Fifteen Months in the Planning Trenches: Strategically Positioning the Research Library for a New Century

lanning is something we do frequently, often without thinking about it, even if it only means putting together a "to do" list of daily activities.We plan workflow for departments and organize projects to reduce backlogs.We plan meetings, staff development activities, and even parties.But this sort of planning is not strategic.Strategic planning is more future oriented and involves quantifying and objectifying the library's goals and mission, its values, and its vision for the future.It is a careful process that evaluates the environment and emphasizes deployment of resources to achieve meaningful results.But it is more than just a budget document.When done correctly, the strategic planning process produces understand-_-ing and a common purpose throughout the organization. Strategic planning in libraries hastn