Circulation Department Strategic Planning Document
November 27, 2005
SWOT Analysis
STRENGTHS
Personnel
Staff are the strength of the Department
 shared knowledge between staff members
 overall skill set, the inventory of skills held by at least one staff member in the Department
Staff development
 ability/opportunity/ambition to branch out and improve Teamwork
Ability to do more with less
Friendliness
Enthusiasm
Dedication to our jobs
 love of money
Meet deadlines
Completion
 we get jobs done
 we get jobs done efficiently
Patience
 with everyone
 in the face of adversity
Cross-training
Ability to improvise
Service
Responsiveness
 timeliness
Ability to do more with less
Approachability
 customer service
 staff inter-relations
Attentiveness and alertness
 day to day activity in the building
Provision of good service
 we are informative
24 hour turnaround time for shelving
Friendliness
Enthusiasm
Outreach
 to other units
 to outside the Library
Meet deadlines
Completion
 we get jobs done
 we get jobs done efficiently
Range of services for the user
Other
Technology
 resources and tools
WEAKNESSES
(note: Circulation staff focused mostly on strengths and opportunities in a deliberate attempt to prevent the
conversation from becoming too negative; the section below on threats will provide some indication as to other
weaknesses in the Department even where they were not identified as such)
Personnel
Staff development
 ability/opportunity/ambition to branch out and improve is a weakness in that it can lead to a cycle
of cutbacks and restraints
Ability to do more with less
Service
Ability to do more with less
OPPORTUNITIES
Personnel
Staff development
 more diverse and a greater number of opportunities
Technology
Digital technology
 an increase in the number and types of digital media
 digital media increase in sophistication
 digital media increase in penetration of the population
 iPods or other technology that are now popular can have applications the Library can take
advantage of
E-Books
 the Library will acquire more
 users will request them more often
Instruction technology
 it’s already out there
 we can use it in new and different ways
Education/Campus
Development of a fourth “digital” University of Illinois campus
Instruction technology
 it’s already out there
 we can use it in new and different ways
Incoming students
 have never been in a library anywhere
 are part of an online generation
 search online habitually and comfortably but not necessarily effectively or wisely
 there are teaching opportunities in all this
 copyright is something the Library (especially in connection to Reserves) can teach users about
People are not coming in, so we can go out to them where they are
Other
Private libraries joining CARLI
 provide access to our users to a greater number and range of resources – telling them YES
People are not coming in, so we can go out to them where they are
THREATS
Personnel
Budget cuts leave positions unfilled
 student hour cuts leave this avenue blocked as well
Technology
Digital technology
 the points below have implications for staffing, training, and workflow
o an increase in the number and types of digital media
o digital media increase in sophistication
o digital media increase in penetration of the population
o E-Books
 the Library will acquire more
 users will request them more often
Equipment in Circulation is not altogether up to date and reliable
Digital divide among Circulation staff – not all staff have the opportunity to keep up on their
technological skills
Education/Campus
Development of a fourth “digital” University of Illinois campus
Instruction technology
 it’s already out there
 we can use it in new and different ways
Incoming students
 have never been in a library anywhere
 are part of an online generation
 search online habitually and comfortably but not necessarily effectively or wisely
 there are teaching opportunities in all this
 copyright is something the Library (especially in connection to Reserves) can teach users about
People are not coming in, so we can go out to them where they are
Other
Private libraries joining CARLI; resource sharing
 we would need more books
 the need of resources would increase
 we need more computers available to patrons to access to e-books and other digital material
 we need more staff to handle the increase of volume of e-books requests


access to UIC catalog for non-UIC patrons
printing costs/requirements would increase for users – this would have implications for
Circulation as the Department responsible for the Library’s copy/printing service
Users are not coming in, so we may have to go out to them where they are