Our Mission

To provide access to information, ideas, and opportunities that fosters curiosity, builds connections, empowers individuals, and strengthens our community.

Our Values

Our Strategic Priorities

Strategic Plan 2025 – 2032

The Arkansas City Public Library’s 2025–2032 Strategic Plan represents our commitment to enriching lives, strengthening community connections, and ensuring equitable access to knowledge, technology, and opportunity for all residents of Arkansas City and the surrounding area.

Between 2023 and 2025, we engaged in meaningful dialogue with our patrons, staff, community partners, and stakeholders to envision a library that reflects the evolving needs and aspirations of the people we serve. Through surveys, focus groups, community feedback sessions, and listening events, we gathered insights that shaped a plan rooted in inclusion, innovation, and sustainability.

We listened to parents and caregivers seeking early literacy support, teens and adults requesting digital tools and skills, and rural residents wanting outreach services closer to home. We heard from educators, community leaders, and advocates for equity who believe the library can be a powerful catalyst for lifelong learning, local history preservation, and community development.

Guided by our mission and values, the 2025–2032 Strategic Plan outlines ten focus areas that will drive our work over the next seven years:
Early Literacy, Space & Furnishings, Local History, Outreach & Community Engagement, Public Relations & Marketing, Collection Development, Digital Access & Literacy, Library Funding, Library Staffing, and Library Technology.

Each area includes measurable goals, phased timelines, and concrete action steps that will help us fulfill our promise to be a vibrant, welcoming, and forward-thinking community anchor.

We are excited to share this roadmap with you and to walk it together.

View, Download, or Print the Strategic Plan Here