Preschool section of Fayetteville Public Library’s new children’s library

DUBLIN, Ohio, 16 February 2021—Fayetteville Public Library in Fayetteville, Arkansas, has signed on to implement OCLC Wise, the community engagement system for U.S. public libraries.

Wise is a holistic system that takes community engagement and collection management to a new level by combining the power of customer relationship management, marketing, and analytics with integrated library system (ILS) functionality, such as circulation and acquisitions. Wise is different; it's designed around people, not the collection. It supports libraries' continued shift into dynamic centers of activity and expands the impact libraries have on their communities.

Fayetteville Public Library (FPL) is putting the finishing touches on a major expansion and renovations—part of FPL's 2030 Master Plan—which is now open to the public. Implementation of OCLC Wise is the next big step in the library's transformation.

"The goal of Fayetteville Public Library is to create the ultimate library experience for our community every day. Why? Because we care about the welfare of everyone," said FPL Executive Director David Johnson. "We get that same feeling from the OCLC team and their Wise system. OCLC cares about our ability to deliver the highest level of service, and they're willing to roll up their sleeves and work alongside us. That's what a true partnership is all about."

As FPL staff planned their state-of-the-art expansion, they considered the needs of their community—which included new focus on job training, culinary literacy, more youth services, among others. Some staff even had an opportunity to visit DOKK1, one of the most innovative new libraries in the world, in Aarhus, Denmark.

"FPL is deeply rooted in and engaged with their local community," said Mary Sauer Games, OCLC Vice President, Global Product Management. "The staff wants the best for their community so they have been seeking inspiration from some of the best libraries in the world. FPL's connection to the people they serve and their vision for the future make them ideal partners for OCLC and Wise. We look forward to seeing what we can accomplish together."

"Wise is going to be a game changer for Fayetteville Public Library patrons," said Johnson. "Our community will be impressed that not only do we have this beautiful facility, but we're also adding infrastructure and technologies that are focused on them. We can customize our system and services to meet our needs, and really make it our Fayetteville Public Library."

Learn more about Wise at oc.lc/wise.