Guide+to+Planning+Process

=THE PLANNING PROCESS=  Before beginning the planning process, examine the major emphases in chapter 3 of //Empowering Learners//. Answer the following to guide your planning:

1. Discuss what a library media program needs to do to create a foundation for lifelong learning. 2. How can a library media program provide access to resources beyond the school?
 * 21st Century skills/standards
 * Open access to the media program
 * Integrate skills into curriculum
 * Know student's needs and interests
 * Collaboration with school community
 * At least one full-time certified LMS
 * Reading is a window to the world
 * Intellectual and physical access to resources
 * Variety of resources -- books and technology, etc.
 * Adequate collection, up-to-date collection
 * Outreach and network with public library
 * Professional development
 * Welcoming and inviting environment - a learning commons
 * Web site, wikis
 * Guest speakers
 * Author visits
 * Partnering with other libraries, museums, other educational entities
 * Internet
 * Helping teachers teach, offering professional development to teachers
 * Virtual library
 * Links to the online catalog and other resources of the LMC

3. What are the purposes of planning for a library media program?
 * To help the LMC become the "hub" of learning -- the learning commons
 * To extend instruction outside the classroom
 * To increase student achievement -- because that is the bottom line
 * To help adminster/manage the library media program
 * To fulfill the mission of the LMP

4. List and briefly describe the 4 major phases for strategic planning. 5. What products do you expect from the strategic planning effort? 6. Who should be involved in the planning process? Who are the key persons in the school/community who should support library media planning? List position titles and reason for selecting this position to be involved in the planning process?
 * Increased student achievement
 * Continuous improvement of the LMP
 * Better relationship between teachers and LMS
 * More knowledge of the curriculum


 * Library media specialist -- should be a leader
 * Administrator -- "key" leader -- the one responsible for the school
 * Teachers -- those who impart the curriculum -- know the standards that have to be met
 * Parents -- stakeholders in education process
 * Students -- stakeholders in the learning process -- their achievement is important -- they are recipients of the planning
 * Curriculum specialist from central office

7. What will be the purpose of the library media program planning team?
 * Bring varied viewpoints and perspectives
 * Experiences are valuable
 * Share expectations for student learning, curriculum, what they expect to see

8. What criteria will be used to assess the effectiveness of the current library media program?

9. How much time will be required for the planning process?

10. What resources will be needed to support planning?

**Developing the Vision and Mission Statements**
1. Why does the library media program exist? 2. How does it contribute to student learning? 3. How can it better contribute to student learning? 4. What are the unique responsibilites of the library media program? 5. List and briefly describe the 5 roles of the library media specialist? How must these roles change? 6. What is the role of the classroom teahcer and how must it change? 7. Review the vision statements you wrote earlier in this class. Do they need to be changed? 8. Review the mission statements you wrote earlier in this class. Do they need to be changed?

Developing Goals and Objectives
Goals are broad statements of what you want to accomplish over the next 3 to 5 years. Write 2 or 3 broad goals based on the mission statements above.

Collecting Needed Information
The **strategic planning process begins with the planning team conducting an external needs analysis**, an environmental scanning (both external and internal) that requires analysis of various social, economic, demographic, and political forces and their consequences for education in general and local schools in particular. Then a process to determine the impact of such social trends as the following are having on the school's program is begun:

An **internal needs analysis** of the school library media program is then conducted. The analysis of the library media program needs forms the basis for all planning decisions:
 * increasing numbers of senior citizens
 * changing family patterns
 * increasing numbers of minority students
 * shifting from agricultural/industrial economy to information/service economy
 * expanding role for technology in people's lives
 * increasing interdependence among the world's civilizations
 * education seen as increasingly unimportant
 * necessity for lifelong learning as careers/jobs change
 * volume of information is increasing rapidly
 * continued fragmentation of values
 * most parents want social morality/values taught in schools
 * continued status of U. S. as a debtor nation
 * What kind of library media program shall be provided for the students?
 * What personnel will the library media program require?
 * What materials, equipment, and supplies will be required?
 * What facilities (spaces, arrangement) will the library media program require?
 * What will be the cost and how will the funds be secured?
 * How can physical and human resources be budgeted, selected, organized, and managed to accomplish goals?



Developing Action Plans
TBD

Evaluating the Library Media Program
TBD