the library’s values. Part of Brown’s leadership includes reviewing and updating the mission statement. 

“Mission statements in general have a certain lifespan, and we are overdue for an update,” she said.

The process to find a new mission statement began with asking for online submissions for possible statements. The library asked for these from a variety of groups including the library stakeholders — the Library Board of Trustees, Friends of the Chapel Hill Public Library and the Chapel Hill Public Library Foundation — in addition to the staff, Town Council, town departments and the general public. 

For the submissions, all groups were asked the same three questions. These questions included opinions on why the library exists, what the library can accomplish and what actions it can take to reach these accomplishments. 

Brown and the rest of the library staff will review the input and search for commonalities when crafting the statement.

Brown said she is satisfied with the submissions so far and that her ideal statement would be short, memorable and reflective.

The library is using some other mission statements as examples while they search for their own, including the Livestrong Foundation’s statement, “To inspire and empower people affected by cancer.” 

Chapel Hill resident Erin Boutwell said she comes to the library at least once every two weeks since she moved to the town three months ago. 

While she said the library is integral to Chapel Hill, she was not knowledgable of the mission statement hunt.

“I’m not familiar with their old mission statement,” Boutwell said.

Abeo Hicks, a first-year at East Chapel Hill High School, does not visit the library regularly, but still believes it is an important part of the community.

“Some people aren’t privileged enough to have books or computers at home,” Hicks said. “So this is a great way to have everyone in the community have the resources they need.”

The Chapel Hill Public Library is accepting mission statement suggestions until Friday.

city@dailytarheel.com