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Mn lib futures for pla annws
This document outlines the process undertaken by the Multitype Library Systems in Minnesota to establish a group of library futurists to examine challenges and opportunities facing Minnesota libraries. It describes how the futurists group was formed, including inviting representation from different library types and regions, appointing a steering committee, selecting 25 futurists ages 25-35 through an application process, and holding kickoff meetings. The goal was for the futurists to have a focused conversation on the future of Minnesota libraries and initiate a wider discussion on developing a strategic plan.
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Mn lib futures for pla annws
- 1. To Infinity andBeyond! Public Library Association Spring Symposium 2011
- 2. Inspiration New JerseyBlue Ribbon Task Force Mid-Atlantic Futures Conference MN Office of the Legislative Auditor Report on Public Libraries No strategic state plan for libraries General threats and challenges to libraries of all types
- 3. Why Multitypes Tookthe Lead Multicounty multitype library systems take the lead Talk across the lines Recognize challenges and opportunities Know the history of library structures & issues Understand the importance of vision and planning
- 4. Steps Multitype directorscommitted to funding the initial planning meetings Identified individuals and groups to participate in a planning session Issued the invitations Hired a facilitator
- 5. Who was invited Regional Public Library Systems Public Libraries Private Colleges U of M Libraries MnScu Libraries Minnesota Library Association Minnesota Educational Media Organization Minitex State Library
- 6. First meeting—May 2010 Goals of the Meeting Agree that this was needed Look at process & procedures Create timeline Establish subcommittees
- 8. Steering Committee ExecutiveCommittee Application Development Finance Session Planning Recruitment Resource & Support for Futurists
- 9. Other Steering Committee Meetings June Accepted work of subcommittees Defined the Futurists Group Application process Session planning for Kick Off
- 10. What we wantedto happen Identify challenges, changes, that will impact libraries of all types Create a foundation for a conversation about the future, change, and getting there Involve the library community in the conversation
- 11. “Ulterior Motives” Introducedifferent types of library staff to each other Encourage recognition of the shared problems and issues Encourage acknowledgement that all types of libraries matter Metro-centric attitude would be diluted Identify common challenges Leadership development
- 12. Accelerated timeline Aimfor Kick Off in October 2010 Selection of participants in September 2010 Futurists report in May 2011
- 13. Describe expectations forlibrary service and ways to meet these expectations.
- 14. How? Have a facilitated,focused conversation about our future.
- 15. Expectation that theLibrary community would be involved in the conversation, be used as resources, & and would be informed throughout the course of the process.
- 16. No expectations thatthis Futurists Group would be able to define how to implement changes.
- 17. Who? A group of designated people to have the focused conversation…and then could initiate a wider conversation.
- 18. Applicant Criteria Workin Minnesota library or be a library school student Between the ages 25-35
- 19. Questions for Applicants What motivates you to want to be part of a group involved in making recommendations for the future of Minnesota’s Libraries? Describe what comes to mind when you think of “Minnesota Libraries”? If you are selected as a member of the Library Futurists – what do you hope is one possible outcome from the work of the Initiative?
- 20. Who Applied? 83applicants 6 School Librarians 44 Public 7 Special 26 Academic
- 21. Selection Criteria &Process All types of libraries Geographic representation Everyone read all the applications Scored on a rubric Face to face discussion of applicants
- 22. Futurist Group Profile 3 School Librarians 3 Special/Other 6 Academic Librarians 12 Public Librarians Geographic representation
- 23.
- 24. Involving the LibraryCommunity Everyone invited Michael Rogers, The Practical Futurist Christine Lind Hage, ALA Committee for America’s Libraries for the 21st Century
- 25. First Meeting forFuturists Facilitator to help them get started Let them decide their own process, topics, & procedures
- 26.
- 27. Thanks to PatriciaPost, Executive Committee Planning Documents http://mnlfi.pbworks.com
Editor's Notes
- #3 OLA highlighted the need for a broad conversation about libraries in MNSilosNo strategic plan that addresses the challenges and changes that all types of faceNo other venue for this kind of conversation
- #4 We know everyone—talk across the linesKnow the challenges and opportunitiesKnow the history and politicsNo strong state library agency that looks to planningMore rulemaking rule enforcing fiscal oversightNot visionary or able to look to evolutionLack of evolution in MN library structure
- #5 Out of continuing education budgetsWhy a facilitator—to insure the neutrality of the discussion and decisions, keep us on task and track, summarizeMCMT hired the bus and the driver and let the “passengers” define the destination and the route
- #6 Broad as possible—metro, outstate, all typesEvery group identified 2 representativesState library in transitionThat if you didn’t to the first meeting, you couldn’t come to the remaining meetings—efficiency
- #7 Recognized that this was an ambitious time frameTo increase the efficiency and ensure results, created subcommittees
- #8 Amazingly enough—The conclusion is that everyone recognized and was was eager for a conversation these topics
- #9 That first meeting with the facilitator allowed everyone to express ideas and reservations about moving forward but in the end everyone agreed there was/is a need for doing a project like this. Involving everyone, looking aheadEveryone agreed to trust the process And trust the work of the subcommittee
- #11 Other leadership development opportunitiesWater vs plumbing
- #12 Buy in from library community
- #14 Ultimate charge for the Futurists
- #15 We want to be in charge of the vision—we know we are within various politician structures, but our history of collaboration and cooperation
- #16 Don’t expect—or want really—specific recommendations on structure, fundingThis isn’t a problem for the Futurists to solve—give the vision, the library community will take it from there
- #17 Don’t expect—or want really—specific recommendations on structure, fundingThis isn’t a problem for the Futurists to solve—give the vision, the library community will take it from there
- #18 We want to be in charge of the vision—we know we are within various politician structures, build our history of collaboration and cooperation
- #19 Most controversial was age limit—a lot of non-Minnesota nice emails and conversationsReasons on the wikiInspired by speaker at state conference on generations at work—the value of similar world experience, The age limit is not meant to imply that those older or younger than the 10-year range do not have contributions to make or ideas to share, but rather it reflects the research on age cohorts and the value that shared experience brings to discussions such as these. The presenter at the recent Minitex ILL conference made a compelling case for how different generations or cohorts interact with one another and those outside their cohort based on their shared experience of world events that have occurred during their lifetime, as well as the economics, political climate, demographic changes, environments, and other conditions that have influenced their development and world view. In addition, the Steering Committee wanted to go deeper into Minnesota libraries for voices and ideas that may not always be heard in other venues or outside their own settings.
- #21 Skeptics on Steering Committee questioned if we would even get 24 applicants
- #22 All notified yes or no. Given time to accept—required attendance at first meeting for participation
- #25 Wanted to get everyone on the bus--
- #26 Compromise on telling them what to do, how to organize, and topics to discuss by having the facilitator at their first 2 meetings.One steering committee member was an emerging leader really encouraged the use of a facilitator so they weren’t just tossed in to sink or swimFollowed the successful approach that worked with steering committee—hire the driver and bus—let them choose the destination and stops along the wayShould have done better coaching on using facilitator