The Vermont Department of Libraries recommends that each library trustee board develops and implements a strategic planning process that is feasible for the community, involves community input, and results in a usable document that guides the library into the future. Advocacy often goes hand-in-hand with strategic planning, and the process of planning can be a form of advocacy and can result in advocacy-related activities. Feel free to use the following collection of resources as you plan for the future of your library. If you have questions about strategic planning, contact Kevin Unrath, Consultant for Library Operations.
Strategic Planning Resources
- Aspen Institute Action Guide 2.0
- The Harwood Institute
- Libraries Transforming Communities Community Engagement Workbook - Turning Outward to Engage Your Community (A workbook created in partnership with the American Library Association)
- Community Needs Assessment - Three Questions to Help Reshape Your Conversations
- The Turn Quiz - Are You Mostly Turned Inward or Outward?
- Strategic Planning for Results by Sandra S. Nelson (Copyright 2008)
- Available through Interlibrary Loan from the Vermont Department of Libraries
- "Library Service Reponses" - 18 example service goals for a strategic plan
- Worksheet from Strategic Planning for Nonprofit Organizations by Michael Allison and Judy Kaye (Copyright 2005)
Sample Strategic Plans
- Smaller Libraries (listed by size of population served)
- Peacham Library (incorporated, population 803) - Brief Document
- Warren Public Library (municipal, population 1736) - Brief and Longer Documents
- Whiting Library (municipal, population 3597) - Longer Document
- John G. McCullough Free Library (incorporated, population 4282) - Longer Document
- Larger Libraries (listed by size of population served)
- Waterbury Public Library (municipal, population 5333) - Brief and Longer Documents
- Springfield Town Library (municipal, population 9097) - Longer Document
- Dorothy Alling Memorial Library (municipal, population 10,397) - Brief and Longer Documents
- Kellogg-Hubbard Library (incorporated, population 18,141) - Longer Document
Advocacy Resources
- Advocacy Slides from VTLIB Trustee Training (PDF - updated April 2020)
- American Library Association The E's of Libraries
- United for Libraries Power Guide for Successful Advocacy: Website, Power Guide
- Public Library Association's Turning the Page Advocacy Training