Annual reports & Strategic PLAN

Annual Reports

OUR MISSION & VISION

Mission: We connect you to knowledge and new possibilities.

Vision: A community where everyone learns and belongs.

The Library Board of Trustees approved the current mission, vision, values, and strategic directions at the February 2026 meeting.

OUR VALUES

Cultivate Curiosity // We inspire curiosity by connecting people with information, ideas, and learning opportunities.
Nurture Partnerships // We build relationships that amplify local voices and create shared success.
Promote Inclusion // We believe libraries are for everyone.
Innovate // We take risks and drive change.
Build Trust Through People // We earn trust through care, compassion, and customer service.
Practice Resourcefulness // We honor public trust through sustainability, advocacy, fiscal stewardship, and transparency.

STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS

Be the Resource

We spark curiosity by supporting learning at every stage of life.
We champion literacy as the foundation for opportunity and participation.
We expand access so everyone can use the tools, technology, and knowledge they need.

Be the Platform

We create welcoming spaces where people feel safe, included, and able to be themselves.
We bring neighbors together to connect, collaborate, and build community.
We showcase Spokane’s stories, creativity, and diverse voices.

Be Responsible

We plan for the future so the library—and Spokane—can succeed for generations.
We lead by example through sustainability and stewardship.
We use public resources wisely and transparently.

Introducing Vision 2030

What is Vision 2030?

Vision 2030 is Spokane Public Library’s shared picture of the next five years. After wrapping up Vision 2025, which included the re-envisioning of Spokane Public Library as a 21st century institution, we needed a plan for what’s next.

Vision 2030 about listening to our community and imagining what the library can be in the years ahead—not just as a place for books, but as a place for connection, creativity, learning, and belonging.

Community members, staff, and partner voices shaped a clear direction for how the library will grow, adapt, and invest its resources so it continues to matter in people’s everyday lives and support Spokane’s growth.

Vision 2030 is our commitment to building a library that brings people together, supports curiosity and opportunity, celebrates all things local, and helps every member of our community thrive—today and for generations to come.

Our vision is simple: to create a community where everyone learns and belongs.

Vision 2030 Statement of Intent

By 2030, Spokane Public Library will be a sanctuary of belonging and a catalyst for opportunity. We will be known for welcoming every person without cost or judgment, for staff who build trust through care and connection, and for programs and technologies that open doors to literacy, learning, connection, and possibility.

Our vision is simple: to create a community where everyone learns and belongs.

Vision 2030 Priorities

A Place to Belong

The library will be Spokane’s most welcoming civic space—calm, safe, and free. It will offer refuge and inspiration, a place where people feel at ease to linger, connect, and be themselves without cost or expectation. Belonging will take shape in everyday interactions, with moments of recognition, care, and connection that make each visit feel personal and shared. As a civic convener, we will bring neighbors together, strengthen local voice, and foster participation in Spokane’s shared future.

Trust Through People

Our staff will be the heartbeat of the library. Approachable and engaged, they will reflect the neighborhoods they serve and embody compassion, expertise, and care. They will be active stewards of the library environment, strengthening the community’s trust in the library and ensuring that spaces feel approachable. Relationships will be cultivated as resources, ensuring that every customer feels seen, supported, and valued.

Inclusive & Responsive Spaces

Library spaces will remove barriers and expand access for all. Designed with inclusion and flexibility in mind, they will adapt as community needs evolve—welcoming everyone to learn, gather, and participate on their own terms. Spaces will meet the needs of Spokane’s diverse populations, offering a sense of comfort and possibility that grows with the city itself.

Partnership & Community Power

Our impact will grow through collaboration and shared purpose. By working alongside schools, nonprofits, businesses, and neighborhoods, we will co-design programs and services that reflect community priorities, amplify local voice, and create lasting, collective success.

Digital Opportunity & Innovation

We will extend digital opportunity by providing tools, training, and the confidence people need to fully participate in a connected world. As technology evolves, the library will help Spokane stay ahead—turning access into empowerment and ensuring innovation remains within everyone’s reach.

Sustainability & Stewardship

The library will lead by example in sustainability and will champion a culture of shared responsibility for Spokane’s future. Through partnerships and education, we will nurture community resilience in Spokane for generations to come.

Cultural Memory & Local History

Through archival efforts and co-created platforms, the library will preserve, curate, and provide access to Spokane’s diverse histories and cultural stories. We aim to remove barriers and intimidation, allowing for curiosity and access to all members of our community, not just serious researchers.

Fiscal Responsibility & Funding

We will secure the library’s future through sustainable funding and transparent stewardship of public resources. By balancing innovation with accountability, we will ensure that Spokane’s investment is honored, protected, and grown for the benefit of both current residents and future generations.

Lifelong Learning & Discovery

The library will spark curiosity and creativity throughout life’s journey. It will inspire children to imagine, offer teens a place to create and belong, support young adults as they shape their paths in education and work, help adults strengthen skills and pursue new possibilities and aid seniors in fostering connection, enrichment, and continued growth. The library will remain Spokane’s hub of literacy, learning, and discovery—where imagination meets opportunity at every stage of life.

How we listened and created Vision 2030

Libraries are more than just places to check out books—they’re hubs for learning, creativity, and connection. Hearing directly from the community on the library experience they want, helps us understand what Spokane needs most.

Throughout 2024 and 2025, library administration led staff and the community through a comprehensive planning process. The goal? Detail the vision for Spokane Public Library for the next 5 years, to chart a path forward to continue serving the community into the next decade.

Nearly 2,000 community members participated in the process, providing feedback virtually through the ThoughtExchange platform, in-person community intercepts, and Focus Groups.

TIMELINE

August 2024: Staff provide preliminary input through online survey
September 2024: Staff participate in small group brainstorming
January 2025: Board of Trustees participate in an evening Vision 2030 retreat
March–June 2025: Community Thought Exchange: 1,633 participants; 1,460 comments; 38,000 ratings
August 2025: Partner Survey collects 28 responses from organizations throughout Spokane
September 2025: Community Intercepts: 12 staff groups disperse throughout Spokane for community intercepts; 1,425 dots from an estimated 475 citizens (306 library users and 169 non-users)
October 2025: 45 community volunteers participate in deep-dive discussions at The Hive

Get Started

Downloads & Streaming

Can't Find it?

Language

Locations

Kiosks

Other Access

Closures

Attend an Event

Rent a Space/Host an Event

Partner With Us

Services

Genealogy & Local History

Language

Career & Economic Success

Creating & Making

Research & Learn

Homework Help

Online Courses

Partnerships

Kids & Teens

Homework Help

Teachers

Library Information

Partners

Library Organization

Support the Library

Connect with Us

Get Started

Downloads & Streaming

Can't Find it?

Language

Locations

Closures

Kiosks

Other Access

Attend an Event

Rent a Space/Host an Event

Partner With Us

Services

Genealogy & Local History

Language

Career & Economic Success

Creating & Making

Research & Learn

Online Courses

Partnerships

Homework Help

Kids & Teens

Homework Help

Teachers

Library Information

Library Organization

Partners

Support the Library

Connect with Us

Annual reports & Strategic PLAN

Annual Reports

OUR MISSION & VISION

OUR VALUES

STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS

Be the Resource

Be the Platform

Be Responsible

Introducing Vision 2030

What is Vision 2030?

Vision 2030 Statement of Intent

Vision 2030 Priorities

A Place to Belong

Trust Through People

Inclusive & Responsive Spaces

Partnership & Community Power

Digital Opportunity & Innovation

Sustainability & Stewardship

Cultural Memory & Local History

Fiscal Responsibility & Funding

Lifelong Learning & Discovery

How we listened and created Vision 2030

TIMELINE

BOOKS, MOVIES & MORE