Author:
Emily Zorea
Subject:
Library and Information Science
Material Type:
Teaching/Learning Strategy
Level:
College / Upper Division
Tags:
License:
Public Domain Dedication
Language:
English

Creating a Library Plan: 3 Lessons I Wish I Had Known

Overview

Creating a library plan can be daunting. In this brief blog post, I share three lessons I wish I had known when I began to create our school's library plan. 

Hello library colleagues, 

If you are like me, creating a library plan is very intimidating. We see all the wedges in the "Future Librarian Framework'' and we often are not sure where to start. We want our plans to be relevant, useful, and directive, but how to get there can be a challenge when our phone is ringing, emails keep coming, a class is due in 5 minutes, and we are not sure where our read-aloud went. 

Over this past year, I have been thankful to work with amazing colleagues as they write, and seek approval, for their district library plans. Here are some of the most important lessons I have learned on this journey that I wish I had know when I began: 

1. You do not have to have a goal for every wedge. 

This must be a librarian attribute. We see all the possibilities, and we want or feel we need to have a goal for each one. You can do that (I did). But, think about how your plan can actually be the most useful. Hopefully, you do not have to do major work in all of the areas of the framework. Some are probably looking really strong in your library program right now. Celebrate that! In your plan, choose maybe three wedges where you want to see growth. Write a SMART goal for those three wedges. If you feel you need to have something for every area, write a goal that augments work you are already doing that is working well. Nothing big or huge changes, just show how you are building on those areas of strength. This is also a great way to advocate for your program and show the work you are already doing, but which may be going unrecognized. 

2. Align your plan to your district's plan. 

All of our districts have a vision of where they want to be. Some of our districts have strategic plans, some do not. Pay attention to the priorities of your administration and school board. What are they working on? Write your goals to show how your library plan supports that work. Is technology training for staff a huge need? Write your goal so that it shows the work you are already doing (for example, helping staff who stop into the library with technology questions) and work you hope to begin to take this even further (for example, creating technology how-to videos to answer commonly asked staff technology questions). By showing how our library is responsive and has plans to solve challenges, we are making our library programs visible to stakeholders who may be relying on our work, without knowing that this work is being done in the library and with library staff. 

3. Plan to present the work your plan is guiding to your school board every year, and update your plan every 3 years. 

Quick presentations can have a very huge impact, especially if they are regularly scheduled annually. This is your opportunity to update your administration and school board on how your plan has guided your work in the library. By keeping your plan for three years, you allow yourself to grow in your goals. After three years, the priorities and needs in your district will have shifted, so it is time to go back to the drawing board and develop new goals to address the challenges you see in your district, which align with your administration’s new priorities. This keeps your plan fresh, and your key stakeholders aware of what you are doing. 

I wish you all the best as you work to create, revise, or bring your plans to life. 

Take care, 

Emily :)