John D. Crowley

John D. Crowley is director of learning resources and information technology for Regional School District # 9, Easton/Redding, CT. His published works include Developing a Vision: Strategic Planning and the Library Media Specialist. Crowley won the American Association of School Librarians' Microcomputer in the Media Center Award, Connecticut Educational Media Association's Library Media Specialist of the Year, and was a finalist for Connecticut Teacher of the Year.

He writes in the introduction to his latest book:

"Over the past 25 years I have had the opportunity to be involved in many strategic plans. These plans were for school libraries, public libraries, schools, and school districts. They were always lead by consultants with expertise in the planning process. Although each consultant would tend to promote a unique model, they tended to break down to one of two approaches: the marketing model or the classic corporate model. I have seen both models succeed. When the time and resources are available, the classic model is the preferable one. My first book on this topic (Developing a vision: strategic planning and the library media specialist. Greenwood, 1994) reflected my experiences helping a school adapt the classic corporate model. Our consultant was very experienced in using this model with major international corporations. We took his wisdom and experience to improve our school. It became an outstanding school, recognized within the state and nation for its innovative practices. I applied this model to the school library, developing a vision that was congruent with the mission and vision of the school.

Subsequent planning experiences exposed me to the marketing model. I call it this because it is employed by many successful marketing consultants. They have shown that although it doesn't carry quite the gravitas of the classic model, it is quite expeditious. I have seen it rolled out in as few as four well spaced planning sessions. When organized properly and well executed, it can produce amazing results. Given the harried life of the typical school librarian in the twenty-first century, it is very realistic to acknowledge that the marketing model is the most feasible to employ. However, I will invite the reader to visit sections of the second part of this book, when appropriate. Ideally, the first part would lead to the second, or at least parts of the second half."