Q. If we have written a strategic plan in the past, when do we have to update it?

Most libraries write their plans for a 3-5 year period. It is up to the library to determine when to completely overhaul its strategic plan.

For many libraries, that may mean waiting an additional year or two until a construction project is completed, or until a new director is hired. Sometimes rewriting a plan rather than updating it may be done a year or two early, depending upon local circumstances. For instance, writing a new plan before embarking on a building construction or renovation may or may not make sense given the situation.

Again, it is up to an individual library to determine when is the best time to start a new planning process rather than to update an existing plan, In almost all cases, though, updating more than two years beyond the original time frame is probably not a wise option.

For LSTA eligibility: A library must have a new plan in place within two years after the expiration year of their existing plan, and an existing plan is limited to a five-year range.