Planning

Why should we plan?

• To assist us to get from where we are to where we would like to be or should be

Why don’t we plan?

• Planning can be
• Difficult
• Time consuming
• Confusing

You know, we really should plan!

What exactly is planning?

• An analytical process involving:
• Assessment of the future
• Determining desired objectives
• e.g., moving building to have new space, or revamp building
• Developing several courses of action
• Selecting appropriate course(s) of action
• Think ahead to choose the best course of action.

Long range or strategic plan

• Time frames such as:
• 2-year plan
• 5-year plan
• 10-year plan

It’s hard to think in terms of 10 years because of ever changing technology.

Short term plan (operational)

• Open eyes
• Lift head
• Move leg
• Move other leg
• Sit up
• Yawn
• Stretch
• Put on slippers
• Stand up slowly
• Getting through specific tasks with lists of accomplishments 

Two levels of planning

• Departmental or unit level
• Overall plan for entire organization

Steps in strategic planning

• Identify values, assumptions and beliefs
• Conduct an environmental scan
• Do a SWOT or PEST analysis
• Create a vision and mission for the library
• Develop goals and objectives
• Implement the plan
• Evaluate the plan and start again

Values and assumptions

• Value
• Respectful workplace
• Assumption
• Technology will continue to play a significant role on the library as it enters the next millennium

Environmental scan

• Beyond the library
• Analysis
• SWOT
• Internal and external
• Internal
• Strengths
• Weaknesses
• External
• Opportunities
• Threats
• PEST
• Restraints
• Political
• Economical
• Social
• Technological

Visions versus missions

• Vision statement
• Future oriented and almost out of reach
• An ideal
• Mission statement
• Philosophical statement of overall purpose 

Sample plans and mission statements on the web
U of M. http://www.umanitoba.ca/libraries/about/agenda_2004_07.pdf

College Universitie de Saint-Boniface https://web.archive.org/web/20041204150050/http://www.ustboniface.mb.ca/cusb/biblio/page/pageAcceuil/infogeneral/infogene.htm

Vancouver Public Library. Mission, Vision, Values and Goals http://www.vpl.ca/about/details/mission_vision_values

Kildonan East Collegiate https://web.archive.org/web/20041210114230/http://www.kec.retsd.mb.ca/library/index.html

AFM http://afm.mb.ca/about-afm/

Goals and objectives

• Goals
• Broad statements stating how library will achieve its mission
• Time frames are still 3-5 years
• Strategic
• Objectives
• Specific, measurable and time limited actions in support of goals
• Time sensitive

Goals often cover broad areas such as 

• Services
• Collections
• Facilities
• Funding
• Staffing

Samples

• Goal: To provide materials in a variety of formats as identified by public need and use
• Objective: To provide a catalogued book collection of two volumes per capita by the year 2000
• Action: By an increase in the collection of 2% annually
• Objective: To provide an adequate ethnic collection by the year 2000
• Action: By identifying the major language groups by June 1999 and acquiring at least 1,000 volumes annually in those languages
  
  Implementing the plan and evaluation
  
• Set priorities
• Allocate staff/resources
• Establish time frame and when milestones should occur or products/services be developed
• Communicate plan
• Monitor, evaluate, adjust, start all over