Introduction
Assessing and evaluating how your library is performing is something that we have often discussed in other classes. For example, in Reference we discuss self-assessment often and even designed assignments which were assessed for effectiveness by our peers. I feel like I know a good deal about assessment, but I still need some help because I'm finding more and more that we are discussing the use of statistics. I've written papers on the use of circulation statistics to evaluate library performance, but when it comes to evaluating the performance of individual staff, I am a little lost. I have been evaluated by bosses before, but never in a library. Because of this I have included an in-depth textbook chapter in this section along with several helpful articles from professional journals.
Textbook Chapter
1. Stueart, Robert D. and Barbara D. Moran. 2007. Library and Information Center Management, 7th ed. Westport, Connecticut: Libraries Unlimited. 409-436. This chapter instructs readers on how they can measure, evaluate, and coordinate organizational performance in the library. It is very detailed and even includes some suggestions for different tools of evaluation. Overall, I think it's overly complicated, but still helpful especially because the authors often list the main points of each section.
Article from Prof Library Literature
1. Ackermann, Eric. "Library assessment on a budget: Using effect size meta-analysis to get the most out the library-related survey data available across campus." Performance Measurement and Metrics 9, no. 3 (2008): 192-201. This article supplies information on constructing practical surveys and scales for evaluating library services and resources at the university level. While I am wary of using surveys to evaluate library performance, Ackermann argues that if surveys are standardized, then they are relative to our assessment needs in the library.
Article from Prof Management Literature
1. Andrade, Maureen Snow. "Managing Change - Engaging Faculty in Assessment Opportunities." Innovative Higher Education 36, (2011): 217-233. This article discusses evaluating teaching in higher education through the assessment of student learning. The author discusses the importance of leadership during these assessments at great length. Andrade also offers practical strategies for administrators that I think I could easily implement in a library.
Examples of Library Policies and Procedures
1. University of North Carolina Wilmington Annual Peer Review Policy and Procedure- It's really hard to find policies and procedures for evaluation in libraries online, but I like this example from UNCW's library because it's about peer reviews. I love peer reviews because they are from the people who you work with everyday. Sometimes they have a better insight on your job performance than others.
Other Resources
1. How to Conduct Employees Performance Appraisals- The Free Management Library has been one of my favorite resources during this project because they use step by step guides which are easy to follow and implement. This section on performance review is practical and can be implemented in any workplace.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Monday, July 30, 2012
Human Resources
Introduction
I feel like I've always had a good handle on managing other people, especially when it comes to group projects. But I know that this is something that I need to work on. That's why I have included plenty of reading material, especially from my textbooks. Still, after reading everything that I have collected on human resources, I feel like I would rather hire someone to be in charge of human resources, but if I had to do it myself, I'm sure I would be okay.
My favorite article out of everything that I pulled is the Hixson article. It's short and sweet, plus Hixson "hits the nail on the head" when he talks about exactly what an HR person is in charge of. It will be great for quick reference.
Textbook Chapter
1. Gordon, Rachel Singer. 2005. The Accidental Library Manager. Medford, New Jersey: Information Today, Inc. 57-143. This is actually a compilation of three chapters all on managing people. Chapter 3 focuses on personnel issues like hiring and professional development. Chapter 4 focuses on managing different kinds of people from generational differences to students, volunteers, and temps. Chapter 5 focuses on communication and leadership among your staff.
2. Stueart, Robert D. and Barbara D. Moran. 2007. Library and Information Center Management, 7th ed. Westport, Connecticut: Libraries Unlimited. 235-345. This resource is much more in-depth than the book by Gordon. It contains examples of forms and tables which can be used in a work environment when appraising staff work and development.
Article from Prof Library Literature
1. Kieserman, Robert H. "Issues in library human resources management." The Bottom Line: Managing Library Finances 21, no. 2 (2008): 67-72. Kieserman lays out the steps to improving relations with employees in the library. He uses the acronym LISTEN (learning, involvement, structure, training, empathy, and assessing and meeting needs) for library directors. I like this article a lot because it's easy to remember Kieserman's methods.
Article from Prof Management Literature
1. Hixson, Ronald. "Human Resources Management." Annals of Psychotherapy and Integrative Health 14, no. 2 (2011): 74-75. This is a short, succinct article on the need for human resources specialists in the health field. But I chose it because Hixson took the time to lay out the main pillars of human resources management and how important good HR can be in an office environment.
Examples of Library Policies and Procedures
1. Rutgers Human Resources Policies and Procedures- Human resources policies and procedures are universal in an academic institution. I chose this example because I like how Rutgers has addressed access to human resources policies and procedures at their institution. Everything is laid out up front and parts of it are bilingual. These policies and procedures may not be specifically for Rutgers' libraries, but they would still be applicable to their libraries.
Other Resources
1. All About Human Resources and Talent Management- The Free Management Library has been one of my favorite online resources during this class. This section explains all of the different facets involved in HR.
I feel like I've always had a good handle on managing other people, especially when it comes to group projects. But I know that this is something that I need to work on. That's why I have included plenty of reading material, especially from my textbooks. Still, after reading everything that I have collected on human resources, I feel like I would rather hire someone to be in charge of human resources, but if I had to do it myself, I'm sure I would be okay.
My favorite article out of everything that I pulled is the Hixson article. It's short and sweet, plus Hixson "hits the nail on the head" when he talks about exactly what an HR person is in charge of. It will be great for quick reference.
Textbook Chapter
1. Gordon, Rachel Singer. 2005. The Accidental Library Manager. Medford, New Jersey: Information Today, Inc. 57-143. This is actually a compilation of three chapters all on managing people. Chapter 3 focuses on personnel issues like hiring and professional development. Chapter 4 focuses on managing different kinds of people from generational differences to students, volunteers, and temps. Chapter 5 focuses on communication and leadership among your staff.
2. Stueart, Robert D. and Barbara D. Moran. 2007. Library and Information Center Management, 7th ed. Westport, Connecticut: Libraries Unlimited. 235-345. This resource is much more in-depth than the book by Gordon. It contains examples of forms and tables which can be used in a work environment when appraising staff work and development.
Article from Prof Library Literature
1. Kieserman, Robert H. "Issues in library human resources management." The Bottom Line: Managing Library Finances 21, no. 2 (2008): 67-72. Kieserman lays out the steps to improving relations with employees in the library. He uses the acronym LISTEN (learning, involvement, structure, training, empathy, and assessing and meeting needs) for library directors. I like this article a lot because it's easy to remember Kieserman's methods.
Article from Prof Management Literature
1. Hixson, Ronald. "Human Resources Management." Annals of Psychotherapy and Integrative Health 14, no. 2 (2011): 74-75. This is a short, succinct article on the need for human resources specialists in the health field. But I chose it because Hixson took the time to lay out the main pillars of human resources management and how important good HR can be in an office environment.
Examples of Library Policies and Procedures
1. Rutgers Human Resources Policies and Procedures- Human resources policies and procedures are universal in an academic institution. I chose this example because I like how Rutgers has addressed access to human resources policies and procedures at their institution. Everything is laid out up front and parts of it are bilingual. These policies and procedures may not be specifically for Rutgers' libraries, but they would still be applicable to their libraries.
Other Resources
1. All About Human Resources and Talent Management- The Free Management Library has been one of my favorite online resources during this class. This section explains all of the different facets involved in HR.
Technology Management
Introduction
I like to think that I have an average understanding of technology, but that mostly has to do with software, not hardware. I kept this section very short because I am so comfortable with it. Also, after taking Dr. Currier's class on Copyright Law, I was not particularly worried about keeping up with technology licensing which is part of technology management so I only included one article on it.
Textbook Chapter
1. Gordon, Rachel Singer. 2005. The Accidental Library Manager. Medford, New Jersey: Information Today, Inc. 167-181. This chapter addresses both facilities and technology management in libraries. It only highlights technological issues on the surface, listing the challenges that may arise during a typical day.
Article from Prof Library Literature
1. Dougherty, William C. "Managing Technology in Libraries: A look to the past with hope for the future." Journal of Academic Librarianship 38, no. 6 (2010): 543-545. Dougherty touches on future technological issues for libraries like Net Neutrality, Copyright, and Moore's Law.
Article from Prof Management Literature
1. Ziedonis, Arvids A. "Real Options in Technology Licensing." Management Science 53, no. 10 (2007): 1618-1633. As someone who has studied copyright law, I found that keeping technology licenses current was of utmost importance to me during this unit. That is why I chose this article because it examines options which you may have with technology licensing.
Examples of Library Policies and Procedures
1. Boston Public Library, Technology Procedures- I like this resource because the BPL lays out its policies on technology in the library in a clear and concise manner.
Other Resources
1. Integrated Library Systems Reports- ILSR offers guides for writing technology plans for various institutions. Technology plans may be part of a larger strategic plan or a stand-alone plan. Either way they're often required by state agencies or are in the terms of a grant/funding opportunities. I was able to find ILSR in Rachel Singer Gordon's book and I feel that if I were ever faced with the task of authoring a technology plan. I like to see how other people/institutions have done things before I actually try to do them myself.
I like to think that I have an average understanding of technology, but that mostly has to do with software, not hardware. I kept this section very short because I am so comfortable with it. Also, after taking Dr. Currier's class on Copyright Law, I was not particularly worried about keeping up with technology licensing which is part of technology management so I only included one article on it.
Textbook Chapter
1. Gordon, Rachel Singer. 2005. The Accidental Library Manager. Medford, New Jersey: Information Today, Inc. 167-181. This chapter addresses both facilities and technology management in libraries. It only highlights technological issues on the surface, listing the challenges that may arise during a typical day.
Article from Prof Library Literature
1. Dougherty, William C. "Managing Technology in Libraries: A look to the past with hope for the future." Journal of Academic Librarianship 38, no. 6 (2010): 543-545. Dougherty touches on future technological issues for libraries like Net Neutrality, Copyright, and Moore's Law.
Article from Prof Management Literature
1. Ziedonis, Arvids A. "Real Options in Technology Licensing." Management Science 53, no. 10 (2007): 1618-1633. As someone who has studied copyright law, I found that keeping technology licenses current was of utmost importance to me during this unit. That is why I chose this article because it examines options which you may have with technology licensing.
Examples of Library Policies and Procedures
1. Boston Public Library, Technology Procedures- I like this resource because the BPL lays out its policies on technology in the library in a clear and concise manner.
Other Resources
1. Integrated Library Systems Reports- ILSR offers guides for writing technology plans for various institutions. Technology plans may be part of a larger strategic plan or a stand-alone plan. Either way they're often required by state agencies or are in the terms of a grant/funding opportunities. I was able to find ILSR in Rachel Singer Gordon's book and I feel that if I were ever faced with the task of authoring a technology plan. I like to see how other people/institutions have done things before I actually try to do them myself.
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Staff Development, Teams, and Managing Change
Introduction
For this section I included the same chapters that I included under "Human Resources" because they all encompassed the principles which we covered in class on managing staff. My textbooks did not separate human resources and staff development practices.
I also felt like I knew a little bit about team building from my management interview because my interviewee discussed staff retreats that she would organize. Therefore, I did not include a whole lot of resources in this section.
Textbook Chapter
1. Gordon, Rachel Singer. 2005. The Accidental Library Manager. Medford, New Jersey: Information Today, Inc. 57-143. This is actually a compilation of three chapters all on managing people. Chapter 3 focuses on personnel issues like hiring and professional development. Chapter 4 focuses on managing different kinds of people from generational differences to students, volunteers, and temps. Chapter 5 focuses on communication and leadership among your staff.
2. Stueart, Robert D. and Barbara D. Moran. 2007. Library and Information Center Management, 7th ed. Westport, Connecticut: Libraries Unlimited. 235-345. This resource is much more in-depth than the book by Gordon. It contains examples of forms and tables which can be used in a work environment when appraising staff work and development.
Article from Prof Library Literature
1. Adams, Claudia. "Library staff development at the University of Auckland Library - Te Tumu Herenga: Endeavouring to 'get what it takes' in an academic library." Library Management 30, no. 8 (2009) 593-607. Adams describes how the staff development committee instituted programs to reinvigorate professional and personal development in a large academic library in New Zealand. I like this article because it provides the reader with tips and ideas that can be used in other libraries.
Article from Prof Management Literature
1. Wilde, Edwin. "Staff Development." Engineering Management Journal 3, no. 3 (1993): 125-131. Wilde lays out the essential elements of effective staff development in the work place. I chose this article because Wilde includes several entity relationship models to illustrate his points.
Examples of Library Policies and Procedures
1. The University of Memphis University Libraries Faculty Travel/Professional Development Policy, Guidelines and Procedures- I like this particular resource because it's upfront and easy to understand. It addresses "business travel" for conferences, workshops, and such, which are part of the process of continuing education in the library world.
Other Resources
1. Seven Steps to Coaching Your Employees to Success- I like this article because it's applicable to any workplace with three or more employees, not just in a library.
For this section I included the same chapters that I included under "Human Resources" because they all encompassed the principles which we covered in class on managing staff. My textbooks did not separate human resources and staff development practices.
I also felt like I knew a little bit about team building from my management interview because my interviewee discussed staff retreats that she would organize. Therefore, I did not include a whole lot of resources in this section.
Textbook Chapter
1. Gordon, Rachel Singer. 2005. The Accidental Library Manager. Medford, New Jersey: Information Today, Inc. 57-143. This is actually a compilation of three chapters all on managing people. Chapter 3 focuses on personnel issues like hiring and professional development. Chapter 4 focuses on managing different kinds of people from generational differences to students, volunteers, and temps. Chapter 5 focuses on communication and leadership among your staff.
2. Stueart, Robert D. and Barbara D. Moran. 2007. Library and Information Center Management, 7th ed. Westport, Connecticut: Libraries Unlimited. 235-345. This resource is much more in-depth than the book by Gordon. It contains examples of forms and tables which can be used in a work environment when appraising staff work and development.
Article from Prof Library Literature
1. Adams, Claudia. "Library staff development at the University of Auckland Library - Te Tumu Herenga: Endeavouring to 'get what it takes' in an academic library." Library Management 30, no. 8 (2009) 593-607. Adams describes how the staff development committee instituted programs to reinvigorate professional and personal development in a large academic library in New Zealand. I like this article because it provides the reader with tips and ideas that can be used in other libraries.
Article from Prof Management Literature
1. Wilde, Edwin. "Staff Development." Engineering Management Journal 3, no. 3 (1993): 125-131. Wilde lays out the essential elements of effective staff development in the work place. I chose this article because Wilde includes several entity relationship models to illustrate his points.
Examples of Library Policies and Procedures
1. The University of Memphis University Libraries Faculty Travel/Professional Development Policy, Guidelines and Procedures- I like this particular resource because it's upfront and easy to understand. It addresses "business travel" for conferences, workshops, and such, which are part of the process of continuing education in the library world.
Other Resources
1. Seven Steps to Coaching Your Employees to Success- I like this article because it's applicable to any workplace with three or more employees, not just in a library.
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Facilities Management
Introduction
This was something my interviewee talked a little bit about in the management interview because she was trying to manage an aging facility while getting ready to renovate for a new one. Due to my experience in my interview and my group project on managing disaster, I felt very comfortable with this unit. For without proper management of library facilities, then we are compromising both our physical and digital collections.
I did not include a lot of information about disaster planning in this unit because of my work in the group project.
Textbook Chapter
1. Gordon, Rachel Singer. 2005. The Accidental Library Manager. Medford, New Jersey: Information Today, Inc. 167-181. This chapter covers the basic tenants of effectively managing library facilities and technology to keep them in top condition. It stresses the importance of maintaining the library's physical facility and covers how to plan for adding physical collection to library floors using software like Libris.
Article from Prof Library Literature
1. Fleischer, S. Victor and Mark J. Heppner. "Disaster Planning for Libraries and Archives: What You Need to Know and How to Do It." Library and Archival Security 22, no. 2 (2009): 125-140. This article is meant to help librarians prepare for possible disasters which they could face in their library. Such disasters would have a direct impact not only on library services, but primarily on library facilities. I feel like being prepared for possible disaster in a library should be one of your main priorities as a manager, but maybe I believe that only because my boyfriend is an emergency manager?
Article from Prof Management Literature
1. Amaratunga, Dilanthi. "Assessment of facilities management performance." Property Management 18, no. 4 (2000): 258-266. This article discusses the central role that facilities management plays in business and how to evaluate it to ensure that it is fulfilling its intended purpose.
Examples of Library Policies and Procedures
1. EPA Library Facility Management Procedures- This document is from the Office of Environmental Protection. It's a great example of a book of facility management policies and procedures for libraries.
Other Resources
1. Library Workflow Redesign: Six Case Studies- Part of managing library facilities is managing the work flow of the library. This webpage gives great example for redesigning the work flow in any library.
This was something my interviewee talked a little bit about in the management interview because she was trying to manage an aging facility while getting ready to renovate for a new one. Due to my experience in my interview and my group project on managing disaster, I felt very comfortable with this unit. For without proper management of library facilities, then we are compromising both our physical and digital collections.
I did not include a lot of information about disaster planning in this unit because of my work in the group project.
Textbook Chapter
1. Gordon, Rachel Singer. 2005. The Accidental Library Manager. Medford, New Jersey: Information Today, Inc. 167-181. This chapter covers the basic tenants of effectively managing library facilities and technology to keep them in top condition. It stresses the importance of maintaining the library's physical facility and covers how to plan for adding physical collection to library floors using software like Libris.
Article from Prof Library Literature
1. Fleischer, S. Victor and Mark J. Heppner. "Disaster Planning for Libraries and Archives: What You Need to Know and How to Do It." Library and Archival Security 22, no. 2 (2009): 125-140. This article is meant to help librarians prepare for possible disasters which they could face in their library. Such disasters would have a direct impact not only on library services, but primarily on library facilities. I feel like being prepared for possible disaster in a library should be one of your main priorities as a manager, but maybe I believe that only because my boyfriend is an emergency manager?
Article from Prof Management Literature
1. Amaratunga, Dilanthi. "Assessment of facilities management performance." Property Management 18, no. 4 (2000): 258-266. This article discusses the central role that facilities management plays in business and how to evaluate it to ensure that it is fulfilling its intended purpose.
Examples of Library Policies and Procedures
1. EPA Library Facility Management Procedures- This document is from the Office of Environmental Protection. It's a great example of a book of facility management policies and procedures for libraries.
Other Resources
1. Library Workflow Redesign: Six Case Studies- Part of managing library facilities is managing the work flow of the library. This webpage gives great example for redesigning the work flow in any library.
Friday, July 20, 2012
Budgets
Introductions
Budgets freak me out because they involve math. I have terrible math anxiety and the idea of managing any sort of money, whether its mine or someone else's, fills me with fear. I found the chapter from The Accidental Library Manager to be especially helpful. It was like it was written just for me because it recommended texts for people with math phobias. After reading everything for this section, I'm still filled with fear when faced with a budget, but I feel like with enough leeway I could do it.
I filled this section with as much information as possible just in case I'm faced with a budget in the future. Hopefully, having so many different resources will help keep me calm.
Textbook Chapter:
1. Gordon, Rachel Singer. 2005. The Accidental Library Manager. Medford, New Jersey: Information Today, Inc. 203-227. Gordon explains some of the money issues which one may need to deal with in a library and how this affects the position of a manager. It is mostly meant to teach us some of the jargon associated with finances. The author also recommends some texts which would be helpful to people with math phobias (like me) at the beginning of this chapter, so that you can brush up on your math skills.
2. Stueart, Robert D. and Barbara D. Moran. 2007. Library and Information Center Management, 7th ed. Westport, Connecticut: Libraries Unlimited. 437-460. Chapter 19, entitled "Fiscal Responsibility and Control" is all about budgets and how to properly manage them. It discusses the various types and levels of budgeting that are used to plan for information services. The authors stress that budgeting is extremely important because "it is the monetary expression of a plan of information services in libraries." Look back at this chapter for more in-depth tips on proper budget management.
Article from Prof Library Literature:
1. Collins, Tim. "The Current Budget Environment and Its Impact on Libraries, Publishers, and Vendors." Journal of Library Administration 52, no. 1 (2012): 18-35. Collins addresses how to deal with smaller budgets in libraries during the economic downturn while still providing a high-level of services. He outlines how librarians, vendors, and publishers have had to start thinking creatively in order to preserve their services. This is a great article for a librarian who is dealing with how to continue operations in times of economic strife.
Article from Prof Management Literature:
1. Ericksen, Charles G. "Developing and Managing Adult Education Budgets." New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education 60, (1993): 39-44. While this article is not necessarily from a journal which exclusively discusses management practices, it provides valuable information. It discusses various kinds of budgets, how to development them, and how to efficiently manage them. I had a really tough time finding an article from professional management literature on budgets, but I still think that this article is relevant because the information it presents is applicable in almost any environment.
Examples of Library Policies and Procedures:
1. Jefferson County Public Library Budget Expenditure Policy- This library offers a good example of a practical policy on budgets for its employees. It distributes the work load of managing the budget among the Board of Trustees, the Board of County Commissioners, and the Executive Director of the Library. I like this example because it is short and to the point.
2. IUPUI Library Budget Policy- This policy states that planning for, preparing, and justifying a budget is the job of the library director. I like this particular example because it uses an "FAQ" to explain its budget policies.
Other Resources:
1. The Art and Science of Managing a University Library Budget- While this article is geared toward academic libraries in the process of managing and preparing their budgets, it provides excellent information on budgets in academia. It includes information about the allocation process, leveraging, and suggestions for other sources of library funding.
Budgets freak me out because they involve math. I have terrible math anxiety and the idea of managing any sort of money, whether its mine or someone else's, fills me with fear. I found the chapter from The Accidental Library Manager to be especially helpful. It was like it was written just for me because it recommended texts for people with math phobias. After reading everything for this section, I'm still filled with fear when faced with a budget, but I feel like with enough leeway I could do it.
I filled this section with as much information as possible just in case I'm faced with a budget in the future. Hopefully, having so many different resources will help keep me calm.
Textbook Chapter:
1. Gordon, Rachel Singer. 2005. The Accidental Library Manager. Medford, New Jersey: Information Today, Inc. 203-227. Gordon explains some of the money issues which one may need to deal with in a library and how this affects the position of a manager. It is mostly meant to teach us some of the jargon associated with finances. The author also recommends some texts which would be helpful to people with math phobias (like me) at the beginning of this chapter, so that you can brush up on your math skills.
2. Stueart, Robert D. and Barbara D. Moran. 2007. Library and Information Center Management, 7th ed. Westport, Connecticut: Libraries Unlimited. 437-460. Chapter 19, entitled "Fiscal Responsibility and Control" is all about budgets and how to properly manage them. It discusses the various types and levels of budgeting that are used to plan for information services. The authors stress that budgeting is extremely important because "it is the monetary expression of a plan of information services in libraries." Look back at this chapter for more in-depth tips on proper budget management.
Article from Prof Library Literature:
1. Collins, Tim. "The Current Budget Environment and Its Impact on Libraries, Publishers, and Vendors." Journal of Library Administration 52, no. 1 (2012): 18-35. Collins addresses how to deal with smaller budgets in libraries during the economic downturn while still providing a high-level of services. He outlines how librarians, vendors, and publishers have had to start thinking creatively in order to preserve their services. This is a great article for a librarian who is dealing with how to continue operations in times of economic strife.
Article from Prof Management Literature:
1. Ericksen, Charles G. "Developing and Managing Adult Education Budgets." New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education 60, (1993): 39-44. While this article is not necessarily from a journal which exclusively discusses management practices, it provides valuable information. It discusses various kinds of budgets, how to development them, and how to efficiently manage them. I had a really tough time finding an article from professional management literature on budgets, but I still think that this article is relevant because the information it presents is applicable in almost any environment.
Examples of Library Policies and Procedures:
1. Jefferson County Public Library Budget Expenditure Policy- This library offers a good example of a practical policy on budgets for its employees. It distributes the work load of managing the budget among the Board of Trustees, the Board of County Commissioners, and the Executive Director of the Library. I like this example because it is short and to the point.
2. IUPUI Library Budget Policy- This policy states that planning for, preparing, and justifying a budget is the job of the library director. I like this particular example because it uses an "FAQ" to explain its budget policies.
Other Resources:
1. The Art and Science of Managing a University Library Budget- While this article is geared toward academic libraries in the process of managing and preparing their budgets, it provides excellent information on budgets in academia. It includes information about the allocation process, leveraging, and suggestions for other sources of library funding.
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Grant Proposals
Introduction
When I was an undergraduate I was always told that grants were "free money" but I feel like this is far from the truth, especially after writing my own. I've seen other people write grant proposals, both public and private, and I feel like I knew before hand how important it was to be able to write a good proposal. I still included a lot of information in this sections, especially because I feel that no matter how many grant proposals I write, I'll still be happy with all the help I can get.
Textbook Chapter:
1. Gordon, Rachel Singer. 2005. The Accidental Library Manager. Medford, New Jersey: Information Today, Inc. 203-227. While this chapter is on money management, it has a couple pages on grant proposals. While the instructions are not very detailed, they are still helpful.
Article from Prof Library Literature:
1. Gerding, Stephanie, ed. "Writing Successful Library Grant Proposals." Public Libraries 45, no. 5 (2006): 31-33. This article is short but it gives great tips for starting on a grant proposal and how to make it successful. This article suggests the incorporation of strategic planning into writing a grant proposal. This article is supposed to be used by public librarians, but I believe that the tips it gives could be applied in almost any kind of library.
2. Sullivan, Laura A. "Grant funding for libraries." The Bottom Line: Managing Library Finances 20, no. 4 (2007): 157-160. This article outlines different agencies which give grant money to libraries on a regular basis. It gives one good starting points on where to look for grant money.
Article from Prof Management Literature:
1. Carnow, Gary A. "Strategies for Writing a Grant Proposal." Technology and Learning 31, no. 12 (2011): 16. This article is very short but it is packed with strategies on writing successful grant proposals. It is geared toward a classroom environment, but it could be applied in a school library.
Examples of Library Policies and Procedures:
1. Rutger's University Libraries Policies Regarding Grants This set of policies and procedures gives good examples of practical policies and procedures regarding grants and grant proposals in an academic library.
Other Resources:
1. Internet Resources on Grant Preparation While this is aimed at a public library in New Jersey, it contains some great resources for helping a person write a grant proposal.
2. Grants.gov This website is the "clearing house" for all twenty-six government agencies which give out federal grants. This is a good starting place when you are looking for money.
When I was an undergraduate I was always told that grants were "free money" but I feel like this is far from the truth, especially after writing my own. I've seen other people write grant proposals, both public and private, and I feel like I knew before hand how important it was to be able to write a good proposal. I still included a lot of information in this sections, especially because I feel that no matter how many grant proposals I write, I'll still be happy with all the help I can get.
Textbook Chapter:
1. Gordon, Rachel Singer. 2005. The Accidental Library Manager. Medford, New Jersey: Information Today, Inc. 203-227. While this chapter is on money management, it has a couple pages on grant proposals. While the instructions are not very detailed, they are still helpful.
Article from Prof Library Literature:
1. Gerding, Stephanie, ed. "Writing Successful Library Grant Proposals." Public Libraries 45, no. 5 (2006): 31-33. This article is short but it gives great tips for starting on a grant proposal and how to make it successful. This article suggests the incorporation of strategic planning into writing a grant proposal. This article is supposed to be used by public librarians, but I believe that the tips it gives could be applied in almost any kind of library.
2. Sullivan, Laura A. "Grant funding for libraries." The Bottom Line: Managing Library Finances 20, no. 4 (2007): 157-160. This article outlines different agencies which give grant money to libraries on a regular basis. It gives one good starting points on where to look for grant money.
Article from Prof Management Literature:
1. Carnow, Gary A. "Strategies for Writing a Grant Proposal." Technology and Learning 31, no. 12 (2011): 16. This article is very short but it is packed with strategies on writing successful grant proposals. It is geared toward a classroom environment, but it could be applied in a school library.
Examples of Library Policies and Procedures:
1. Rutger's University Libraries Policies Regarding Grants This set of policies and procedures gives good examples of practical policies and procedures regarding grants and grant proposals in an academic library.
Other Resources:
1. Internet Resources on Grant Preparation While this is aimed at a public library in New Jersey, it contains some great resources for helping a person write a grant proposal.
2. Grants.gov This website is the "clearing house" for all twenty-six government agencies which give out federal grants. This is a good starting place when you are looking for money.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Strategic Planning
Introduction
The importance of strategic planning has been apparent to me for a long time because my boyfriend is an emergency manager and likes to stress its importance in every paper he's had me review for him. Still I was not sure how strategic planning applied to libraries. Through my reading, I was able to learn more about how to develop and implement a strategic plan in a library and why it is important. I also learned that it helps with accountability, not to mention that it helps cover your butt when stakeholders are interested in what your plan for the library is. I was sure to include two sources for each section because this topic is so important.
Textbook Chapter:
1. Gordon, Rachel Singer. 2005. The Accidental Library Manager. Medford, New Jersey: Information Today, Inc. 183-201. Strategic planning is all about managing change. Chapter 8 gives some useful pointers on managing changes in your library, but it also contains a great section on strategic planning pages 194-200.
2. Stueart, Robert D. and Barbara D. Moran. 2007. Library and Information Center Management, 7th ed. Westport, Connecticut: Libraries Unlimited. 93-117. Chapter 5 is devoted entirely to strategic planning. This chapter goes in-depth to describe why and how one should plan strategically. It also goes into detail on SWOT.
Article from Prof Library Literature:
1. Spadafora, David. "Short-term Costs for Long-term Benefits." Journal of Library Administration 52, no. 1 (2012): 108-123. This article outlines how the Newberry Library used its strategic planning skills to carry itself through recent tough economic times. The administration at the Newberry were attempting to reinvent their library for the twenty-first century patron. They effectively outlined their short term and long term goals while keeping realistic funding in mind. Their actions can be used as a model for the future.
2. McNicol, Sarah. "The challenges of strategic planning in academic libraries." New Library World 106, no. 11 (2005): 496-509. Outlines the benefits of strategic planning in academic libraries.
Article from Prof Management Literature:
1. Johnson, Heather. "Strategic Planning for Modern Libraries." Library Management 15, no. 1 (1994): 7-18. While this article is older, the information it presents is still relevant. It outlines the process of strategic planning and why we do it.
2. Brockmann, Erich N. and Kenneth J. Lacho. "Strategic Planning: A Practical Primer for the Entrepreneur." The Entrepreneurial Executive 15, (2010): 25-32. This article gives pointers for strategic planning from a business perspective, which can be advantageous in the library world.
Examples of library policies and procedures:
1. Iowa City Public Library Strategic Plan 2013 The library gives itself long and short term goals to be completed by 2013. It provides an excellent example of what a plan should look and sound like in a public library system. Their plan is simple and easy to follow.
2. Brampton Public Library's plan is feasible and gives one an excellent example of what a strategic plan should look like.
Other resources:
1.All About Strategic Planning: This webpage defines strategic planning and gives the reader guidelines for developing and implementing one of their own in their library.
The importance of strategic planning has been apparent to me for a long time because my boyfriend is an emergency manager and likes to stress its importance in every paper he's had me review for him. Still I was not sure how strategic planning applied to libraries. Through my reading, I was able to learn more about how to develop and implement a strategic plan in a library and why it is important. I also learned that it helps with accountability, not to mention that it helps cover your butt when stakeholders are interested in what your plan for the library is. I was sure to include two sources for each section because this topic is so important.
Textbook Chapter:
1. Gordon, Rachel Singer. 2005. The Accidental Library Manager. Medford, New Jersey: Information Today, Inc. 183-201. Strategic planning is all about managing change. Chapter 8 gives some useful pointers on managing changes in your library, but it also contains a great section on strategic planning pages 194-200.
2. Stueart, Robert D. and Barbara D. Moran. 2007. Library and Information Center Management, 7th ed. Westport, Connecticut: Libraries Unlimited. 93-117. Chapter 5 is devoted entirely to strategic planning. This chapter goes in-depth to describe why and how one should plan strategically. It also goes into detail on SWOT.
Article from Prof Library Literature:
1. Spadafora, David. "Short-term Costs for Long-term Benefits." Journal of Library Administration 52, no. 1 (2012): 108-123. This article outlines how the Newberry Library used its strategic planning skills to carry itself through recent tough economic times. The administration at the Newberry were attempting to reinvent their library for the twenty-first century patron. They effectively outlined their short term and long term goals while keeping realistic funding in mind. Their actions can be used as a model for the future.
2. McNicol, Sarah. "The challenges of strategic planning in academic libraries." New Library World 106, no. 11 (2005): 496-509. Outlines the benefits of strategic planning in academic libraries.
Article from Prof Management Literature:
1. Johnson, Heather. "Strategic Planning for Modern Libraries." Library Management 15, no. 1 (1994): 7-18. While this article is older, the information it presents is still relevant. It outlines the process of strategic planning and why we do it.
2. Brockmann, Erich N. and Kenneth J. Lacho. "Strategic Planning: A Practical Primer for the Entrepreneur." The Entrepreneurial Executive 15, (2010): 25-32. This article gives pointers for strategic planning from a business perspective, which can be advantageous in the library world.
Examples of library policies and procedures:
1. Iowa City Public Library Strategic Plan 2013 The library gives itself long and short term goals to be completed by 2013. It provides an excellent example of what a plan should look and sound like in a public library system. Their plan is simple and easy to follow.
2. Brampton Public Library's plan is feasible and gives one an excellent example of what a strategic plan should look like.
Other resources:
1.All About Strategic Planning: This webpage defines strategic planning and gives the reader guidelines for developing and implementing one of their own in their library.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Environmental Scan/Community Relations
Introduction
I did not really understand the importance of environmental scans/community relations when I started this assignment. That is why I included lots of different resources, especially from my text books. It was actually really difficult to find information on environmental scanning, so I feel lucky that I was able to find so much on this one topic.
(As for the physical articles, I have each one saved in corresponding folders on my computer. Since this blog is public, I felt that it would be a violation of each author's copyright to share copies of their work without permission. That's why I felt that an annotated bibliography would be the best way to construct a management portfolio.)
Textbook Chapter:
1. Gordon, Rachel Singer. 2005. The Accidental Library Manager. Medford, New Jersey: Information Today, Inc. 229-257. Specifically pay attention to the section of this chapter entitled "Your Community," page 235-240. It gives the reader some good pointers on how to manage community relations in a proactive manner.
- Chapter 4 is vague but it is also helpful.
2. Stueart, Robert D. and Barbara D. Moran. 2007. Library and Information Center Management, 7th ed. Westport, Connecticut: Libraries Unlimited. 93-117. While this chapter deals with planning, it has an excellent section on gauging the environment of your library on pages 99-107.
Article from prof library literature:
1. Marshall, Nancy J. "Public Relations in Academic Libraries: A Descriptive Analysis." Journal of Academic Librarianship 27, no. 2 (2001): 116-121. Marshall justifies reasons for academic libraries to establish good public relations with their campuses.
Article from prof management literature:
1. Chan, Diana L.H. and Samson C. Soong. "Strategic repositioning in a dynamic environment." Library Management 32, no 1 (2011): 22-36. This article illustrates how an academic library in Hong Kong completed an environmental scan and reorganized itself based on its findings. One can certainly take some pointers from an article like this. This article could be used to help teach library staff about ways to conduct scans and implement changes based on that scan's findings.
2. Albright, Kendra S. "Environmental Scanning: Radar for Success." The Information Management Journal 38, no. 3 (2004): 38-45. Albright defines what environmental scanning means to an organization and why it integral to an organization's strategic plan. She also describes the process which is involved in conducting an environmental scan. This article establishes a basic understanding of environmental scanning and why it is important. It could be used for a basic lesson on environmental scans in the future.
Example of library policies and procedures:
1. The Ephrata Public Library's Public Relations Policy is short, sweet, and easy to understand while giving good examples of how to deal with different groups like the media and how public inquiries are handled: http://www.ephratapubliclibrary.org/public-relations-policy.php
2. Blossburg Memorial Library Community Relations Policy provides a concise outline of this library's policies and procedures in relation to the public. It states its objectives and how it will accomplish such objectives. It is provides a great example of how a library should conduct its business.
Other resources:
1. http://scanblog.blogspot.com/2005/07/environmental-scanning-pt-2.html Even though this blog is now defunct, it provides several interesting and helpful posts on environmental scans in the library world.
2. http://www.olc.org/marketing/4pr.htm This public relations asks the librarian an excellent question: "How do you want the library to be seen in relation to the community?" It gives some excellent tips for building a healthy and long-lasting relationship with your community.
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