Public Library Business Plan Services

The Vendor is required to provide consultant to develop a comprehensive and evidence-based library business plan that articulates the future role and mandate of the public library; assesses current and projected community service needs; evaluates and compares service delivery and facility model options; analyzes capital and operating cost implications; and identifies a fiscally sustainable, phased path forward that supports the city’s projected growth and long-term strategic objectives.
- Community needs and expectations assessment
•    Utilize the city’s growth projection report and the most recent census data to identify population growth trends and demographic characteristics 
•    Undertake stakeholder engagement with development industry partners, residents, library staff, city administration, schools, school boards, and community organizations
•    Identify desired library services, programs, spaces, and technology requirements 
•    Analyze library programs and services to be offered, including a comparison with services currently delivered by community organizations and other not-for-profit entities in the city, to identify essential and complementary library offerings
- Current state assessment
1. Current level of service
•    Existing library services, programs, collections, technology, and digital offerings 
•    Service utilization trends, including circulation, program attendance, digital usage, and foot traffic 
•    Benchmarking against peer municipalities and applicable provincial standards, including a comparison of services offered by established libraries
2. Facilities and space assessment
•    Current facility size, layout, condition, accessibility, and functional adequacy 
•    Identification of gaps between existing space and recommended library space standards
3. Organizational and operational review
•    Review of staffing levels, organizational structure, and service delivery workflows 
•    Assessment of hours of operation, customer service model, and technology infrastructure 
•    Identification of operational strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities
- Vision, mission and strategic direction
1. Define the purpose of the library
•    Development or refinement of the library’s vision, mission, and guiding principles 
•    Alignment with municipal priorities, community values, and future service expectations
2. Strategic priorities
•    Service delivery
•    Community impact
•    Partnerships
•    Innovation
- Future service model options
1. Evaluate multiple library models
•    Stand-alone central library
•    Integrated library within a civic or multi-use facility
•    Hybrid models (e.g., pop-ups, kiosks, mobile services, co-located spaces)
2. Service delivery implications
•    Staffing and operational requirements
•    Flexibility to accommodate future growth and changing service demands
- Facility size and space planning
1. Space needs assessment
•    Recommended square footage based on population projections, service standards, and program requirements 
•    Proposed space allocations (e.g., collections, study rooms, meeting rooms, staff areas) 
•    Short, medium, and long-term facility size scenarios
2. Location and catchment analysis
•    Geographic distribution of current and future library services
•    Identification of underserved areas and optimal locations for future facilities
•    Recommended library location(s) based on service area analysis.