WebJunction - Project Management

self checkout: best practices for implementation

2009-03-12T20:43:59Z

Hi. For a library looking at implementing self checkout, what are the top three pieces of advice you'd give based on your own experience? I'm looking for some best practices, things to avoid, and techniques to use for making this change successful for patrons and staff.

Thanks!

RE: Project Management

2008-10-30T21:05:22Z

I attended an informative pre-conference workshop at Internet Librarian 2008 last week on "Practical Project Management." The presenters Sadie Honey, Kathleen Cameron and Leslie Wolf were from UCSF Library & Center for Knowledge Management.
Their simple approach to project planning and tracking by use of a spreadsheet would work for any project or team regardless of skill level.
They teach their process to all staff and have good success and positive learner response.

RE: Project Management

2008-08-25T23:42:44Z

Hi Jody!

It sounds like the whole community could use a project manager so all the fund raising events were more spread out across the year.

My guess is that most small libraries don't have "project management" in any of their job titles and that it happens by the seat of the pants. Still, I found it helpful to take a short course in the elements of PM. I hadn't realized how important the people part of it is. Of course, I've heard that described as herding cats.

Project Management

2008-08-17T21:50:38Z

Usually when our library plans a project it is 9 times out of 10 a fundraiser and we all, meaning the director and the board and usually since we live in a small community we have people volunteer to help, we have a friendly small town so this is a great assett to us as far as all usually working together, we do sometimes have a problem swhn the library, ball diamond, river friends, boosters all decide to sell t shirts around a 3 week period, although it does work out as we all swap shirts and so support each other and then when the scouts or school children are selling any thing I really get hit ! HA HA! Our projects generally work out pretty well all in all Jody Delaney~ Harpers Ferry Library~ Dolores Tillinghast Memorial