ALA Environmental Scan
Below is a request from ALA Executive Director, Keith Michael Fiels for input in the ALA Environmental Scan to inform the Strategic Plan "Ahead to 2010". Keith is asking for your input on identifying issues and trends in the external environment that in our judgment will impact libraries, the profession, and the association over the next five to ten years. These trends may be societal, economic demographic or technological.
Please submit your suggestions to Pat Earnest, our Planning Consultant at Pearnest1@aol.com by August 16th, 2004. Thanks in advance for your participation. Also, please note that you are an IFRT member when you submit your suggestions.
TO: ALA Unit Managers
FROM: Keith Michael Fiels
SUBJECT: Environmental Scan Information Needed
DATE: July 21, 2004
Several months ago, we began discussing the gathering of material as part of the environmental scanning component of the ALA Ahead to 2010 planning process environmental scan.
For purposes of our process, environmental scanning is the process by which we identify issues and trends in the external environment that in our judgment will impact libraries, the profession and the association over the next five to ten years. These trends may be societal, economic demographic or technological.
In order to identify these trends, we need your assistance in identifying articles, studies, reports and electronic resources that you believe might be appropriate for inclusion in the association's environmental scan. Information identified as part of this process will be included on the Ahead to 2010 web site, either in full text or as links to full text available elsewhere. Since we may need to secure
rights and permissions for using this material, it is important that we begin the process now.
We recognize that ALA members and staff are our best resource for identifying this material. Items that you might suggest should come from your own reading and be reflective of issues and trends that would be illuminating, thought-provoking, and helpful to the delegates to the Planning Workshop in providing a relevant backdrop against which to plan our goals and objectives as an organization for the next five years.
In order to include material in the web site and also possibly in the participant packet, we would appreciate your suggestions prior to August 16th. We are also inviting you to share this request with your Divisional and Round Table Boards, Committee Chairs and any member forums.
Please submit your suggestions to Pat Earnest, our Planning Consultant at Pearnest1 (at) aol.com by August 16th, 2004. If a web address is not available for the material you suggest, please send her a hard copy of any articles that you recommend we include in the environmental scan material.
Thank you in advance for your most helpful assistance.