FCIL-SIS Strategic Plan for 2008-2011

Introduction

The Strategic Plan Committee, consisting of Dan Wade, Barb Garavaglia, Carolyn McKelvey, Victor Essien, Molly Brownfield, and Mary Rumsey, prepared the 2007-2010 Strategic Plan with input from the SIS membership, including the Executive Committee.

The Committee gratefully acknowledges the contributions and hard work of earlier Strategic Planning Committees and the involvement of FCIL-SIS members in this important planning process.

Goal 1: Promote Education in Foreign, Comparative and International Law for Specialists and Non-Specialists.

Goal 1--Strategies:

  • Propose to AALL a new program (consisting of workshops or other educational programs) designed to train librarians new to FCIL work.
  • Offer session at AALL Annual Meeting on how to improve foreign language skills of members.
  • Collect FCIL development policies and collection profiles and make them publicly available on the FCIL-SIS website.
  • Create a committee to develop programs on FCIL topics to be presented outside of the AALL Annual Meetings (e.g., through the web).

Goal 2: Increase Active and Broader Participation of FCIL-SIS Members

Goal 2--Strategies:

  • Develop materials showing the need for law schools to offer FCIL legal research courses; add to website.
  • Develop informational material for career services personnel in both law schools and information science graduate programs to increase awareness of FCIL career opportunities.
  • Pair up newer and older SIS members to co-author articles for publication, and to work together on proposals for AALL meeting programs.
  • Recruit newer librarians to write articles for FCIL-SIS newsletter.
  • Prepare information on publishing opportunities for FCIL-SIS members; add to website.

Goal 3: Enhance Position of FCIL SIS within AALL

Goal 3--Strategies:

  • Use FCIL-SIS electronic discussion list to promote candidacies of FCIL-SIS members seeking AALL offices.
  • Encourage FCIL librarians to submit “A Day in the Life of an FCIL Librarian” article to AALL Spectrum or the ALL-SIS newsletter.
  • Identify FCIL librarians and/or associations of FCIL librarians outside the US; work to make and strengthen connections with them.
  • At the FCIL-SIS website, provide critical substantive information for non-FCIL specialists.
  • In coordination with AALL, continue to offer the FCIL Schaffer Grant for Foreign Law Librarians to bring one or more foreign law librarians to each annual meeting

2003-2006 Strategic Plan

As amended July 2005.

Introduction

Ken Rudolf, FCIL SIS Chair, formed the Strategic Planning Committee to draft a strategic plan providing for revitalization of the SIS and a renewed course of action for the future. The Committee of Jean Davis, Jolande Goldberg, Mary Rumsey, Dan Wade and Jean Wenger, Committee Chair collaborated extensively by email and met twice during the American Society of International Law Annual Meeting in Washington, DC in April. The Committee greatly benefited from the work of earlier FCIL SIS Strategic Planning Committees dating back to 1998. The FCIL SIS Strategic Planning for Continuing Education and Professional Development (Draft document, July 2, 1999), the meeting notes of the October 27, 2000 FCIL SIS strategic planning meeting (New York City) and the responses to the March 1, 2001 survey formed the core resources relied upon by the Committee.

The Committee viewed a three-year plan as a manageable time frame to accomplish the goals presented and to permit the SIS to plan in a quickly changing environment. Three goals were targeted that were believed to be fundamental to the mission of the SIS and that would serve as a foundation for revitalizing the SIS. Strategic planning is a vital tool necessary to advance the needs, interests and skills of the members. In order to continue the critical process of planning, implementation, and evaluation, the 2002-2003 FCIL SIS Strategic Planning Committee proposes that the Executive Committee create a standing Strategic Planning Committee.

The Committee gratefully acknowledges the contributions and hard work of earlier Strategic Planning Committees and the involvement of FCIL SIS members in this important planning process.

Mission Statement

The FCIL SIS is to serve as a forum for the exchange of ideas and information on foreign, comparative and international law. The SIS also represents members' interests and concerns with AALL.

    -- By-laws, Art. II, Section 1

FCIL-SIS Strategic Plan 2003-2006

Goal 1: Promote Education In Foreign, Comparative And International Law

Rationale: "The object of the Foreign, Comparative and International Law Section shall be to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and information of foreign, comparative and international law...." (By-laws, Art. II, Section 1) This goal is our very raison d?être. It is the purpose of the SIS to provide information and skills in foreign, comparative and international law to those who provide assistance to the library patrons who access this law. This goal intends to encompass the educational needs of the entire range of professional experience, from the new librarian to the most senior specialist.

Strategies

  1. Improve program and workshop development process by establishing an ongoing and permanent Education Committee.
  2. Create training opportunities for librarians entering the profession.
  3. Encourage the Executive Committee and Chairs of Interest Groups and Committees to sponsor speakers and to host other activities.
  4. Identify educational needs of FCIL SIS members through surveys, questionnaires and/or listserv.
  5. Use FCIL Newsletter and website for educational purposes.
  6. Maintain Int-Law.

Goal 2: Increase Active and Broader Participation of FCIL-SIS Members

Rationale: An increase in active and broader participation will enable FCIL SIS to complete more projects and will increase dues revenue to support more Section activities. An increase in participation also will aid the comparatively small SIS Executive Committee in accomplishing its goals. A more active and involved membership enriches the educational and professional experience of all FCIL SIS members.

Strategies

  1. Establish Membership Committee.
  2. Introduce newer librarians to SIS through FCIL Newsletter.
  3. Develop Public Relations materials for law library director to promote creation of Foreign & International Law Librarian positions.
  4. Direct Executive Committee and Committee Chairs to identify potential committee members.

Goal 3: Enhance Position of FCIL SIS within AALL

Rationale: Enhancing the position of FCIL SIS will improve the SIS's ability to represent members' interests and concerns within AALL. While SIS members share many interests with other AALL members, our work generates unique issues. To ensure that AALL recognizes our concerns and works with the SIS to meet our needs, we must work to make the FCIL SIS a highly visible force within the larger organization.

Strategies

  1. Executive Committee encourage members to submit articles to Spectrum, Law Library Journal and other publications.
  2. Maintain FCIL Table in the Exhibit Hall.
  3. Develop brochures and/or handouts explaining role and function of the FCIL SIS.
  4. Continue to review and update contents of FCIL website.