ACRL News Issue (B) of College & Research Libraries June 1995/401 ACRL strategic p lan : Final draft A new mission and vision f o r ACRL T he decision to develop a new strategic planmade by the Association o f College and Research Libraries Board of Directors at the 1994 ALA Annual Conference, was based on a num ber of factors, but it was primarily initiated be cause o f an awareness o f the rapid rate o change that was impacting ACRL and membe needs, and the fact that the existing plan did not provide the mechanism for the association to respond. The Board o f Directors felt that plannin would: • create a clear understanding o f reason why the Association o f College and Research Libraries (ACRL) should continue to exist; • enable ACRL to more effectively recog nize its role as the future evolves; • maximize ACRL’s ability to shape, rather than be shaped by, the external environment; • provide for maximum co­ ordination o f ACRL programs, benefits, and services with higher education and information-related organizations; • provide for increased ac­ countability for results. The existing ACRL strategic plan was approved by the Board o f Directors in 1986 and became effective with the 1987 association program year. The plan was moni­ tored by the Planning Committee and recommendations were made to the Board o f Directors. ACRL units identified programs that sup­ ported the plan, completed action inventory forms annually detail­ ing results, and submitted the forms to the Planning Committee. The units’ summaries o f results were used to form the basis o f the ACRL Operating Plan and the Annual Report. The 1986 ACRL Strategic Plan remained in effect through 1994 when the Board o f , Directors voted to suspend the plan and, at its meeting on June 28, 1994, established a Strategic Planning Committee. The Board ­ decided that because o f the rapid rate o f ­ change, the plan should cover a three- to f five-year period. r The 1994 Strategic Planning Committee met in a two-day session, September 23– 24, 1994, in two two-hour sessions during the 1995 ALA Midwinter Meeting, and a two-hour session at g the close o f the ACRL National Conference in Pittsburgh. A listserv, ACRLPlan, was estab­ s lished to facilitate the work o f the commit­ tee. The meetings and listserv provided op­ portunities for the com m ittee to review ­ information and data and to develop the plan presented here. Strategic Planning Committee The members of the Strategic Planning Committee were from the Planning Committee and the Board of Directors. The members of the Planning Committee were representative of nearly every con­ stituency within ACRL's membership: community and junior col­ lege libraries, college libraries, and university libraries. The members of the Board of Directors included the three officers: president, vice-president, and past-president, two members-at- large, and the executive director. A majority of the committee members attended all meetings of the committee and participated in discussions over the Inter­ net. 1994 Strategic Planning Committee: Charles Forrest, E m o ry U n iv e r s ity ; Patricia Breivik, W a y n e S ta te U n iv e r s ity ; Charlotte Hess, I n d ia n a U n iv e r s ity ; Sandra Ready, M a n k a to S ta te U n iv e r­ s ity ; Kristine Brancolini, I n d ia n a U n iv e r s ity ; Douglas Lehman, M ia m i- D a d e C o m m u n ity C o lle g e ; Keith Russell, N a t io n a l A g r i ­ c u lt u r a l L ib r a r y ; Carla Stoffle, U n iv e r s ity o f A r iz o n a ; Frances Maloy, E m o ry U n iv e r s ity ; Thomas Kirk, E a rlh a m C o lle g e ; Robert Marks Ridinger, N o r t h e r n I ll in o i s U n iv e r s it y ; Susan Martin, G e o r g e to w n U n iv e r s ity ; Mary Reichel, A p p a la c h ia n S ta te U n i­ v e r s it y ; V irginia O'Herron, O l d D o m in io n U n iv e r s it y ; David Walch, C a lif o r n ia P o ly te c h n ic S ta te U n iv e r s ity ; Althea H. Jen­ kins, A C R L E x e cu tive D ir e c to r ; Facilitator: Maureen Sullivan. 402/C&RL News Th e p la n n in g p ro c e ss The Strategic Planning Committee began it work by reviewing and discussing foundatio data: 1993 membership survey results, externa and internal environmental scan, and informa tion from Board/Leadership planning session that included strengths and weaknesses; val ues; assumptions; and critical issues. Also in cluded was a discussion o f the association’ organizational structure. In preparation for its discussions and devel opment o f a mission statement, the committe identified strategic areas. This exercise insure that no major areas vital to the future o f th association were overlooked. The mission state ment was the first element o f the plan to be developed. Because o f its extreme importance to the entire planning process, considerable tim and effort was expended in both developing and reviewing the mission statement. As the planning process proceeded, each objective and strategy was checked against th mission statement to be sure it fell within it scope. The Strategic Planning Committee clarified the vision that would provide the impetus for the entire planning process. The committee used the vision to address the opportunities i saw for ACRL. The next step in the planning process was the development of goals. The committee re viewed foundation data: environmental scan, strengths and weaknesses, issues, opportuni ties, and survey results in order to begin the goals-development process. The committee identified four goals which were responsive to changes in academic librarianship and ACRL. The committee agreed to develop strategic directions, rather than objectives, for each goal. Share your lib ra ry ’s new s C&RL News wants to hear about your library’s activities. Information in the News from the Field, Grants & Acquisitions, and People in the News columns is gathered from press releases and notices we receive. If you don’t share your ideas and activities with us we can’t share them with C&RL News readers. Be sure to put C&RL News on your mailing list today. Send notices to the Editor, C&RL News, 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611; or e-mail: mary.ellen.davis@ala.org. s n l ­ s ­ ­ s ­ e d e ­ e e s t ­ ­ Strategic directions were reviewed by the com­ mittee as being results-oriented, measurable, relatively short-term, and easily linked to op­ erational programs. Strategic directions were developed for each of the goals. R e v ie w / d r a f t in g p ro c e ss After the committee’s September 23– 24, 1995, meeting, a draft was made for the ACRL Execu­ tive Committee for review and comment. Their comments and suggestions were discussed by the committee and, where appropriate, incor­ porated into the plan. A second draft of the mission statement, vision statement, and goals was sent to all invitees to the ACRL Midwinter Board/Leadership Planning Session. Appropri­ ate comments and suggestions were incorpo­ rated into a third draft of the plan and formed the basis o f the committee’s discussion in Pitts­ burgh. The draft was reviewed by the committee and put into the final draft form for the ACRL Executive Committee review at its spring meet­ ing, April 21– 22, 1995. ACRL members have an opportunity to comment on the plan during the ACRL Planning Session at the ALA Annual Conference, June 23, 3:00– 5:00 p.m. The Strategic Plan which follows this de­ scription o f the planning process represents an immeasurable amount o f time by each com­ mittee member in thought, meetings, and prepa­ ration for committee meetings. M issio n The Association o f College and Research Li­ braries (ACRL) provides leadership for devel­ opment, promotion, and improvement o f aca­ demic and research library resources and services 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 best serve the users o f aca­ demic and research libraries. V isio 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 mailto:mary.ellen.davis@ala.org June 1995/403 through partnerships with higher education and information technology organizations, national forums, and through the legislative process. ACRL will recruit and help to retain highly quali­ fied and talented librarians who reflect the di­ versity found in American society. ACRL will develop standards for professional preparation and promote continuous learning for academic and research librarians and other library per­ sonnel. G o a ls 1. Provide development opportunities for academic and research librarians and other library personnel. Strategic directions 1.1 ACRL w ill support activities which strengthen formal and informal networking opportunities for academic and research li­ brarians and library personnel to discuss and share ideas, knowledge, experiences, and ex­ pertise. 1.2 ACRL will support recruitment efforts to bring into the profession those individuals who will enrich the diversity o f the profession. 1.3 ACRL will develop and implement an ongoing mechanism for providing national pro­ gramming regionally to support continuing education needs. 1.4 ACRL will continue to seek ways to in­ crease membership participation in its activities. 2. Maintain at the national level a prom i­ nent role in planning and decision­ m aking for influencing information policy. Strategic directions 2.1 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. 2.2 ACRL will support the ALA Washington Office in responding to issues affecting aca­ demic libraries and higher education. 2.3 ACRL will use an effective communica­ tion mix to promote an understanding o f the value and contributions o f academic/research librarians and libraries to higher education and society in general. 2.4 ACRL will participate in activities o f higher education and other organizations to inform these groups o f the value o f library re­ sources and services and the library’s role in the teaching/learning and scholarly process. Planning roles for ACRL Board o f Directors • Sets overall direction and communi­ cates that direction to the associa­ tion; • assures alignment o f overall and unit planning; • identifies continuing and current priorities; • establishes procedures to facilitate units’ response to the strategic plan; • evaluates and updates strategic plan; • revises mission, vision, goals, strate­ gic directions, and priorities. President and Vice-President/President- Elect • Defines activities in support o f ACRL strategic directions; • with Executive Director, guides Board interpretation of plan in rela­ tion to programs. Executive Director • Develops environmental scan; a interprets plan to membership and general public; • completes annual report of ACRL and units accomplishments in rela­ tion to strategic directions; • assists President and Board with development of implementation plan; • sets schedule and sequence for evaluation and review o f plan. Units • Within the ACRL Strategic Plan, identify unit priorities that support goals and strategic directions; • develop activities that support unit priorities; • complete annual report of unit accomplishments in relation to strategic directions; • contribute to overall ACRL strategic planning process. (Plan cont. on page 412) 404 / C&RL News 4 1 2 /C&RL News pertise. If you d o n o t believe y ou have som e­ thing to offer, h o w can you ex p ect others to believe you do? Librarians w h o have academ ic adm inistra­ tors w h o are unsym pathetic to o r uninform ed a b o u t libraries have a special challenge. They should ask the administrators h o w they acquired their view s o f th e library, identify these adm in­ istrators’ interests, a n d b e suppo rtive o f their projects. P erhaps th e adm inistrators w o u ld find ap p ro p riate inform ation sum m aries helpful. Li­ brarians m ay w an t to involve these adm inistra­ tors in libraries; invite th em to selected m eet­ in g s a n d c r e a t e s i tu a t io n s th a t s p a r k th e i r interests a n d require their participation. In such an environm ent, th e ed u catio n an d cultivation o f several groups m ay b e essential. Some li­ brarians use inform ation forum s for peo p le w ith v ested interests in th e library as a w ay o f e d u ­ cating th em an d establishing a com m onality. Besides accreditation standards, th e assessm ent m ovem ent provides librarians w ith e n h an ced opportunities to b e involved w ith an d d o cu ­ m en t their contributions to stu d en ts’ education. T here has alw ays b e e n a shortage o f cre­ ative leaders a n d m anagers w ithin higher ed u ­ cation. T he n e e d for th em is grow ing m ore acute. C am pus leadership roles will b e filled w ith or w ithout librarians. Librarians m ust m ake th e investm ent a n d p osition th em selves an d their expertise. D o not w ait to b e asked. Li­ b rarians m ust lead by ex am p le a n d d ev elo p th e leadership skills o f o th er librarians. Id en ­ tify potential leaders an d b eg in w ith a small project. Be supportive as they build confidence. P artner th ese individuals w ith others w h o are m ore experienced. M entor them an d collabo­ rate w ith th em o n professional activities. W ork w ith s u p p o rt staffs to h e lp th em u n d erstan d th e changing dynam ics. A p oint in favor o f potential cam pus leaders is that organizations draw m ost o f their leaders from within their ranks. Colleges are m ore com ­ fortable w ith p e o p le they k n o w an d respect. O utsiders are u n k n o w n quantities a n d can be m ore o f a risk th an som e colleges are p rep ared to take. Librarians are en co u rag ed to take th e initia­ tive an d develop as cam pus leaders. While there are risks, it is n o t only a g o o d personal e x p eri­ ence, b u t is also g o o d for the library an d the cam pus. (Plan cont.from page 403) 3. C o llabo rate w ith o th e r p ro fe ss io n a l o r ­ ganizations and asso ciatio n s o f h ig h e r ed u cation in o rd e r to p ro m o te m utual in te rests. Strategic directions: 3.1 ACRL will participate in activities of, an d seek cooperative relationships with, higher ed u ­ cation associations such as AACU, AACC, AAHE, ACE, AASCU, AAU, NAICU, a n d NASULGC. 3.2 ACRL will seek cooperative relationships w ith CNI, CAUSE, EDUCOM, AECT, ASIS, and o th er inform ation-related associations to d e ­ velop cooperative initiatives to en h a n c e an d ex p a n d th e library’s role as central to academ ic endeavors. 3.3 ACRL will strengthen its relationship w ith ARL. 3.4 ACRL will w ork w ith h igher education an d scholarly associations to protect access to intellectual property in electronic environm ents. 4. E n su re th a t ACRL’s o p eratin g e n v iro n ­ m e n t provides e fficie n cy in its use o f re so u rce s and effe ctiv e n ess in th e d eliv­ e ry o f serv ices to its m em b ers and c o n ­ stitu en t un its. Strategic directions: 4.1 The ACRL B oard o f Directors will take responsibility for plan n in g in o rd e r to provide organizational direction. 4.2 ACRL will d ev elo p a n d m aintain a n inte­ grated dynam ic m an ag e m en t system an d p ro ­ cess that include: a strategic plan, a financial plan, an d product-line m arketing o r business plans. 4.3 M em bers o f th e ACRL B oard o f D irec­ tors will act w ith the m ission, vision, a n d goals o f the association in m ind, an d se e that issues a n d ideas are exam ined a n d discussed openly an d thoroughly w ith the m em bership. 4.4 ACRL will exam ine an d m odify as a p ­ propriate its current structural arrangem ents to e n h a n c e its influence o n inform ation policy setting a n d legislation th ro u g h b etter co o rd in a­ tion o f national an d state efforts. 4.5 ACRL will review an d revise its bylaw s to reflect the roles o f th e B oard o f Directors an d all ACRL units. 4.6 ACRL will k e e p inform ed o f current as­ sociation m an ag em en t practices a n d a p p ro p ri­ ate technologies to en su re th at it o p erates at an optim um level o f efficiency.