ALAhead to 2010 Strategic Plan

Founding Purpose:
The object of the American Library Association shall be to promote library services and librarianship. ( ALA Constitution, Article 1I)

Mission:
To provide leadership for the development, promotion and improvement of library and information services and the profession of librarianship in order to enhance learning and ensure access to information for all. ( ALA Policy 1.2)

Vision:
ALA is the leading advocate for:

  • The value of libraries and librarians in connecting people to recorded knowledge in all forms.
  • The public's right to a free and open information society.

Key Action Areas:

  • Diversity
  • Equity of Access
  • Education and Continuous Learning
  • Intellectual Freedom
  • 21st Century Literacy

(Approved annually since 1997 by the ALA Council as the "programmatic priorities" of the Association.)

Goals and objectives as adopted by the ALA Council

June 28, 2005

The goals presented are intended to guide the Association for the next five years. The goal statements answer the question: "What would constitute success?" For each goal, strategic objectives are defined. These strategic objectives provide the bridge between the goals and specific strategies and action plans.

Goal Area I: Advocacy/Value of the Profession

Goal Statement: ALA and its members are the leading advocates for libraries and the library profession.

Strategic Objectives:

  1. Increase support for research and evaluation to provide evidence regarding the value and impact of libraries.
  2. Increase public awareness of the value and impact oflibraries of all types.
  3. Increase public awareness of the value and impact oflibrarians and library staff.
  4. Mobilize, support and sustain grassroots advocacy for libraries and library funding at local, state, and federal levels.
  5. Increase collaboration on securing legislation favorable to libraries.
  6. Increase public awareness of the importance of intellectual freedom and privacy, and the role of libraries in a democracy.

Goal Area II: Education

Goal Statement: Through its leadership, ALA ensures the highest quality graduate and continuing education opportunities for librarians and library staff.

Strategic Objectives:

  1. Ensure that accreditation standards reflect the needs and core values of the profession.
  2. Increase availability of and access to continuing education and continuous learning opportunities for librarians and library staff.
  3. Make ALA continuing education programs and publications affordable and accessible in a wide variety of media and formats.
  4. Establish standards for educational programs for library support staff.

Goal Area III: Public Policy and Standards

Goal Statement: ALA plays a key role in the fonnulation of national and international policies and standards that affect library and infonnation services.

Strategic Objectives:

  1. Increase ALA's promotion of all forms of literacy.
  2. Increase ALA's influence in promoting First Amendment rights, intellectual freedom and privacy.
  3. Increase ALA's influence in promoting equity of access and fair use.
  4. Increase ALA's influence in promoting the preservation of our cultural heritage.
  5. Support grassroots efforts to influence local, state, federal, and international policies and standards that affect library and information services.
  6. Increase understanding of international issues affecting library and information services and generate support for international partnerships that strengthen library and information services.
  7. Expand and strengthen alliances with organizations that share common goals to advance policy issues.
  8. Protect free, permanent public access to government information.

Goal Area IV: Building the Profession

Goal Statement: ALA is a leader in recruiting and developing a highly qualified and diverse library work force.

Strategic Objectives:

  1. Increase leadership development opportunities for librarians and library staff.
  2. Increase the diversity of the library profession and workforce to reflect a changing population.
  3. Support nationwide efforts to increase recruitment and retention of librarians and library staff.
  4. Support efforts to increase career development opportunities for all librarians and library staff.
  5. Through ALA-APA, advocate for improved compensation for librarians and library staff.

Goal Area V: Membership

Goal Statement: Members receive outstanding value for their ALA membership.

Strategic Objectives:

  1. Increase the value of the Association to its members through identifying and responding to changing member needs.
  2. Increase opportunities for association involvement that is customized to individual interests.
  3. Increase opportunities for electronic and virtual involvement in association activities.
  4. Provide high quality programs, workshops, and publications in print and electronic format.
  5. Effectively communicate the value of association, division and round table membership.

Goal Area VI: Organizational Excellence

Goal Statement: ALA is an inclusive, effectively governed, well-managed, and financially strong organization.

Strategic Objectives:

  1. Increase ALA's ability to respond effectively to a changing environment.
  2. Increase the amount and diversity of revenue sources to support ALA programs and services and meet current and future member needs.
  3. Continuously improve ALA's technology capabilities in order to achieve the association's goals and meet member needs.
  4. Increase and improve communications, cooperation and collaboration throughout the association, its divisions and round tables.
  5. Provide greater opportunities for more members to assume leadership positions within the organization.
  6. Strengthen efforts to recruit and retain members.
  7. Strengthen efforts to support and collaborate with Chapters and Affiliates.

Appendix: Envisioned future and organizational values

Envisioned future

The Association's "envisioned future" is intended to describe a concrete yet unrealized vision of future conditions - a future toward which the Association and its constituent parts may work over an extended period of time, through successive short-term goals.

Desired future

Society

  • All people in the United States are literate.
  • All people can participate in the "information society."
  • People of all ages have access to adequate library services in their communities and schools.
  • There is free, pennanent public access to government information.
  • Libraries are universally perceived as an essential public service.

The Library

  • There is ample funding for all libraries to support their mission.
  • All preschools and elementary, middle, and high schools have certified school librarians.
  • Each library is an active center for the community it serves and reaches out to serve its community.
  • Each library has sufficient resources, technology, and qualified personnel to support its mission.
  • All libraries actively uphold the First Amendment rights of library users as outlined in the Library Bill of Rights.
  • Every public library offers service to children and young adults, provided by appropriately educated personnel.

The Profession

  • The profession of librarianship is as diverse as the people that libraries serve.
  • Working in a library is a sought-after career choice.
  • Librarians and library staff are prepared to meet the challenges of a changing infornlation environment.
  • Librarians and library staff are equitably compensated, in acknowledgement of their valuable knowledge and skills.
  • Librarians and library staff have access to professional development programs that are affordable and timely.
  • All librarians and governing bodies adhere to the ALA Code of Ethics.
  • Library support staff are a fully participating and valued component of librarianship.
  • Library school graduate students are a fully participating and valued component of librarianship.
  • Serving on a library board, faculty committee or library advisory group is a sought after volunteer choice.

The Association

  • ALA is respected for defending and maintaining First Amendment, intellectual freedom and privacy rights.
  • ALA makes significant contributions to increasing literacy in the United States.
  • New members are easily able to find an affinity group within ALA.
  • All members understand and can articulate the value of ALA membership.
  • Every librarian and library staff member is a member of ALA.
  • ALA has the resources it needs to accomplish its goals.
  • ALA and its leadership are recognized as innovative and proactive.
  • ALA's structure is nimble and flexible, enabling it to respond quickly to opportunities and changes.
  • ALA is recognized for its excellent two-way communication between the association and members.
  • ALA supports certification programs that provide quality training and improved library service.
  • ALA is the most complete and authoritative place to learn about - or receive - scholarships for library education.
  • ALA contributes to public policy decision-making in all areas related to education, libraries, and access to information, both nationally and internationally.
  • ALA is a primary resource for local library advocates and library advocacy.
  • ALA is a primary source for library research and statistics.
  • ALA is a leader in the use of information technology for member communication and member services.
  • ALA services are available in a variety of languages.
  • ALA services are accessible to the disabled.
  • ALA is universally recognized as a leading advocate for preservation, fair use, and access to infonnation.
  • All relevant accreditation agencies use ALA standards.
  • ALA supports schools of library and information studies in the development of professionals who understand and espouse the core values of the profession.
  • ALA maintains close working relationships with state, regional, national and international library organizations to achieve mutual goals.
  • ALA supports access to information by contributing to the development of standards and by identifying best practice.
  • ALA is an international leader in promoting improved library service and access to information for all.
  • ALA is recognized for its outstanding publications program.

Organizational values

The Association is committed to:

  • Member service
  • All types of libraries - academic, public, school and special
  • All librarians, library staff, trustees and other individuals and groups working to improve library services
  • An open, inclusive, and collaborative environment
  • Professionalism and integrity
  • Excellence and innovation
  • Extending and expanding library services in America and around the world.
  • Social responsibility and the public good.

Organizational Values provide a basis for the culture of ALA (the organization) and determines how it will function. Recently, the ALA Council approved a set of "Core Values" for the profession. They provide a framework for crafting policies relating to the profession. The Core Values are: Access, Confidentiality/Privacy, Democracy, Diversity, Education and Lifelong Learning, Intellectual Freedom, The Public Good, Preservation, Professionalism, Service, and Social Responsibility.