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ALA Library Support Staff Interests Round Table
Strategic Planning Committee
Final Report

submitted June 25, 1997
by Ed Gillen, Committee Chair
At the 1996 ALA annual conference, the SSIRT Executive Board gave their approval to a strategic planning process that called for the identification of the "most pressing needs of support staff and to develop recommended strategies to address these needs." The charge to the Strategic Planning Process Steering Committee (SPPSC) in this process was the initial identification of the pressing needs of support staff. An interim report from this committee was presented at ALA Mid-Winter. (see packet materials)

PROGRESS SINCE ALA MID-WINTER

On January 3rd, the survey and information on how to access the survey was announced to LIBSUP-L subscribers. By ALA Mid-Winter, we were fast approaching our goal of 1,000 responses (600 responses). A deadline of May 30th had been established to allow for survey distribution at a number of spring conferences. The survey was published in the March/April Library Mosaics and in the April/June issue of the NYSLAA Network Connection. In addition, the process and how to access the survey was discussed on the April 11th SOARING to EXCELLENCE teleconference.

Surveys were accepted up until June 9th. To date, Jim Hill and his colleague Sherry have received and tallied 2,078 responses.

TOP THREE ISSUES IDENTIFIED

The results of the survey indicate that the top three issues identified are:

  1. Career Ladders (few opportunities for advancement)
  2. Compensation not appropriate to level of education, experience and responsibilities
  3. Access to continuing education and training opportunities
However, due to a large percentage of respondents not following the ranking directions, these results are misleading. The results do not accurately show which three issues received the #1 ranking (highest priority). Additional supporting personal/library data from the survey is included in your packet.

NEXT STEPS

  • I would recommend that the Executive Board further examine the survey results as it pertains to the issues so that ALA SSIRT can accurately determine the top three prior to handing off to the subcommittees for analysis and development of implementable solutions.

  • You have received tremendous support from the library support staff community. The results should be shared with them (LIBSUP-L, Library Mosaics, etc.)

  • Consideration for appointment to the task force subcommittees should proceed as planned. Supporting personal/library data as well as suggestions will be available to guide the subcommittees in their analysis and development of implementable solutions.

CONCLUSION

The Strategic Planning Process Steering Committee has completed its charge. In doing so we have generated a lot of publicity for ALA SSIRT and have built up expectations that ALA SSIRT will lead the library support staff community in implementing solutions. I wish you all the best in this endeavor. I have indicated to Meralyn Meadows that I would be willing to offer any guidance to the subcommittees as they begin their work.

Finally, I would like to thank SPPSC members Barbara Royer, Sara Stichert, Dorothy Morgan, Nancy Leighton, Ed Martinez, Martha Parsons, Stephany Liptak, and Jim Hill for their contributions, patience, and dedication.

---submitted June 25, 1997 by Ed Gillen, Committee Chair
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