2012 Best Practices for Government Libraries

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BEST PRACTICES 2012
talked about challenges in our jobs but also shared tips about good neighborhoods for
house-hunting, current books we were reading, and a range of other topics.
Another big lesson we learned was the value of a near-term event to engage our
members. Knowing the 2012 FEDLINK Spring Exposition would take place in May meant
that the NewFeds were very active in April. In addition to a quarterly conference call
during which we approved the NewFeds Strategic Plan, we also made progress on our web
presence. Stay tuned for event announcements and collaboration invitations from
NewFeds.
5. Future Directions
To support our current momentum and plan for the future of NewFeds, we are dedicating
time and effort to develop foundational documents for our group. Writing the NewFeds
Strategic Plan 2012-2015 helped our group formally coalesce around a shared purpose
and aspiration. NewFeds now has a focused mission, vision, and goals to guide our
activities over the next three years. In the spirit of NewFeds, the creation of this plan was
a collective and iterative process. This new roadmap will continue to be fine-tuned as we
operationalize our goals and objectives. One way that we are leveraging our lessons
learned is by developing position descriptions for the co-chairs of NewFeds and the cochairs
of the Sub-Committees. We are also establishing a planning calendar and handbook
for future leaders. Plans are also underway to gauge our progress through regular
evaluation.
As we move into our second year, we are excited by the possibilities that lie ahead.
Standing up a new group has been challenging; but above all else, it has been a
wonderful opportunity to learn and grow as new professionals. The leadership and career
development skills gained through this experience have been tremendous, and will
continue to unfold as we enhance our efforts. We have also established enriching personal
and professional relationships with other LIS professionals across government. These
connections have fostered a collaborative, supportive, force that is the engine of our
group. NewFeds is truly emerging as a community of engaged professionals and future
leaders, and the LIS community can expect great things from us in “NewFeds 2.0.”
The views and opinions expressed herein by the authors do not represent the policies or position of the U.S.
Department of Defense or U.S. Navy, or other federal agency in which the authors are employed and are the
sole responsibility of the authors.