FY09 Proposed Strategic Initiatives
From LLAMA Wiki
Following is a first draft of the LAMA FY09 strategic initiatives for member review and comment. The commitments listed herein are ALL tentative. Any and all may be modified or deleted, and additions may be proposed. To comment, follow the link at the bottom of each goal area, click the edit tab, and add your ideas. Please post your comments by June 6. All suggestions will be taken under advisement, and a revised document will be prepared for discussion at our ALA Annual Board meetings. We will vote on a final plan at the Tuesday Board meeting, thus allowing sections and committees to discuss the plan face-to-face during conference. Thank you, Bede Mitchell, LAMA President
Contents |
GOAL I – VALUE TO MEMBERS
LAMA will be an organization in which value to its members drives decisions.
Strategy 1: Establish regular environmental monitoring to capture information on trends and issues of importance to members.
Key Actions For Implementing This Strategy
1. Section Executive Committees, Discussion and Interest Group reports highlight emerging trends and issues.
2. Board of Directors members-at-large perform “data mining” of Section, DG/IG reports and other sources for emerging issues and trends within the association.
3.Implement means for members to communicate assessments of LAMA services and programs.
4.Create an Environmental Analysis Committee responsible for conducting ongoing environmental scans. The committee will identify trends and issues affecting librarianship and professional associations, as well as research about effective leadership and management. Information gathered will be shared with membership on LAMA web site. The committee will also represent LAMA in ALA’s new “data dashboard” plan to collect, consolidate and integrate information critical to making strategic decisions. (“50 Ways” proposal)
5.Designate funds and invite member proposals to investigate how LAMA might address trends and issues that would advance the association’s goals and interests. (“50 Ways” proposal)
Strategy 2: Implement innovative and effective communication tools and strategies.
Key Actions For Implementing This Strategy
1. Promote LAMA wiki as a simple online means for facilitating member communication, education, and collaboration. “50 Ways” proposal)
2. Institute listservs dedicated to specific topics related to management, leadership.
3. Re-design the LAMA web site.
Strategy 3: Establish partnerships with targeted organizations to create leadership development and other programs.
Key Actions For Implementing This Strategy
1.Create tactical plan for development (fundraising and grants): review association’s leadership development efforts, identify potential funding sources and develop and implement plan for solicitations.
2. Investigate online communities such as Webjunction to determine whether partnerships would contribute to LAMA membership services. (“50 Ways” proposal)
Add Your Comments to Goal 1 Action Items
GOAL II – LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT
LAMA will expand and strengthen leadership and management expertise at all levels for all libraries.
Strategy 1: Implement a formal mentorship program.
Key Actions For Implementing This Strategy
1.Market the new mentoring programs.
2.Plan a “LAMA Buddy” program to train experienced LAMA members to guide new members in where and how to be involved in LAMA.
3.Create a free LAMA consultant directory, made up of members willing to be contacted confidentially by other LAMA members needing professional advice. (“50 Ways” proposal)
4.Implement “Reverse Mentoring” plan for matching technologically savvy members with others who need to master skills using new technologies. (“50 Ways” proposal)
5. Develop a “Young Leaders” program for new librarians to use as a collaborative environment where they can seek advice, discuss trends, share ideas, and generally communicate with others who are at similar stages of their careers. (“50 Ways” proposal)
Strategy 2: Augment professional development, career recognition (i.e., awards) offered through LAMA, and ALA-APA credentialing programs.
Key Actions For Implementing This Strategy
1.Implement ongoing collection of member suggestions for augmenting the current professional development programs; evaluate suggestions received and identify or target new programs to develop.
2.Support ALA-APA credential program by strengthening the program’s leadership instruction.
3.Select ALA-APA Library Support Staff Certification Program competencies in which we have expertise and develop plan for providing instruction in the selected competencies.
4.Develop new award program with sponsorship to support it.
5.Fund two LAMA members to participate in the next Emerging Leaders cohort.
Strategy 3: Enhance collaborative leadership and management development programs with other library and non-library professional organizations.
Key Actions For Implementing This Strategy
1. Develop innovative proposal for collaborative program, sponsorship, or other initiatives with professional organizations.
2. With PLA, develop and disseminate standards for public library budgeting. (“50 Ways” proposal)
3. In partnership with ALA-accredited library education schools, create a leadership and management certificate program. (“50 Ways” proposal)
Add Your Comments to Goal 2 Action Items
GOAL III – EDUCATION
LAMA will facilitate professional development opportunities to enhance leadership and management.
Strategy 1: Leverage information technology and communication tools to provide educational opportunities to LAMA members and other library professionals.
Key Actions For Implementing This Strategy
1. Provide at least one regional institute and one section program via remote conferencing during the year.
2. Develop CPLA classes via LAMA Learning Online
Strategy 2: Identify and create grants and scholarships to benefit LAMA members in their educational pursuits within LAMA.
Key Actions For Implementing This Strategy
1. Identify vendor sponsorships for scholarships
2.Create scholarship programs in compliance with ALA awards/scholarship policies and procedures
3.Identify, create, and publicize grants that help new managers attend conference
Strategy 3: Enhance the vitality of LAMA’s publishing and conference programs.
Key Actions For Implementing This Strategy
1.Create marketing plan for LA&M advertising.
2.Redesign the magazine to enhance its web presence and print appearance
3.Develop a plan for soliciting manuscripts for LA&M, LAMA or ALA Editions, focusing on practical, rather than theoretical or scholarly, treatments.
4.Implement marketing plan for LAMA publications.
5.Institute policy that supports and encourages use of non-librarian presenters in conference programs.
6. Create a traveling or virtual display of Swap & Shop BEST OF SHOW EXHIBIT. (“50 Ways” proposal)
7.Publish a “Leadership Reader,” a collection of previously published “best articles” on library leadership and management. (“50 Ways” proposal)
8.Complete the implementation of Communication Task Force Recommendations.
Strategy 4: Develop and disseminate timely leadership and management information on the LAMA website.
Key Actions For Implementing This Strategy
1.All LAMA program handouts and presentation materials posted to the public access portions of the website within 30 days of the conclusion of the program.
2.Encourage all LAMA sections develop at least one webliography or other method of disseminating information each year, containing information useful to the LAMA membership.
3.Investigate implementation of a “best management practices” wiki on the LAMA web site
4.Institute a “Library Leadership and Management Hotline” wiki for sharing news and best practices. (“50 Ways” proposal)
Add Your Comments to Goal 3 Action Items
GOAL IV ORGANIZATIONAL EXCELLENCE
LAMA will be the preeminent professional organization that develops and supports library leaders and managers.
Strategy 1: Adapt LAMA’s organizational structure to maximize flexibility.
Key Actions For Implementing This Strategy
1.Review previous year’s outcomes of division level committees and section executive committees, and establish strategic agenda with output/outcome measures for the coming year.
2.Conduct ongoing audit of organization to minimize redundancy among units and activities, identify unmet needs that might be served by new LAMA units, and eliminate units that have outlived their usefulness.
3.Develop LAMA involvement opportunities for members who cannot or prefer not to serve on committees.
Strategy 2: Exploit technology that improves LAMA’s organizational effectiveness and strategic direction.
Key Actions For Implementing This Strategy
1. Select and implement a project management software package.
Strategy 3: Enhance LAMA’s operating revenue, endowment and net assets.
Key Actions For Implementing This Strategy
1.Create long-range plan for endowment growth.
2.Complete and implement Strategic Marketing Plan.
3.Develop and implement a LAMA business plan.
