Planning for the Future of our Branches
In collaboration with MKM architecture + design, the St. Joe County Public Library is creating a strategic and sustainable vision for the future of the nine community branches. Every year, the library’s nine branches serve over a half million members of our community and are a backbone of support for many neighborhood residents. Over the next few months, this project will result in a plan that responds to shifts in community demographics, technology development, emerging library services, aging facilities and other future needs. It will also explore new ways to meet current and future community needs in these neighborhood spaces.
Our Progress
Through a series of three public meetings, multiple focus groups and stakeholder meetings, the library collected valuable, personal feedback from local residents and community leaders from August to October 2023. During that same time, over 2,000 community members completed a bilingual survey to express their opinions on library services, resources and facilities. In the current phase of the project, MKM architecture + design is carefully analyzing the results of the survey, and the library will publish the results of the study in the winter of 2024.
The library is grateful to all community members who shared their thoughts by attending a public meeting or completing a survey. Everyone’s voice is valued.
About MKM architecture + design
After considering five architectural firms, the Library selected MKM architecture + design to lead the assessment and facilities planning process. Based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, MKM is an award-winning design firm dedicated to enhancing the health and well-being of our communities. Led by Zach Benedict, the firm has worked extensively with other libraries in our region, including branch planning for Elkhart Public Library.
