Newark Public Library | Newark, New Jersey
November 2024–February 2025

The Challenge

Newark Public Library was preparing to launch a strategic planning process to shape its future direction. Library leadership recognized they needed comprehensive, objective data to ensure their strategic goals would be realistic, community-aligned, and positioned for success. They engaged LWB US to conduct a landscape analysis and internal assessment that would form the foundation for strategic decision-making.

Our Approach

LWB US designed and executed a mixed-methods research engagement that examined NPL from multiple angles.

• Community & Stakeholder Engagement: We conducted interviews and surveys with library staff at all levels, interviews with community leaders and partner organizations, and direct conversations and surveys with community members to capture diverse perspectives on library needs and opportunities.
• Data & Policy Analysis: We reviewed library usage trends, community demographic data, and conducted internal and external policy reviews to identify operational strengths and gaps.
• Benchmarking: We produced a comparative analysis of NPL’s performance against 30 peer libraries in New Jersey and 30 similar libraries nationally, providing context for where NPL stands relative to comparable institutions.
• Comprehensive Policy Review: We analyzed policies from 76 libraries across 43 states, giving NPL visibility into current practices and innovative approaches across the sector.

Deliverables

Beyond our analytical findings, we equipped NPL with practical tools for ongoing use: a community partner tracking system, a community asset map, a policy auditing tool, and a communications analysis. These resources extend the value of our engagement well beyond the project period.

Results

NPL now has the data infrastructure to pursue strategic planning with confidence—grounded in community voice, benchmarked against peers, and supported by tools that build internal capacity. We are in active conversation about partnering on the next phases: strategic plan development and implementation support.

What This Demonstrates

This engagement illustrates our commitment to leaving library partners stronger than we found them. We combine rigorous research with practical tool development, ensuring clients have both the insights and the infrastructure to act on what they learn.