Once upon a time I was at a place (Southern Methodist University) where the libraries’ strategic plan has a cutesy title: “Unbooked & Unbound.” It was a nod to the university’s capital campaign called “SMU Unbridled,” and like the university’s general approach to marketing, it got so close but never really hit the mark (see “World Changers Shaped Here” instead of “Shaping World Changers”…one rolls off the tongue, one is a mouthful for a Tennessee accent that had to repeat it).

Really, to be a viable nod and reach the target, the strategic plan should have been titled “Unbridled & Unbound.” Think about it: for a horse, to be unbridled means it is not bound by a physical restraint, e.g. a bridle. For information, to be unbound means the same, that it is not bound by a physical restraint, e.g. a book’s binding. The words “unbridled” and “unbound” provide the same connotation. However, to be “unbooked” suggests that you are free at a specific time for an event. A book in and of itself is not a physical restraint, but instead something that is created as a result of that restraint.

But, nobody asked me.

Well, truthfully, I wasn’t there yet to be asked when it was written. But I was there for the celebratory t-shirt!

There for what counts, right? Wrong. What counts is the actions taken for the betterment of the library and its users, for the institution and its stakeholders, and for the information and its use.

I can’t really fault the plan, though. Sure, it was written to look like any other engaging and inviting strategic plan: the layout was attractive, the keywords were on trend and in boldfaced print, and it had a decorative cover. Beyond that, there was a detailed action plan with concrete deliverables, like “provide baskets for users to carry books” or “send 5 Librarians to ALA” (these are examples I made up). Each of those deliverables was tied directly to the relevant goals and objectives in the plan, and I became an expert at connecting my work and professional goals and progress directly to those as well. Weirdly, I still do!

But you know what? When the time comes for the same to be done wherever I may be, the trend is now to default to those who have already done this internally. Maybe they’ve even written a book about it! Except they have since moved on.

I wrote another post about the fear of believing that others have done things or asking to see if anyone else has anything to contribute. Unfortunately, though that is a critical step in the planning process for every aspect of higher education, it is too often overlooked. I’ve seen a good strategic plan that will provide concrete evidence that it has been achieved, I would happily share it and help model a new one on its actionable example, but I have come to doubt that anyone would believe it exists even if I physically handed it to them.

I’m not entirely sure where I am going with this post, but I added the word “unmoored” to the title for a reason. Here’s why I think it’s there:

I am increasingly tired of being overlooked. I feel as though I took a wrong turn somewhere, and have gotten stuck in a hole with no way to climb out. There is a lot of FOMO (fear of missing out) as I see all of the others in my professional cohort achieving bigger roles and greater responsibilities, seeming to find career successes that I strive to attain but never do. I feel left behind and unsuccessful as a result, though never doubting my potential. But at the same time, I see all of the folks who have been happy here throughout an entire career without feeling a need to climb out. Is that what I am supposed to feel? What is my purpose? Where do I belong? Is this as high up as I’m supposed to fail? Have I actually Peter Principled and don’t realize it?

Anyway, I’m feeling unmoored. Or maybe the problem is that I am anchored in the wrong sea?

I’m also unbooked without the invites I expected to come by now.

And yet, I am unbound…

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Disclaimer:
All words and images are my own. If they are not, they are cited as such to give proper attribution to the intellectual property owners.
No words or images reflect the opinions or viewpoints of my current, former, or future employers and educational institutions. They are from my own viewpoint.