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November 29, 2006

Colorado Libraries Set New Strategic Plan (Pt. 2)

Yesterday’s post drew your attention to an article that appeared in the November 1, 2006 issue of Library Journal highlighted the six strategic priorities that Colorado libraries have targeted to achieve with their five-year plan. Many of these goals are great and worthy but, I also found the priorities they didn’t choose just as interesting.

Coloradans Set New Strategic Plan

By Norman Oder — November 1, 2006

MORE….Not chosen as priorities were statewide digitization and preservation efforts; a new emphasis on library values and ethics; statewide standards for school libraries; models for cooperative services between different library types; library-assisted online learning; school library advocacy; assessment of information and learning needs; minority staff recruitment; focus on sustainable funding; improved understanding of the “Colorado Libraries Collaborate!” program; and cooperative collection development.

Some of these are quite thought provoking and worth further exploration. Since Illinois libraries have a leg up on some of Colorado’s priorities which of these would you choose to focus on?

In Illinois we have Illinois Digital Archives (IDA) and DigitalPast but, there is still so much material that needs to be digitized and preserved. I also think that as we face a changing landscape the profession would be well served by reviewing our values and ethics. However, my first thought was, isn’t that what the American Library Association (ALA) is supposed to do? What aspect did they feel wasn’t being covered?

I also found standards and advocacy for school libraries and assessment of information and learning needs very noble goals. Many hard working souls in Illinois find their positions in school libraries to be tenuous. If you have any doubts about the value of school libraries read the Illinois Study. Maybe we should consider these goals as a priority in Illinois.

Of course diversity and recruiting minorities to the field should be a priority for all of us. It takes solid, practical action on the local level to make these goals a reality. Again, I think we are fortunate because ALA and the have our Illinois Library Association (ILA) backs on this one. The Illinois State Library (ISL) and the Illinois LibrarySystem Directors Organization (ILSDO) have made strong commitments to furthering diversity and are offering programs on the topic.

Highlighting collaboration among various types of libraries and cooperative collection development are also fine objectives but this seems to me more of an issue that librarians would care about and understand and would be a hard sell to the general public.

The one objective I feel they are foolish to overlook and not make a priority is sustainable funding. I think this should be a priority for all of us. To my way of thinking if we can’t assure our existance than what is the point of concentrating on the services. Yes, we all need to focus on getting our taxpayers their information and entertainment needs, however we need to concentrate on keeping libraries and librarians in the equation. How do we insure we add value to every transaction and how can we translate that into capital?

What are your ideas?

posted by Anna at 10:52 am |

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