Almost three months ago I Posted “21st Century Library Strategic Plan – Goals and Objectives”. It has become the most viewed Post on this Blog. That’s both awesome and bewildering.
It is awesome because a Strategic Plan is SO important to becoming a good library, but it is CRITICAL to becoming a 21st Century Library. (I probably don’t have to tell you why, but it will make a better Post.)
Becoming a 21st Century Library is venturing into totally unknown territory because there are so many unknown and unfamiliar factors and influences involved. Although these factors and influences are changing rapidly, attempting to accomplish the necessary Goals and Objectives of a 21st Century Library WITHOUT a Strategic Plan is unimaginable. Where would you begin? What Activities would you select to receive those critically limited resources, or would you just allow staff to randomly “do their own thing”? How will you know when you’ve achieved ANY Goals or Objectives?
OK, I could go on and on about the value of a Strategic Plan, but many of you have been reading (and maybe re-reading) that Strategic Plan series from August, because Goals and Objectives, followed by Forecast, followed by Mission Statement are the Top Three most viewed Posts overall by a noticeable margin.
So, why bewildering. That so many readers are drawn to “21st Century Library Strategic Plan – Goals and Objectives” is bewildering because I thought Strategic Plan was a tired old library standard that surely everybody was familiar with. Surely! Well, maybe not so familiar when it comes to a Strategic Plan to guide a library toward becoming a 21st Century Library.
When I embarked on that Strategic Plan series I had no idea it might become such a popular topic. I assumed it was almost filling space until something more exciting came along, like eBooks vs. pBooks, or gadget technology. Even though I am passionate about the topic, I didn’t expect anyone else would be too interested.
I’m pleased that you are, and I would gladly entertain more discussion on the topic of Strategic Planning for the 21st Century Library.
