Following more than a year of exploration, research and input from staff and experts, the Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden today announced a new strategic plan, “Enriching the Library Experience.”

In executing this strategic plan over the next five years, the agency will make a decisive shift to be more user-centered, digitally-enabled and data-driven. The new strategy is now available to the public online at loc.gov/strategic-plan.

As part of the Library’s ongoing efforts to be more open and accessible, the public is encouraged to share their thoughts about the plan at [email protected]

The new plan reflects Hayden’s commitment to establishing a shared strategic vision and structure for the Library, a top priority for her since she assumed her position two years ago.

“Improving our understanding of the numerous ways users interact with the Library’s nearly 170 million items in our collections, experts and services is fundamental to delivering our mission,” Hayden said. “Our goal is to make the world’s largest library a place you can connect with in new and meaningful ways.”

Refined slightly as part of the planning process, the Library’s mission is to engage, inspire and inform Congress and the American people with a universal and enduring source of knowledge and creativity.

 “Our mission incorporates the key elements of what we do, and why we do it, and for whom,” Hayden said.

The new strategic plan highlights a clear and persistent focus on users. The Library’s new vision statement – all Americans are connected to the Library of Congress – supports this focus on users and the Library’s desire to enrich their experience.

Four goals unifying all Library service units have emerged from the Library’s plan:

1. Expand Access: Make our unique collections, experts and services available when, where and how users need them.
2. Enhance Services: Create valuable experiences for every user to foster lifelong connections to the Library.
3. Optimize Resources: Modernize, strengthen and streamline our operational capabilities.
4. Measure Impact: Use data to measure on the world around us and share a powerful story.

“The new strategic plan facilitates an ongoing conversation about innovation in the Library of Congress,” said the Director of Strategic Planning and Performance Management Dianne Houghton.

A new digital strategy complements the Library’s strategic goals by describing the Library’s objectives for digital transformation over the next five years.

The Library’s digital strategy will enhance its ability to connect with more users, make online resources more available and invest in its future. The digital strategy is now available to the public online at loc.gov/digital-strategy. The public is invited to share their thoughts about the digital strategy at [email protected]

“We are being bold in our thinking, finding ways to use technology to fulfill our mission to inform and inspire the American public,” said Director of Digital Strategy Kate Zwaard, who led the effort to develop the digital strategy.

 “To be successful, collections must be used,” Hayden said. “This same principle applies to all parts of our agency – services and programs too must be accessible and used.”

The Library of Congress is the world’s largest library, offering access to the creative record of the United States – and extensive materials from around the world – both on-site and online. It is the main research arm of the U.S. Congress and the home of the U.S. Copyright Office. Explore collections, reference services and other programs and plan a visit at loc.gov, access the official site for U.S. federal legislative information at congress.gov and register creative works of authorship at copyright.gov.