Strategic Planning Summer Breeze August 2013

What is a plan? Outlines the steps you will take to achieve an overall goal or vision Grensing-Pophal, L. (2011). The complete idiot’s guide to strategic planning. New York: Penguin.

Why Plan? Direction!

Why Plan? Change is guaranteed

Why Plan? On what are you basing your current decisions?

Why Plan? Get out of the box

Why Plan? Chart your progress

Why Plan? Money and time are finite resources

Thinking beyond your library… The success of your library contributes to the relevance of libraries throughout North Dakota

Define Expectations Make sure everyone is on the same page

Time Doesn’t time spent planning take away from time spent doing?

Timeline How long? How far out?

Goals Goal: the outcome your community will receive because of what the library provides Objective: the way your library will measure progress towards your goal Activity: the strategy or specific actions that the library will carry out to achieve the objectives Himmel, E. & Wilson, W.J. (1998). Planning for results. Chicago, Illinois: American Library Association.

Plan Contents Core Values – Mission statement – Vision statement Performance measures – Goals – Objectives – Activities Grace, K.S., McClellan, A. & Yankey, J.A. (2009). The nonprofit board’s role in mission, planning, and evaluation. Washington, DC : BoardSource.

Steps in the Process Prepare to plan Evaluate current situation Define the target Determine the path Evaluate progress Grensing-Pophal, L. (2011). The complete idiot’s guide to strategic planning. New York: Penguin. Grace, K.S., McClellan, A. & Yankey, J.A. (2009). The nonprofit board’s role in mission, planning, and evaluation. Washington, DC : BoardSource.

Who Should Plan? Library director and staff Library board members Other community members as necessary

Community Committee Members Consider the demographics of committee members: – Gender – Age ranges – Geographic areas – Length of residency – Employment and education – Local government, school district, other area organizations Nelson, S. (2008). Strategic planning for results. Chicago, Illinois: American Library Association.

Committee Member Orientation Welcome letter Names and contact information Planning timeline Information about the library: Hours Staff Budget Collections Services and programs Use statistics: Circulation, registered borrowers, program attendance Nelson, S. (2008). Strategic planning for results. Chicago, Illinois: American Library Association.

Evaluate Your Situation Your mission

Mission Statements Describe the community need that is being met Describe what the library is doing to meet the need Describe for whom the need is being met Himmel, E. & Wilson, W.J. (1998). Planning for results. Chicago, Illinois: American Library Association. Grace, K.S., McClellan, A. & Yankey, J.A. (2009). The nonprofit board’s role in mission, planning, and evaluation. Washington, DC : BoardSource. Grensing-Pophal, L. (2011). The complete idiot’s guide to strategic planning. New York: Penguin.

A successful mission statement… Uses bold, clear, memorable language Conveys the organization’s values Has emotional and rational impact Combines “why” and “what” Uses positive terms Uses active verbs Inspires people to act, give, join, serve, learn more Adaptable for marketing and development Summarizes mission succinctly Grace, K.S., McClellan, A. & Yankey, J.A. (2009). The nonprofit board’s role in mission, planning, and evaluation. Washington, DC : BoardSource.

Sample Missions The function of the Library is to provide the people of its community, from pre-school through maturity, with access to a balanced collection of books and other materials which will serve their educational, cultural and recreational needs.

Sample Missions The mission of the Library District is to facilitate learning and self-education for the community and to encourage young children to develop an ongoing interest in reading and learning.

Sample Missions The City Library is the learning center of our community and the place people turn to for the discovery of ideas, the joy of reading and the power of information.

Sample Missions The mission of the Library is to promote the development of independent, self-confident, and literate citizens through the provision of open access to cultural, intellectual, and informational resources.

Sample Missions The mission of the Library shall be to assure effective, expanding, free library service for the community and to lead citizens in anticipating their future needs for library services.

Sample Missions The mission of the County District Public Library is to design and provide services which will fill the community's need to know, understand, manage and enjoy the world with freedom of thought, thereby improving the quality of life for its residents.

Define the Target Your vision

Vision Statements Describe an ideal future Outline the difference you want to make in the community Himmel, E. & Wilson, W.J. (1998). Planning for results. Chicago, Illinois: American Library Association.

Vision Statements Review community needs Turn each need into a sentence State it positively Use future tense Combine the sentences and refine Himmel, E. & Wilson, W.J. (1998). Planning for results. Chicago, Illinois: American Library Association.

Vision Statements Keep in mind: - Who will be affected - The benefit they will receive - The result of the benefit Himmel, E. & Wilson, W.J. (1998). Planning for results. Chicago, Illinois: American Library Association.

Sample Visions Who Will BenefitBenefit and Result Childrenwill receive the education they need to secure employment that provides a living wage Seniorswill have volunteer opportunities to use their skills and keep them involved in the community Familieswill have programs and services that support strong family values across cultures Nelson, S. (2008). Strategic planning for results. Chicago, Illinois: American Library Association.

Demographics Objective measures that describe the attributes of users in a community Fisher, P.H. & Pride, M.M. (2006). Blueprint for your library marketing plan. Chicago, Illinois: American Library Association.

Community Assessment Population Employment and Income Education Information Sources Community Services

Community Assessment

Population

Employment

Education

Information Sources

Social Service Providers

US Census QuickFacts

US Census QuickFacts

American Fact Finder

American Fact Finder

US Census Population Finder

US Census Population Finder

ND Dept. of Commerce

ND Dept. of Commerce

Bureau of Labor Statistics

Bureau of Labor Statistics

City Data

City Data for North Dakota

City Data for Beach

North Dakota Library Data Contact your Field Services representative for assistance!

Community Needs The gap between ideal condition and reality Himmel, E. & Wilson, W.J. (1998). Planning for results. Chicago, Illinois: American Library Association.

Deciding which needs you can meet Himmel, E. & Wilson, W.J. (1998). Planning for results. Chicago, Illinois: American Library Association.

Deciding which needs you can meet Himmel, E. & Wilson, W.J. (1998). Planning for results. Chicago, Illinois: American Library Association.

Deciding which needs you can meet Himmel, E. & Wilson, W.J. (1998). Planning for results. Chicago, Illinois: American Library Association.

Print Resources Fisher, P.H. & Pride, M.M. (2006). Blueprint for your library marketing plan. Chicago, Illinois: American Library Association. Grace, K.S., McClellan, A. & Yankey, J.A. (2009). The nonprofit board’s role in mission, planning, and evaluation. Washington, DC : BoardSource. Grensing-Pophal, L. (2011). The complete idiot’s guide to strategic planning. New York: Penguin. Himmel, E. & Wilson, W.J. (1998). Planning for results. Chicago, Illinois: American Library Association. Nelson, S. (2008). Strategic planning for results. Chicago, Illinois: American Library Association.

Community Assessment Resources Field Services Community Vision and Assessment Tool Quick Facts American Fact Finder Population Finder ND Department of Commerce Bureau of Labor Statistics City Data