mla restructuring & communications

September 24, 2008 Kathy M. Irwin 1

Michigan Library Association: Restructuring & Communications

The Library Network, Fall 2008 Workshop: “Connecting Through Better Communication in Libraries”


Overview• Communication theory

• MLA restructuring timeline

• MLA strategic governance

• MLA communications


Communication Theory


MLA Restructuring Timeline

Aug. 2005MLA board hired

professional Executive Director

Jan. 2005MLA board approved

strategic plan

March 2006Members voted to restructure MLA

board



Spring 2007

Members voted to freeze board

July-Oct. 2007Restructuring Group

meetings

Sept. 2007Membership

Survey

Nov. 2007Restructuring

Report presented to members at MLA Annual Conference



Jan. 2008Members voted to

approve new bylaws

March-Sept. 2008Transitional Leadership Forum

(TLF) meetings

Oct. 2008TLF proposal on MLA CoPs to

be unveiled at MLA Annual Conference in Kalamazoo

To be continued…


MLA Before and After


MLA Strategic Governance

At all levels:–Board–Committees–Workgroups–Staff

Includes:–Scanning–Planning–Oversight–Adjusting


MLA Strategic GovernanceScanning

– Fall 2007 Membership Survey– Membership data– Member feedback

• At programs• On blog• At TLF meetings• From volunteers

– Ongoing, targeted


MLA Strategic GovernancePlanning

– Use data and feedback • To set goals• To set priorities• To define specific, desired outcomes

– SMART goals– Mission statement– Annual business plan– New strategic plan, 2009


MLA Strategic GovernanceOversight

– Monitor budget

– Monitor progress toward goals

– Accountability

Adjustment– TLF is investigating Communities of

Practice

– Implementing these will take additional technology, staff and budget resources


MLA CommunicationsDuring restructuring process


MLA CommunicationsDuring TLF process


MLA Communications

Non-members

State legislature

Strategic Partners

Michigan residents

MLA members

MLA members


MLA CommunicationsMLA communicating with members

– Emails• Executive Director’s Update

• Marketing programs and events

• Board messages

– Webpage• Michigan Libraries

• Restructuring and TLF blogs

• Minutes, documents

– Mailings• Call for volunteers

• Conference postcards

• Membership renewal


MLA CommunicationsMLA members communicating with

MLA– Fall 2007 membership survey– Restructuring Workgroup– Transitional Leadership Forum (TLF)– Discussion and feedback at programs– Over 100 volunteers serving on

committees and workgroups


MLA CommunicationsMLA members communicating with

each other – Discussion lists– Programs, events, meetings– MLA Communities of Practice (CoPs)

• Read more online at http://www.mla.lib.mi.us/transition

http://www.mla.lib.mi.us/transition


MLA CommunicationsMLA communicating externally

– Non-members– State Legislature– Strategic Partners– Michigan Residents


MLA Annual Conference• October 22-24, 2008

• Kalamazoo, Radisson Plaza Hotel

• “Shaping our Tomorrow”• http://www.mla.lib.mi.us/events/annual

http://www.mla.lib.mi.us/events/annual


MLA and TLN

MLA members

TLN members


MLA Communications1. How would you prefer that MLA

communicate with you?

2. How would you prefer to communicate with MLA?

3. How would you prefer to communicate with other MLA members? With library professionals in Michigan?


Contact informationKathy M. Irwin

– Librarian, University of Michigan-Dearborn– 2008-2009 MLA President– 313-593-5598

– [email protected]

Michigan Library Association– http://www.mla.lib.mi.us– 517-394-2774

– Gretchen Couraud, MLA Executive Director, [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.mla.lib.mi.us/

mailto:[email protected]

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