Strategic
Planning Session
Summary Report
March 22-24, 2006
Prepared by: Breakthroughs UNLIMITED Inc.
Mission and Values
Mission
The mission of the BC Electronic Library Network (BC ELN) is to provide superior and
equitable information access for all learners and researchers by extending the expertise
and resources of the BC post-secondary libraries.
BC ELN is a partnership between the Province of BC and its post-secondary libraries.
BC ELN operates with core funding from the Province of BC and resources contributed
by partner libraries.
Core Values and Principles
Collaboration: Together we are stronger. We work as a collegial community in a
spirit of teamwork, participation, and inclusion. We look for
opportunities to form new partnerships.
Trust: The foundation of our success is respect, integrity, and
accountability. We foster long-term, trust-based relationships
through open and honest communication and ethical practices.
Innovation: We are nimble and flexible, creatively adapting and responding to
opportunities and change.
Leadership: Our success is based on competence, expertise, and a
commitment to excellence, learning, and professionalism.
Sustainability: We ensure our on-going viability through continuous
improvement, cost-effectiveness, and accountability for results.
BC ELN – Together!
2011 Vision
Central Goal:
Post-Secondary Leader in
Library, Learning and Community Networking
Strategic Vision Goals:
• Recognized leader in collaboration
• Facilitator of digital collections creation and storage
• Effective partner in development of BC knowledge economy
• Catalyst for innovative licensing
• Pro-active partner in the Library of BC
• Coordinator of innovative information technologies
• Champion of universal access
BC ELN – Together
2011 Vision & Strategic Plan
FACILITATOR
OF DIGITAL PRO-ACTIVE
COLLECTIONS PARTNER IN
CATALYST FOR CREATION & THE LIBRARY
INNOVATIVE STORAGE OF BC
LICENSING
The mission of the BC
COORDINATOR
Electronic Library Network
OF INNOVATIVE
(BC ELN) is to provide
INFORMATION
superior and equitable
EFFECTIVE TECHNOLOGIES
information access for all
learners and researchers PARTNER IN
by extending the expertise DEVELOPMENT OF
and resources of the BC BC’S KNOWLEDGE
post-secondary libraries. ECONOMY
Post-Secondary Leader RECOGNIZED
in Library, Learning & LEADER IN
COLLABORATION
CHAMPION Community Networking
OF UNIVERSAL
ACCESS
tion CHALL
puta ENGES
ORTS
n. re • R ap
gnitio
SU P P
id/unp
re c o re dic
e c t, ding ta ble
R es p -buil 4. Raising Our Pro le • Ma in te c hno
tis e & • ns us ta ining logy
xpe r ons e te c h
lls , e e nd c • S tre nic a l e
• S k i pe rie nc ora ti
on a tc he d xpe rtis
ex
ra l c
olla b ortiu
m/
de l
3. Building the BC Library too thin
/re s ou
e
e c to C ns
• s o p role mo • D ive
rs ity o
rc e s
s -s s hi f
• C ro , pa rtne r
ne e ds
a gile
ble , tic 2. Enhancing Our Services • Hea
lth of
/priorit
ie s
• N im us ia s
pot ential
e nth partn
gov’t
goa l
s 1. Developing Digital Collections • P ote
nt
of fun ia l unc e rta in
ers?
with ding
ne d ty
• A lig s o ur
ces
B O L D S T E P S
• Ma
ding rk e
w fun a rie s ins ta b tpla c e
• Ne r libr ilit
e xpe c y/us e r
le fo
profi ta tions
ghe r
• Hi
VALUES • Innovation • Collaboration • Sustainability • Leadership • Trust
Librar
y CONTEXT MAP
dary Post-Se
S ec o n
Post- Trends Ed u
cond
cation T ary
or
S ec t r en d
gatek
eepe
rs
• Bloc s
ns as k
• Lib
raria Societal portab transfers &
ility course
en ac
cess Values Trends • Coll
• Op as pl
ace Government/ ab orative
rary progra
• Lib
ram a
nd
• Inclusive & diverse
Regulatory/ ms
prog
ent in ing
• Instant gratification Fiscal Trends • Dist
an
olvem plann • Ubiquitous access learnin ce and dist
• In v ulum ers
g ributed
curric partn • End user wants simplicity, not • Climate of uncertainty • Elec
ns as complexity
tron ic serv
raria ice de
• Lib • Distance learning support E-reso livery
• Gate-keeper service models u
point
s (fading) • Dependence on fund-raising & collec rces vs. par
tion t of
rv ic e tion
of se abora • English – use of abbreviations local support • Tec
lding l coll
hn
stude ologically
• Me ctora Card) • Convenience/customization n s
ss-se e instruc ts (e.g., ga ophisticated
• Crog., BC On • Respect for the ‘common tion) mes in
(e. good”
ice
i-serv Broad
/mult ban
• Mu
rpose
lti-pu nts ELN in creased across pr
s dem ov
onme and ince –
envir
vices
a ser
medi
h-end oogle
• H ig ith G
tion w
• Int
egra Demographic Trends
• • More competition for less
• Ha
• E -le t nd students
Di
gi t arn ech -he
• ing nolo ld
Gr pres izati gie • Fewer ‘traditional’ students
• anu erva on p s
De lar roj • Multi-institutional affiliations
• (in liver it ti
y o on ects
Sta di y fp an • Lifelong learning
• nd-a vidu to P ro d
P a DA duct
I od lon l) • Learning/education
Tenfor
-ca e ’s
sti me
h n m at
• Competition for students
c ng dia
olo i
gyon/
• Cultural diversity
T ren
• International students
d
S.P.O.T. Analysis
OPPORTUNITIES
STRENGTHS Local
Multi-Type
+ Respect/recognition/ Expanded Collaboration
+ Technical expertise and
reputation Media ; Higher (Synergy)
innovation; new
+ Nimble, agile, Resources/ Profile for
technologies Services Libraries New E-Resource
+ Cross-sectoral enthusiastic
Funding Archiving
collaboration and + Negotiating skills Sources
consensus-building + Advocacy role Buying Power
+ Consortium role Working
+ Skills, expertise and Models
experience model Meeting Embrace
for Cross-
+ Government initiatives + Customer-service Larger Public Partnerships; Open/
CURRENT/INTERNAL
FUTURE/EXTERNAL
Sectoral
+ Province-wide standards oriented Partnerships Policy Goals/ Ubiquitous
Collaborate
+ Ability to level the BC Economic Access
with PLSB
Well-Being
playing field
PROBLEMS THREATS
— Rapidly changing environment; pace of technology Membership issues (e.g., unhealthy partners;
— Regaining technical expertise different priorities)
— Appropriate resources to meet increasing expectations Government changes - $$$ disappears/uncertainty of
— Stretched too thin by external partnerships funding/project funding-ongoing commitments
— Inadequate/short-term funding
— One size doesn’t fit all – diverse needs Rapid and unpredictable technological change
— Different priority cycles between sectors Instability of marketplace/ user expectations
— Collaborating with partners who have diverse needs Contracting for services undermines collaboration
— Guides/lessons plans/training province-wide for ELN
Sticking to current ways of delivering services
Products
— Health of potential partners? Agreements made outside of ELN
— No ‘end-users’ in this planning process Vendor volatility and need for archiving
BC Electronic Library Network - Strategic Planning Session, March 23-24, 2006
Bold Steps
& High Impact Strategies
BOLD STEP Strategy (dots=priority votes)
• Virtual Reference Service (23 dots)
ENHANCING OUR SERVICES • New Technology Projects Strategy (22 dots)
• Provincial Information Literacy Project (9 dots)
• Major Digitization Initiative (15 dots)
DEVELOPING DIGITAL COLLECTIONS
• Provincial I.R. Strategy (12 dots)
• Provincial Symposium on One Library (26 dots)
• Expanded Licensing Strategy (15 dots)
• One-Card Strategy (14 dots)
BUILDING THE BC LIBRARY
• A Dialogue on BC ELN Increased Membership
(13 dots)
• A Resolution of PLNet Connectivity Strategy
(12 dots)
RAISING OUR PROFILE • Public Relations Strategy (14 dots)