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.

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.

This volume of Advances in Library Administration and Organization attempts to put project management into the toolboxes of library administrators through overviews of concepts, analyses of experiences, and forecasts for the use of project management within the profession.

Managing the process of building and maintaining an effective library website can be as challenging as designing the product itself. Web Project Management for Academic Libraries outlines best practices for managing successful projects related to the academic library website. This is a book of practical, real-world solutions to help web project managers and their teams plan, engage stakeholders, and lead organizations through change. Topics covered include the definition and responsibilities of a web project manager; necessary roles for the project team; effective communication practices; designing project workflow; executing the project; and usability testing and quality control. The techniques recommended in this book are drawn from the experiences of the authors and from library and project management literature. This book is an essential text not only for library staff working as project managers or on web teams, but also library administrators, library school faculty and students, and web consultants working with libraries.

This volume of Advances in Library Administration and Organization attempts to put project management into the toolboxes of library administrators through overviews of concepts, analyses of experiences, and forecasts for the use of project management within the profession.

As budgets for libraries continue to shrink, the key challenge facing the 21st century librarian is finding how to do more with less. Learning how to increase productivity within the constraints of a difficult economy, librarians can benefit from the insights of fellow professionals and others who have succeeded in making the most of what they have. Time and Project Management Strategies for Librarians features more than thirty essays that provide valuable tips for the professional who must cope with increasing demands upon their resources. Librarians will get tips on how to: identify the most important tasks for the library eliminate non-essential functions and processes increase reliance on volunteers, interns, and students optimize daily routines and schedule staff effectively increase productivity through the use of social media and email increase project and time management skills and personal productivity through setting and meeting goals With productivity tips for all librarians—from the newly hired to the most seasoned veteran—this volume will help libraries provide better service to their users and also show librarians how to give this service without losing their personal lives and their sanity.

Managing the process of building and maintaining an effective library website can be as challenging as designing the product itself. Web Project Management for Academic Libraries outlines the best practices for managing successful projects related to the academic library website. The book is a collection of practical, real-world solutions to help web project managers plan, engage stakeholders, and lead organizations through change. Topics covered include the definition and responsibilities of a web project manager; necessary roles for the project team; effective communication practices; designing project workflow; executing the project; and usability testing and quality control. The techniques recommended are drawn from the experiences of the authors and from library and project management literature. The book is an essential text for library staff working as project managers or on web teams, library administrators, library school faculty and students, and web consultants working with libraries. Field-tested web project management guidance grounded in the literature of librarianship, project management and web development Consideration of the special needs of academic libraries Practical, step-by-step guidance for novices and experts in libraries of all sizes