Imagine Sewickley Public Library as a ship, navigating toward a shared destination: a vibrant, welcoming space that meets the evolving needs of our community. A strategic planning process is the map that will guide us on the journey, and we are pleased to announce we have contracted with The Ivy Group, Ltd. of Charlottesville, VA to help us chart the course.
Since our founding in 1873, we have provided lifelong learning opportunities; but the landscape of informational access is rapidly evolving and with it, our patrons’ needs.
In the last decade, we’ve seen demand for digital collections grow by 600%, the need for meeting spaces has more than doubled and our dynamic teen department needs more space. Gone are the days of an entirely quiet library of transactional book checkouts. We are a space for collaborative learning and require spaces to be quiet alone (e.g. reading the paper), quiet together (e.g. study partners), loud alone (e.g. recording a podcast), and loud together (e.g. hosting speakers).
The Ivy Group will help us to gather input from patrons, staff, and community partners to define our destination, draw the map, and help us set sail with a clear vision and a practical map for the journey ahead. We will redesign our spaces and ensure our historic building is serving the modern needs of our patrons where everyone feels welcome, inspired, and connected. More information will come soon about how you might join our crew on this exciting journey. Together, we’ll shape a library that serves the entire community for years to come.
Founded by a teacher and a librarian in 1989, The Ivy Group is a privately held small business with 100% female ownership and have led more than 100 library projects across the country helping clients deliver responsive, aspirational services that foster positive change in their communities. Welcome, Ivy Group! We look forward to working with you.
