Each library is unique. I cannot know what the mission or values of your particular library. But let's consider a small academic library with a limited online presence. The catalog is available with links to online resources. The library is staffed primarily by student workers, with a couple library specialists and one library director. The materials are a general mix of old and new, with some areas noticeably requiring attention. The facility is generally in line with the buildings and offices around it within the campus.
What are our Goals? Before we can know what we want to accomplish, we set out to conduct an assessment of where we want to be in three years, five years, and ten years. We discover that not all students and faculty are necessarily aware of library resources and programming. We conduct a study of library usage, looking at circulation data, daily patron counts, and visits to our library page. Some of our research must begin fresh as we didn't keep track of views of library pages. We begin an earnest study of library resources, conducting surveys with faculty regarding which portions of the collection are viewed as most useful. In this, we engage faculty and staff in our collection development. Updates may need to be made to the policy itself to address acknowledged weaknesses. We continue this process throughout the library collection. We conduct a cost-benefit analysis of materials. Can we afford the databases that we are currently subscribed to, and if not, which ones are we not using? Are there resources that we definitely need that we do not currently have? We proceed section by section throughout the collection, conducting our analysis with all due speed and with an eye on which elements are becoming obsolete, We consider the long view. Where is the library headed? The college? The community? Are there trends that will affect our students? And from this analysis, we develop seven goals for the next three years.
Note:The following lists a Faculty Commons and an Information Commons webpage. A Faculty Commons webpage is a great tool for organizing information for faculty members, such as meeting notes, deadlines, campus events, the faculty handbook, research aids and so much more. An Information Commons webpage is simply a site dedicated to information related to the research efforts of students, faculty, and staff. It is a great way of sharing information amongst colleagues within the college, but also with others in related areas, such as the region, type of institution, and so forth. It allows faculty to easily view one another's research and endeavors, and gives individuals an incentive to bring about their own inputs into this research space. It can also list events around campus or the outer community, provides a calendar of events, allows faculty to share their experiences at conferences or in their classroom, and gives them the ability to invite others to join their classes, research, or other initiatives.
Library Goals
Goal 1: Better visibility within the campus and community Goal 2: More efficient methods of interactions with patrons and library staff Goal 3: Stronger online presence and offerings Goal 4: More tutorials for library usage and research Goal 5: Develop faculty and staff relations to better meet the needs of all campus users Goal 6: Improve Collection Development Policy to meet the needs of users Goal 7: Improve usability of library and website
And from these goals, we develop a three year plan to address all seven goals. We break down the goals into areas of engagement: internal, mentorship, technology, marketing, collection development, and faculty relations. These general areas address the seven goals. For example, we become more efficient and visible within the community if we develop a strong mentorship of library staff.
Year 1
Internal Affairs:
Update, review, or conduct SWOT Analysis
Incorporate analysis with measurable goals
Review surveys and other data collected by the library to foresee trends and needs, conduct new surveys as necessary in order to determine which of the following are the most beneficial to campus community
Review layout of facility
a. Possible informal Reference area b. Possible print station c. Possible Lending Library (part of book drive) d. Possible art or classroom project display spaces e. Possible portable dry erase boards for group work
Mentorship of Library Staff: 5. Discuss strengths, self-perceived weaknesses, and goals of each individual 6.Build work structure to tap strengths, strengthen weaknesses, and assist in reaching goals
Technology: 7. Survey social media sites and set up appropriate ones a. Survey users for sites utilized b. Build sites (connected to one another) c. Link to website d. Tie to Library Resources e. Offer prizes and contests i. Users post pictures of themselves using Library ii. Community and Business leaders provide prizes to offer 8. Rebuild Library website a. Link to Library and other sites b. Link to online learning sites c. Have faculty input and creation 9. Update website as needed a. Investigate and possibly purchase LibGuides b. Build Subject Guides with Faculty input c. Scrolling Banner with hyperlinks to Event pages and Resources that is placed below or the right of Search Box d. New Buttons for “Need Help” (tutorials) etc. e. Build tutorials (text first, then with videos once the website is updated) f. Move Databases to separate webpage (with tutorial buttons)
Marketing: 10. Make contact with the local paper in order to build relationship for future publicity 11. Possible weekly column for information literacy 12. Weekly Library Blog a. On Library website b. Guest bloggers c. Reviews resources, instructions 13. Monthly Library Newsletter a. Link to Library website b. Builds on Library Blog topics c. Archive blog and newsletter for later searchability
Collection Development: 14, Evaluate, update, or create Collection Development Policy, considering: a. Survey of students, staff, and faculty’s needs and perceived weaknesses of the learning commons b. Utilize SWOT Analysis results c. Faculty input into their particular areas of expertise 15. Build collection in reference to two more prominent departments with faculty input
Building Staff and Faculty Relationships: 16. Contact faculty regarding: a. What they see as strengths, weaknesses, and needs of the Library b. Information on Library Instruction classes i. Place tutorials online ii. Make videos (Spring) c. Information on LibGuides i.Create Guides for departments most likely to utilize d. Be invited to Departmental meetings to demonstrate 17. Introduction of events, classes, groups (particularly in Spring) a. Reality Check (investigates authority, currency, relevance and accuracy of media) group with English, Mass Communication, and Criminal Justice faculty b. Poetry and Spooky Story Contest with English faculty i. Judges from Community Leaders ii. Invite High School English teachers and their students in separate category 18. Offer meeting room to groups such as Veterans a. Develop relationship with business and community leaders to assist in various groups 19. Invite student groups to assist or organize Learning Commons events (such as “café”, meet and greet events, etc. 20. Invite departments or groups to display in the Learning Commons, such as Art exhibits, Business Plan displays, etc. 21. Coordinate with faculty to make classes “bonus” or for credit requirements 22. Coordinate with the help of registration to plan events at the most likely times for target audience 23. Possible Story time for faculty, staff, and student families (possibly an hour before we open on the weekend) a. Have Educational groups conduct story reading to build their own resume and skills
Year 2
Review SWOT Analysis
Email faculty at beginning of Fall semester with Learning Commons information
Send out flyers several weeks into semester with reminder
Increase to weekly classes taught by staff and faculty guest lecturers for students
Monthly classes taught by staff and guest lecturers for faculty
Complete website upgrade
Complete tutorials on website
Make video tutorials
Continuation of events, groups, and classes from Year 1, adding more as necessary
If interest is shown, build Faculty Commons online
Year 3
Review SWOT Analysis
Email faculty at beginning of Fall semester with Learning Commons information
Send out flyers several weeks into semester with reminder
Continue weekly classes taught by staff and faculty guest lecturers for students
Monthly classes taught by staff and guest lecturers for faculty
Review websites
Complete additional tutorials on website
Make more video tutorials
Continuation of events, groups, and classes from Year 1, adding more as necessary
If interest is shown, build Information Commons online for wider community (other colleges in CIC for example)
Want more ideas? If you're keen on strategic planning, you may also want to check out my views on Organizing a library, or my Experience running a farm as it relates to running a library.