Planning for Results Training Consultants and General Information

In March of 1998, the Public Library Association (PLA) released Planning for Results: A Library Transformation Process. This is the first major revision of the PLA Planning Process in the past ten years and there is great interest in the new document. The emphasis of the revised planning process has shifted from choosing library "roles" to formulating more focused “service responses” based on community needs and how to implement them.

Training

PLA has taken a leadership role in providing training to use the new planning process to ensure that the transition from Planning and Role Setting for Public Libraries to Planning for Results is smooth. Rather than hiring a single consultant to design the training and either deliver the training personally or write a manual, PLA hired a team of trainers from around the country. Sandra Nelson (Tennessee State Library and Archives), was selected to coordinate the training effort. PLA then issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) seeking proposals from qualified library trainers. There were more than a dozen responses to the RFP and five excellent trainers were selected to work with Nelson on this project. The trainers are Mary Kay Dahlgreen, Children’s Consultant, Oregon State Library; Carol Fiore, Children’s Consultant, Florida State Library; Gail McGovern, Independent Consultant, California; Ruth O’Donnell, Independent Consultant, Florida; and Rhea Rubin, Independent Consultant, California.

There are two main training audiences—state library consultants and system/regional library staff who will train working librarians to use Planning for Results. Sessions addressing both needs have been developed by the PLAN training team. The trainers are available to contract individually for training in your library. Please contact them directly for further information.

For more information regarding Planning for Results please contact the PLA office at 800-545-2433, ext. 5PLA