Developing a Vision: Strategic Planning for the School Librarian in the 21st Century

by John D. Crowley

Overview

This text shows teacher librarians how to become leaders in their schools and apply their unique skills and insight to develop a timely and meaningful vision for the school's library.

It can be very difficult to break the habit of addressing time-consuming tasks that are no longer mission critical. Having a vision and plan is the best way to establish a new, more effective pattern. As the education system, technology, and the world continues to evolve, it is paramount for teacher librarians to have a strategic plan to overcome today's challenges… and to be ready for the changes that are sure to come.

This book describes two types of strategic planning for teacher librarians. Each methodology is presented via a sequential approach to the planning process. The first section of the text addresses those who are pressed for time and are lacking some necessary resources. The second section explains the classical approach to strategic planning for teacher librarians.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781591588917
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	03/21/2011
Series:	Libraries Unlimited Professional Guides in School Librarianship
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	176
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.20(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

John D. Crowley is the director of learning resources and information technology for Regional School District #9, Easton/Redding, CT.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgment xi

Part I

1 Why Strategic Planning? 3

2 Planning Team 5

3 Preamble 7

Recognized Strengths 7

Acknowledged Weaknesses 7

Identified Threats 8

Our Commitment to the Continued Need to Support 8

Sample Preamble 8

4 Values Statement 11

Sample Values Statement 11

5 Mission Statement 13

Sample Mission Statement 13

6 Continue-Stop-Start 15

Sample Continue-Stop-Start 16

7 Current Context 19

Sample of Current Context 19

8 Strategic Themes 21

Site Visitations 22

Sample Themes 22

Sample Survey for Site Visitations 23

Debriefing 23

Vision Statement 24

Sample of Vision Statement 26

Critical Success Factors 27

Sample of Critical Success Factors 28

Core Processes 28

Sample of Core Processes 28

Action Plans 29

Developing Action Plans 29

Elements of an Action Plan 31

Resource Requirements/Cost Analysis 35

Communication and Information 35

9 Implementation 37

10 Final Deliberation 39

Initiating the Action Plans 39

Sample Survey 40

11 Other Considerations 43

Annual Goals 43

Sustainability 43

Periodic Updating 45

"Nuts and Bolts" Issues 45

Part II

12 Convening the Planning Team 53

The School Librarian and Leadership 56

Congruence Between Plans 58

13 External Scanning 61

Looking at the "Worlds" 62

The School Librarian as the Eyes and Ears of the Planning Team 69

Assessing the Changing World of Libraries, Information, and Education 70

14 Internal Scanning 73

The School Librarian as Record Keeper and "Snapshot Archivist" 79

The School Library's Report Card 80

15 Organizational Analysis 83

Focus Groups 85

The School Librarian and the Organizational Analysis 88

Looking at the School Library Through the Eyes of Others 89

16 Vision Statement 91

Vision Statement for Joel Barlow High School 93

Statement of Beliefs 98

The Role of the School Librarian in Developing the School's Vision 101

The Vision of the School Library 103

17 The Mission Statement 107

Revision of the Mission Statement 108

Can the Mission Precede the Vision? 109

A Mission of the School Library 109

Critical Assumptions 112

18 Developing Action Plans 115

Action Plan 118

Who Writes Action Plans? 126

The School Librarian and Action Plans 127

19 Setting Priorities 131

Mission and Vision Statement 131

Feasibility 132

Measurable Student Outcomes 132

Who Judges? 133

Final Deliberation 134

20 Action Plans and Budgetary Considerations 137

The Budget and the Library 138

21 Keeping Strategic Planning Dynamic 141

Relationship Among the Parts of the Planning Process 141

The Change Process 142

Professional Development 143

22 Caveats and Serendipity 145

Time 145

Money 145

Support of the Administration 146

Superficial Changes 146

"Implementation Dip" 146

Benefits 147

23 Conclusion 149

The Place of the School Librarian in Strategic Planning 150

Bibliography 151

Index 155