More than a Game: Scenario Planning, Imagination, and the Public Library’s Future

ABSTRACT Strategic planning requires analyzing not only the future goals and trajectory of an organization but also the contextual future world in which that organization will operate. Without being able to travel in time to see what the world will be like in ten, twenty, or even fifty years, organizations often avoid exploring this vital component to strategic planning. There is, however, a way to time travel metaphorically by incorporating scenarios into the strategic planning process. Scenarios are storytelling tools, derived from current-day realities, that present glimpses into the potential chapters of a future that has yet to be written. These scenarios allow organizations to explore how, and even if, their future goals might mesh with the future storylines of their communities and the world at large. Public libraries that use scenarios for strategic planning will have greater flexibility and adaptability to implement change, especially during uncertain times. An examination of a scenario-based approach to strategic planning and the specific scenario-based process utilized at the Reading Public Library illustrates the advantages public libraries can gain by employing scenarios when navigating turbulence and uncertainty.