Administration

I am pleased to announce that the Troy Public Library has been awarded a $65,175 grant from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Investor Education Foundation and the American Library Association as part of the nationwide Smart investing@your library Program.

Troy was one of 14 public libraries from across the United States chosen through a competitive process to win this prestigious grant.

The program, “Financial Planning for Your College Future,” begins in September 2013 and runs through June 2014. It will help high school students and their parents to establish a financial plan for college and beyond. The project addresses saving and investing to cover college expenses, as well as the skills and knowledge students need to manage their finances while in college and after they graduate. Sessions will cover banking; budgeting and saving; paying for college; navigating the financial aid process; appropriate use of credit; investment considerations; and managing debt.

We have partnered with Oakland University, Walsh College, and GreenPath Debt solutions to provide instructional support for the project. We are also working with our valued partner, the Friends of the Troy Public Library, to offer scholarships for outstanding students who participate in this program.

While the program is primarily directed at high school students and their parents, we will create a website where session content will be posted, and make the information available to the entire community.

This program demonstrates in a visible way how the Troy Library changes lives. It broadens the definition of what a public library is and what a public library can do. I appreciate the opportunity to make this possible for the benefit of the Troy Community.

Watch this space in coming months for complete program details and how you can sign up for it.

On December 17, the Library's consultant Erin Gong and I presented the Troy Public Library’s Strategic Plan for 2013-2015 to the Troy City Council. The plan is the culmination of seven months of collaboration and discussion, to determine what the best course is for the Library over the next three years. The feedback from the community – through a survey and four focus groups – helped to inform the plan and provide direction on what the public wants to see from the Library. (The complete text of the plan is attached below.)

I am extremely pleased by the results of this process, and am proud of this plan. It is ambitious, but I believe it is manageable and that we can achieve the goals it sets forth. The Library’s three primary goals are to:

1)      Excel at user experience
2)      Increase awareness of library value and vibrancy
3)      Build a robust infrastructure for community support and partnership

You will hear more about these goals in the coming months. However, please know that your feedback is always appreciated. Email me at C.Russ@troymi.gov or call 248.524.3544.