The Metronet strategic planning project was initiated in February 2024 with library consulting
firm Library Strategies. Consultants Wyatt Fertig and Pamela Westby were brought on to
develop a strategic plan for Metronet Board approval on June 18, 2024. Key deliverables for the
project were to include a 2025-2028 Metronet strategic plan, a one-year implementation plan,
a monitoring dashboard, community engagement summaries, and this project narrative.
With additional state funding and one staff vacancy, Metronet was keen to leverage this
funding into new initiatives and staffing structures.
Link to plan: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iJJVDR79ZyzSfp4FmwG-
w9I8qnPNTpZ6/view?usp=sharing
Planning Process
As the first step in stakeholder engagement, Library Strategies conducted a Metronet Board
SOAR session on March 19, 2024, following the board meeting. Metronet board members were
asked to reflect and make note of the Metronet organization’s Strengths, Opportunities,
Aspirations, and (Intended) Results. Participants generated ideas on post-it notes, which were
prioritized through a dot voting method. See SOAR session notes and agenda for further
details.
Following the Metronet Board SOAR session, the Metronet Director identified members of the
Metronet Board, peer organizations, and Minnesota library leaders to act as the strategic
planning steering committee. The Metronet Strategic Planning Steering Committee held its first
meeting on March 22, 2024 to outline member responsibilities and to identify focus group
participants. Steering committee members also played a key role in generating and refining
focus group and survey questions. Questions developed were used to identify Metronet’s
strengths, opportunities for improvement, and underserved needs for library workers in the
metro area. A final meeting of the Metronet steering committee convened on June 3, 2024 to
provide feedback on the draft strategic plan.
More about the planning process can be found here
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Gd1fcHJ7kVWkSy40ZJ772JcPuqMrji2v/edit?usp=sharin
g&ouid=107409882043380484425&rtpof=true&sd=true
Implementation
The Metronet Board is pleased to share its new Strategic Plan for 2025-2028.
These are the Plan’s Goals:
GOAL 1 | School Library Program Support: Fill identified needs of metro-area school libraries
related to project funding, training, and advocacy.
GOAL 2 | Foster Career Development: Connect current and future metro-area library workers
with career development and advancement opportunities.
GOAL 3 | Publicize Metronet: Increase awareness of Metronet services and their importance to
metro-area library workers.
GOAL 4 | Build Metronet’s Capacity: Build internal capabilities to amplify Metronet’s efficacy and ensure
the organization’s future success.
In response to the outsized need in metro-area school libraries shared across strategic planning
engagement opportunities, Metronet’s 2025-2028 strategic plan focuses on supporting school
libraries, school librarians, and school media specialists through an increased allocation of time
and resources.
Academic, public, and special libraries will continue to receive Metronet services through
ongoing operational activities and improvements to Metronet’s overall increased capacity.
Metronet will also continue to adapt to address emerging gaps in library support and build
timely partnerships over the next three year period, and these efforts cannot be predicted
through this planning process.
Do you have ideas on programs or services that enhance member engagement in Metronet’s
goals? Reach out to us at [email protected]
