2010 Strategic Plan

(Approved by CALA Board on June 10, 2007)

Vision Statement
CALA (Chinese American Librarians Association) will be a leading organization to
provide leadership for the development, promotion, and improvement of library and
information services to Chinese American librarians and American librarians through
networking, communication, and professional development in the United States and
abroad.

Mission Statement
CALA enhances communication among Chinese American librarians and American
librarians, serves as a forum for the discussion of professional concerns and problems,
and promotes the understanding and exchanges among librarians in the U.S. and abroad,
with special emphasis in Asia and Pacific Rim countries.

Goal 1. Strive for Organizational Excellence
Action areas:

• Enhance CALA organizational structure to its maximum efficiency.
  Responsibilities assigned to: Executive Board, Board of Directors, and Constitution and Bylaws Committee.
• Continue collaborative activities with ALA caucuses, e.g., AILA, APALA, BCALA, REFORMA, etc.
  Responsibilities assigned to: Executive Board, Public Relations and Fundraising Committee.
• Continue working with the ALA Diversity Office, OLOS, and other ALA committees on issues that have important implications to CALA.
  Responsibilities assigned to: Executive Board, Public Relations and Fundraising Committee.
• Work with LLA, MLA, PLA, SLA, and other associations on issues that have important implications to CALA.
  Responsibilities assigned to: Executive Board, Public Relations and Fundraising Committee.
• Continue exploring and applying technology-driven options to conduct CALA businesses, e.g., online banking, online election, virtual conferences, etc.
  Responsibilities assigned to: Executive Board, Web Committee.
• Continue fundraising activities to support CALA programs and services.
  Responsibilities assigned to: Executive Board, Public Relations and Fundraising Committee, Finance Committee.
• Enhance marketing and public relations to project a much positive image of CALA activities and accomplishments to major library media in U.S. and abroad.
  Responsibilities assigned to: Executive Board, Public Relations and Fundraising Committee.

Goal 2. Become a Leader in Global Reach Initiatives
Action areas:

• Develop formal structure within CALA to coordinate the CALA 21st Century Librarian Seminar Series and other training programs in China.
  Responsibilities assigned to: International Relations Committee.
• Assist CALA members in developing sister library programs between their libraries and libraries in Asia and Pacific Rim countries.
  Responsibilities assigned to: Executive Board, International Relations Committee.
• Provide information and contacts to U.S. libraries seeking for exchanging programs with libraries in Asia and Pacific Rim countries.
  Responsibilities assigned to: International Relations Committee.
• Encourage participation in the Library Society of China’s annual conferences, i.e., increase the number of delegation, speakers, papers, and work sessions at the annual conferences.
  Responsibilities assigned to: International Relations Committee.
• Enhance ties among CALA, ALA IRC, IRRT, and ALA divisions’ IRCs in collaborative library activities between U.S and in Asia and Pacific Rim countries.
  Responsibilities assigned to: Executive Board, International Relations
  Committee.

Goal 3. Enhance Services to CALA Membership
Action areas:

• Develop a plan to enhance services to CALA members; to recruit student members, librarians, and library workers, and to retain current membership.
  Responsibilities assigned to: Membership Committee, Public Relations
  and Fundraising Committee.
• Conduct regular surveys to seek input and feedback from CALA members on their needs.
  Responsibilities assigned to: Membership Committee.
• Encourage CALA members to participate in the association’s governance.
  Responsibilities assigned to: Membership Committee, Public Relations and Fundraising Committee.
• Enhance communication among CALA members, chapters, and the Board.
  Responsibilities assigned to: Executive Board, Membership Committee.

Goal 4. Provide Educational Opportunities
Action areas:

• Encourage CALA members to publish on CALA sponsored publications, such as Journal of Library and Information Science, CALA Occasional Papers Series, CALA Newsletter, and other CALA occasional monographic publications.
  Responsibilities assigned to: Publications Committee.
• Continue recruiting LIS students to participate in the CALA Mentoring program and match them with experienced CALA members.
  Responsibilities assigned to: Mentorship Program Committee.
• Include CALA members in the presentations of CALA annual conferences and chapter conferences.
  Responsibilities assigned to: Program Planning Committees.
• Provide funding support for CALA members to present papers at professional
  conferences, conduct LIS research, participate in training and workshops, and serve on offices of library associations.
  Responsibilities assigned to: Scholarship Committee, Publications Committee, Public Relations and Fundraising Committee, Sally C. Tseng's Professional Development Grant Ad hoc Committee.

Goal 5. Advocate for Users of Chinese Heritage, Chinese Culture, and Chinese Language

Action areas:

• Act as a driving force to provide information and library services to Chinese population in the U.S., through branch libraries, Chinese material acquisitions, Chinese language cataloging, etc.
  Responsibilities assigned to: Executive Board, Public Relations and Fundraising Committee.
• Provide advocacy training for CALA members on new initiatives.
  Responsibilities assigned to: Executive Board, Public Relations and Fundraising Committee.
• Develop advocacy materials in promoting library services to Chinese-speaking communities, i.e., branch libraries with new immigrants.
  Responsibilities assigned to: Executive Board, Public Relations and Fundraising Committee.
• Provide resources and expertise to Chinese area studies in academic and research libraries.
  Responsibilities assigned to: International Relations Committee.
• Make connections with major Chinese language material book fairs, such as Hong Kong Book Fair, to assist U.S. librarians in purchasing Chinese language materials.
  Responsibilities assigned to: International Relations Committee, Public Relations and Fundraising Committee.

CALA 2010 Strategic Plan Task Force
Sha Li Zhang, Chair
Harriet Ying
Menxiong Liu