GETTING STARTED…SWOT

Courtney Mlinar

HSLANJ 2014

SWOTAnalysis:

Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats

YOU CONTROL Your competenciesYour skill-setsYour attitudeYour education

YOU CANNOT CONTROL… Opportunities Threats

STEP 1: Your competencies- what are you reallygood at? Your weaknesses- where can you

improve? What opportunities can you identify for

yourrole as an embedded librarian? What threats might keep you from

accomplishing your goals?

EXAMPLE 1:I would like to be embedded in the InternalMedicine Resident’s Journal Club.

1. Strengths- I know the students are havingtrouble finding articles in the printjournals- in fact, they seem to have adisconnect about online and print journals.It’s as if they think the online journals areregular web sites. I have already composeda PowerPoint on how to find print journalarticles in the library that I know will beuseful to them. I also know their teacher.

EXAMPLE 1 CONTINUED…2. Weaknesses- I don’t know if I can convince the teacher to let me help the students. I also think that she is unaware of how much trouble they are having. I don’t want her to think I am criticizing her teaching either.3. Opportunities- it is early enough in thesemester to have a big impact on this group.4. Threats- the teacher may not have time in her schedule to bring me into her class.

EXAMPLE 2:There is an American Heart Association HeartWalk in your community. You could create a community partnership by

offering to provide consumer health information to them for their web site/ Facebook page.

You could offer to host a link to possible donors

or participants on your library web site.

What would be your SWOT analysis for thissituation?

SWOT ANALYSIS You Your organization AND your library

STEP 2: List your Tools:

STEP 3:What has worked well in the past?

STEP 4:What would be the easiest way to get started?

STEP 5:List all your possibles…opportunities, ideas….

BABY STEPS TO SNOWBALL EFFECTS… Take the path of least resistance Partner with your favorite people first Be persistent and patient…remember how

much you can help them! People who know you care about their projects/classes/students will always listen Most people need the help of librarians When you partner, do it shoulder to shoulder Find out what they need, then offer to help

them If you encounter resistance, stress that you can

assist them with their projects / goals.

USE THE BACK DOOR IF NECESSARY…

PLAN OF ACTION: Visibility Maximum Impact Accessibiltiy