School long range planning - a sound strategy

A Sound Strategy - Building Connection and

Relevance

MSLA/MLS Making the Connection

Workshop Series

A bit of historyPlanning is a process, which

determines:Where do you want to go?Where have you been?How will you get “there” from “here”?

Planning allows you to see the forest for the trees!

Explains your programOpens up communication Identifies prioritiesDocuments your progress and processProvides a blueprint for the futureMeets the requirement for LSTA Direct

Grant Funds from the MBLC (if you are a member of the Massachusetts Library System)

CommitteeHow many?Stakeholders – how to selectAdvisory? or Worker bees?Who leads?

AgendasClear and defined

TimelineHow many meetings?How long?

How are you going to invite?

How are you going to communicate?

What are your expectations?

What are their expectations?

What material needs to be sent to the committee in advance of the meeting?

Match the task to the timeframe and committee

Set clear defined goals for each meeting

Include follow up steps

October 1 Plans are dueDecember 1 Action Plans are due December Letters of intent are due January Plans are approved January, February Grant writing workshops March Grants due April, May Grants reviewed July Grant rounds announced October Implementation of grants

Mission statementAssessment of user needsMulti-year goals and objectivesAction planMethodologyApproval of governing boardAnnual updates of Action Plans by

Dec. 1

Consider the mission statement to be your purpose

The mission statement should be concise and state what the learners will become

The statement is your handful of prioritiesThe mission is your business!It is a way of anchoring the work of the

school library to the whole mission of schooling

Community scan

Connect to school's mission -

documents

Surveys

Committee input

Goals are long-range, broad, general statements describing a desired condition or future toward which the library will work

Objectives are short range and describe the results to be achieved

An activity is a set of tasks that accomplish an objective

What has been accomplished

What has changed

What new direction

New budgets

New measures

Use a wiki to:Set your agendasDraft your vision and mission statementsDraft the long range plan

Use a blog to:Update your community on the plan’s

progressInvite comments from the communityKeep the plan alive

By planning 3-5 years out you are looking ahead

You won’t be surprised by new trends and technology because that will be built into your plan

You will be prepared for changeYou will be connected and relevant to your

community!You will in fact lead your community in

change!

Planning template:http://mblc.state.ma.us/grants/lsta/planning/planningschool/schoolTemplate.php

MLS Long Range Planning Resources:http://www.masslibsystem.org/long-range-

planning-resources/

MSLA Long range planning:http://maschoolibraries.org/content/view/156/125/ (includes sample plans)