Case Study: University of Colorado, Boulder Libraries Strategic Plan
Client: University of Colorado, Boulder Libraries
Project: Strategic Plan
Norlin Library
In April of 2019, Athenaeum21 (A21) began working with the University of Colorado, Boulder Libraries to collectively define its mission and values, and to uncover its longer-term aspirations, culminating in a 3-year strategic plan. A21 was charged with ensuring that the process was inclusive of all Libraries staff, reflecting their perspectives and expert input, but also quick, so that strategic planning process did not overwhelm or over-burden participants. The work commenced in April and May 2019 with a brief, anonymous survey, designed to elicit themes for the strategic plan from all library staff. In parallel, A21 conducted twenty 60-minute phone or video conference interviews with members of the library leadership and management as well as with a selection of staff from all levels of the organization. The interviews focused on identifying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and any barriers to alignment with the campus goals or to fulfilling the Libraries’ existing strategic plan. To supplement the perspectives of Libraries’ staff, A21 analyzed the comments shared by respondents to the 2019 CU Boulder Libraries’ LibQUAL user survey.
Based on the themes that emerged from the inputs above, and those identified in relevant campus planning documents, A21 designed and facilitated five workshops, of approximately 30 participants each, with the CU Boulder Libraries staff and interested stakeholders. These workshops enabled more in-depth discussions about the opportunities and challenges presented by the University’s initiatives and other emergent themes identified by Libraries’ staff and users. The workshops were designed for maximum participation from across the staff, balanced with intensive, small-group collaborative brainstorming and prioritization.
Having captured and synthesized the perspectives gleaned in the surveys, individual interviews, and theme-based workshops, A21 then designed and facilitated a 1.5 day strategic planning workshop with 17 members of the Libraries’ leadership team and communications staff. In the course of the workshop, participants built on the existing strengths of CU Boulder Libraries, and refined and prioritized bold, measurable goals that aligned with the broader University plans. A21 then synthesized these outputs into a first draft of the Strategic Plan. Three iterations of the plan then incorporated feedback from staff and library leadership resulting in a final version in September 2019 (six months from the start). With the full plan ratified, A21 worked with a graphic and print designer to create a single-page version of the plan, optimized for broad communications. The full version of the strategic plan is the basis of the Libraries staff’s respective departments’ evolving implementation plans over the next three years.
You can hear Robert MacDonald, the Dean of Libraries, speak about the process and outcomes here.
And you can see the final version of the plan here.
Services Provided:
Themes Survey of Libraries Staff
Discovery Interviews
LibQUAL Survey Comment Analysis
Collaborative Theme-Based Staff Brainstorming and Prioritization Workshops
Strategic Planning Workshop and Leadership Retreat
Strategic Plan drafts and final draft
Design and production of a public single-page Strategic Plan
Methods Used:
Survey
Interviews
Discovery Workshops
Strategic Planning and Prioritization Workshops
Desk Research