NMRLS is happy to offer its Public Library members our assistance with their long range planning needs. Our 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.

Our three-meeting process involves your library’s planning committee which is formed by the Library Director. We provide a series of three structured meetings with your planning committee.  We recommend that the three meetings be spread over a timeframe of at least four months. Depending on your library’s needs, the process can be shortened to a minimum of two meetings, or to any suitable timeframe.

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 at our web server). The compiled results of your survey will be examined and discussed at the third meeting. 

For further information Library Directors should contact  NMRLS Consultant Scott Kehoe (scott@nmrls.org / 1-888-326-7772).

DOWNLOADS: