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Vinson Institute Facilitation Helps Inform Strategic Plan Development for State Libraries

The Vinson Institute's Mike Hourihan is assisting the Georgia Public Library System (GPLS) with its development of an updated five-year strategic plan. Hourihan will facilitate a series of seven public meetings at library locations throughout the state beginning on September 27 in Columbia County. During the meetings, he will solicit input from local library stakeholders, including directors and staff of regional library systems, community users, friends of the libraries, local elected officials, and others.

The meetings will give GPLS the opportunity to hear from local and regional library systems about the ways in which the state can best support their efforts in the coming years. GPLS's current strategic plan is being revised, and they will use the feedback elicited during the meetings to draft an updated plan that addresses libraries' new challenges and opportunities.

Currently, local systems receive a small percentage of their budgets from the state. By asking local stakeholders directly about their needs, GPLS will be better able to determine which of their services and support are most valuable. They will also be able to anticipate new kinds of assistance they might offer local districts in light of evolving trends in libraries and publishing, which may include eBooks, virtual libraries, and other new methods. The Vinson Institute will complete the meetings facilitation in November, and GPLS will produce its updated strategic plan by early 2013.

The Vinson Institute's meeting facilitation services offer government organizations an objective resource during meetings and events to help promote openness and balanced participation. A number of governments have relied on the Vinson Institute to facilitate strategic planning and other meetings. Examples of past projects include the Athens-Clarke County economic development planning process, the Governor's Georgia Competitiveness Initiative, and the Georgia Council for the Arts strategic planning. The Institute also provides facilitation during planning retreats for elected bodies and other groups and mediation services.