ACRL News Issue (B) of College & Research Libraries


584 /C&RL News

ACRL Strategic Plan

Support ACRL’s plan with 
your activities

T his is a time of great opportunity and chal­lenge for librarians, mediated by changes 
in the nature of access to information. Never 
before have librarians and libraries been per­
ceived as being so central to the teaching and 
learning process. To position ACRL and em­
power academic librarians for the 21st century, 
the ACRL Strategic Plan was adopted by the 
ACRL Board of Directors in 1995 following ex­
tensive input and comments from the mem­
bership.

The Strategic Plan is a dynamic document 
that provides a framework for the division’s 
decision-making. Because ACRL operates within 
the rapidly evolving higher education and aca­
demic library environments, it is important that 
the Strategic Plan enable us to respond posi­
tively and quickly, and in order to do so we 
will need to change it periodically.

The strategic directions outlined in the plan 
will be reviewed for changes on an annual basis. 
ACRL members are encouraged to bring their 
recommendations for changes in writing to the 
Board at the Midwinter Meeting or the spring 
Executive Committee meeting. The Board of 
Directors will consider recommended changes 
at the annual conference that follows those 
meetings.

During the 1996 ALA Annual Conference in 
New York the Board of Directors approved one 
change to the Strategic Plan. Under Goal 1, a 
new strategic direction (#1.5) was added upon 
recommendation from the Publications Com­
mittee.

I urge you to read the plan and help your 
unit focus its activities on one or more of the 
four goals.— William Miller, ACRL President

M is s io n
The Association of College and Research Li­
braries (ACRL) provides leadership for devel­
opment, promotion, and improvement of aca­

demic and research library resources and ser­
vices to facilitate learning, research, and the 
scholarly communication process.

ACRL promotes the highest level of profes­
sional excellence for librarians and library per­
sonnel in order to serve the users of academic 
and research libraries.

V is io n
Together, ACRL members will strengthen the 
ability of academic and research librarians and 
other library personnel to provide superior ser­
vices and resources for their communities; and 
will prepare academic and research librarians 
to play increasingly significant roles in higher 
education. ACRL will provide leadership in 
shaping education, information, and scholarly 
communication policy. It will achieve this 
through partnerships with higher education and 
information technology organizations, national 
forums, and through the legislative process. 
ACRL will recruit and foster the retention of 
highly qualified and talented librarians who 
reflect the diversity found in American society. 
ACRL will develop standards for professional 
preparation and promote continuous learning 
for academic and research librarians and other 
library personnel.

G o a ls
1. Provide development opportunities for 
academic and research librarians and other 
library personnel that enhance their abil­
ity to deliver superior services and re­
sources.
Strategic Directions:

1.1 ACRL will support activities which pro­
vide opportunities for academic and research 
librarians and library personnel to discuss and 
share ideas, knowledge, research, experiences, 
and expertise.

1.2 ACRL will support recruitment efforts 
to bring into the profession those individuals 
who will enrich the diversity of the profession.

1.3 ACRL will provide national program­
ming at the regional level to support continu­
ing education needs.



October 1996/585

1.4 ACRL will continue to seek ways to in­
crease membership participation in its activities.

1.5 ACRL will promote study, research, and 
publications relevant to academic and research 
librarianship.

2. Collaborate with other professional or­
ganizations and associations o f higher edu­
cation in order to promote mutual inter­
ests.
Strategic Directions:

2.1 ACRL will participate in activities of, and 
seek cooperative relationships with, higher edu­
cation associations.

2.2 ACRL will seek cooperative relation­
ships with other information-related associa­
tions to develop cooperative initiatives to en­
hance and expand the library’s role as central 
to academic endeavors.

2.3 ACRL will strengthen its relationship 
with the Association o f Research Libraries.

2.4 ACRL will work with higher education 
and scholarly associations to protect access to 
intellectual property in an electronic environ­
ment.

3. Maintain at the national level a promi­
nent role in planning and decision mak­
ing for influencing information policy.
Strategic Directions:

3.1 ACRL will provide financial support for 
the ALA Goal 2000 technology initiative and 
legislative agenda to insure that the items of 
concern to academic librarians receive prompt 
attention.

3.2 ACRL will support the ALA Washing­
ton Office in responding to issues affecting aca­
demic libraries and higher education.

3.3 ACRL will use an effective communi­
cation mix to promote an understanding of the 
value and contributions o f academic/research 
librarians and libraries to higher education and 
society in general.

3.4 ACRL will participate in activities of 
higher education and other organizations to 
inform these groups o f the value o f library 
resources and services and the library’s role 
in the teaching/learning and scholarly pro­
cess.

4. Ensure that ACRL’s operating environ­
ment provides efficiency in its use o f re­
sources and effectiveness in the delivery 
o f services to its members and constituent 
units.

Strategic Directions:
4.1 The ACRL Board of Directors will take 

responsibility for planning in order to provide 
organizational direction.

4.2 ACRL will develop and maintain an in­
tegrated dynamic management system and pro­
cess that include: a strategic plan, a financial 
plan, and product-line marketing or business 
plans.

4.3 Members o f the ACRL Board o f Di­
rectors will act with the mission, vision, and 
goals o f the association in mind, and ensure 
that issues and ideas are examined and dis­
cussed openly and thoroughly with the mem­
bership.

4.4 ACRL will examine and modify as ap­
propriate its current structural arrangements to 
enhance its influence on information policy 
setting and legislation through better coordina­
tion o f national and state efforts.

4.5 ACRL will review and revise its bylaws 
to reflect the roles of the Board o f Directors 
and all ACRL units.

4.6 ACRL will keep informed of current 
association management practices and appro­
priate technologies to ensure that it operates at 
an optimum level o f efficiency. ■