FDLP Succession Planning: About succession planning

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• Change does not always come with advance warning
• Helps to avoid interruption of processing and service
• Preserves institutional knowledge
• Parts of a succession plan can be used for training
• Document full scope of the duties and requirements of the FDLP                  

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The answer to the question, "who should have a succession plan" is anyone who works with FDLP information but especially the depository coordinator, library and technical service services staff who have depository responsibilities. The focus of this guide is for new depository coordinators and anyone who works with government information. Not all parts of a succession plan will apply to all FDLP staff or those involved in FDLP operations. Your succession plan should be tailored to your library operations and workflow.

The information in this guide and its resources may be helpful to non-depository staff who fulfill responsibilities.

Passing the Torch

This guide provides the who, why, what and how of developing a succession plan. Most of the information comes from the FDLP Academy Webinar Passing the FDLP Torch: Planning for Succession.

 As part of the registration, webinar registrants were asked if they had a succession plan. Sixty percent of the respondents did not have a succession plan, 30% had a partial plan, and 5% had a complete plan. Succession planning is not usually a high priority until it becomes a necessity and time is short.

Hopefully, this guide will inspire  to users to think about succession planning so that their successor will have a smooth transition. This guide was created to assist depository staff.  Its resources may also help non-depository staff and administrators fulfill the responsibilities of a Federal Depository Library during a Depository Coordinator vacancy.