April 2004
During her term as MLA
President, Renee Goss formed this ad hoc group to survey the membership and
develop a strategic plan to provide direction for MLA along with the best use
of MLA resources. Task Force Members include Debbie Schlesinger, Bette Ammon,
Renee Goss, Coby Johnson, John Thomas, Lynn Donvan and John Finn.
Based on the 201 surveys of MLA members and
nonmembers, the task force prioritized areas of concern and created goals and
objectives for each. The task force met again at the 2004 Montana Library
Association meeting and revised the earlier draft based on MLA Board input. A final draft was submitted to the MLA Board
in the summer of 2004.
Goals and objectives are included for:
a
Lobbying
a
Continuing Education and Certification
a
Networking
a
Public Relations and Marketing
Other committee recommendations:
Ø
Look at planning a mini-conference every two years
held at various locations.
Ø
Many think of MLA just in terms of the annual
conference – not realizing the year long activities MLA fosters – lobbying,
division retreats, etc.
Ø
Long range strategic planning at this point must
take into account economic realities based on current statewide budget issues.
MLA will be supporting funding for the state library.
Ø
Create a FAQ for MLA to answer frequently asked
questions for new and seasoned members. It can include the history of the MLS
in Montana, how conference workshops come about – scheduling, etc., how to
submit workshop ideas, speakers, and topics.
Ø
Survey membership regularly to develop subsequent
strategic plans
Task Force Vision Statement:
Montana Library Association – fostering libraries to
benefit every Montanan.
Mission Statement:
The mission of the Montana Library Association is
to develop and support the library community throughout Montana.
The Montana Library Association will:
·
Work to maintain and expand library services that
meet the informational, cultural, educational, and recreational needs of all
Montana citizens.
·
Advance the standards and ideals of the library
profession.
·
Support and encourage library efforts through
political advocacy.
·
Facilitate cooperation among all Montana
libraries.
·
Increase attention to intellectual freedom and
social responsibility.
·
Use the goals and objectives to prioritize the
budget allocations
·
Establish timelines and review goals and
objectives annually at the summer leadership retreat
Goal 1
Through the Government Affairs and Intellectual
Freedom committees, the Montana Library Association will work to influence
state and national information policies, funding and legislation.
Objective:
·
MLA’s lobbyist, working in concert with the
Government Affairs and Intellectual Freedom committees, will represent MLA’s
legislative agenda based on membership needs.
·
Legislative priorities will be set by the MLA
Board
·
Where appropriate, the lobbyist will support the
Montana State Library’s budget and priorities.
·
Continue cooperation with the school and
university lobbyists
Goal 2
MLA will support a state wide Governmental Affairs
Committee that meets regularly during the year to establish legislative goals
and an agenda. During sessions an active and vital committee or an executive
Board of the Committee will meet as needed to plot strategies and move the
legislative agenda forward.
Objectives:
·
Develop a network of librarians and advocates who
will respond immediately to requests for help during a Session and on off
years.
·
Provide leadership and training to enable
trustees, school boards, local officials and other library supporters to speak
knowledgeably about library issues.
·
Use electronic, print and telephone media as a
means to inform members and other supporters about legislative issues.
Goal 3
Increase the visibility of the Governmental
Affairs Committee and MLA’s legislative agenda.
Objectives:
·
Publish a legislative issue of FOCUS at least once
a year, more often during the Session.
·
With questions developed by the Government Affairs
Committee, request that librarians throughout the state interview local
legislators about specific issues. Publish interviews in the FOCUS.
·
Provide briefing papers to the membership so that
they can contact legislators before, during, and after the Session.
Goal 4
Through the Government Affairs Committee and the
Intellectual Freedom Committee, the Montana Library Association will be a
champion and defender of civil liberties, intellectual freedom, and unfettered
access to information for all Montanans.
Objectives:
·
Laws that restrict freedom of access or
confidentiality will be vigorously opposed.
·
All challenges to free access will be publicized
and vigorously defended against.
·
Laws and actions nationally that restrict free
access to information will be opposed and we will work with our congressional
delegation to repeal such laws and actions.
·
The Intellectual Freedom Committee and the
Governmental Affairs Committee will work closely together to ensure that
challenges to free access and censorship attempts are thwarted.
·
The Intellectual Freedom Committee and the
Governmental Affairs Committee will have at least one joint meeting per year
and more often during legislative sessions.
Providing librarians, library staff and trustees
with opportunities for professional development and promoting continuous,
lifelong learning for all people is integral to the Montana Library Association
mission.
GOAL:
MLA will be a leader in providing continuing education for librarians and library personnel. MLA will provide continuing education opportunities to enable members and their governing authorities to maintain and improve both the quality of services to users and standards of professional excellence. OBJECTIVE 1:Develop, offer, and coordinate continuing education programs and workshops in response to the needs of Members, based on regular needs assessment surveys and program evaluation forms. OBJECTIVE 2:The Professional Development Committee, in collaboration with the Montana State Library and OPI, will:a Provide workshops for Montana state certification requirements.
a Provide workshops to enable public library staff to meet the requirements of the State Certification program
a Provide programs in different areas of library specialization (multi-type libraries).
a Develop a clearinghouse of other educational opportunities in the region and the state.
a Continue to partner with MEA and MRA
a Take a strong stand in support of Montana school librarians
a Financially support biannual school library survey
OBJECTIVE 3:Regularly explore alternative conference times and places in order to provide continuing education at convenient times and sites. OBJECTIVE 4:a Through the Professional Development Committee continue to consolidate and distribute relevant course offerings from appropriate educational sources throughout Montana and other regions.
a Collaborate with other library systems and other agencies to provide training opportunities for library staff.
a Use computer/communications technologies effectively to provide a variety of continuing education programs for members across the state.
a Develop continuity in continuing education and professional development offerings so that library staff can progress through a series of programs
OBJECTIVE 5: Continue to provide scholarships, grants, other financial assistance to support library staff attendance at conferences and workshops. ü Look at incentives to subsidize conference attendance and assist local arrangements people. For example – staffing the registration desk might offset part of the registration fee.
ü Travel grants might be tied to covering registration desk or assisting with conference duties.
OBJECTIVE 6:Investigate schools that offer paraprofessional degrees.In collaboration with the Sheila Cates committee support programs where the library worker who receives financial support is obligated to come back to Montana and present programs for others.
Goal: MLA
will support personal networking and mentoring opportunities for its
members.
Objective 1: GATHERING - PHYSICALLY
Provide opportunities
where individuals can gather physically to meet and discuss issues of mutual
interest.
Possible
activity: Provide
unstructured time during retreats.
(Divisions
and Interest Groups sponsoring retreats)
Possible
activity: Schedule
an event at the annual conference which provides time to greet and meet
members. Plan an event/activity for new
members to meet continuing members. (Conference
Planning Committee, Membership Committee and Association Officers)
Provide
annually, on a day-to-day basis, an environment where individuals can meet
virtually to discuss issues of mutual interest.
Possible
activity: Approve
a contract/agreement for a MLA sponsored e-list. (Communications Committee)
Possible
activity: Approve
a contract/agreement for a MLA Web page with arrangements for a Webmaster. Consider setting up a bulletin board for
members. (Communications Committee)
Objective
3: MENTORING NEWCOMERS
Institute a basic
mentoring program by [date].
Possible
approach: Identify
areas of potential trouble for new librarians.
Identify individuals who would be willing to respond to questions on
particular topics. (Membership
Committee and Divisions)
Possible
approach: Develop
a “coach” program where a “seasoned pro” is paired with a new library
staff. (Membership Committee and
Divisions)
Objective
4: BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS
Annually undertake at
least one activity which purpose would be to make non-MLA individuals and
organizations aware of MLA’s mission and goals. For example foster a MLA
presence at the Montana School Board Association, Montana Education
Association, Montana Reading Association, etc.
Possible
activity: Set up
an information booth at the state-wide meeting of another group. (MLA Officers, PR & Marketing
Committee)
Possible
activity: Present
a library-related workshop at a continuing education meeting of another
group. (MLA Officers, PR &
Marketing Committee)
MLA Public
Relations and Marketing Proposal
PR Committee should:
Communications does focus, website, and listserv
These two committees need to report to each other.
Chair of each committee should sit as ex-officio
on each others committee
GOAL
Increase the public and policymaker’s awareness of the
value of libraries and the necessity of their support.
OBJECTIVE
Market the value of library services.
Activities:
1. Expand and revise Website for “External Message” for
those who are nonmembers. (PR/Communications. Do an “audit” of MLA website.
Identify info that needs to be added--history of libraries, bridging digital
divide, resolutions, legislation accomplished).
2. Develop/train members that can speak to groups,
associations, governing boards, in support of libraries.
3. Develop a PowerPoint presentation focusing on the value
of Montana libraries (download from Website) that can be used by local
libraries.
4. Develop a poster
or poster template entitled “10 Good Reasons to Use Your Library.”
5. Identify the “niches”—what makes libraries better.
6. Look into medical research—using libraries stimulates
brain cells.
7. Schools—better libraries, better test scores.
OBJECTIVE
Promote awareness.
Activities:
1. Use newspapers
and PSAs to advertise for libraries. Archive articles written by members on MLA
Website—Intellectual Freedom, Filtering, Banned Books Week—tons of
themes—members could download and use. The first year, aim for quarterly
articles to be published as columns or as guest editorials.
OBJECTIVE
Seek financial support.
Activities:
1.
Assist the Gov. Affairs Committee to disseminate
Legislative agenda.
2.
Publicize Legislative Day.
3.
Assist G.A. in providing training and information to
encourage political participation and an understanding of the issues-(how to
write letters, how to speak up for each other, each must understand issues of
the other entities—public, school, academic).
4.
Market your library to your administrator, board, and
trustees.
OBJECTIVE
Supply librarians with the tools/training to do PR at the
local level.
Activities:
1.
Workshop at conference at least every other year.
2.
PR swap table.
3.
On a MLA PR Committee Webpage: list a bibliography of
titles available at state library, through MLN, list PR Websites,
templates/examples of PR plans, and have members write articles that can be
downloaded and used by all in local newspaper, suggested PSAs that can be taken
to local radio stations.
4.
Monthly PR Hints on Wired.
5.
PR and press kits—help writing PR plans.
OBJECTIVE
Maintain current and identify/establish new collaborative
partnerships.
1.
Work with the State Library on statewide PR campaign with
MLA PR members on that committee.
2.
PR with neighboring states-ALA, MPLA, PNLA.
3.
Collaborate with Literacy Volunteers of America, HeadStart, MEA.
GOAL
Market the Montana Library Association as the single
organization that represents the mission of libraries.
OBJECTIVE
Promote the benefits of MLA membership.
Activities:
1 Explain why MLA is more than conference—we have the
Website, brochures and pamphlets for members; send this brochure to all Montana
librarians that are not members of MLA (e-mail with an invitation to join).
2. Keep membership fee affordable (Board).
3. Promote recognition of members—articles to local papers
for awards, election to office, etc. (PR).
OBJECTIVE
Strengthen the Association by increased and active
membership.
Activities:
1.
Publicize many ways to be involved (description and time
involved)—and why.
2.
Active recruitment at conference...especially membership
dinner—get people to commit a number of volunteer hours to the organization and
we will fit them in wherever?
3.
Regular articles in Focus.
4.
Devise activities to encourage new members - school
librarians and trustee members.
OBJECTIVE
Support recruitment and membership of library trustees
1.
Actively support trustees for leadership positions
2.
provide continuing education for trustees
3.
Rewrite the MLA Handbook to make notice of trustees
OBJECTIVE
Promote careers in library and information science,
publicizing the “cool” factor in becoming a librarian as well as the need for
new and younger librarians.
Activities:
1.
Mentoring to insure individuals stay in the profession (PD,
PR, and Membership).
2.
Introduce the profession to students at high school career
fairs (a traveling display) (PD, PR).
3.
Encourage school librarians to have information on their
Websites about careers in library science (SLD, PR).
4.
Design and distribute poster of a person—(“the Poster
Librarian”).
5.
Digitize the MLA logo and make available on the MLA Website
in a variety of formats. Use on all MLA business from stationary, thank-you
cards, all WebPages, pamphlets, bookmarks, posters… (PR).
6.
Promotion of Cates Scholarship (Cates, Awards, and PR).
OBJECTIVE
Maintain a website for internal MLA communication.
Activities: This “intranet” can foster ongoing Board
communication, keeping Board members informed, allowing input and discussion,
increasing awareness of current issues.
OTHER IDEAS:
1.
PR for 100th anniversary. Write a historical
update, need institutional memory.
2.
Research cost of ad in major newspapers (Billings Gazette,
Great Falls Tribune, etc.) for National Library week. Encourage libraries to
find underwriters or co-sponsors for ads.
3.
Library PR partners to help with PR campaign.
4.
Advocacy training.
5.
Sample letters to legislators on Webpage
6.
Booth at the “Book Festival” in Missoula, Billings, Great
Falls, etc.
7.
Corporate partners.
8.
Develop new fact sheets on Montana libraries that can be
used by organization and at the local level.
Organization structure:
Goal
Make the internal workings of the MLA effective and efficient
Objectives:
Look at each committee with the
idea of streamlining, combining, or redefining roles
Prompted by Executive Director
every five years all committees will be assessed for relevance
Communication between committee
chairs is a continual concern – foster communication between committees – for
example – PR & membership; intellectual freedom & government affairs; -
etc. All this should be compliant with bylaws.
Maintain history of the
organization - each past president responsible for contributing
Assess strategic plan every three
years – plan published on website so elected officers are held accountable for
meeting goals and objectives. Final report published in Focus and on MLA
website.
ED makes president aware of
responsibilities and timelines – collecting annual reports by specific dates,
budget requests.
THE MLA WEBSITE
PR & communications
committees work together to establish policies and procedures for website
content.
Also make recommendations to the
board about website maintenance.