STRATEGIC PLANNING

The Process
In 2003 Friends of Canadian Libraries (FOCAL) embarked on a strategic planning process in order to:

  • Effectively serve the current and future needs of member Friends groups

  • Effectively use the budget to match resources to needs

  • Identify future tasks and set priorities

  • Understand possible future trends and how they will affect FOCAL

To understand more about the process which resulted in the mission, visions, values,
goals and action plan, please review earlier tasks and workshops.
Task One: SWOT Analysis    
Task Two: Mission Statement 
Task Three: Vision/Values 
Task Four: Goals-Objectives-Action Plan
Friends on a Mission Strategic Planning Workshop  - January 2004.

                            OUR STEERING COMMITTEE

Val Marshall - Ajax                                     Heather Graham - Winnipeg    
Peggy Hiscock - Pictou-Antigonish              Pat Jobb - St. Albert (CLA)    
Gillian Keir - St. Albert                                Lois Magahay - Lindsay         
Dorothy Macnaughton - Sault Ste. Marie     Jocelyn MacNiel - Vancouver   
Jim Nicol - Dundas/Hamilton (Chair)           Nicholas Spillios - Edmonton
Jami van Haaften - Sudbury                         Rick Walker - Winnipeg  (CAPL)
            
Please comment on any aspect of our process to date. E-mail focal@accessola.com or send your comments to Jami van Haaften 1826 Marie Ave., Sudbury, Ontario P3E 2X8.

Task One: SWOT Analysis
Task Two: Mission Statement
Task Three: Vision/Values
Task Four: Action Plan
Friends on a Mission Strategic Planning Workshop  - January 2004.

The process has been facilitated by Terry Sarazen, a Library Development Consultant for the Southern Ontario Library Service. Please visit the SOLS website to view Terry's PowerPoint presentation presented at OLA in 2003, the results of a provincial survey of 88 Friends groups across Ontario, and the feedback gathered during her OLA conference session on strategic planning  -  http://www.sols.org/friends/planning.htm

SWOT Analysis

SWOT, short for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats, is a systematic means of conducting an assessment of the environment or situation in which FOCAL finds itself.
 

FOCAL Strategic Planning Steering Committee

SWOT DISCUSSION OUTCOMES
Top 3: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats

Strengths:

  1. Size/scope - A national association can assist local Friends to take advantage of sharing ideas for programs, fund-raising and advocacy from across the country, assisting with the formation of new Friends groups and providing a nation-wide base for advocacy when legislation affects libraries.
  2. Communication - Regular issues of the newsletter keeping members informed; The newsletter is tangible, can be handed out, passed around Friends' boards, handed out at Friends' information meetings and not only keeps members informed but acts as PR tool.
  3. Executive - An in-place executive body, constitution and structure. - Committed members - Jami, Val in particular.
 		Weaknesses:
  1. Local interest - Friends at the local memberships really are only interested in their own library – very few are interested in the national association and being part of the decision-making or executive; Friends groups by their very nature are volunteers and locally focused - there is no incentive to be active in the national organization.
  2. Limited budget - Limited budget limits travel and promotion. Present financial resources totally inadequate pertaining to a Canadian national organization. FOCAL's volunteer management team lacks the human resources to carry out its wide scope of tasks effectively. Run by volunteers with no administration support - except SOLS
  3. Lack of time/commitment - Among executive volunteers. As Friends at the local membership level are only interested in their own library, this makes it difficult to recruit new people who will be committed to the FOCAL executive.
Opportunities
  1. Increase membership - Present majority membership base and active strength is located in Ontario. Retain and grow this base.
  2. Recruitment program - Develop a recruitment program for FOCAL which would strengthen the association.
  3. Partnerships - Forming provincial umbrella groups of Friends. Perhaps with the country being so big, the emphasis should be made to organize the regional areas, with a hope they would become stronger and form a base from which to draw a national executive. Empower identified representatives with material and financial resources to communicate, support and expand the formation of local Friends groups.
 		Threats
  1. Communication – A feeling of isolation among Friends groups. Challenge on the part of FOCAL involved in maintaining frequent communication with Friends groups given the lack of volunteers' time.
  2. Loss of membership funding - Due to current members not renewing and insufficient enrollment of new members. FOCAL is unable to increase its representation as a result of insufficient human and financial resources.
  3. Loss of corporate (and other) support - Corporations  (and other potential funders) supporting other non-profit groups and libraries

Mission Statement

The mission is a concise statement that tells the community what business Friends of Canadian Libraries is in. It is says what FOCAL does exceptionally well that is unique or different from what other organizations do.

FOCAL provides a national support and resource network to assist in the formation and promotion of Friends of Libraries groups throughout the library community in Canada. Friends of Libraries are volunteers acting collectively and independently to preserve, promote and strengthen library services in harmony with library management and policies.

Organizational Values

Whereas a mission statement specifies what you do, for whom, organizational values speak to how you intend to behave, on a day-to-day basis, while fulfilling your mission or purpose. Values describe what your organization deems to be important and worth protecting, and inspire people throughout the organization to behave in ways that reflect those values.

Value #1          Value of Libraries

FOCAL believes libraries inspire and enrich the human spirit and are a focal point in a community, providing access to the world of knowledge, information, and pleasure for all people.


Value #2         Leadership

To provide leadership and guidance for the formation of library Friends groups nationally

with the provision of resource materials and active support.

 

Value #3            Partnership

FOCAL partners with national and other library organizations for mutual benefit.
 

Value #4            Communication

Communication through media and electronic channels with current and potential FOCAL members, uniting these groups with relevant information and a national collective sense of belonging to the Friends’ concept.

 

Value #5            Commitment

FOCAL is to be perceived as an effective and active body dedicated to the furtherance of Friends of Libraries nationally and which values with respect and appreciation the worth of volunteers devoted to library support.

 

Value #6            Sponsorship

FOCAL values the support of corporate sponsors and granting agencies.

 

Value #7            Diversity

FOCAL welcomes the participation of all Friends groups, valuing their diversity

 

FOCAL Vision

Friends of Canadian Libraries (FOCAL) strives to be a recognized and valued national volunteer organization, active and effective in delivering resources and support.  FOCAL employs communication technology to network with its members and the library community.  FOCAL is a financially viable non-profit organization funded by membership, donations, sponsorship and grants.


Friends on a Mission Strategic Planning Workshop - Ontario Library Association

 

What changes or new directions will lead FOCAL to realize its vision over the next 3 to 5 years ?” Each participant (27) voted for his or her top three priorities and the results were as follows: