Presented at the joint WLA/MPLA conference in Cheyenne, this details the process used by one small Montana library in developing their strategic plan.

1. Strategic Planning in
an Hour
Pam Henley, Montana State Library
WLA/MPLA Conference
September 2015

2. Disclaimer
OOne hour doesn’t apply to you
OIt’s really 2 hours for interested
stakeholders

3. Why Plan?

6. Connect
activities with
strategies

7. Who are the
Stakeholders
???

9. Get Ready
OInvite more, expect less
OMail 2-3 weeks ahead
OAsk for RSVP, follow up
with phone confirmation 2-3
days prior

10. O The Belgrade Community Library is envisioning its role
within the evolving Belgrade community. Please join us
in conversation about our growing city and the ways in
which the library may serve Belgrade in the future. You
are invited to attend two 1-hour sessions hosted by the
Belgrade Community Library.
O Topic: Belgrade Community Visioning
Date: Thursday, August7, @ 9:00 (please join us prior
for Chamber Breakfast Before Hours)
O Topic: Visioning Results: How can our Library
participate in the community’s future?
Date: Tuesday, September 9 @ 9:00 a.m.

11. Get Set

12. The Visioning Session
OStrengths: What do we do best?
How are we special? What can we
build on?
OOpportunities: How best to meet
community needs? Who can we
partner with?
OAspirations: Where do we go?
What do we care most about?
OResults will come later

13. Go!
Brainstorming!

14. Develop Master List from
group lists

15. Almost there…
OPresent Library Service Responses

16. (Hand out invite for next meeting)

17. Get to Work
OCompile group input into broad
categories
OTally Service Reponses votes –
focus on top 3-4
OCompare on-going library
programs with Service
Responses

18. Children/Families
children’s programs in city
early learning for young children
activities for teens
whole family activities
establish swimming pool, movie
theater, skateboard park
Children’s community theater
Business
traffic flow prevents access to
businesses
downtown destination Belgrade
more businesses supported by
community
downtown investment incentives
establish business climate
independent from Bozeman
incentives for downtown businesses
Community
transportation within county for
teens and older folks
bike/hiking paths to destinations
airport area improvement for visual
appeal
Belgrade embracing surrounding
area
more sidewalks
create community cohesion
encourage people to live near city
core
more services on north side of
Frontage Rd
more community involvement
partner with schools for city “clean-
up” day

19. Visioning - Staff Input
Presence of library outside the building
Support adult distance learning
Place to gather to converse and engage, to explore self-interests
Outreach to outlying communities
Stronger communication between organizations
Place for Teens to explore different careers (post grad), learn different
job skills
More cultural events enrichment (combined with history of our place)
Something for new adults – night life, cultural
Early learning importance
Library – more space needed as community grows; comfortable place
to read, more creative space, tech room
More accessible for finding a way toward knowing about community
Resource for employees and employers to get to know community for
job/employment search
More resources for health and life choices, and direct to other health
alternatives
Library is connector to community resources

20. Service Response Tally
O Informed Citizen – 23 (1 Staff)
Residents will have the information they need to
support and promote democracy, fulfill their civic
responsibilities at the local, state and national
levels, and to fully participate in community
decision making.
O Possible services and programs:
O provide information on public policy issues
O develop/maintain web page with links to resources
(local, state, federal)
O host open discussions with elected officials
O convene meetings to provide an opportunity for people
to discuss community or national issues
O present programs in partnership with local and
national organizations to promote civic involvement
and democracy
O voter registration

21. Community Resources – 21 (3
Staff)
Residents will have a central
source for information about a
wide variety of programs, services
and activities provided by
community agencies and
organizations.
O Possible services and programs:
O maintain an online community
calendar, events bulletin board
O develop web page with links to
agencies and organizations
O support e-government use
O develop information packet for
new residents
O make presentations about
library’s community information
services
O maintain a wish list of items
and/or volunteers needed by non-
profits
Adult, Teen and Family Literacy –
16 (3 Staff)
Adults and teens will have the
support they need to improve
their literacy skills in order to
meet their personal goals and
fulfill their responsibilities as
parents, citizens and workers.
O Possible services and programs:
O provide space for tutors for one-
on-one work
O provide literacy classes, small
group literacy training
O provide programs to tutor
learners preparing for GED
O provide free children’s books to
parents enrolled in literacy
classes
O collaborate with community
organizations to promote and
publicize literacy services

22. Results
OCompare results with actual
programs – does reality meet
aspirations?
OCreate work plans and goals for
board, director, staff
OEvaluate library, set policy
ODevelop other plans – technology,
marketing, etc
ORefer to when budget planning!

23. Follow-Up Meeting
OShare and discuss results–
handouts are helpful
ODiscuss possible partnerships
OBoard can focus on future plan

24. Outcome
ODirector will use results for
setting annual goals
OBoard is using results for future
planning, both for building issues
and staffing needs

25. Comments
Great job putting
together a diverse
group of people – town
was well represented
City Council member: I
told the City Manager
we don't need to do this
with the Council, we can
use these results! It is
easy to see what our
community thinks, and
what our plan
could/should be.

26. Resources

27. Websites
O http://www.soar-strategy.com
O A Different Approach to Strategic Planning:
SOAR-Building Strengths- Based Strategy
coanet.org/conference/ppt/A7Presentation.pd
f Stan Capela and Ariana Brooks-Saunders

28. One more…
OSOAR and Appreciative Inquiry
http://www.atlantic.edu/about/board/docu
ments/SOARfromSWOT.pdf

29. Pam Henley, Consulting Librarian
Montana State Library
phenley2@mt.gov