A strategic plan provides guidance for your library, detailing current strengths and assets, future goals and aspirations, action or implementation plan, and how you will evaluate progress. A strategic plan provides a framework by which to measure your successes, and involving community members in your planning process ensures that library goals, services and programs support the community and its goals.
Why do Strategic Planning?
Planning isn’t an end unto itself. Rather, it is important to have a clear plan to help guide what you do, and to ensure that library activities support the organization's mission. Setting priorities in keeping with your strategic plan, based on the expressed needs of community members, helps you make effective use of library resources. The plan’s priorities will help library staff, administration, and library board make wise decisions and provide innovative services.
SCLS Strategic Planning Services
There are many ways to plan, and various models. SCLS strategic planning services focus on community engagement and are modeled on the work of the Aspen Institute, the Harwood Institute, and the UW-Madison Certified Public Manager program. SCLS services focus on:
- Staff development
- Board development
- Community conversations
- Applying current data and demographics
- Assistance with plan development
Additionally, an outside facilitator may have specialized skills that your staff and board may not have, and their neutrality can lend credibility to your process. You can often find someone in your community with the skills and experience you need. Possible sources include:
- School District
- University / College / Technical School
- University Extension
- Community Education program
Models and Resources
There are many models and resources for strategic planning, including:
- Books
- Strategic Planning for Results (Nelson, Sandra; Public Library Association, 2008)
- Five steps of outcome-based planning and evaluation for public libraries (Gross, Melissa; Mediavilla, Cindy; Walter, Virginia A, American Library Association, 2016)
- Demonstrating Results: Using Outcome Measurement in Your Library (Rubin, Rhea Joyce; American Library Association, 2006)
- Implementing for Results: Your Strategic Plan in Action (Nelson, Sandra; American Library Association, 2009)
- Measuring for Results: the Dimensions of Public Library Effectiveness (Matthews, Joseph R.; Libraries Unlimited, 2004)
- Scorecards for Results: a Guide for Developing a Library Balanced Scorecard (Matthews, Joseph R.; Libraries Unlimited, 2008)
- Strategic Planning and Management for Library Managers (Matthews, Joseph R.; Libraries Unlimited, 2005)
- Online Resources:
- Rising to the Challenge: Re-Envisioning Public Libraries (Aspen Institute)
- Confronting the Future: Strategic Visions for the 21st Century Public Library (American Library Association)
- Outcome Based Evaluation Basics (Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS))
Samples of Strategic Plans
- Libraries
- Other organizations