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Environmental Scan

Thu, 07/24/2008 - 08:02 — spohn

Table of Contents
Trend Guage

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What Is an Environmental Scan?

Environmental scanning has a broad meaning and refers to:

  • Investigating salient economic, social, political, social and technological trends and events.
  • Identifying potential opportunities or threats implied by those trends and events (SWOT analysis).
  • Analyzing library operations, resources and services in light of those trends and events.

A good environmental scan engages staff in "future-thinking" and is used to generate actionable dialog about organizational changes necessary to address those trends and events.

How to Use This Scan

The purpose of this scan is to stimulate conversations and to challenge the status quo. It is not intended to be comprehensive. The entries are illustrative and are meant to suggest some amongst thousands of significant issues that may affect library and information services in the future. Though, some predictions and library responses are suggested; this scan is not intended to be a blue print for the future and should rather be used to stimulate dialog and brainstorming.

How to Contribute to This Scan

Your contributions are welcome. All members of the Planning, Assessment & Accreditation Interest Group are encourage to contribute to the Environmental Scan. Not a member? Join now and share your thoughts!

This page is part of the Environmental Scan, one of NELINET's Planning, Assessment & Accreditation Initiatives.

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Environmental Scan [PDF version]1.19 MB
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  • Planning, Assessment & Accreditation Working Group

    • Comments

    Mon, 09/29/2008 - 11:36 — pna_user

    Trends in Library Education

    I think that we should also consider changes happening in library schools around the world. Our future workforce is learning in an entirely different way.