Project Management in Libraries: On Time, On Budget, On Target

by Carly Wiggins Searcy

A recent study showed that only 53 percent of projects come in on budget and only 49 percent on schedule. So what does it take to be an on-budget, on-time finisher? Successful project management may seem like a quixotic pursuit, but it doesn’t have to be. Searcy, a certified Project Management Professional as well as a librarian, takes readers through mastering the key skills that will make it happen: initiating, planning, executing, monitoring, and closing. Applying project management principles in a library-project context, this book provides to-the-point guidance on:

- running effective and productive meetings by using a checklist approach;
- treating people fairly while openly sharing information;
- ways to simplify workflows by choosing the most suitable software program;
- how to write a project charter;
- the agile concept of self-organizing teams;
- identifying risks and planning for the downside;
- managing scope creep by maintaining realistic expectations; and
- using a checklist to close projects so they stay closed.

Library staff at all levels will be feel confident planning and executing projects with Searcy’s expert tutelage at hand.

Genres: Nonfiction, Professional Development, Business

123 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2018

Reviews

[Aleya · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started this book months ago, but only just now got around to finishing it. It was interesting learning more about formalized project management. My library has been using Scrum to manage our summer reading for the past few years, so some sort of project management was already instilled in me. I got a lot of good tips from this book and was glad I decided to pick it up. It took me far too long to finish something that's only 100 something pages. The formal processes of project management just didn't appeal to me much. Happy to be done with it so I can return to my Reference Interview book.

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book packs a punch for its short length.

This is an introduction to project management in the context of libraries. Searcy does a great job of hitting all the major aspects of project management, and she uses specific examples to relate it to library work.

After finding myself encountering project management information a lot lately, I have come to see that Searcy really does an incredible job with this short book. I would highly recommend it as a starting point for anyone interested in the topic of library project management.

Only downside? Cost! Small publisher with a small audience, but still a bummer.

*****/*****

[Christie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this to have quite a lot of practical tools for managing projects in libraries. I appreciated the sample project documents, and look forward to using them in the future. I did find the book to be a bit jargon-heavy and seemed to be geared toward those wanting to pursue a career in Project Management, instead of someone who is an occasional, informal project manager.

[Sam (Hissing Potatoes) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. An excellent primer on project management with a focus on immediate practical application. The process is detailed in short, easy-to-understand chapters. I appreciated the emphasis on the vital importance of the people/communication aspect of project management.

[Evan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy to read, helpful.

[Mallory · Rating 4 out of 5]

Required reading for an online project management in libraries course. Nice introductory text!

[Margot Note]

Read for review in the Journal of Academic Librarianship.