Plan of Service

All library boards and staff need to plan. Indeed, many boards find themselves in numerous planning cycles: plan of service, business plan, strategic plan, building plan, technology plan…..

This plan is developed by the board and staff and the plan of service usually includes:

• a needs assesment process;

• mission statement

• goals and objectives; and

• the planning process to carry out your service.
   

The Libraries Regulation requires boards to have a plan of service that is current and on file with the Ministry. See Section 13.

To assist the board we have developed a few introductory articles that may get you started on your plan of service. All boards are required to deposit their current plan of service with the government. See Section 13 (2).

We also highly recommend that the board and staff look at the ALA book: The New Planning For Results: A Streamlined Approach by Sandra S. Nelson. Published 2001 by ALA.

The following articles may be of some assistance:

• The Planning Process: a tool for better library service
• Road Map For A Plan of Service

Example of a library system Plan of Service

• Yellowhead Regional Library

Example of a municipal library board Plan of Service

• Airdrie 
• Thorhild and Thorhild County
• Rocky Mountain House