Libraries' Strategic Plan: Catalyst | AY 20-21 Strategic Plan

Explore this page to review the first year of the Libraries' strategic plan.

AY21 initiatives progress dashboard

You can download computer backgrounds: 

• Welcoming
• Curious
• Collaborative
• Trailblazing

Overview of all AY21 initiatives and objectives (link to document). 

AY21 Initiatives and Workgroups

• Professional Development: Implement a comprehensive development program at all levels of the organization with at least 50% employee participation.
  • Sponsor: Alea Henle
  • Facilitators: Donna Richardson & Rachel Makarowski
  • Working group: Ginny Boehme, Stefanie Hilles, Jennie Holan, John Williams, Lissa Martin, Gabe Neff, Cody Sprunger, Jerry Yarnetsky, Tiffany Dogan, Jacyln Spraetz
  • Action Plan
• Adaptability: Investigate, advocate, and implement flexible work environments and staff structures by July 30, 2021. While our focus will be on doing the research that will establish a foundation for long-term change as reflected in our final recommendations, we will also look for opportunities to take action throughout the process.  
  • Sponsor: Elias Tzoc
  • Facilitators: Jody Perkins & Kim Hoffman
  • Working group: Senta Sellers, Pam Hopkins, Cara Calabrese, Shawn Van Ness, and Meng Qu
  • Action Plan

• Virtual Spaces & Services: Ensure cohesive experience between virtual and physical spaces by expanding and marketing virtual spaces and services to increase user touchpoints by 15%.
  • Sponsors: Elias Tzoc & Stan Brown 
  • Facilitators: Ken Irwin & Alia Levar Wegner
  • Working group: Michael Bomholt, Anna Liss Jacobsen, Dani Owens, Andy Revelle, Justina Kaiser
  • Action Plan
    • Appendix
• Communicating services: Create infrastructure in order to communicate our values and cultivate community by (1) assessing and analyzing user needs, (2) solidifying a brand for the libraries, and (3) creating a brand ambassador program.
  • Sponsor: Kevin Messner
  • Facilitators: Nick Kneer & Nate Floyd
  • Working group: Nela Ahmed, Shawn Vanness
  • Action Plan
• Meaningful partnerships: Analyze and cultivate values-driven partnerships to support services by pursuing grants, donor funding, and investing in relationship building.
  • Sponsor: Bill Modrow
  • Facilitators: Carla Myers & Katie Gibson
  • Working group: Jacky Johnson, Laura Sheppard, Masha Stepanova, John Williams
  • Action Plan
  • Updated Action Plan - Jan 2021

Slides from the business review meeting can be found here. 

Recap email.

Top takeaways: 

1. Your input, through surveys already shared and those to come — provide valuable data and insight to the working groups. Please take some time to fill out these surveys as they come across your inbox.
2. There’s great collaboration already between the working groups. Some have found unexpected opportunities to work together; others have already initiated partnerships with other units on campus.
3. The work we’re focused on is practical and will result in real, positive change. Catalyst is not a thought experiment or a wish list, but instead contains real and achievable efforts.

Slides from the business review meeting can be found here. 

Recap email. 

Top takeaways: 

1. Your input is valuable. Please take some time to fill out surveys and participate in focus groups as they come across your inbox.
2. Our strategic plan continues to support organizational and campus alignment while remaining nimble to meet the needs of the present. We continue to see momentum and movement forward on strategic initiatives, even when action items need to shift or change. 
3. The work we’re focused on is practical. This is not a thought experiment or a wish list; Catalyst will result in real and positive change.

Slides from the business review meeting can be found here. 

Recap email. 

Top takeaways: 

1. Our goals and initiatives were well-chosen and align with university-wide priorities.
2. We’ve laid a strong foundation for important work to come. As we move into the next cycle, we need to capitalize on this energy and continue to commit to these initiatives.
3. Across the Libraries, we’ve prioritized the strategic plan. When facilitators asked for input and participation, they found enthusiastic collaborators who drove projects forward in real, actionable ways. Every group you volunteer for, every survey you fill out, every meeting you attend – is valuable. 
4. It’s time to share and celebrate the work we’ve done — watch for an invitation in the coming weeks to a virtual meeting where we’ll showcase the accomplishments of each initiative and set the stage for the next academic year.