Draft
Vision 2010
A Strategic Plan for Oregon Libraries
through the Year 2010
Introduction
In 1999, an Oregon Library Association Executive Board charged
a Vision 2010 committee to develop a road map for the next
decade, building on the success of Vision 2000. The Vision 2010
committee developed its plan using the Public Library
Association's Planning for Results approach. Environmental
scans describing the current status and future issues in Oregon
and its libraries were developed and used by the committee as the
basis of their work along with input from library organizations.
The scans along with this plan can be found at
http://www.olaweb.org/v2010/.
The plan includes vision statements for Oregon communities and
their libraries, goals, measurable objectives, and suggested
strategies for the first several years. The committee believes
that strategies need to continue to be developed throughout the
decade as conditions and needs change.
The plan serves as a resource for both OLA and all types of
Oregon libraries. Libraries can adapt the plan to meet local
needs within their city or county, their campus, their school
district, or their user community. OLA can use the vision to
create legislative proposals, promote collaborative projects to
address statewide needs, and provide staff development
opportunities to keep pace with internal and external
changes.
Vision for Oregon Communities
The environmental scans describe where we are and what is
likely to happen in the next several years. The vision statements
describe where we would like to be, as a community and as a
profession dedicated to meeting the information needs of the
citizens.
Oregonians are educated, thoughtful, and involved
members of their communities.
- Children and adults have easy access to quality educational
programs at all levels.
- Employment opportunities for Oregonians are plentiful and
challenging.
- All Oregonians have access to adequate housing, food, and
health care.
- The quality of life is enriched by a multitude of cultural
opportunities.
- Oregonians maintain a healthy natural environment.
- Oregonians of all ages have convenient access to relevant and
timely information.
- Oregonians work collectively to solve problems and enhance
community well being.
- Communities accept and value their diversity.
- Oregonians support and respect the free expression of
ideas.
- Communities offer a sense of security and physical
safety.
- Communities are economically healthy.
- Communities support the growth of small business.
- Oregonians are involved in their government, acting upon
issues and ideas in an informed manner.
- Oregonians support stable and appropriate investment in
public services.
Visions for Oregon Libraries
Oregon's libraries play a critical role in the Vision for
Oregon by helping Oregonians become educated, thoughtful, and
involved members of their communities.
- Libraries promote the joy and life long benefits of
reading.
- Libraries nourish the human spirit by stimulating
intellectual curiosity and personal growth.
- Libraries guarantee the impartial provision of
information.
- Libraries teach Oregonians the best ways to find useful
information.
- Libraries are the leading advocates for equity in access to
information.
- Libraries advocate for freedom of information and the
protection of individual privacy.
- Libraries present cultural programs, collect resources, and
provide services that anticipate and respond to the changing
needs of their communities.
- Libraries reflect the diversity of our society.
- Libraries are the heart of the community, a community meeting
place and source of pride.
- Library buildings reflect the needs, values, and traditions
of their communities.
- Libraries are easily accessible, as physical spaces and as
online service providers.
- Libraries are leaders in promoting and using information
technology.
- Libraries create, organize, and archive resources to meet
current and future needs.
- Libraries collaborate with other libraries and community
service providers to improve information services to all
citizens.
- Libraries contribute to economic development by providing
information and services to support business and industry.
- Libraries are recognized as one of the best values in
government service.
Goals and Objectives for Oregon Libraries
The Vision 2010 Goals and Objectives reflect the key issues
identified in the Environmental Scans of Oregon Communities and
Oregon Libraries and the Visions for Oregon Communities and
Oregon Libraries.
Access
Goal
All Oregonians have easy and convenient access to
library resources and services from their local library and
within the state.
Objectives
- A virtual statewide catalog provides online access to all
collections.
- People of Oregon have more and easier opportunities to
borrow materials from other Oregon libraries.
- Oregon libraries collaborate to pilot innovative ways of
sharing resources throughout Oregon and beyond our borders.
- All Oregonians have access to a core collection of
electronic resources.
- Oregon libraries collaborate to improve customer service
and convenience.
Staff
Goal
People working in libraries invite change, approach
problems creatively, and are committed to continual learning and
the development of new skills. Libraries provide all employees
with the support and encouragement to reach their full
potential.
Objectives
- Library organizations seek people with attributes, skills
and abilities to promote the vision and flexibility needed to
thrive in 2010 and beyond.
- Oregon libraries develop aggressive plans to address
retention and recruitment issues.
- Oregon libraries invest at least 2% of their personnel
budgets in the training and development of employees.
- Oregon libraries collaboratively develop relevant continuing
education opportunities to address needs in Oregon
communities.
- The library community works collaboratively with higher
education in Oregon and elsewhere to create and sustain
professional programs which address the most critical staffing
needs in the state.
Technology
Goal
Librarians in Oregon continuously improve services
and enhance customer convenience through the appropriate
application of cost-effective technology.
Objectives
- Libraries anticipate technological change and react quickly
to developments to improve customer service.
- Libraries collaborate to develop pilot projects to develop
and deliver library services based on the changing ways people use technology.
- Libraries make a major commitment to increase services
through investment in technological infrastructure and technical training.
- Libraries collaborate to organize and preserve our cultural
heritage in appropriate formats.
- Librarians contribute to the knowledge base by digitizing
unique and special collections and by linking resources to assist
library users.
Value
Goal
Oregonians consider libraries an essential
community service.
Objectives
- The people of Oregon recognize libraries as key in the
development of the love of reading and lifelong learning.
- Communities and parent institutions recognize the value of
libraries and are willing to fund them appropriately.
- Oregon libraries of all types meet standards established by
appropriate professional organizations.
- School library media services are recognized by school
districts as essential to student learning.
- Every K-12 school student has access to an adequate
curriculum-based library collection managed by a certified school
media specialist, and is skilled at finding and using library
resources.
- Faculty and higher education administrators support stable
and adequate funding for libraries.
- Librarians play a key instructional role on college and
university campuses.
- All Oregonians are served by tax supported public
libraries.
- Public libraries and their supporters work together to form
economically viable and efficient organizations capable of
providing and sustaining a wide range of high quality
services.
Planning and Marketing
Goal
Oregon libraries design and target services in
response to community needs.
Objectives
- All libraries have a long-range strategic plan.
- Library staff utilize market research tools to assess,
address and advertise services to specific populations.
- Oregon libraries work together with community partners to
reach out to diverse populations including non-English speaking
groups and older citizens.
- Oregon libraries maintain and use current and projected
community trend information to plan for changing service
needs.
- Library staff evaluate current services and redirect
resources as necessary to meet community needs.
We need your feedback. Please send your comments and
suggestions to
[email protected].