There is an abundance of library literature that suggests we as librarians need to do better in raising our profile to those outside the profession. That we need to increase our visibility, and improve our marketing and communication so that others will truly realise the value of librarians and libraries. We’ve heard it all before right? So…
Tag: project management
Test Your Assumptions
Library projects often focus a lot on risks as this is often what stakeholders are most concerned about. But it is also good to test assumptions. How do risks differ from assumptions? Risks are the likelihood that something will or will not happen. They are measured by their probability (what is the likelihood that this…
How To Stop Duplicating Effort
“Libraries are a source of significant creativity, resourcefulness and innovation. However, many are expending duplicate effort to solve the same problems or to take advantage of similar opportunities.” (http://www.oclc.org/reports/webscale/libraries-at-webscale.pdf, p26.) The only way to overcome the duplication of effort is to find ways to share and create new value for the profession and the communities…
If Disaster Strikes Have You Considered…
Recently Carolyn Robertson, Christchurch City Libraries Manager wrote a brief post on the LIANZA website about her attendance at the LIANZA Waikato/Bay of Plenty Weekend School. I also attended the weekend school and the stories Carolyn shared about the impact of the February earthquake on Christchurch City Libraries were compelling and heart-wrenching. Carolyn’s stories also made…
1. Inspire Me With Your Vision For Libraries
In a previous post I listed 24 library leadership qualities that will inspire me to be a loyal follower. 1. I will follow someone who has a vision of how libraries can take the world to a better place. A vision provides an inspirational statement that captures the essence of an ideal future. And for me,…
Who Are Your Top 10 Borrowers?
Growing your library isn’t just a worthy goal; it is a necessity for your survival. But growth requires focus – a focus on your number one market. A business doesn’t grow by treating all customers equally and neither should libraries. Now, before you respond with: “but we’re part of council and we must serve all…
Forget Strategy, Worry About Execution
Developing strategic plans is a common endeavour in many libraries, and one that some libraries struggle to make meaningful. According to Wikipedia, strategic planning is the formal consideration of an organisation’s future course. All strategic planning deals with at least one of three key questions: What do we do? For whom do we do it?…
Using a Project Management Framework for Effective Meetings
Meetings, just like projects are unique. No two meetings are the same. It is difficult to consistently deliver successful projects without using some kind of framework, and the same is true for meetings. Using a framework optimises productivity and reduces misunderstanding and conflict. Below I’ve applied a typical project management framework to offer 5 tips…
The Art of Non-Conformity (Book Review)
Title: The Art of Non-Conformity: Set Your Own Rules, Live the Life You Want… Author: Chris Guillebeau Verdict: Inspirational lessons for life. Buy it. Dare to do different. Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ See which libraries in New Zealand have The Art of Non-Conformity. The Art of Non-Conformity is a journey of adventure, memorable moments and serendipity. But first and…
3 Things To Add To Your Library’s “Stop Doing” List
Times are crazy. The recession may have caused libraries to be more fiscally responsible but it’s also increased the number of customers coming through the door. Trying to do more with less is a sign of the times and it isn’t going to go away in a hurry. To help you accomplish more with less,…
TEDx Auckland – Getting Things Done
I’ve just spent an inspiring day at TEDx Auckland. There were many great presentations, but the one that stuck with me was from Cindy Gallop who Skyped in from South Africa. Cindy is the founder and CEO of ifwerantheworld.com, a radically simple web platform designed to help change the world one microaction at a time. This got…
Meetings!
Meetings take up a lot of my time. Probably second only to travelling to and from them. And so whenever I read some tips on how to make them work better, I’m always intrigued. Today I came across a post from Results.com that had one tip I hadn’t encountered (or hadn’t noticed in any meetings I’ve been in)…
