To Infinity and Beyond!Public Library AssociationSpring Symposium 2011

Inspiration New Jersey Blue Ribbon Task Force Mid-Atlantic Futures Conference MN Office of the Legislative Auditor Report on Public Libraries No strategic state plan for libraries General threats and challenges to libraries of all types

Why Multitypes Took the Lead Multicounty multitype library systems take the lead Talk across the lines Recognize challenges and opportunities Know the history of library structures & issues Understand the importance of vision and planning

Steps Multitype directors committed to funding the initial planning meetings Identified individuals and groups to participate in a planning session Issued the invitations Hired a facilitator

Who was invited Regional Public Library Systems Public Libraries Private Colleges U of M Libraries MnScu Libraries Minnesota Library Association Minnesota Educational Media Organization Minitex State Library

First meetingMay 2010 Goals of the Meeting Agree that this was needed Look at process & procedures Create timeline Establish subcommittees

Steering Committee Executive Committee Application Development Finance Session Planning Recruitment Resource & Support for Futurists

Other Steering CommitteeMeetingsJune Accepted work of subcommittees Defined the Futurists Group Application process Session planning for Kick Off

What we wanted to happen Identify challenges, changes, that will impact libraries of all types Create a foundation for a conversation about the future, change, and getting there Involve the library community in the conversation

Ulterior Motives Introduce different types of library staff to each other Encourage recognition of the shared problems and issues Encourage acknowledgement that all types of libraries matter Metro-centric attitude would be diluted Identify common challenges Leadership development

Accelerated timeline Aim for Kick Off in October 2010 Selection of participants in September 2010 Futurists report in May 2011

Describe expectations for library service and ways to meet these expectations.

How?Have a facilitated, focusedconversation about ourfuture.

Expectation that the Librarycommunity would be involved in the conversation, be used as resources, & and would be informed throughout the course of the process.

No expectations that thisFuturists Group would be able to define how to implement changes.

Who? A group of designatedpeople to have the focused conversationand then could initiate a wider conversation.

Applicant Criteria Work in Minnesota library or be a library school student Between the ages 25-35

Questions for Applicants What motivates you to want to be part of a group involved in making recommendations for the future of Minnesotas Libraries? Describe what comes to mind when you think of Minnesota Libraries? If you are selected as a member of the Library Futurists what do you hope is one possible outcome from the work of the Initiative?

Who Applied? 83 applicants 6 School Librarians 44 Public 7 Special 26 Academic

Selection Criteria & Process All types of libraries Geographic representation Everyone read all the applications Scored on a rubric Face to face discussion of applicants

Futurist Group Profile 3 School Librarians 3 Special/Other 6 Academic Librarians 12 Public Librarians Geographic representation

October 18 Kick Off

Involving the Library Community Everyone invited Michael Rogers, The Practical Futurist Christine Lind Hage, ALA Committee for Americas Libraries for the 21st Century

First Meeting for Futurists Facilitator to help them get started Let them decide their own process, topics, & procedures

Dillon YoungJennStraumann

Thanks to Patricia Post, Executive CommitteePlanning Documentshttp://mnlfi.pbworks.com