What is Planning

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What is Planning?
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Introduction
What is the use of running if youre not on the
right road?
German Proverb
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Introduction
Every library large or small needs a
strategic plan. It is the blueprint that sets
the direction for where your organization is
going.
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Overview

• Requirements for success
• Elements of plans
• Planning process and what it covers
• Evaluation and output measures
• Types of evaluation

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Lesson Objective
By the end of this lesson you will be able to

• Describe a successful planning process
• List the five phases of planning
• Explain the importance of evaluation, measurement

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What is a Plan?
Common elements in plans are

• Overview of current library status
• Assessment of trends in the community
• SWOT Analysis
• Mission and vision statements
• Strategies and actions

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What is a Plan?
Common elements in plans are

• Rationale for strategies
• Anticipated costs
• Time line and implementation plan
• Guidelines for measurement and evaluation
• Supporting data gathered in planning process
• Acknowledgements

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Strategic Plans

• Confirm and articulate purpose
• Provide decision making
• Establish priorities and measure success
• Signal good management
• Identify efficiencies
• Ensure services are customer driven
• Identify opportunities and problems

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Strategic Initiatives Cover

• Board and staff development/training
• Funding/financial management
• Facilities planning and maintenance
• Collection development
• Program development
• Adult and childrens services

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Strategic Initiatives Cover

• Advocacy and government relations
• Community outreach and partnerships
• Technology planning
• Services to ethnic populations
• Marketing and public relations
• Administration and management

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Successful Planning Process

• Everyone participates
• Board and staff educated about planning
• Board and staff explore new ideas
• Board takes advantages of opportunities
• Necessary resources available

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A Plan Litmus Test
Does it

• Support mission and vision of library?
• Satisfy identified community needs?
• Help market and brand the library?
• Consider library resources?
• Address multiple goals?
• Provide favorable return on investment?

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Five Phases of Planning

• Organize and delegate roles
• Initiate information gathering
• Analyze data, identify goals objectives
• Write the new strategic plan
• Market and disseminate the plan

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Evaluation

• Progress needs to be evaluated
• Objectives determine progress
• Outcomes need to be assessed
• Decide if plan is still valid
• Changes can be made
• Evaluate at least once a year

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Measures for Evaluation

• Inputs
• Outputs
• Outcomes

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Inputs

• Resources used by a program
• Collections, materials, equipment, supplies
• Staff, volunteer time and expertise, community
  partners
• Needs assessment findings
• Facilities, computers, online access
• Constraints - law, regulation, funding

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Outputs Are

• Answer How many? (extensiveness)
• Product volume or evidence of delivery
• Results of inputs and activities
• From staff perspective
• Quantified by neutral observers

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Outcomes Are

• Answer So what? (effectiveness)
• Impact or benefit to end user
• Results of inputs and activities
• From customers perspective
• Often quantified by perceptions
• Measured by professional assessments

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Outcomes Are

• Success stories
• Anticipated and planned for
• Make project expectations explicit
• Assumptions of contributions towards meeting the
  goal

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Other Types

• Measures (circulation, visits, etc)
• Benchmarking
• Customer satisfaction surveys
• Website user surveys
• Evaluation of quality of programs

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Group Exercise
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Resources

• New Planning for Results online course
• www.pla.org/ala/pla/plaevents/elearningpla/elearni
  ngpla.htm
• IMLS Outcome Based Evaluation
• www.imls.gov/grants/current/crnt_log.htm
• A list of books is at the end of this section in
  your toolkit.

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REVIEW

• Element of plans
• How to apply a litmus test
• Evaluation is necessary
• The types of measures needed