Vision, Mission & Planning

Vision

Mission

Core Values

(Revised February 19, 2020)

As part of the City of Rochester we adhere to the city’s organizational values (Customer Focus, Respect, Integrity, Safety, and Excellence), and we also affirm the following:

WE CARE

Welcoming Environment

Committed to Inclusivity
Access for all
Respect intellectual freedom
Exceptional library service

Welcoming Environment - We are committed to providing safe and welcoming spaces. Our policies and practices ensure safety, our physical spaces are well-maintained, and all library spaces are inclusive and non-judgmental places to gather or reflect. We care about each other, our customers, the community, and what we do.

Committed to Inclusivity - We honor diversity and are inclusive. We seek to represent all people in our collections, events, services, workforce and other areas. We are committed to collaboration with community members and partners to ensure we reflect the diversity of our entire community.

Access for All - We are committed to providing basic library services at no charge and serving all users fairly and equitably. We harness the talents and resources of our vibrant community and connect individuals in order to ensure everyone can achieve individual and community dreams.

Respect Intellectual Freedom – We are committed to intellectual freedom and the need for the library collection, services, and events to represent many different points of view. Individuals are responsible for making their own choices regarding appropriateness of materials, and parents/guardians are responsible for the choices made for their children. We are committed to providing prompt, objective, confidential, and knowledgeable responses to requests for assistance.

Exceptional Library Service - We are committed to providing quality library service with a smile. We embrace creativity by being innovative, open to new ideas, and willing to try new things to serve our community better. Community members can trust the library is a place they can ask any question, find materials for learning or enjoyment, connect with others, and use technology that will enhance their lives.

2020 Strategic Plan (PDF)

Approved by the Rochester Public Library Board on January 22, 2020.

Strategic Focus Area One: Equity

STRATEGIC PRIORITY A: Community members feel safe and welcome in library spaces.
STRATEGIC PRIORITY B: Community members, especially people whose voices are not typically represented, are given opportunities to be heard and to provide input on library service responses.
STRATEGIC PRIORITY C: Community members expand literacy skills including basics of reading and writing, early childhood, digital, cultural, and informational.

Strategic Focus Area Two: Connections

STRATEGIC PRIORITY D: Community members find connections and have social networks.
STRATEGIC PRIORITY E: Community members have opportunities to access
information and services including support for physical and mental health,
employment, education, affordable housing, and transportation.
STRATEGIC PRIORITY F: Community members are engaged in the community issues that they care about and that affect their lives.

Strategic Focus Area Three: Infrastructure

STRATEGIC PRIORITY G: Community members have access to impactful library services to celebrate their differences and encourage learning, creating, collaborating, and connecting.
STRATEGIC PRIORITY H: Community members have the sustainable physical and digital library infrastructure to meet their needs within our growing and changing landscape.
STRATEGIC PRIORITY I: Community members have access to an inclusive collection of materials and a diverse, innovative, vibrant, compassionate, and well-trained staff.

*This Strategic Plan, developed with input from community members, was facilitated by Wilder Research.

City of Rochester Vision Statement

A vibrant, compassionate, innovative team.

City of Rochester Foundational Principles

• Compassion
• Environmental Stewardship
• Fiscal Responsibility and Sustainability
• Public Safety
• Social Equity

City of Rochester Strategic Priorities and Goals

Strategic Priority 1. Enhance quality of life

Goal A. Increase neighborhood connectivity.
Goal B. Increase affordable housing options.
Goal C. Maintain and increase neighborhood vitality and livability.
Goal D. Secure a funding stream for sustained parks and recreation improvements and community amenities.

Strategic Priority 2. Foster a team-oriented culture

Goal A. Use High Performance Organization practices to create operational efficiencies.
Goal B. Develop recruitment strategies to diversify and achieve a high-quality workforce.
Goal C. Create employee development plans.
Goal D. Use technology to share resources and communicate effectively.

Strategic Priority 3. Manage growth and development

Goal A. Balance downtown/DMC and community-wide development efforts.
Goal B. Incorporate P2S infrastructure planning into development decisions.
Goal C. Implement the recommendations of P2S, the Parks and Recreation Master Plan and the Library Strategic Plan.

Strategic Priority 4. Balance public infrastructure investment

Goal A. Improve transportation and related facilities.
Goal B. Develop an asset management plan and use life-cycle cost considerations during decision making.
Goal C. Develop a policy and practice of assessing new infrastructure investment based on current assets and maintenance costs

City of Rochester Values Principles Standards

Customer Focus

• Identify, plan for, and support customer needs
• Seek and consider input from our customers to continually improve services
• Treat every customer well

Respect

• Treat customers in a personal and professional manner while being firm, fair, and compassionate
• Be an active listener to the customer
• Maintain a work environment that is free of disrespect and false information

Integrity

• Provide equitable and honest treatment to all customers
• Follow through in a timely manner or as communicated
• Maintain privacy and confidentiality as applicable to Minnesota State laws 

Safety

• Employees act responsibly and take ownership of their actions
• Each department/area has documented safety procedures for employees and customers
• Communicate clearly when dealing with emergencies or safety concerns

Excellence

• Be knowledgeable in my area of responsibility
• Be professional in my actions, manners, and appearance
• Meet or exceed customer needs for City services

2021-2022 Action Plan (PDF)

2019 Action Plan Surveys (PDF)

2019 Action Plan Ongoing (PDF)