Strategic Plan

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The CAAL-CBPA Strategic Plan guides our direction, activities, and services. It builds on past successes and sets a forward-looking agenda, celebrating past accomplishments and outlining key priorities to support academic libraries in a rapidly evolving landscape. The Plan reflects CAAL-CBPA's enduring commitment to innovative and equitable postsecondary library services.


Developed through consultation with member libraries, staff, and consortial partners, and guided by our shared values, this Strategic Plan focuses on seven strategic priorities, designed to enhance the impact and value of CAAL-CBPA's collective work and services.


Building on each of the priorities are goals that broadly identify the actions CAAL-CBPA will undertake over the three years, and the anticipated outcomes from those actions.

Strengthen organizational agility & efficiency
CAAL-CBPA Board members, staff, and committees make timely decisions within a decision-making framework based on data, member needs, and regular environmental scans; thus enabling them to respond to, and anticipate, emerging academic library issues.
Optimize E-Resource Licensing Program Value and Flexibility
By March 2027, complete a comprehensive review of CAAL-CBPA’s licensing program, including collaboration with CRKN and other consortia, focusing on optimizing value for members; optimizing licence terms; and integrating flexible participation models. The review will include updating the model licence to include copyright risk mitigation and AI language. Implement recommendations as appropriate by March 2027.
Leverage Collaboration in Shared Collections and Resource Sharing
Leverage existing regional and national library networks, secure funding through grants, and utilize current technology platforms to support collaboration in support of CAAL-CBPA priorities to broaden access, reduce duplication, and preserve resources while meeting user needs for digital and physical materials.
Embed Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (EDIA) in CAAL-CBPA Governance and Operations
By March 2027, develop and implement an EDIA framework that guides digitization, OER development, reconciliation initiatives, educational programming, and human resource management.
Demonstrate Organizational Value and Elevate Organizational Visibility and Relevance
The value of CAAL-CBPA is many-fold through its services, activities, collaborative opportunities, and its staff knowledge and expertise. Conveying that value, and continuing to evolve that value for members, is critical to CAAL-CBPA’s continued relevance to its members and its profile among regional and national colleagues.
Ensure Fairness and Equity in the Membership Fee Model
A fundamental principle for CAAL-CBPA is that for long-term member retention and engagement, the member fee model must be equitable and fair for all members.
Increase Organizational Effectiveness Through Consortial Shared Infrastructure and Services
There exists in the region an overlap in membership between CAAL-CBPA and Novanet. We have complementary missions, and sometimes overlapping services and activities. In the current and near future economic reality, it is critical that we: optimize resource use; realize efficiencies in organizational governance; and above all, deliver maximal value propositions for member institutions.