Present:

• Mike Jefferis, Chairperson
• Karen LaCorte-Nies, Vice Chairperson
• J.P. Gellermann, Secretary & Treasurer
• Veronica Ettel
• BJ Gavin
• Heidi Hugh
• Carol Weideman
• Cheryl Morales, Executive Director
• Glenn Ferdman, LDAC Liaison

Absent:

• Alfred G. Battle, Jr.
• Maggie Paluch
• Martha Frenchek, Recording Secretary

Wednesday, September 24, 2025
9:00 am-3:00 pm @ Collaborative Labs at St. Petersburg College

Attendance:

Board Present: Mike Jefferis, Karen LaCorte-Nies, JP Gellermann, Veronica Ettel, BJ Gavin, Heidi Hugh, Carol Weideman, Cheryl Morales

Absent: Alfred Battle, Maggie Paluch

Library Directors: Cathleen Bowley, Acting Director, St. Pete Beach Library, Glenn Ferdman, Seminole Community College, Beth Lindsay, St. Petersburg Library System, Dave McMurrin, Pinellas Park Library, Casey McPhee, Largo Public Library, Jennifer Obermaier, Clearwater Public Library System, Cathy Wos, Assistant Director, Palm Harbor Library

PPLC Staff: Michelle Howard, Countywide Services Manager, Rosa Rodriguez, Deaf Literacy Center Manager, and Cheryl Morales, Executive Director

SPC Staff: Tina Fischer, Facilitator, with Jonathan- Illustrator, Karin-Documenter, and PJ-Technologist

Introduction

PPLC stakeholders gathered at Collaborative Labs on September 24, 2025, for their strategic planning workshop. The workshop focused on reviewing achievements, evaluating the current 2021-2025 strategic plan, and developing goals and action plans for 2026-2030. Attendees included Board Members, Library Directors, and PPLC staff who engaged in discussions, polling, and collaborative work to shape the future direction of PPLC’s services and operations.

Welcome and Workshop Overview

The workshop began with welcoming remarks from Cheryl Morales, Executive Director, and Mike Jefferis, Board Chair, highlighting the importance of strategic planning amid national challenges and the need to demonstrate return on investment to elected officials. Facilitator Tina Fischer introduced Collaborative Labs and outlined the agenda, which included celebrating achievements, reviewing the current strategic plan, refining goals, reviewing board reporting,
and developing an elevator pitch for PPLC.

Celebrating Achievements

Participants shared strengths and successes of PPLC, emphasizing the cooperative’s interlibrary collaboration, shared catalog, accessibility to all residents including those in unincorporated areas of Pinellas County and specialized services for the deaf and blind communities. Highlights included strong community partnerships, the museum pass program, digital resource expansion, and the unique inclusion of deaf services.

Review of the 2021-2025 Strategic Plan

The group reviewed key elements of the current strategic plan, including the mission to serve unincorporated areas, the shared online catalog, and specialized services like the Deaf Literacy Center and the Talking Book library. Polling questions educated participants on PPLC’s structure, services, and partnerships fostering informed discussion on strategic priorities.

Determining Goals for 2026-2030

The workshop focused on refining goals across five strategic areas: Services, Partnerships, Centralization/Resource Sharing, Marketing, and Advocacy.

Visual Illustration and Wrap-Up

A business illustrator presented a visual representation of PPLC’s network of 14 Member Libraries connected through goals and partnerships, symbolizing service access with a golden library card and a lighthouse representing the library as a community information beacon. The day concluded with positive reflections on the productive and energizing workshop. This comprehensive workshop laid the foundation for PPLC’s strategic direction from 2026 to 2030, focusing on enhancing service accessibility, strengthening partnerships, optimizing resource sharing, expanding marketing efforts, and advancing advocacy to sustain and grow library services for all residents of Pinellas County, including specialized populations.

Closing

Participants used cell phone polling to describe the day in one word, creating a Word Cloud. Words entered more than once appear larger.

Mike thanked volunteers on the Board and the library professionals and remarked that much was accomplished. Cheryl thanked PPLC Staff, Library Directors, and Board Members for their commitment to PPLC and their time and energy.

Tina announced that the plan was complete and distributed paper copies of the plan summary to all.

The next regular board meeting: Wednesday, October 29, 2025,@ PPLC@ 3:30 pm (No Meeting in November)

Submitted by Martha Frenchek, Office Assistant