Allen County Public Library is a 14 branch system serving Fort Wayne and surrounding communities in Allen County. This Facilities Master Plan documented quantitative and qualitative differences of facilities stemming from three overarching influences that affect all facilities county-wide:
- Evolving Demands: Residents’ needs changed rapidly over the last two decades, but facility infrastructure has not.
- Facility Age: In 2030 all branches will be 25 years old, with two facilities approaching 40 years old.
- Population Growth: Allen County population has increased by 15% since 2020 and continues to grow. Facilities experience this inconsistently due to high and low growth areas.
The plan was designed to aid decisions about the size, location, and function of branches so that over the next ten years and beyond, all facilities may more equitably and effectively serve residents.
The plan started with staff-led tours of each facility, staff surveys, and seven visioning workshops. Allen County residents participated via ten community stakeholder focus groups, five in-person community conversations, and an online survey in English and Spanish.
Recommendations were built on the foundation of staff and community input, aligning the facility response with necessary updates and Allen County resident priorities. Recommendations were presented as options followed by robust public engagement in early 2022. Final recommendations were presented to the library board in early April 2022.
