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Plan of Service

According to Section 13 of the Libraries Regulation, all library boards must have a current plan of service on file with the Public Library Services Branch of Alberta Municipal Affairs. It states:

13(1) In managing and controlling a municipal library, a municipal board or intermunicipal library board shall

(a) within 3 years of being established, develop and file with the Minister a plan of service with a mission statement and goals and objectives based on a needs assessment of the municipality or municipalities served by the board, and

(b) annually review its plan of service.

(2) A muncipal board or intermunicipal library board shall file with the Minister a copy of its current plan of service with goals and objectives not less frequently than every 5 years followoing the date on which the plan was previously filed with the Minister.

Therefore, when a new library is established, the board must create a plan of service and submit it to Alberta Municipal Affairs within its first three years. This plan must be reviewed by the board every year to ensure that goals and objectives of the plan are being met. After that, a new plan of service must be developed every five years and submitted to Alberta Municipal Affairs. All plans of service must be based on a community needs assessment.

Although plans of service are legal obligations, the Public Library Services Branch of Alberta Municipal Affairs points out:

A plan of service is more than a legal requirement; it is a great tool for managing a library.  It helps a board to govern at a strategic level.  It aligns the library with the community and helps increase use.  It builds community support and helps fundraising and advocacy.  It helps a library measure its success and identify improvements.

Assistance with Developing a Plan of Service

A number of resources are available to help you develop your plan of service: 

• Plan of Service
  Official information and procedure from the Public Library Services Branch of Alberta Municipal Affairs. They offer a Toolkit for Planning to further assist you. 
   
• Strategic Planning for Results by Sandra S. Nelson, ISBN 9780838935736. Alberta Municipal Affairs strongly recommend that the libraries use the process explained in this book to create their plans of service. The book is available in TRACpac.
   
• Contact Carol Downing or Katherine Wiebe and Peace Library System. They offer Strategic Planning for Results workshops for boards and their libraries.