Dynamic Planning Institute @ PLA 2018 Conference, March 20, 2018
Thanks to a professional development grant from CLRC, I was able to attend an all-day pre-conference on strategic planning at the PLA 2018 Conference in Philadelphia, PA. As the Coordinator for Member Services, my job is to help strengthen our member libraries by providing the needed resources. In the past year, we have had several libraries in need of help developing a strategic plan. There are consultants out there to help with the process but they are costly and tend to make the process longer than it needs to be. I saw a need and wanted to fill it.
The pre-conference was presented by Stephanie Gerding, an independent library consultant who created the Dynamic Planning Institute for the Public Library Association’s strategic planning initiative. There were about 75 participants attending the institute. Ms. Gerding began the workshop with a fun, energizing ice breaker called “Secret Handshake, Secret Code & Secret Dance Move.” This helped us open up and feel comfortable with our fellow attendees. We were separated into teams by tables and given our first task, create an imaginary library. In honor of Philadelphia, we called our library the Cheesesteak Free Library. Using the workbook, our library team worked through the four phases of dynamic planning; Assess, Strategize, Engage and Impact. With each process, I thought about how this could work with the libraries in Onondaga County. Also, how I could incorporate this as a training for directors and trustees. The Dynamic Planning Institute taught me that strategic planning doesn’t need to be tedious, expensive, or a time intensive process. It has also given me the confidence to provide this much needed service to our member libraries.
I want to thank CLRC for allowing me to attend this informative and very worthwhile workshop.
Amanda Travis
Coordinator for Member Services
Onondaga County Public Library