Strategic Planning for Public Libraries is a complete planning toolkit. Each purchase comes with a downloadable supplemental folder full of reusable templates, worksheets, as well as real-life examples from other libraries to help guide the reader through the planning process. This book provides a framework that any library, whether it serves urban, suburban, or rural communities, can use as a basis for its strategic planning.

The concepts of planning and assessment are intrinsically linked—and understanding them is essential for raising the library’s profile and strengthening its position among stakeholders and the community. Even if you're an LIS student or are new to the profession, or if planning or assessment are not your primary areas of responsibility, you still have a role to play in the success of organizational efforts. Fleming-May has more than a decade of experience in planning and assessment initiatives and instruction, and Mays was her institution’s first assessment librarian; their primer draws from theory, research, and their first-hand observations to illuminate such topics as characteristics of bad planning strategy that can help to illustrate a better approach; reasons why using economic models, like ROI, fall short; how to mix the three types of planning; guidelines to ensure that assessment is meaningful and actionable; tips for creating effective surveys; emphasizing users’ needs with a critical assessment framework; data analysis for surveys, interviews, focus groups, and observation; four questions to ask about audience level before you develop a report; a sample 3-year assessment plan that can be customized; and seven steps for developing a culture of ongoing assessment.

The PLA Results Series has long served to help public librarians envision, evaluate, and respond to community needs with distinctive programs and services. Building from this proven model, Strategic Planning for Results is the fully revised version of Planning for Results, the foundational book in this groundbreaking series. Sandra Nelson, senior editor of the Results Series, focuses on the essential steps to draft a results-driven, strategic planning process that libraries can complete over the course of four months, regardless of organizational structure or size. Reflecting on the current planning environment for public libraries, Nelson makes the case for strategic rather than long-term planning and includes a wealth of information about understanding and managing the change process to help staff Assess the change-readiness of the library and preparing staff to implement forthcoming changes Simplify data collection and decision-making processes through the use of 14 reproducible workforms Identify service priority options and reach agreement as a group Successfully present and communicate within their library Including the newly revised and adopted Public Library Service Responses, along with case studies, workforms, and tool kits, Strategic Planning for Results offers librarians a wealth of ideas to effectively meet changing community needs.

The interior design language of the 21st century is the language of retail, and libraries must be fluent to be successful. Most patrons are unaware of the variety of services and offerings that their local library can provide. Rightly or wrongly, library patrons expect robust merchandising, easily accessible spaces and self-directed way finding. Library Space Planning: A PLA Guide is a brief and to-the-point guide that will help you to understand these ideals and recreate them in your library. In addition, you will learn how to improve the functionality of your space in the short, medium and long-term, and discover how libraries can use the ideas herein to aid patrons in discovery, discernment and delivery.

Written by a team of authors with decades of library administration experience between them, this powerful resource enables academic libraries to produce plans that will offer directional guidance to employees while also demonstrating the library's power to meet institutional goals.

Planning for Library Services assists library and information service managers in initiating, improving, and sustaining good planning practices in their organizations. It provides practicing librarians with a guide to assist in their planning methods for increased library effectiveness and promotes a better understanding of the concepts, benefits, potential problems, and processes related to planning.

Get the tools to meet the challenge of building or renovating a library! The challenge of renovating or constructing a library requires organizational skill, resourcefulness, creativity, and willingness to compromise. Planning, Renovating, Expanding, and Constructing Library Facilities in Hospitals, Academic Medical Centers, and Health Organizations presents thirteen insightful case studies revealing how many libraries have been have been built or renovated using innovations designed to meet a specific organization's needs. Each study plainly highlights objectives, methods, results, and conclusions, and reviews the design of the completed library. Ideas and approaches are presented clearly, showing the designing, refurbishing, and refurnishing of existing library space; the merging of library collections and services; and the construction of multimillion dollar library buildingswith each study explaining proven strategies which can be used or adapted to fit the reader’s own circumstances. Planning, Renovating, Expanding, and Constructing Library Facilities in Hospitals, Academic Medical Centers, and Health Organizations explains the steps in the planning process, including needs analysis, goal setting, and public relations, as well as the practical considerations of packing and unpacking. The contributors are noted library authorities intimately involved in every facet of the construction procedure and cost accounting, and the book includes helpful photographs, illustrations, tables, and appendices to clarify and help practicing librarians and library students alike fully understand the strategies needed to create a functional library facility that fulfills expectations. Planning, Renovating, Expanding, and Constructing Library Facilities in Hospitals, Academic Medical Centers, and Health Organizations includes case studies of: a resource library moved into a basement renovations to the Osler Library at McGill University, Montreal, Quebec construction of the Booker Health Services Library at the Jersey Shore University Medical Center a merger of two libraries at Trinitas Hospital, Elizabeth, New Jersey the renovation of a small hospital library designing a new library in a historic naval hospital the Hope Fox Eccles Clinical Library Renovation Project expansion and renovation of the Welch Medical Library at Johns Hopkins University and much more! Planning, Renovating, Expanding, and Constructing Library Facilities in Hospitals, Academic Medical Centers, and Health Organizations is an insightful resource for educators, students, and librarians of all types.

Planning a new or refurbished public library means considering not only facilities for collections, services, staff and users, but examining also the local context, reviewing the library image, and developing relationships with other community facilities and agencies. This book examines the entire gamut of challenges confronting the planning and development of contemporary public libraries; their mission, their roles, and key issues such as lifelong learning, social inclusion, community and cultural needs, regeneration and funding. The helpful presentation and readable style guides the librarian through the preliminary information-gathering and decision-making process that ensures a successful library building for all concerned. Using practical case studies, plans and photographs, the author tackles the critical issues of siting, size, plans and design concepts, and provides a helpful guide to weighing up the alternatives of refurbished, converted and new buildings. Separate chapters focus on the planning, briefing and construction process; security, safety and sustainability; key characteristics of successful buildings; identity, decor and signage; and interior layout and facilities. The text draws together a vast resource of real library examples from all over the world which provide best practice models and lessons to learn. For funding authorities, librarians and architects of public libraries this is a highly informative book that will help to ensure wise decision-making and prevent costly mistakes.

The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) is the leading international body representing the interests of library and information services and their users. It is the global voice of the information profession. The series IFLA Publications deals with many of the means through which libraries, information centres, and information professionals worldwide can formulate their goals, exert their influence as a group, protect their interests, and find solutions to global problems.

The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) is the leading international body representing the interests of library and information services and their users. It is the global voice of the information profession. The series IFLA Publications deals with many of the means through which libraries, information centres, and information professionals worldwide can formulate their goals, exert their influence as a group, protect their interests, and find solutions to global problems.