Strategic Planning For Academic Libraries

In this refreshing new volume, strategic planning of budget management is looked at with a broad, positive perspective. Whether because of cuts in funding, enrollment decline, or academic cutbacks, the necessity for strategic planning in a university comes out of unfavorable circumstances. The chapters cover the planning process from start to finish, with an emphasis on a final goal of bringing the library’s status from one of an economic competitor to a deserving equal in the eyes of the academic community. The development of programs and long--term goals for various programs with realistic results in mind are stressed in this timely book. Strategic planning can be an effective managing tool in the midst of uncertainty and constant change. Cooperation, collaboration, and communication are all essentials for reaching this goal, and the authors of the 13 chapters describe in detail past instances in which these were successful. Readers will find that several major themes tie the diverse chapters of this book together, such as becoming successful in applying for limited institutional resources; giving the library’s goals a more prominent position among the members of the campus administration; and using the planning exercise to help the members of the academic community better understand the administrative decision-making process. Written by college and university presidents, campus planners, and librarians, this book clearly outlines the methods and benefits of strategic planning and provides an encouraging picture of what can be achieved when the process is used.

"Strategic Planning in College Libraries provides detailed information on the strategic planning process in college libraries. The book incorporates sample plans from 25 academic libraries, ranging from one-page strategic plans to documents offering more than 20 pages of detailed goals, objectives, action plans, timelines and assessment measures. Dubicki's work is an indispensable resource for community college, college and university libraries engaged in the strategic planning process, as well as a pedagogical tool for library and information schools."--From publisher description.

Taking a staff-led approach, this book helps libraries of all types create their own meaningful and authentic strategic plans while demystifying a process that can bring many benefits to the organization. With dwindling budgets to pay for consultants and a growing interest in collaboration across the organization, libraries are increasingly taking a do-it-yourself approach to strategic planning. This book takes a step-by-step approach to grassroots strategic planning for libraries of all types. The authors, who led a successful strategic planning process at their own library, provide practical advice and detailed information to guide library personnel through their own process. Topics include aligning with institutional and community values, creating vision and mission statements, researching stakeholder needs, conducting environmental scans, collaborative drafting of the plan, communication strategies, and implementation and assessment of the plan. Each chapter helps librarians create a strategic plan for a broad spectrum of libraries, including K–12, post-secondary, public, and special libraries. A unique feature of the book is its emphasis on the ways in which different library types can collaborate to meet shared goals. This book is a one-stop-shop, providing everything library staff will need to create a strategic plan without searching for additional sources.

This professional reference for academic librarians provides detailed guidance for the strategic management of academic libraries. While strategic planning is important, this volume recognizes that even the best plans must confront the reality of implementation of services and facilities within the library on a daily basis. This book offers solutions to immediate operational problems within the academic library and treats strategic planning as but one component of overall strategic management. The first part of the work overviews definitions and discusses the issues and objectives central to strategic library management. The second part contains chapters on the academic and external contexts within which the library functions, and looks at the impact of those contexts on the strategic management plan. The third part provides detailed information on technical tools and procedures by which strategic management can be accomplished.

Strategic Human Resources Planning for Academic Libraries: Information, Technology and Organization provides an in-depth discussion of human resources as a strategic element of a library organization, especially as staffing needs and competencies change. The book focuses on the impact of human resource practices in a library setting, discussing several aspects, including the role of human resources when the library is part of a larger organization, along with information on how to identify strategic objectives that are expected and related to workforce issues. In addition, the book reviews hiring practices, reorganizations of staff, use of temps or time-limited positions, and how students, volunteers, and internships can make a strategic difference overall. Chapters address competencies across different levels of employment within different library types and consider how those competencies are changing Presents how leadership and library leaders must utilize human resources as a valuable tool for developing a strong and healthy organization Addresses human resource tools, such as job tasks analysis and the creation of equitable payroll structures Demonstrate the use and benefit of multiple employee statuses that provide flexibility and resourcefulness to end users