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)
- Wardsboro Public Library (population 1098) - Brief Document
- Latham Memorial Library (population 2591) - Longer Document
- Norwich Public Library (population 3386) - Brief Document
- Charlotte Public Library (population 3856) - Brief Document
- Carpenter-Carse Library (population 4851) - Longer Document
- Larger Libraries (listed by size of population served)
- Pierson Library (population 7703) - Longer Document
- Ilsley Public Library (population 8545) - Brief Document
- Dorothy Alling Memorial Library (population 9569) - Longer Document
- Milton Public Library (population 10667) - 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