Facilities Report

In fall 2024, the Morgantown Public Library System put out an RFP for a master facilities plan. MPLS then contracted with Margaret Sullivan Studio (MSS) to research ways to shape our libraries’ services now and in the future. MSS began their work with an assessment of the state of the library system, followed by deliberate and intensive engagement with the community and stakeholders. The project culminated in a final report.

The MPLS Board of Trustees reviewed the findings and prepared a memo outlining the action items. Following their message are downloadable files (large PDFs) of the full Master Facilities report and its appendices by MSS.

Action Items for the MSS Report

The proposed Margaret Sullivan Studio Master Facilities Plan, while ambitious in scope and aspirational in its goals, must be balanced with the reality facing the Morgantown Public Library System. We currently have too many facilities with critical concerns to meet our organizational needs effectively. Given our financial and staffing limitations, we cannot address simultaneously all the facility issues identified in the report. Instead, we must focus our efforts on identifying key areas that remain true to our core mission, while establishing a sustainable course for the future of the library system. The proposed facilities plan will be one of many valuable resources for making responsive, community-driven decisions about our facilities and their future.

Following robust discussion that connected the facilities report, strategic library goals, current economic conditions, and the continued growth and demand for digital services, the Board of Trustees has prioritized the following focus areas identified by Margaret Sullivan Studio:

• Support the Arnettsville Community Center in their goal of owning the building, which houses the Arnettsville Public Library.
• Explore the financial implications of operating a facility in the Suncrest area of Morgantown.
• Identify partners within Monongalia County for shared spaces or services in regions 3 and 4.
• Create a proposal for increased outreach services, detailing costs of general operations (including, but not limited to, staff, vehicles, collections, and supplies).
• Explore new avenues of funding to support future increases in services and construction.
• Create a project plan for renovating the Morgantown Public Library and addressing the Aull Center services.

The MPLS Board of Trustees is excited to explore the future for the Morgantown Public Library System and its dedicated and enthusiastic supporters. We are extremely grateful to the consultants, staff, partners, and community members who have participated in the process so far.

Master Facilities Report (PDF)

Report Appendices (PDF)