The University Library incorporates into its management a broad range of planning and assessment processes. Central are its strategic planning process, annual operational planning, and broad assessment tools, which are tied closely to its public programs and research collections.

The University Library has undergone three major strategic planning efforts (1995, 2000, and 2005). The general organizing structures are based on selective goals and format of the corresponding university plan.

The Library's current plan, In Pursuit of Our Strategic Vision: 2005-2010, consists of a public plan with three externally-focused goals and a more comprehensive internal staff plan with two additional goals that are internally focused. Key to the public planning process were the goals related to teaching and learning, research, and outreach. The internal plan includes two additional goals related to human resources and infrastructure.

The planning process was defined as an update of the 2000-2005 plan - a process suggested by the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost. The Dean of the Library sponsored open forums to obtain feedback on how the Library would update its five overall strategic goals. Volunteer facilitators guided the discussions, and recorders recorded the proposed updates. The open forum discussions were informed by the Library's Core Values. Following each forum, a draft section was distributed to all faculty and staff for additional input.

In addition to the internal strategic planning process, the University Library Committee (ULC), the Library's external advisory committee, reviewed and made recommended changes to the original 2000 vision and mission statements as well as the three new proposed public goals. (Note: The ULC had been the primary author of the 2000 vision and mission statements). Using internal and ULC input, the Dean of the Library updated the former plan and submitted the new 2005-2010 public plan to Provost Allen in early October. Following the submittal of the public plan, the Library faculty and staff reviewed and made recommended changes to the two overall internal 2000 goals and made recommendations. The next step in the strategic planning process will be the development of benchmarks for each strategic goal.

Annually each fall, the four library divisions complete operational plans that support the goals and benchmarks of the overall strategic plan. In the late fall, the associate deans and IT officer discuss their respective operational plans at a Library Faculty meeting. Individual faculty and Professional & Scientific staff develop their annual workplans to interface with these operational plans.