Tag Archives: IFLA Strategy

The 10-Minute International Librarian #51: Develop a roadmap

Getting from where you are now to your long-term goals is not always simple.

Especially for more ambitious objectives, success can be dependent on many different factors.

In particular, there may be pre-conditions – things that need to be in place in order to move forwards. These pre-conditions, in turn, may have their own pre-conditions, and so on.

IFLA’s own Strategy is built around the idea that to achieve our Vision, we need to strengthen the global voice of libraries, inspire and enhance professional practice, connect and enable, and optimise our own organisation.

Under these Strategic Directions, it includes different key initiatives that take our work forwards, making it manageable.

A similar approach can be helpful in many different situations however.

So for our 51st 10-Minute International Librarian exercise, develop a roadmap.

Bearing in mind both the long-term vision you have set yourself, and your short-term goals, try to create a sequence of actions you can take.

Just as you did in defining a short-term goal (Exercise #38), try to think ‘backwards’ from your longer-term vision (Exercise #27) – what different things need to happen to achieve this?

In what order do they need to happen? Where are there dependencies – i.e. where does achieving something depend on other factors being in place first?

Creating a roadmap – with deadlines – also helps you keep track of your progress!

Tell us about your experiences of defining a roadmap in the comments box below.

Good luck!

 

This idea relates to the IFLA Strategy! 3.3 Empower the field at the national and regional levels.

As we publish more ideas, you will be able to view these using the #10MinuteInternationalLibrarian tag on this blog, and of course on IFLA’s Ideas Store! Do also share your ideas in the comments box below.

The 10-Minute International Librarian #35: Check out the IFLA ideas store

The New Year is traditionally a time for trying new things, or taking an imaginative approach to things you have always done in a certain way.

But with the continued lockdown in many countries, it’s not always easy to come up with novel ideas.

Many of us are simply trying to keep going until we can get back to something like normal.

However, you don’t have to have all the ideas yourself!

There are great sources of ideas that others have tried and tested, that could give you inspiration for changing what you do, or the way you do it.

So for our 35th 10-Minute International Librarian exercise, check out the IFLA Ideas Store!

It contains around a thousand ideas from around the world. They concern how you work with others, use technology, promote emerging leaders, and advocate.

Some things you can do on your own, some involve working with others.

All will help you work towards realising the opportunities set out in the IFLA Global Vision.

Take a look, and share your favourite idea in the comments box below!

Good luck!

 

This idea relates to the IFLA Strategy! Key Initiative 2.1: Shape public opinion and debate around open access and library values, including intellectual freedom and human rights.

You can view all of our ideas using the #10MinuteInternationalLibrarian tag on this blog, and of course on IFLA’s Ideas Store! Do also share your ideas in the comments box.

The 10-Minute International Librarian #14: Find a good source of library news

Libraries are all about ensuring that the communities they serve are well informed.

We know how important this information is for allowing people to take decisions and enjoy their rights.

But it is not only library users, but also library and information workers themselves who can benefit from being well informed!

In order to understand changes in the world around us, it is important to know what is going on.

With this knowledge, a key condition is in place for seizing opportunities and planning responses. It enables libraries to be proactive in finding the best way to support their communities.

But how to do this?

So for our 14th 10-Minute International Librarian exercise, find a good source of library news.

In many countries, library associations play this role, through newsletters, e-mails or social media.

In some places, there are also individuals who gather and share stories in order to help others keep up to date.

Of course, IFLA also works to share news about the field through its social media feeds also.

You can share your recommendations for great sources of library news in the comments below!

Good luck!

 

This idea relates to the IFLA Strategy! 2.2 Deliver high quality campaigns, information and other communications products on a regular basis to engage and energise libraries.

As we publish more ideas, you will be able to view these using the #10MinuteInternationalLibrarian tag on this blog, and of course on IFLA’s Ideas Store! Do also share your ideas in the comments box.

The 10-Minute International Librarian #3: Think of a success… and share it!

If you’re working in a busy library, it can often be difficult to take a step back.

There are too many short-term priorities, urgent things needing fixing or addressing to be able to take the time to think back.

But it’s important to do so, both in order to feel pride in a job well done, and in order to learn for the future.

As part of a global field, there is also so much to learn from other people, facing similar challenges, trying to find effective solutions.

So for our 3rd 10-Minute International Librarian exercise, think of a success and share it!

The most interesting examples are the ones where you have faced difficult situations, and where you have had to be innovative in order to succeed. Try to evaluate what the key factors in this were.

This can help you – and others – learn useful lessons for the future!

Share your stories on social media, in the comments to this blog, or through your own blog or newsletters, so that others can read about what you’ve done.

Good luck!

This idea relates to the IFLA Strategy! Strategic Direction 3, Key Initiative 2: Support virtual networking and connections

 

As we publish more ideas, you will be able to view these using the #10MinuteInternationalLibrarian tag on this blog, and of course on IFLA’s Ideas Store! Do also share your ideas in the comments box.

Introducing… the 10-Minute International Librarian

IFLA From Home: Introducing the 10-Minute International LibrarianWith a fundamental mission to serve their communities at a time of unprecedented social, technological and economic change, libraries are busy places!

Ensuring access to information and technology, providing support and skills development, managing diverse and every-growing resources, and preserving our heritage against decay and loss – there’s a lot to do.

Our mission at IFLA is to help you do this by inspiring, engaging, enabling and connecting the global library field, and so to deliver on the IFLA Strategy 2019-24.

To do this, we rely heavily on the work of our Professional Units – the biggest brains trust in the library field – a group of committed volunteers giving their time and energy for the sake of libraries globally.

But we know that it’s not always easy to set aside so much time, or to find the resources to attend WLIC every year.

Maybe you can only spare a few minutes a week, beside professional, family and other commitments.

Fortunately, there are so many other ways to engage, and to contribute to the global library field!

In our new series – the 10-Minute International Librarian – we’ll be identifying great ideas for how you can do this.

Each week, we’ll publish a new post, and explain how this relates to the IFLA Strategy.

See you next week!

 

As we publish more ideas, you will be able to view these using the #10MinuteInternationalLibrarian tag on this blog, and of course on IFLA’s Ideas Store! Do also share your ideas in the comments box.