Evaluating a future search conference for an academic library's strategic planning

Abstract

The Future Search conference, a well-documented planning tool, is widely used to engage a large number of stakeholders to create a shared vision and action plan for an organization, community, or other human system. An evaluation was conducted one year after an academic library implemented this approach to imagine its desired future and to articulate its strategic directions. Using both interview and survey methods, this case study offers insights about the extent to which the Future Search conference output was realized in an academic library setting, its impact on transforming the library, and its applicability for academic library planning.