Over the last two weeks, you may have seen Library managers looking discombobulated after several hours in a meeting room.

“What are they doing?”, you may have asked. Is it a session of post-it note paper-plane making fuelled by too many Fruit Bursts? Sadly not. Instead the managers have been reassessing our Library’s direction.

Last year, we started formulating a strategy for 2020-2024. This was because our previous strategic plan ran up to 2019 and we needed to plan the future of the Library  over the next 10 years. Since last year, the UC Strategy has been created and we have moved from being part of Learning Resources into the DVC Research’s portfolio. These alone would have led to a rethink but the recent changes in higher education and globally have been more significant still.

So in recent meetings, the managers have come together to start to formulate a clear, exciting direction for the next ten years. Naturally, everything needs to be aligned with the UC Strategy’s focus on education, research and people. Naturally, your input will be vital. Naturally, there will be debate as there are multiple possible futures but finite energy and resource.

The process takes time and involves more than just managers. It provides an opportunity for you and our stakeholders to influence the Library’s future direction. Discussion of the thoughts so far and opportunity for your input will follow at our upcoming staff fora or feel free to have a chat with your manager.