Many of the steps below can be partially automated through the TechAtlas technology planning tool, which is available free to WebJunction members. If you don't already have a TechAtlas account, why not create one now?
1. Create a library mission statement. Hint: your library director or other library administrators may well already have this (so you can copy it). You can also review the article Writing a Mission Statement to get ideas on where to start.
2. Create a technology vision statement derived from your mission statement. This does not have to be complicated - you just need to state how the technologies included in your plan will help to advance the library's mission. A vision statement essentially describes what the library is hoping to do with technology. The WebJunction article, Technology Vision Statements: Examples and Suggestions, is a great place to start.
3. Assemble a technology planning team. Your team should ideally include both technically savvy members of your staff and those who are not so tech savvy, but involving other stakeholders beyond the library staff is even better. This article can help answer some questions about who should be on the team and what the team is repsonsible for accomplishing.
4. Complete a needs assessment. Figure out what the library needs to inform your decisions. This can include what patrons need to use the library effectively or what staff need to be able do their jobs. Needs assessments can be completed in many different ways such as conducting a survey or through focus groups.
5. Establish goals. Technology planning goals are broad in scope, and should be driven by your technology vision statement. Your goals should answer the question "What patron service outcomes do we expect to see from implementing new technologies in the library?"
6. Inventory your current technology assets. You may already have this information in a local database or spreadsheet. If not, proceed directly to TechAtlas, which includes a collection of tools to help you build your inventory. Which is great to have for more than just planning purposes - like insurance needs.
7. Break your high-level goals (created in step #5) down into specific objectives. For example, if one of your goals is to "Expand the scope of the library's web site", a related objective might be "Have each library branch create their own home page." Take a look at the New Pathways to Planning: Examples Page from the Northeast Kansas Library System for a demonstration of how to derive objectives from goals. TechAtlas also offers a series of assessments that generate example objectives for use in your technology plan.
8. How will you accomplish your objectives? Break them down into actionable activities. An activity related to the objective described above might be "Obtain web design training for all staff." The same New Pathways to Planning: Examples Page mentioned above contains examples of actions (activities) derived from objectives. TechAtlas assessment results also contain example activities for each objective.
9. Evaluate and monitor your technology plan on a regular basis. Your library technology plan needs to be a "living document" if it is to have any real value! Take a look at WebJunction's Technology Plan Evaluation article. If using TechAtlas, look for example evaluation steps in the Evaluate section and remember to evaluation progress toward accomplishing your goals and how the technology planning process as a whole is working.
10. If you intend to incorporate your technology plan into an application for E-rate funding, make sure to track the approval process as you submit your plan to your Library Directory, your Library Board, your state library, etc.
