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How to Change Everything About Your Library in Five
Easy Steps
Rob Nunez, MLISJoe Davies, MLIS, MA
Presentation Abstract
Two library technocrats discuss the impact of
project management principles in a variety of real-
life library scenarios, including: catalog migration,
website migration, automation implementation,
data-based decision-making, staff training, and
organizational restructuring.
About Kenosha Public LibraryBranch of City Government, Oversight by Appointed Citizen Trustees
Consortial relationships with regional, state, and national library organizations
Founded in 1872
4 Branches and a bookmobile
39 FTE, 131 total employees
Annual Budget of 6.5M
What does a modern library do?Books
Games
Teaching Aids
Computers
Public Programs
Classes
Digital Resources
Public Space
How does a modern library work?Items (not just books!) circulate in and out of the library
Unique library software
Automated Materials Handling
Automated/Integrated Library System
Who uses the modern library?Children
Teenagers
Adults
Parents
Elderly
Wealthy
Poor
Bibliophiles
Who works in the modern library?Librarians with Master’s degrees in Information Science
Staff with high school diplomas
Second careers
Network Administrators
Web Developers/Designers
Shelvers
Research Specialists
Clerical Staff
What is a library supposed to be?Loud or quiet?
Book-centered or technology-centered?
Enrichment or entertainment?
Rules-oriented or inclusive?
Lounge space or study area?
Storage or revolving collection?
Reflect the community or elevate it?
Tradition or progress?
5 Steps
1. Idea
2. Plan (realistically)
3. Get buy-in for the plan
4. Do the plan
5. Assess and fix
Waterfall Project ManagementPros:
● Most familiar with
● Simple
Cons:
● Assumes the project is done
● Does not allow for much change
Six Sigma Project ManagementPros:
● Uses data to drive the project
● More logical
Cons:
● Training
● Over control
● Hard to change when needed
● Cult-ish
Scrum Project ManagementPros:
● Data driven
● Flexible
● Can be easy to implement
● Breaks large projects down
● Allows for client change
Cons:
● 1 project at a time
● Can cause burnout
Kanban Project ManagementPros:
● Forces an evaluation of workload
● See who is doing what
● Track multiple projects at a time
● Basic Prioritization
● Allows for mixing and matching
● Allows for client change
Cons:
● Basic Prioritization
● Leadership at all levels
Tools● Trello
● Calendars
● Sticky Note Exercises
● 10 Minute Standing Meeting
● Leveraging Email over Face to
Face
● Google Apps
● Slack (experimenting)
RFIDGoal: Streamline library service with a new tagging system that allows for self-
checkout and automated returns
Challenges:
Lots of vendors (2 major and 5 minor)
Lots of items (350,000+)
Lots of people who have never done this before
Solutions:
Comprehensive RFP, Discussion with (actual) stakeholders, Utilize vendor expertise
ILS MigrationGoal: Move to a shared resource platform and work with multiple other libraries.
Challenges:
Staff Communication
Planning
Coordination between multiple stakeholders
Solutions:
Blog, Trello, Google Calendar, Slack, Google Hangouts, Weekly Standing Meetings
ILS Migration
Website MigrationGoal: Migrate library website from Drupal 5 site to ILS-vendor based Iguana web
platform for improved appearance and functionality
Challenges:
Over 1500 pages on existing site, including many that are “indispensible”
Everyone is a stakeholder and amateur web designer
Custom CMS means customized problems
Solutions:
Google Analytics, Drive, Sheets, & Forms, form working group, stick to go-live date
Streamlining Collection ServicesGoal: Update the processes, procedures, and training practises of the department
Challenges:
Knowing what everyone does
Breaking 10+ year old habits
Accepting change as a constant
Solutions:
Sticky note exercise, Role reversal, Shadowing other orgs, Constant training
Streamlining Collection Services
Streamlining Adult ServicesGoal: Reshape a department that has had static leadership for the last 17 years.
Challenges:
Service model and departmental identity revolve around single activity
Staff feel out of the loop and technologically unprepared
Lack of sufficiently granular data to inform decision-making
Solutions:
LibInsight for data gathering, Google Groups and Sites for information sharing,
a little-known product called Microsoft Excel
Streamlining Adult Services
Pitfalls to Avoid
Getting too attached to a
single tool or method
Pitfalls to Avoid
Over-reliance on any one staff member
(including yourself)
Pitfalls to Avoid
Thinking that being that one staff
member makes you indispensable
AKA Information Hoarding
Pitfalls to Avoid
Expecting technology to solve all of your
problems
Pitfalls to Avoid
Expecting others to understand things
that you grasp intuitively
Pitfalls to Avoid
Treating people who aren’t on board with
the plan like a lost cause
Pitfalls to Avoid
Failing to build in time for change, failure,
learning, the unforeseeable
Lessons Learned
Do away with the long, non-productive
meetings
Lessons Learned
Keep learning new tools all the time
Lessons Learned
Don’t expect to ever get a break from
change
Lessons Learned
Being right doesn’t always
mean you’ll win
Lessons Learned
It never hurts to get a second opinion
Lessons Learned
Your organization is as
good as its best individuals
Lessons Learned
Failure is an option
“[Our situation] needs and… demands bold, persistent experimentation. It is common sense to take a method and try it: If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something.”
Questions?Joe Davies
Digital Services Manager
@josephldavies
Rob Nunez
Head of Collection Services
@robertnunez
