The Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL) invites islanders to participate in a public planning process to help determine its future.The library is holding public consultations over the next couple of months in several communities, including here on the islands on December 8, 9, and 10. Places and times not yet available."Too often, strategic planning is seen as a complex process involving only senior management in the design and production of a glossy marketing document that's used infrequently," said Rosemary Bonanno, VIRL executive director. "Strategic planning has the potential to be a powerful process that galvanizes an organization by bringing together the public, the board and staff to develop a common vision, direction and goals that will provide valuable information at budget time, as the strategic direction should drive funding decisions," she said.VIRL will use a process called appreciative inquiry, used since the early 1980s."Appreciative inquiry focuses on the best in people and their organizations. Instead of building a future on correcting negatives - what's 'broke' so to speak - (the technique) builds the future on things that are done well," Ms Bonanno said.The public consultation sessions will take about 2 hours, and afterwards, participants will be able to view their input on a website that allows for on-line collaboration and communication. Members of the public are encouraged to complete a questionnaire, at www.virl.bc.ca ) and in all library branchesFor more info, see www.virl.bc.ca.