Note: A new Strategic Plan was passed in September 2003.
The NASIG Strategic Plan Task Force is pleased to submit the enclosed "NASIG 2000: Strategic Plan." This document represents the completion of the work begun by NASIG's 1990/91 Executive Board. They launched the process with the first planning session in Washington, DC, in November 1990. Since that time, various groups have participated in the different steps in the process.
SURVEYING THE MEMBERSHIP - 76% of our membership responded to this survey about demographics, member interests and preferences. Results were useful in guiding both ongoing initiatives and future planning. Please refer to the NASIG Newsletter, (vol. 8, no. 1, February 1993), for a summary.
DEVELOPING OUR VISION STATEMENT, "NASIG 2000" - This statement (attached) is a broad-brush expression of the organization's desired future directions. In it, we articulate our values, core beliefs, and aspirations for our collective future: volunteerism, networking, continuing education, financial support, recognition and the use of technology to advance the goals of the organization.
THE NASIG 2000 STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN - An ad hoc task force worked with six working groups to complete a detailed action plan in the following areas: continuing education, electronic communication, finance, grants and recognition, membership and professional liaisons. To accomplish this, the working groups considered goals, critical success factors, underlying assumptions, environmental trends and delineated the necessary resources, expected results and mechanisms for tracking, measuring and evaluating the results.
All planning efforts consist of both process and product. As Co-Chairs of the most recent task force, we are pleased to note that our process involved many interested, committed and experienced members who were able to contribute a wealth of expertise to the effort. The final product is characterized by its detail, readable format, and thoughtful, organized presentation.
We are pleased to present this strategic blueprint to the NASIG Executive Board and membership. Having established this foundation, NASIG can now turn from the rigors of planning to the joys of implementation. Strategic planning is an evolving process that responds to changes in the environment and organization in a timely and flexible manner.
It is now incumbent upon all NASIG officers and members to ensure that the plan is implemented, maintained, evaluated and revised as needed. Confident of the ongoing support of the membership, we wish you well in meeting this future challenge.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Elizabeth Clack – John Tagler
Co-Chairs, Strategic Plan Task Force
October, 1995
The North American Serials Interest Group (NASIG), as it enters its second decade, will expand upon its foundations as an international forum to foster communication and education among all members of the serials information chain. Respect and understanding among our diverse constituencies will continue to be achieved through parity of membership, organizational breadth, synthesis of disparate viewpoints and sharing of timeless principles. Through communication and education, NASIG will reinforce the position it has established as an arena to address issues that cut across diverse interests, explore mutual problems and advance new technologies with the serials community.
NASIG will respond to changes brought about by the expansion of the international information infrastructure as well as the growing number of electronic platforms for scholarly communications which are having an increasingly profound impact on scholarship, authoring and publishing. As these developments extend to all sectors of society, creating opportunities to transform information provision and access, NASIG will lead its membership into this ever-expanding and evolving world of serials.
The NASIG officers and committee members, with member support, will focus on the following six areas for development and expansion in the decade ahead.
MEMBERSHIP. NASIG will continue to be an organization comprised of individual rather than organizational members, and it will continue to welcome members from an international community involved in serials activities in the broadest sense. All members will have an equal voice and a variety of NASIG communication channels will encourage the expression of the many different perspectives of its constituents.
Membership dues and activities will strive to be accessible and affordable to all,
while maintaining the organization's financial health. Voluntary participation by all
members in NASIG activities and governance will be encouraged. Corporate sponsorship and
gifts, and commercial presentations and exhibits will not be accepted.
Membership strategic goal
EDUCATION. NASIG's unique position as a unifying agent in the diverse
international serials community will enable the organization to expand its current role as
a major provider of serials education opportunities not only to its membership but to the
information community as a whole. The annual conference will continue to play a central
role in NASIG's educational mission. In order to reach an audience who cannot travel to
conferences, regional continuing education activities, publishing programs and grant
programs will be expanded. NASIG will also make creative use of electronic options offered
by NASIGNET to further the advancement of serials education. .
Education strategic goal
ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION. In the progressive and systematic development of a range of network services, collectively known as NASIGNET, the organization will continue to find new and innovative methods for integrating various electronic media throughout NASIG and the serials community at large. The creation and expansion of NASIGNET's information, publication and communications services will utilize new technologies to the fullest extent feasible.
As increasing numbers of the membership gain network access, NASIG will expand
workshops, training sessions and user documentation for networking services. The
organization will maintain a strong level of commitment to end-user support, while
encouraging and enabling the electronic medium as a repository for organizational
documents and publications, a tool for the interactive exchange of ideas and a channel for
conducting organizational business.
Electronic Communication strategic goal
FINANCIAL PLANNING. NASIG will remain a viable not-for-profit organization with
enough monies to sponsor programs and services for the membership. At least 50% of NASIG's
operating budget, excluding conference arrangements, will be held in reserve to ensure the
organization's financial stability. All conference expenses will be covered by conference
fees and not by the operating budget. A reserve of funds from each annual conference will
be held to cover initial costs of the next conference. Reserve funds as stipulated above
plus any additional funds will be invested in financial instruments that are low-risk,
easy to liquidate and that provide income.
Financial Planning strategic goal
PROFESSIONAL LIAISONS. NASIG will seek out and affiliate with related
organizations in the information community in pursuit of mutual enrichment and exchange of
information. In a rapidly changing, complex communications age, collaboration and
partnership with other professional organizations will ensure inclusion of new entrants
and new types of service providers into the NASIG arena, while opening the possibility of
mutually beneficial relationships and avoiding unnecessary overlap and duplication of
efforts. NASIG will foster these not only through reciprocal attendance at committee
meetings and conferences, but also through partnered ventures such as joint conferences,
joint publications, combined workshops and electronic forums.
Professional Liaisons strategic goal
GRANTS AND RECOGNITION. Research, scholarship and interest in the field of serials will be promoted through NASIG's grant program. This program will expand to provide recognition and support to professionals working in the field of serials information, through research grants and other awards. The Student Grants program will continue to introduce students of library and information science to issues of concern to the serials community by supporting their participation in the annual conference.
Volunteerism will continue to be a foundation of NASIG activities. Although members
receive the assistance of their respective institutions in providing support for such
participation, NASIG will commit the financial resources necessary to support committee
and board activities. Officers, board members and committee chairs will be formally
recognized for their contributions. Extraordinary contributions by individuals will be
acknowledged with special commendations, awards or stipends.
Grants and Recognition strategic goal
Through its active series of programs, NASIG will lead the way for a
community of serialists who are well informed, interactive, and technologically alert and
who are positioned to help shape and enrich the present and future role of serials in
scholarly communication.
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Last update: 09/10/03