2009 DCSLA Strategic Plan

The following strategic plan was approved by the DC/SLA Board 05 November 2009.

Vision

The Washington, DC Chapter of the Special Libraries Association is the recognized model of excellence as it prepares knowledge leaders for the future.

Mission

The Washington, DC Chapter of the Special Libraries Association leverages the unique resources available in the nation's capital and empowers information professionals to succeed now and in the future by providing a dynamic atmosphere in which to build and share their expertise.  We advocate the value of the profession, provide professional development and networking opportunities, and advance the practice of knowledge management.

Core Values

• Leadership
• Service
• Continuous Learning & Professional Development
• Accountability & Results
• Knowledge Sharing & Collaboration
• Advocacy & Empowerment 

Membership and Participation

Goal

Grow and support a vital and active Chapter representing a broad demographic of information professionals.

Objectives

• Establish a Membership Committee to work with the Membership Director to promote the benefits of membership, expand recruitment of new members, and to retain existing members.
  • Metric: Membership Director reports annual increase in membership and retention of existing members.
• Provide members with leadership opportunities at varying levels of involement and communicate anticipated time and effort requirements.
  • Metric: President and Nominations Committee report annual increase in member interest and participation in elected and appointed positions.
• Offer strong professional development and networking programs.
  • Metric: Survey and evaluation results after programs and events indicate high member satisfaction.
• Develop a plan to promote and facilitate Chapter volunteerism.
  • Metric: Volunteer Coordinator indicates a steady annual increase in particpation in a broad variety of volunteer activities.

Communications

Goal

 Maintain a communications infrastructure which provides timely and high quality information dissemination and exchange that benefits individual members and Chapter and Association leaders.

Objectives

• Establish a Communications Committee to develop a cohesive communications strategy outlined in a written action plan
  • Metric: Regular committee reports to the Board, at least annually.
• Provide timely, accurate information in a variety of ways.
  • Metric: Event surveys and evaluations indicate timeliness and accuracy in all Chapter communications.
• Offer training and tutorials to help volunteers and general membership make maximum us of Chapter communications tools.
  • Metric: Annual statstics indicate member participation in training and online tutorials.
• Routinely publicize Chapter Board meeting decisions that affect the membership.
  • Metric: Surveys indicate that Chapter members are well informed.

Finances

Goal 

Run a fiscally responsible organization.

Objectives

• Partner with appropriate information industry and professional organizations to reduce costs of Chapter events and programs, thus reducing the fees charged to members.  Provide consistent branded value to sponsoring organizations.
  • Metric: Set Chapter event prices so planned cost recovery is neutral or slightly positive.
• Look for innovative ways to reduce program and event costs.
  • Metric: Set Chapter event prices so planned cost recovery is neutral or slightly positive.
• Operate the Chapter within the annual budget and plan for special future expenditures.
  • Metric: Hold to annual budget and increase savings.
• Continue to maintain the equivalent of at least three years of the SLA Chapter allotment within the treasury.
  • Metric: Treasurer reports annually that the objective has been met.
• Keep members informed of the financial health of the Chapter.
  • Metric: Surveys and event evaluations indicate that Chapter members are well informed about Chapter financial position.

Outreach/Community Service

Goal

Provide outreach programs and community service opportunities for all members.

Objectives

• Develop an active and varied mentoring program available to all members.
  • Metric: Chapter hosts at least one mentoring event annually for DC/SLA members.
• Provide a variety of forums for member-to-member expertise sharing.
  • Metric: Attendance and usage statistics indicate member participation.
• Establish relationships with faculty and students of library and information science graduate programs.
  • Metric: Membership Director reports annual increase in student membership and participation in programs and events.
• Continue to seek opportunities for members to provide information service to local, national, and internationl communities.
  • Metric: Community Outreach Committee reports annually on projects.

 Programming and Events

Goal

Offer members a broad variety of appealing and easily accessible programs and events.

Objectives

• Offer high-qualty programming designed to meet the needs and interests of Chapter members with an emphasis on professional development and networking.
  • Metric: Event attendance (both face2face and virtual) increase incrementally each year.
• Partner with other professional organizations and library and information science graduate programs, when possible.
  • Metric: Annual events chronology indicates program partnership.
• Vary program delivery, pricing, locations, times and days of the week including weekends.
  • Metric: Event and program feedback indicates that events are serving the needs of a wide Chapter demographic.
• Offer programs for members who are close to retirement, semi-retired, retired.
  • Metric: Event surveys indicate these members are participating in Chapter events.
• Streamline registration and payment procedures.
  • Metric: Chapter Treasurer and program coordinators report efficient registration and payment.