Project Management for Libraries

Library work often involves coordinating projects with many tasks and many stakeholders where cost and time limitations can be seen as opportunities. Effective project management is worth learning!
This book provides library staffers at every level—whether in public, academic, school or special libraries—with the basic tools of project management so that they can gain confidence and an expectation of success. Part I covers the terminology, the philosophy, the resource management and the return on investment of project management. Part II introduces the basics of the methodology designed by the Project Management Institute. Part III discusses practical techniques for specific types of library projects, gives an introduction to agile management, features success stories in library project management and describes available software. The book includes many examples of project management.
Instructors considering this book for use in a course may request an examination copy here.

Robin A. Buser is the supervisor of technical services at Columbus State Community College, Columbus, Ohio. She was the project manager for OCLC’s WorldCat Cataloging Partners service. She lives in Westerville, Ohio.
The late Bruce Edward Massis served the library profession for more than three decades. He lived in Delaware, Ohio.
Miriam Pollack has more than 30 years of experience working in non-profit organizations, public and special libraries, library systems, and library education programs. She lives in Northbrook, Illinois.

Robin A. Buser, Bruce E. Massis and Miriam Pollack
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 228
Bibliographic Info: 30 illustrations, glossary, appendix, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2014
pISBN: 978-0-7864-9606-8
eISBN: 978-1-4766-1765-7
Imprint: McFarland

Preface 1

Part I: Preparing to Plan and Implement Project Management 5

1. Why Project Management? 6

2. Project Management—What Is It? 11

3. People in Projects 19

4. How to Evaluate Whether to Start a Project 24

5. Determining the Return on Investment 27

Part II: Planning and Implementing Project Management 35

6. Initiate the Process 36

7. Planning 44

8. Executing Process Group 83

9. Monitoring and Controlling Process Group 90

10. Closing and Evaluating 102

11. Agile Project Management 107

Part III: Library Resources 113

12. Guidelines for Library Projects 114

13. Library Project Management Examples 153

14. Web-based Project Management Software 208

Glossary 211

Appendix: Sample Survey Questionnaire to Libraries 214

Notes 215

Selected Bibliography 218

Index 221

• “This book will help librarians as they use professional processes to effectively manage projects, and will provide an understanding of the basics of project management for library administrators and project sponsors”—ARBA