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Library Strategic Planning 2013

Strategic Plan Released!

UQ Library released its Strategic Plan for 2013 - 2017 on September 16th 2013.

Welcome

The University of Queensland Library is developing a new strategic plan for 2013 - 2017.

The University Librarian nominated a strategic planning team (Mary Lyons, Sandra Rothwell, Majella Pugh, Helen Morgan, Eric Hornsby, Joanne Rutherford) - and charged it to design and manage a strategic planning process for the UQ Library that is open, inclusive, customer-focused, and provides a variety of avenues for staff and community input.

See the Strategic Planning Blog for the latest updates from the team - please login and post a comment.

Deliverables

1. Communications and events that engage Library staff and external stakeholders

2. Documentation of process for staff and stakeholders

3. Draft strategic plan, including:

  • updated vision, mission, and values statements
  • manageable number (5-10) of high-level goal statements
  • well-developed objectives for each goal, that are specific, measurable, actionable, realistic, and time-bound

Assumptions

  • the Library will be operating within a constrained fiscal environment for the next 3-5 years (staffing implications)
  • the Library will increasingly be asked to provide evidence of the value it provides, through its collections, services, and space (need more, better analytics)
  • the plan should be user-focused
  • digitisation of unique materials (eg Fryer collections) is a priority
  • 'open' material (OA publications, educational resources) will play an increasing role on campus, and represent an opportunity area for the Library
  • space improvements are critical but will likely need to be incremental (no major capital funds will be available)
  • the plan should be aspirational (this is about the future and what we want to create/become)
  • Potential 'growth areas' should be included (e.g. digital humanities)
  • inputs to process should include InSync survey results

Timeline

21 Feb - 25 Mar Gathering of wishes 'for Library genie' (view wishes) - closed 19/5
25 Mar Launch of Strategic Planning Process
25 Mar - 1 May
  • Revisiting values
  • Gathering of suggestions for new tag line/mission
19 Mar - 30 Apr Developing scenarios
2 - 3 May

Focus groups of stakeholders - Facilitator Brett Mayze:

  • Thurs 2/5 12.00 -1.30 St Lucia (Undergraduates)
  • Thurs 2/5 2.30 - 4.00 Herston Health Sciences Library (UQ/Hospital staff)
  • Friday 3/5 10.00-11.30 St Lucia (Post Graduates)
  • Friday 3/5 12.00-1.30 St Lucia (Academic Staff)
25 Mar - 30 Apr

Reflect upon the Library's vision and mission: answer 'why do we exist?'. There will be a call for stakeholder feedback.

Apr - May Seeking input on our mission and new tag line - now closed

28,29,30 May

Strategic Planning Sessions (involving Library Managers) in Library Conference Room - Facilitator: Brett Mayze (see report under 'What's been happening', below)

  • 28 May (half day)
  • 29 May (full day)
  • 30 May (full day)
Throughout June

Consultation sessions with all staff in each area/branch

- Facilitators: Strategic Planning Team members

July 30 Strategic Plan completed
August/September Strategic Plan published
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What's been happening

21 February

- began gathering wishes for the Library Genie using this online form with a link from this spotlight image:

Genie.png

Now closed. Genie wishes received, to May 19th can be viewed.

25 March

- public launch of strategic planning process at 2pm in Library Conference room. Videos from the launch:

LaunchB.jpg LaunchProf.jpg

Professor Terry opening proceedings at the launch

26 March

- began gathering suggestions for a new Library tag line using this online form with a link from this spotlight image:

tag_suggestion_spotlight.png

Initially closed 19/5. Reopened by popular demand on July 4th. Now closed. New tag line: Your Partner in Scholarship

2nd & 3rd May

- held four stakeholder focus groups to discuss reactions to four futuristic library scenarios:

for undergraduates: on Thursday May 2nd, at noon, at DHESL Library
for UQ/hospital staff: on Thursday May 2nd, at 2:30pm, at Herston Library
for post graduate students: on Friday May 3rd, at 10:00am, at DHESL Library
for academic staff: on Friday May 3rd, at noon, at DHESL Library

The four scenarios were written by Library staff.

Sessions were facilitated by Brett Mayze of People Knowledge Consulting.

Input obtained at each of the four sessions is available: undergraduate students, UQ/hospital staff, post graduate students, and academic staff.

Stakeholders found the most attractive scenarios to be: 1 (Enhanced traditional Library), and 4 (E nearly everything Library). Unanimously, scenario 3 (Research focused Library) was the most unattractive to stakeholders taking part in the focus groups.

Feedback will be incorporated into the strategic planning days for Library managers later in May.

28th to 30th of May

Library Managers attended a 2.5 day strategic planning session in the UQ Library Conference Room, facilitated by Brett Mayze. Four tables of 6-8 managers each took on stewardship of one of the strategic themes of Learning, Discovery, Engagement and Governance. Using paper and Google Docs, four quadrants of the strategic plan were drafted around the themes. A risk matrix was then used to test each aspect of the draft plan.

Ideas were brought along as 'homework', and captured. There were presentations by Brett, LX and strategic planning team members which synthesised inputs collected to-date via the Genie wishes and the scenario-based focus groups. The environmental scan was rounded out by a report on a literature review of user trends; a refresher on Carol Tenopir's research, and the latest Library survey; a review of industry trends, and a display of Vine (an app used for 6 second video tweets).

Each table focussed on their theme, however, there was wide discussion across the room.

The Strategic Planning team will meet soon to discuss the next steps. These will include sharing the draft with all members of Library staff; then conducting a roadtrip to each location to discuss and refine the draft with interested Library staff.

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Library staff presenting on their table's theme, at the 2.5 day strategic planning session

Draft Strategic Plan roadtrip a success!

Eight feedback sessions for Library staff were held over July 4th to 12th, at Gatton, Ipswich, Herston, Mater, PACE and St Lucia.

Strategic Planning team members presented the process so far, then discussed comments with attending Library staff.

Great discussions were had at each session, along with much appreciated sustenance.

The team wishes to extend its thanks to all staff who contributed, either in person, or via proxies. It was clear that a lot of thought had gone into responses.

On 16/7, the team met to incorporate feedback captured - into the draft plan, values and mission statements. The University Librarian expects the final version by July 30th.

The document will be circulated to all Library staff, once available.

More news as it comes to hand.

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Library staff giving feedback at the session held at PACE

Library staff values and behaviours survey results

Now available: a brief report showing the responses to the Library staff Values and Behaviours Survey - see attached.

We did not have a lot of additional "other" responses for each value - most respondents seemed to like the listed behaviours.

The top six will feature in the published version of the strategic plan: very close to being released!

Strategic planning 2013 blog

Strategic plan released

UQ Library released its Strategic Plan for 2013 - 2017 on September 16th 2013.

The Strategic Planning team extends its thanks to all who assisted in the preparation and completion of the document.

Library staff Values and Behaviours survey report

A copy of the above is now available on the Strategic Planning webiste (scroll down to last item on page).

Progress update

The final version of the extended strategic plan is almost at hand. Today, team members met for a holistic wordsmithing session. Brochure design and layout planning is already underway.

A few late entries for the tagline were received, and LX has endorsed: "Your partner in scholarship". Thank you to all who contributed.

This week, the team received an inquiry from another colleague in the US. They are also going through a strategic planning process, and are interested in seeing our draft. We were happy to share.

Draft plan delivered to University Librarian

The revised draft, incorporating feedback from the team roadtrips, was circulated to the Library Policy and Planning Group (LPPG) for discussion at their 25/7 meeting. It was approved by LPPG, and delivered to the University Librarian (UL) on July 30th.

Draft Strategic Plan roadtrip a success!

Eight feedback sessions for Library staff were held over July 4th to 12th, at Gatton, Ipswich, Herston, Mater, PACE and St Lucia.

Strategic Planning team members presented the process so far, then discussed comments with attending Library staff.

Great discussions were had at each session, along with much appreciated sustenance.

The team wishes to extend its thanks to all staff who contributed, either in person, or via proxies. It was clear that a lot of thought had gone into responses.