Without strong leadership from the library’s CEO or Director, the online experience is often underfunded and undervalued. Budgets are allocated to physical infrastructure or traditional services, with digital seen as secondary rather than essential. This frequently leads to library staff using low-cost solutions or relying on DIY tools that don’t drive patron engagement, improve staff efficiency, or evolve as the library's needs grow. 

Investing in the digital experience is paramount because the library's website (including the online catalog) is the most utilized service point for placing holds, registering for upcoming events, and browsing collections. When leaders set clear priorities and align their digital strategy with the library's broader goals, they see stronger community impact, higher usage, and more efficient use of staff time.  

In this webinar, hear directly from a panel of library directors about why a strong online presence is essential to the modern library and critical to the overall patron experience. Panelists shared: 

• How they have led their teams to focus on effective online strategies that will benefit the library and the community in the long term. 
• Ways they have secured funding and organizational support for digital initiatives 
• Lessons learned from shifting away from short-term or DIY solutions 

Whether you’re already leading digital strategy projects or looking to make a case for change, you will leave this webinar with ideas and insights you can bring back to your library.