Long Range Planning Assistance
for Public Libraries
The NMRLS long-range planning program
follows the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners requirements
for long-range plans and we have adapted elements from the Public
Library Association's Planning For Results community-based planning
process.for Public Libraries
Our meeting process involves your library’s planning committee that is formed by the Library Director. We provide facilitators for two structured meetings with your planning committee. We recommend that the two meetings be held within four weeks of each other. The whole planning process can take from four to six months.
The first two meetings feature team-building exercises: examining the library’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats; and brain-storming future visions for your community. By the end of the second meeting, the committee will have drafted initial goals for the long-range plan based on the previous brain-storming sessions.
The planning process also includes a community survey conducted by the library during this timeframe. NMRLS can maintain and compile an online version of your community survey hosted on our web server. The survey is another way to gather input from the community and complements the work that the committee does. The long-range plan will have input from a number of avenues: the planning committee, the community survey, the library staff and the library Trustees.
For further information Library Directors
should contact NMRLS Consultant Scott Kehoe:
scott@nmrls.org
/ 1-888-326-7772x16
DOWNLOADS:
Outline of NMRLS
planning meeting
process
Process Overview
S.W.O.T. - Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats.
Community Vision Statements.
Setting Goals.
Sample Long-Range Plans & Community Surveys:
Information from the MBLC on Long-Range
Plans requirements:
Updated: SK, 12/10/09