Think Clearly Blog
Think Clearly Blog
Why Integrated Knowledge Management is Critical
Knowledge management solutions should integrate with an organization’s existing systems and work seamlessly with the current IT infrastructure.
Responsible Practices for Working with Communities and Collections
Museums have ethical responsibility for objects representing ethnographic communities; engage communities early and often; they are important stakeholders.
The Roles and Impact of Special Librarians
Stephen Abram offers expertise on special libraries and special librarians, including their various roles and significant organizational impact.
Best Practices for Crafting an Archival Project Charter
An archival project should have a project charter that is a governing document; it is the formal authority needed by the archival project manager.
6 Proven Knowledge Management Methodologies
Knowledge management best practices include methodologies collected by KM expert Stan Garfield in his book Proven Practices for Promoting a KM Program.
How to Construct a Museum Digitization Equation
Accurate digitization equations are necessary for successful museum digitization project planning; they provide a reliable estimate of time required.
TypeTalk: The Basics for Special Librarians
Skills for special librarians include learning from evaluative and non-evaluative personality type tests such as Myers-Briggs and The Predictive Index.
How to Manage Archival Project Risks and Assumptions
Identify and analyze archival project risks and assumptions, plan accordingly, select the project management approach best suited to each risk type.
KM Initiatives Require a Training Strategy
Knowledge management best practices include ongoing training strategies that leverage a variety of channels e.g., webinars and self-paced courses.
What to Do When It’s Your First Museum Digitization Project
Planning and preparation are key to successful museum digitization projects; determine needs including hardware and collections management software.
Librarians and Technology #11: Productivity Tools for Special Librarians
Special librarians are evaluated on productivity; skills for special librarians involve productivity tools, focus, research skills and collaboration.
How to Make Friends and Influence Organizations to Adopt KM
Selling KM is a journey; getting buy-in is an ongoing knowledge management best practice permanent process requiring a continuous improvement strategy.
Building a Comprehensive Museum Digital Program
Museum digital projects must include comprehensive digital program covering equipment used, standards followed and digitization and cataloging work.
Librarians and Technology #10: Deep Thinking Means Focused Attention
Skills for special librarians include deep thinking, focus on connecting data and information, application of technology to information retrieval.
What Makes a Successful Archival Project?
Archival projects have success criteria that include factors related to deliverables and objectives as well as requirements to be on time and on budget.
KM Improves Content Findability
Knowledge management best practices include making content easy to find through multiple methods and channels, curating collections of useful content.
How to Build Sustainability into Museum Digital Projects
Museum sustainability strategies secure the future of the museum; digital projects rely on sustainability planning as they are long term and expensive.
Learning Styles: The Basics for Special Librarians
Special librarians should embed learning at the core of their practice, and develop a lifelong personal learning agenda.
Modifying Schedules for Archival Projects
Archival project managers should expect problems and use techniques to modify the archival project schedule to solve issues or delays.
KM Stories Obtain Leadership Commitment
KM programs should include storytelling before, during and after knowledge management implementation; this helps get leadership sponsorship and support.
How Museums Can Effectively Collaborate
Museum collaboration is essential; it’s often the way to save money or increase funding while developing digital projects, traveling exhibits, etc.
Librarians and Technology #9: Focused Writing Requires Discipline (Part 2)
Writing is one of the most important skills for special librarians, and requires focus, attention, and hard work, free from distracting technology.
Following the Critical Path for Archival Projects
Archival projects can benefit from the critical path method (CPM) which allows archivists to see how they can best use time and resources.
Knowledge Management Implementation: Engage Key Leaders
Knowledge managers must engage key leaders to help sell, implement and support a KM implementation. Seek out influencers and request their help.
3 Common Hurdles to Get Over and Get into Grants
Tips for overcoming common hurdles to grant writing in museums and archives.
Personas: The Basics for Special Libraries and the ILS
The study and development of personas helps special librarians develop better products and services, and select the best integrated library systems.
How Procurement Works for Archival Projects
Archival project procurement process includes solicitation, evaluation, selection, contracting and management of vendors and service providers.
Knowledge Management Essentials, Revisited
KM best practices include getting others to sponsor, endorse, inspect, use, and promote a KM program, including its people, processes, and technology.
Shared Museum Catalogs Are the Future
shared museum catalogs meet digital visitor expectations for access to objects and discovery of contextual information while offering shared savings
Archival Project Planning: The Essentials
Archival project planning should be collaborative and focused on ensuring project support and resources. Take enough time to plan an archives project.
Librarians and Technology Part 9: Focused Writing Requires Discipline
Skills for special librarians include focused writing; tips for disciplined writing include taking a break from technology to concentrate.
Archival Project Scheduling Tips
Scheduling tips for archival projects include plan to achieve results within a specific timeframe but to offer flexibility add 10 percent extra time.
Special Library Reference Interviews: Basics of a Neglected Professional Skill
Special library reference interviews cover digital resources, packaging and adding value to responses, and considering cost-value benefit(s).
Ensure KM Adoption by Offering a Great User Experience
KM expert Stan Garfield stresses KM adoption is driven by a great KM user experience; make it easy to access people, process and technology tools.
How to Build a Successful Museum Strategy
A successful museum strategy has 3 main components: operational, funding, digital. Departmental decisions are aligned with museum strategy as a whole.
Librarians and Technology Part 8: Active Reading and Focused Reference
Active reading sharpens special librarians’ reference and retrieval skills and is an essential aspect of integrating technology and reference.
Getting Started on Archival Projects
Archival project managers must ensure the transition from planning to activity is smooth, while keeping archives project time, cost, quality, balanced.
Inmagic Presto Takes Local History and Genealogy Public
Crawfordsville Public Library took its local history and genealogy digital archives to the next level with Inmagic Presto’s knowledge management tools.
5 Methods to Improve the Museum Digital Experience
5 main methods for improving museum digital visitor experience include practicality, visitor immersion, accessibility, mobile optimization and SEO.
Librarians and Technology # 7: Finite Reference Sources Equals Focused Research
Database query versus search engines: searching specific databases yields focused results. The best use of search engines is preliminary research.
How to Kick Off Your Archival Project
Archival projects must begin with a kickoff meeting so the archival project manager can set expectations, build commitment and define roles.
Inmagic Presto Connects Scientists with Lifesaving Research
Inmagic Presto knowledge management software connects transportation scientists with lifesaving research at The Center for Transportation Research (CTR).
The Top 4 Things a Museum Needs to Know About the Digital Visitor
Digital visitor data who, what, where, why helps museum online presence decision-making, strategic planning. Best collections management system statistics.
Characteristics of a Change Resilient Librarian
Special librarians thrive as end user needs and trends (new technologies, globalization, mobile workforce) demand change; be resilient, not resistant.
Archival Projects: Evaluating and Acknowledging Performance
Archival project managers should lead by motivation, trust the team, and inspire, evaluate and recognize archives project team member contributions.
Knowledge Management in Action: Inmagic Presto and Humanitarian Aid
Inmagic Presto knowledge management enables AAFPRS surgeons caring for children pro bono to leverage a secure, detailed patient database in the field. Example of knowledge management in action.
Museum Digital Collections User Types & Expectations
Museums must understand and address digital user types and digital visitor expectations as they develop museum digital collections and online presence.
Robots in Libraries: Technology Trends that Aren’t that Out-There Anymore!
Robots in libraries can provide a better research experience. Librarians should consider uses of artificial intelligence and robotics in special libraries.
Tracking Progress of Archival Projects
Project managers should track progress in archival projects, and use appropriate pacing. This helps project managers hone estimation skills.
Best Practice Knowledge Management is Content Plus Connection, Part Two
User generated content and Enterprise Social Networks are dramatically impacting the knowledge management supply chain; KM practitioners can leverage this trend.
Librarians and Technology Part 6: Active Listening Enhances Focus
Active listening in special librarian reference interviews is essential to monotasking and focus; avoid distraction librarians and technology.
Museum Online Presence: Critical to Income Stream
Healthy museums acquire income from several of funding streams; museum online presence plays a large part in keeping museums eligible for future funding.
How to Define Archival Project Roles
Archival projects offer archivists and archives project managers varying roles. Define archival project roles to ensure projects are more successful
Best Practice Knowledge Management is Content Plus Connection, Part One
Personal information consumption habits influence workplace knowledge management adoption; accommodate personal preference with your knowledge management system
Museum Social Media and the Museum Collections Management System
A museum collections management system is a major content contributor in a museum social media strategy. Museums should use Facebook, Twitter, Instagram for digital media.
Machine-Based Active Listening in Libraries: Technology Trends that Aren’t that Out-There Anymore!
Machine-based active listening in libraries can provide a better research experience. Artificial intelligence in special libraries.
How to Build a Successful Archival Project Team
Archives project managers build a successful archival project team with the right combination of size, skills, experience and values.
Fundamentals of Knowledge Management
Definition of knowledge management, overview of KM origins, KM goals, fundamentals of knowledge management, value of knowledge management software.
Creating a Museum Grant Writing Roadmap for 2019
Successful museum grant applications require planning, applying for appropriate funding, prioritizing and timing. Museum grant writing project tips.
Librarians and Technology #5: Embracing Focus & Increasing Productivity
Special librarians must embrace monotasking when doing library reference research; do not let technology be a distraction. Increasing productivity as librarian.
Managing Expectations for Archival Projects: Tips for Archives Project Managers
Tips for archives project managers. Archives project managers must set and manage stakeholder expectations during archival projects to ensure it is successful.
Killer KM Apps Include Enterprise Social Networks (ESNs)
Stan Garfield’s ideas on “killer apps” that provide technology foundation for a successful KM program. Enterprise Social Networks can help user adoption.
5 Prompts to Prioritize Museum Digitization Projects
Digital museum collections management. When digital presence supports non-digital work, museums maximize benefits of museum digitization projects
Internet of Things and Libraries: Technology Trends that Aren’t “Out-There” Anymore!
Special librarians should consider the Internet of Things and Libraries: IoT will allow special library users to explore and consume content in different ways.
KM: 10 Elements of Effective Knowledge Ecosystems
A successful KM program must integrate with organizational culture, workflows and strategies. Knowledge Managers must build effective knowledge ecosystems.
How to Evaluate a Museum Digital Collection
As part of museum collections management, staff owe it to digital visitors to review and update past digitization work to promote accessibility, use, and enjoyment of museum collections online.
Predictions for Social Media in Libraries: Technology Trends that Aren’t “Out-There” Anymore!
Special librarians can leverage social media trends to brand and market library products and services.
Stakeholder Management in Archival Projects
Archival project managers should identify stakeholders they can trust, and recognize those who may cause them to lose traction.
Knowledge Management Best Practices: Reuse What’s Worked
Knowledge Management initiatives benefit when we observe what has worked for others—learn knowledge management best practices in a wide variety of KM settings.
The Importance of Sustainable Museum Cataloging & How to Achieve It
Catalogs must meet the needs of the museum and the wants of the audience; choose and implement sustainable museum cataloging rules and guidelines that fit both.
Machine-based Learning in Special Libraries: Tech Trends that Aren’t “Out-There” Anymore!
Machine-based learning in special libraries, e.g., harvest information from our databases and intranets and learn or predict our users’ behaviours.
Developing Leadership Skills with Archival Projects
Archival project managers must be good managers and courageous leaders, committed to success and influencing. Tips for showing leadership in archival projects.
Increasing User Adoption of Knowledge Management Tools and Technology
User adoption of Knowledge Management tools requires users agree there is a problem, what it is, and that KM technology will make work easier
3 Things to Look for When Choosing a Museum Collections Management System
Selecting a museum collections management system requires meeting today’s and tomorrow’s needs and choosing a vendor who meets all criteria.
Librarians and Technology #4: Troubleshooting Steps for Librarians
Troubleshooting steps for librarians include: listen, replicate problem, test logically, identify solution, help researchers.
Characteristics of Effective Archival Project Managers
Traits of effective archival project managers. Archives project managers must both work and manage, and must have the authority to make decisions.
Working Out Loud: Benefits for Knowledge Management
Knowledge Management often requires organizational culture change. Working Out Loud is one way to nurture KM organizational culture change.
To Be, or Not to Be: Virtual-Only Museums
Virtual-only museums react dynamically to changing trends, user-needs, and new technology. Works best when supported by robust museum collections management system.
Augmented Reality in Libraries: Technology Trends that Aren’t “Out-There” Anymore!
Augmented Reality in Libraries: AR technology is relevant for special libraries and can be used absolutely free to enrich the end user’s experience.
Digital Archives: How and Why to Write Digital Preservation Policy
Digital archives preservation works best with proper digital preservation policy, covering content, scope, file format, audience.
Proven Knowledge Management Methodologies
Six proven knowledge management methodologies to help knowledge managers demonstrate need for knowledge management as well as impact and benefits from Stan Garfield.
Museums in Financial Trouble: Sell, Close, or Plan a Museum Merger?
Museums suffering financial instability must make strategic decisions about selling, closing or merging, Examples of museum mergers with other institutions.
4 Ways Special Librarians Can Demonstrate Value and Impact
Special librarians too often hide much of the true professional added value of their work. To mitigate that, I think the following activities will help librarians demonstrate value and impact.
Preserving Digital Archives: Choosing Which Digital Archives to Preserve
Choosing which digital archives to preserve. Technical appraisal that considers how digital files are read, documented, processed, and preserved is critical
10 Guidelines for Leveraging Push Communication to Promote KM Initiatives
Guidelines for push communications like newsletters to engage end users, promote KM initiatives and keep knowledge management updates flowing.
Reimagining Museum Engagement for Younger Generations
Improving museum engagement for younger generations requires instant access, connections to other artifacts, social/collaborative learning, compelling story.
Librarians and Technology #3: How to Write Software Reviews (Databases, Services Too)
Tips for special librarians writing software reviews after evaluating software, databases, technology. Focus on organization’s mission, user needs and workflow.
Digital Archives: Choosing Sustainable File Formats
Digital archives preservation: assessing needs + options, choosing sustainable file formats so digital files remain authentic, reliable resources.
Partnership – Many Brains Are Better Than One
At Lucidea, we believe that commercial partnership includes a consultative, collaborative element; ideally, vendor and client make each other smarter and more effective.
Readers’ Choice: Favorite KM Blog Posts of 2018
Knowledge managers reading Lucidea’s blog in 2018 showed a strong interest in learning about the strategic and tactical basics of KM.
Readers’ Choice: Favorite Archives Blog Posts of 2018
Archives professionals reading Lucidea’s blog in 2018 showed a strong interest in digitization and related collections management issues.
Readers’ Choice: Favorite Museum Blog Posts of 2018
The results are in! Guest blogger Rachael Cristine Woody’s museum blog posts are always well received, but we noticed appreciation for three in particular.
Readers’ Choice: Favorite Library Blog Posts of 2018
Special librarians reading Lucidea’s blog in 2018 showed a strong interest in trends and near term opportunities, including embedded librarianship.
Is SharePoint Really a KM application?
SharePoint is not an off the shelf KM application and it requires costly and ongoing development is required to keep up with KM.
How and When a Museum Should Hire a Grant Specialist
A museum should hire a grant specialist when they lack resources or expertise to navigate funding opportunities and grant applications.
Client Engagement in Special Libraries—What is it?
Special librarians need client engagement strategies + skills to actively nurture relationships with end users.
Expanding Digital Preservation Collaboration
Digital preservation efforts are led by archivists, librarians and museum workers; but new challenges require the involvement of new participants.
Platform vs. Application—the KM Conundrum
Organizations with KM requirements often select a software platform rather than a KM application and never get to success. Here’s how to avoid that pitfall.
How to Find the Best Museum Grant Funding Opportunity
Conducting museum grant prospect research changes each time. Care must be taken to find the best funding opportunities to match your project.
Artificial Intelligence: Technology Trends that Aren’t “Out-There” Anymore!
Tech trends like artificial intelligence (AI) impact libraries, archives, museums and galleries, creating information experiences based on behavior.
SKCA and Inmagic Presto: The Archives Dream Team
American Jewish Archives uses CuadraSTAR SKCA and Inmagic Presto for collections management essentials, an easy-to-use catalog and multimedia content.
Identifying Museum Funding Roadblocks
Museum professionals need to understand why grant applications haven’t been successful in order to identify and pursue successful funding opportunities.
Librarians and Technology #2—Evaluating New Software, Databases or Technology
Special Librarians evaluating new ILS technology must keep in mind the mission and different users who access data and collections.
20 Questions Your KM Application or ILS Should Help Answer
Knowledge managers and special librarians need to think both strategically and tactically when selecting an ILS or KM application or migrating/upgrading.
2019 Master Plan for Museum Professionals
Museum expert Rachael Cristine Woody advocates for creating a professional master plan, identifying benchmarks to achieve and activities in support.
Don’t Just Be Integrated: Be Integral – Download SLA 2018 Hot Topics Whitepaper
Special librarians can go beyond integration with organizational imperatives to become integral to organizational success by embedding and aligning.
Shifting Concepts of Preservation in a Digital World
Archival preservation practices are transforming in the digital environment; there are new principles that apply to digitized and born-digital materials.
RTI Digitization in the Museum
2D digitization often isn’t enough in a museum; However, RTI is an alternative option for objects that are mostly 2D, but require a more powerful form of digitization.
Why Electronic Resource Management is Important in Special Libraries
In today’s special libraries, online resource usage tracking and acting upon insights gained is essential to delivering the best content, tools, services.
Scalability of Digital Preservation: The Right Fit for All
Discoveries made in personal digital archiving, coupled with best practices of larger institutions, may provide smaller archives with solutions.
KM Secret: Documents and Presentations
KM leaders should focus on using various communications methods and channels to keep user base informed on knowledge management progress.
How to Increase Museum Conference ROI
Tight operating budgets mean limited conference funds and museum staff must think hard about which conferences they’re going to attend, calculating ROI.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) – An Important Tool for Special Librarians
Artificial intelligence (AI) can help librarians ensure digital content is relevant and manageable. AI may be the next frontier for special librarianship.
Knowledge Leadership – Thoughts from Euan Semple
Knowledge and thought leadership develop through active participation in social networks, not by authority figures stating “the right way” from on high.
How to Conference on a Museum Budget
Attending museum conferences is important for professional development; here are 8 tips for cutting attendance costs to stay within your budget.
Learning Something Every Day – Librarians and Technology
Paying attention to technology and structure of information improves special librarians’ data retrieval skills and understanding of how data is organized.
Skills Building for Digital Preservation
The need for training in digital preservation is high. Archivists require more digital preservation training and professional development opportunities.
KM Secret: Improve Findability Part Two
KM leaders should focus on improving findability of internal and external knowledge assets; do this by choosing and organizing content appropriately.
Ready to Read: A Survivor’s Guide to Museum Grant Writing
Lucidea Press announces Rachael Cristine Woody’s book Survivor’s Guide to Museum Grant Writing for those wanting to increase grant acquisition success.
On-Site or Off-Site Storage – Part 5: A History of this Long-term Solution
Off-site and remote storage provide a long-term preservation/retention solution for paper and microfilm records, sound and video recordings, and data.
The Data Economy: Funding Sustainable Digital Preservation
Continuous access to digital content requires sustainable preservation activities that necessitate both deliberate and ongoing resource allocation.
KM Secret: Improve Findability Part One
KM leaders should focus on improving the findability of internal and external knowledge assets; this can be done through various methods and channels.
Relevance & The Museum’s Role in Social Wellbeing
Museums play a role in enhancing social wellbeing of a community and also deliver significant economic impact.
Tech Trends: Moving Beyond Transactions to Interpreting Behaviours
Special librarians can leverage emerging technologies that go beyond automating transactions and adapt to human behaviours and “remembering”.
Integrating Digital Preservation into Your Archives Program
Archivists need to ensure digital preservation is embedded into business as usual. Today more archivists are addressing digital preservation concerns.
Successful KM Programs Require User Input
KM leaders should base strategy on user input to determine needs to address. Conduct surveys to capture challenges, opportunities, and suggestions.
Museums: Actions for Integrating Empathy
Museums play an important role in cultivating empathy; they need to integrate empathy into their own identity through inreach not just outreach.
Migrating to a New ILS/LMS Doesn’t Have to Hurt
Migrating an ILS or LMS to a new platform doesn’t have to hurt. There are many success factors that Lucidea’s Client Services team knows how to leverage.
Nuts & Bolts of Scope Statements for Archival Projects
Archivists must include a scope statement for each archival project in order for it to be successful; this is a fundamental project management strategy.
Working Out Loud: Benefits for KM
Nurturing a knowledge-sharing culture goes hand in hand with implementing a KM program; Working Out Loud is one method of building trust.
Museums: Cultivators of Empathy
Museums play an important role in cultivating the quality of empathy, increasing the emotional, educational, and economic success of their communities.
On-Site or Off-Site Storage – Part 4: Inclusion in Security and Disaster Prevention and Planning
Facilities that house special library items stored remotely or offsite should be included in security, risk management and disaster response plans.
Best Ways for KM Leaders to Partner with IT
KM leaders should work closely with their IT staff to successfully implement knowledge management technology projects.
Making Museums Accessible
Museums are key players in the movement to making the cultural sector accessible for persons with disabilities in both their physical and digital spaces.
Capstone Post: Part 6—How do We Align Research Results with Decision-Making?
Special librarians must go beyond connecting users to information and influence knowledge creation and decision making by improving question quality.
Eliciting Archival Project Requirements
Archives project management includes eliciting requirements from stakeholders through a variety of techniques including interviews, focus groups, surveys.
KM Success Stories
Knowledge management expert Stan Garfield stresses the need using success stories to communicate the positive impact of KM.
The Decay of Museums Leads to Irreparable Loss
Inadequate funding for museums and resulting decay are systemic issues everywhere—even in countries with successful economies and world-class collections.
Knowledge Ecosystems and the Pivotal Role of the Special Librarian
Special librarians play a key role in knowledge ecosystems. Data professionals, information professionals, and knowledge workers are different.
Gathering Requirements for Archival Projects
Archival projects include clearly defined requirements (differ from goals and objectives) that meet conditions: must have, could have, nice to have.
KM User Assistance: The Knowledge Help Desk
Knowledge management expert Stan Garfield stresses the need for one-on-one support as a KM communications method via a dedicated help desk.
The Value of Cultural Heritage Experiences in the Museum
To entice visitors, museums offer Cultural Heritage Experiences in tandem with online exhibits that include videos, interviews and supplemental objects.
On-Site or Off-Site Storage – Part 3: Preservation and Access
Off-site/remote storage facilities can be havens for items with long-term preservation needs which is a trigger for moving materials to off-site storage.
Developing Goals and Objectives for Archival Projects
Archivists support projects with SMART (specific, measurable, accurate, realistic, and time bound) goals and objectives, while staying flexible.
Can Artificial Intelligence Make Knowledge Management Sexy?
Artificial Intelligence may renew users’ interest in KM when it dramatically enhances the ability to find the right content via auto-categorization.
3D Digitization in the Museum – Part 2: LIDAR
3D digitization options that have emerged as leaders in the museum and cultural heritage fields are photogrammetry and LIDAR scanning (this post).
On-site or Off-site Storage – Part 2: Making Decisions
Off-site storage requires decisions based upon users, use of collections, and timely access to materials; solutions minimize disruption of service.
Identifying Worthwhile Archival Projects
Archivists should prioritize projects that add value to the organization; they should reduce costs, expand services or increase efficiency.
3D Digitization in the Museum – Part 1: Photogrammetry
K3D digitization options that have emerged as leaders in the museum and cultural heritage fields are photogrammetry (this post) and LIDAR scanning.
SydneyEnterprise & The Penang House of Music – Access to Musical Heritage
The Penang House of Music uses SydneyEnterprise to document and make accessible a multimedia collection of materials related to popular music in Penang.
KM and Gamification: Examples of Tangible Rewards
Recognizing and rewarding participation in a KM program is critical to success. There are many methods for doing so; keep your specific goals in mind.
Who Owns Digital Culture? An Important Question Museums Must Consider
Museums who provide digital renderings of cultural property can greatly aid in preservation, restoration, education, and enjoyment.
On-site or Off-site Storage – Part 1: Implications of Storing Materials Off-site
It is expensive to house seldom used items in libraries/information centers. Digitization and then off-site and remote site storage reduces local costs.
Archives Collection-Level Description: Pros & Cons
Archives collection-level description can be useful for images of the same subject, but problematic for collections with a variety of subjects.
Articulate Your KM Vision
Knowledge management expert Stan Garfield stresses the need for a end-state vision for a KM program; passionately describe what it looks like when it’s working.
The End of Net Neutrality & The Museum Digital Visitor
Museums must develop actionable plans to safeguard their digital existence. Remaining unresponsive to the end of net neutrality is no longer an option.
Cialdini: The Rules of Influence
Special librarians have many options for building influence in their organizations; Cialdini’s 6 principles of influence are a valuable reference.
Archives & Item-Level Description: An Integrated Approach
Archivists take integrated approach to digital initiatives, selection to description, access to preservation, connecting practical & cultural objectives.
10 Tips for Starting a KM Program
Knowledge management programs have many common elements that form the foundation for success. This post contains 10 top tips for getting started with KM.
The Future of Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR & VR) in Museums
Museums have an opportunity now to be proactive in the augmented and virtual reality realms and deliver a more immersive experience to visitors.
Community and Asset Mapping for Special Librarians
Community Asset Mapping is a great tool for special librarians to use when examining potential partnerships, markets, audiences, and more.
The Current State of Description for Archives
Archival description combines traditional library and archival practice with more focused practices found in the museum and visual resources communities.
Three Keys to KM leadership
In order to sell KM, you must lead by example and model desired behaviors to show others how it’s done. Stan Garfield shares 3 keys to KM leadership.
Working Your Museum’s Problems to Find Solutions
Museums should systematically identify problems in order to express needs and find solutions, particularly in regard to grant applications and funding.
Embedded Librarians Never Stop Learning
Special librarians must continuously learn in order to stay knowledgeable and relevant; this is especially important for embedded librarians.
Metadata Best Practices
When digitizing archives, a metadata standard appropriate to the materials in hand and the intended end-users must be selected.
How to Sell KM to Leaders–Part Three
Implementing a successful KM program requires that leaders understand the benefits for them personally, and for the organization overall.
Museum Grant Application: What Happens if You Fail?
Grant writing is challenging; museums can get better with practice. Leverage failure to be a stronger applicant in future and increase chances of funding.
Part 4: How Embedded Librarians Add Value to Catalogues and Databases
Embedded librarians apply vocabulary and special subject thesauri to newly accessioned and hidden collections, making them accessible to internal and external users.
Metadata for Archival Collections: Challenges and Opportunities
Metadata is a significant cost of digital archives. Metadata creators must provide enough information to be useful but cannot afford to be exhaustive.
How to Sell KM to Leaders – Part Two
KM practitioners must make a logical case for how knowledge management programs will help achieve key business objectives of the organization.
SharePoint, SQL and Online Dating
Does your knowledge management system need a precise dating for your content? Can it handle more fuzzy dates and go beyond the data to associate its meaning?
Museum Project Break Down—A Template
Museum staff should apply project management principles to any project, grant funded or in house. It’s easiest to start at project end and work backwards.
Part Five: Aligning Research Results with Decision-Making—Mind Mapping and Boxes
Special librarians can use mind mapping or a four-box approach to begin and guide research, discovery, project and report creation and development.
Ethical, Legal, and Cultural Considerations for Digital Archival Projects
Archivists must have a flexible policy framework with clear, documented digital archives processes reflecting legal, ethical and cultural considerations.
How to Sell KM to Leaders – Part One
KM practitioners should use storytelling as a very useful tool to help obtain leadership commitment as they promote knowledge management programs.
Museums with Zero Funding—Stop Saying These 4 Phrases
Museums must approach grant funding strategically in order to craft winning grant applications. This post explores pitfalls to avoid.
Part Four: Aligning Research Results with Decision-Making—SWOT and Fish Bones
Special librarians can use SWOT analysis to identify strengths and weaknesses that inform research and services development.
Archives: Values to Consider During Selection for Digitization
Selection criteria for archives digitization projects must include informational, intrinsic, artifactual and aesthetic values.
13 KM Insights for Successful Knowledge Managers
Successful knowledge management requires a commitment to continuous improvement, collaboration, storytelling, innovation and inclusivity.
Argus Turns a Museum’s Challenge into a Success; Carpe Diem
The University of Missouri’s Art & Archaeology Museum supports strategic imperatives with Argus robust collections management and antiquities cataloging.
Archives: Digital Imaging and Resolution Recommendations
Archives digital imaging takes planning; image quality choices made when files are created have a profound effect on cost, research value, and usefulness.
Image Description Practices for Digital Archives Projects
Standards for describing archival materials exist but many archives use descriptive methods suited only to their holdings; description remains idiosyncratic.
Part Two: Knowledge Management Networking Secrets
Knowledge management practitioners should take advantage of outside help including consultants; there are 3 steps to retaining the right KM advisor.
Part Two: Aligning Research Results with Decision-Making—Thinking About Thinking (Edward de Bono)
In order to develop better products and services, special librarians can use strategy frameworks to help analyze how clients think and make decisions.
Inmagic Presto V5.0 – Knowledge Management Software Informed by Our Clients
Inmagic Presto release 5.0 enables knowledge managers to offer users a visually appealing, easily navigable, personalized and efficient KM platform.
5 Times LAMs Should Bring in a Consultant
Libraries, archives and museums need consultants under specific scenarios, including digitalization, preservation, cataloging and fundraising assessment.
Part One: Aligning Research Results with Decision-Making—SWOT, 4-Squares, Fish Bones, and More
Special librarians must align research services with how clients process information to reduce cycle time between getting information to making decisions.
Selection for Digitization – Best Practices
Archives digitization projects must consider legal status of materials, desired usage, intellectual control, technical needs, and collaboration.
Part One: Knowledge Management Networking Secrets
You don’t have to go it alone to sell KM inside your organization, other KM professionals have encountered the same hurdles and can offer real support.
When Your Archives and Special Collections Aren’t Special
Museum staff must be familiar with archives and special collections theory and standards for care, storage, management, organization, and cataloging.
Dedicated or part time embedded librarians: What works best for your organization?
Dedicated or part time embedded special librarians bring project knowledge back to the library and disseminate information to the organization.
In-house and Outsourced Archives Digitization
Archives digitization can be done either in-house or outsourced; both alternatives should be considered when starting a digital archives project.
Navigating the Museum | Archive Relationship
Archival materials are critically important to correctly interpreting a museum’s objects and require a holistic approach to collections management.
The Right ILS for You—Do You Build or Buy?
It’s more expensive to build an integrated library system, ILS, LMS or LAS than to buy off the shelf; it requires time, money, effort and risk.
Best Practices for Planning a Digitization Project
Successful archives digitization projects require planning, scope definition, appropriate technology use and a strategy for accommodating evolving needs.
Inmagic Presto Brings a Town’s History to Life – The Sudbury Archives
Inmagic Presto’s multimedia capabilities enable the Sudbury Archives to offer digital access to historical collections and genealogical materials.
Define Museum Success & Measure It
Museums must define and measure project success, showing willingness to be held accountable, learn and improve; project management is key to success.
What Does Success Look Like for the Special Library? SLA 2017 Hot Topics Panel (Revisited)
Special librarians need to define professional success and develop strategies for communicating the value and benefits of library success to management.
Staffing and Collaboration for Digital Archival Projects
Digital archives projects require new skills and collaboration is increasingly a factor in archives, bringing a need for training in a hybrid environment.
Accelerate KM Adoption through Point Scoring
KM evangelist Stan Garfield believes gamification techniques like point scoring solve the challenge of building user engagement.
How to Best Leverage Museum Volunteers
Museums should think beyond traditional volunteer roles and create new opportunities and training that benefit both volunteer and museum.
Ready to Read: Succeeding in the World of Special Librarianship
Stephen Abram’s new Lucidea Press book “Succeeding in the World of Special Librarianship” offers valuable professional development tips for librarians.
Part 2: Benefits and Value of Embedded Special Librarianship
Embedded special librarians (subject matter specialists) add value by decreasing project costs and speeding time to results, while filling knowledge gaps.
KM Adoption Can be Increased Through Gamification Techniques
KM evangelist Stan Garfield believes gamification techniques solve the challenge of building user engagement and ensuring knowledge management adoption.
Effective Technology Training for Museum Volunteers & Interns
Museum expert Rachael Woody offers proven practices for volunteer & intern training to ensure effective use of your museum’s collections management system.
Digital Archives & The American College of Surgeons
The American College of Surgeons uses Eloquent Archives to manage their ~400 linear feet of multimedia materials and make them available for research.
Develop a Tailored KM Strategy with Proven Knowledge Management Components
While there is no one-size-fits-all KM strategy, there are specific components from which to select, based on organizational requirements and resources.
10 Principles for Successful KM Communities
In Proven Practices for Promoting a KM Program, expert Stan Garfield says knowledge leaders should follow 10 principles for building great communities.
The Intersection of Libraries, Archives & Museums
Libraries, archives & museums (LAMs) may be physically separate but digitally aligned. Collections management systems enable sharing & collaboration.
Why an Integrated Library System (ILS) is Key to Your Independence
Librarians and knowledge managers must develop strategies for independence, including implementing an ILS that doesn’t require IT support.
Keys to Developing a Comprehensive Archives Collection Development Policy
This post describes elements of a formal archives collection development policy and guidance on strategic issues of advocacy, planning and measurement.
5 Educational Elements of Knowledge Management
Planning a knowledge management program must include a strategy, participation incentives, a KM culture, begin with documents, and reuse existing content.
8 Tips to a Bulletproof Grant Proposal
Museum expert Rachael Christine Woody offers 8 tips that will ensure your museum’s grant proposal is strong and improve chances of acceptance.
Part 1: Embedded Librarians and Information Professionals—In the Thick of Things
Embedded special librarians (subject matter specialists) add value by helping develop projects, assess resources, disseminate practice/sector information.
How to Determine the Feasibility of Digital Archives Projects
Planning a digital archives project involves serious considerations and questions which can be used to determine feasibility and likelihood of success.
Holistic KM
Knowledge management solutions should integrate with an organization’s existing systems and work seamlessly with the current IT infrastructure.
Timeless Collections Management—Argus for Now, Argus for the Future
The Art Gallery of Nova Scotia uses Web-based Argus collections management software to increase public awareness of its collections and optmize workflow.
6 Keys to Special Library Sustainability
Challenges to special libraries’ long-term sustainability can turn into opportunities with strategies for continuous improvement and a proactive approach.
Three Fundamental Digital Preservation Strategies
Ensuring longevity of digital data is complicated and costly; they need routine preservation to survive; archivists must adopt 3 preservation strategies.
How are Your Organization’s Technology Apps Reviewed and Approved?
Too strong a focus on technology is a common problem in KM implementations; KM guru Stan Garfield discusses how to embrace technology appropriately.
Museum Grant Pitfalls—Know & Avoid Them
Museum expert Rachael Christine Woody describes 7 museum grant pitfalls to avoid if your museum wants to be a stronger applicant.
Why Special Libraries are Important Destinations
Special libraries as destinations can be essential community hubs and support digital inclusion; users miss out if they become completely virtual.
Copyright Fundamentals for Cultural Heritage Institutions
Most people don’t understand copyright complexity. Archivists must educate users, colleagues, leadership teams about copyright as applied to collections.
Knowledge Management for Success: Reuse Proven Practices
KM expert Stan Garfield provides research on proven practices from Microsoft, NASA, Hewlett Packard and other companies that excel at knowledge management.
Top 4 Funding Ideas for Museums
Museum expert Rachael Christine Woody shares her top four museum funding ideas that are well received by granting agencies.
Museum Diversity, Equity, Accessibility & Inclusion Resources and Practices
Museum staff can adopt diversity, equity, accessibility, inclusion statements and develop practices that help meet their DEAI-related intentions.
Why Digital Archives Expand Access and Awareness
Author, archivist, and records manager Margot Note describes how and why digital archives collections management expands access to archives holdings.
How to Turn Searching into Discovery
Optimized KM requires more than simple retrieval. There are methods, techniques and technologies that ensure critical knowledge is discoverable.
Special Libraries and Evidence Based Decision Making
Optimized KM requires more than simple retrieval. There are methods, techniques and technologies that ensure critical knowledge is discoverable.
Solutions to Common Law Firm KM Challenges
Optimized KM requires more than simple retrieval. There are methods, techniques and technologies that ensure critical knowledge is discoverable.
How to Leverage Jargon, and Why It’s Important
Professional development tip: reserve special library jargon for librarians; use the language of your company’s sector, your workplace, and your leaders.
KM Programs: Implement, Improve, and Iterate
KM leaders adopt proven practices in software development: implement, improve, iterate to continuously involve users, get better results in fewer cycles.
Alexa, Siri, Cortana, Google Home, AR, AI, Machine Learning and the Special Librarian
Library consultant Stephen Abram describes ways for special librarians to understand/embrace technologies that “move the needle in the question space.”
Part Two: Why Content + Connection = KM 3.0
User generated content and enterprise social networks are dramatically impacting the knowledge supply chain; KM practitioners can leverage this trend.
Part Three: Building Your KM Nest – 5 More Strategies for Special Librarians
Consultant Stephen Abram outlines strategies librarians can adopt to facilitate growth of ideas and better decision quality, beyond knowledge management.
Part One: Why Content + Connection = KM 3.0
Personal information consumption habits are key drivers of workplace knowledge management adoption; knowledge managers must accommodate and leverage this.
Part Two: Building Your KM Nest – 5 of 10 Strategies for Special Librarians
Consultant Stephen Abram outlines strategies librarians can adopt to improve the health of a “knowledge ecology” rather than focusing on KM.
Seeking Outside Help: Tips for Knowledge Managers
KM expert Stan Garfield says knowledge managers should seek outside help when selling KM in their organizations and offers advice on who can help and how.
Part One: Building Your KM Nest – What Did Einstein Know about Knowledge Management?
Library consultant Stephen Abram describes how librarians can adapt to evolving end user needs, asserting that information combined with insight rules.
10 Important Elements of an Organizational Knowledge Ecosystem
A successful KM program must integrate with organizational culture, workflows and strategies. Knowledge Managers must build knowledge ecosystems.
Part Two: How to Leverage Analytics in Your Special Library
Special library analytics are critical; using Lucidea’s ILS/KM products delivers visible, tangible results measurable via surveys, interviews, etc.
How to Hold Successful “Face-to-Face” KM Meetings
KM expert Stan Garfield says meeting in person is key to KM leaders’ professional development—and shares how to hold successful face to face meetings.
Part One: How to Leverage Analytics in Your Special Library
Analytics are critical to special libraries; SydneyEnterprise’s Request Management Dashboard supports evidence-based decisions on requests and resources.
RISE Innventia’s Library & Presto: Uniquely Positioned to Serve the Pulp & Paper Sector
RISE Innventia uses Inmagic Presto to make their content accessible online, leveraging federated search, custom intranet pages and permissions management.
Marketing Your Library: The Benefits For Special Libraries
Many believe that staff will flock to a special library. That’s often not true, even though users are a captive audience. Library marketing to the rescue!
How Knowledge Managers Can Become (and Mentor) “Power Knowledge Workers”
KM expert Stan Garfield shares his thoughts on characteristics and skills of effective knowledge managers and leaders, and a task-based role description.
Is There Such a Thing as Information Overload?
Special librarians embody the solution to enterprise information overload, per library consultant Stephen Abram.
How to Think About Knowledge Management Now
In a piece for KMWorld, “What is KM? Knowledge Management Explained”, Dr. M. Koenig provides a solid overview for both novices and tenured practitioners.
Access is Not Equal to Know-how
Library consultant Stephen Abram explains the importance of differentiating “access to knowledge” from “know-how” and the librarian’s resultant value-add.
How Your KM Platform Can Provide a Great User Experience
Knowledge management expert Stan Garfield shares his thoughts on the elements of a great user experience.
Future Ready: The Emerging New Library/Librarian Experience
Library consultant Stephen Abram explains that the experience of using a library whether physical or virtual results in the transformation of the user.
Openness and the Embedded Library Experience
Library consultant and advocate Stephen Abram defines what it means for special librarians and information professional to be organizationally embedded.
Find a Killer KM App
Knowledge management expert Stan Garfield shares his thoughts on “killer apps” that provide the technology foundation for a successful KM program.
Innovation: No Excuses
Library consultant and advocate Stephen Abram offers practical advice on jumpstarting innovation for special librarians and information professionals.
5 Ways You Can Get the Most from a Software Demo
Canned software demos are meaningless; get a tailored demo from prospective vendors by doing some work in advance, leading to informed purchases.
Blogging as a Special Librarian
Library consultant and advocate Stephen Abram offers personal and practical advice on blogging for special librarians and information professionals.
Solo Librarians and Peer Mentoring
Solo librarians all have knowledge to share with external peers; this sharing helps each one-person library manager to run their library most effectively.
Law Firm KM Landscape: Solutions to Common Challenges
Midsized law firms face unique knowledge management issues; using the best legal portal technology can build a KM foundation and protect knowledge assets.
Elevator Speeches: No Magic Beans
Elevator speeches—sound bites we practice in case we get the ear of a decision maker—are opportunities to bait the hook. How do you effectively follow up?
Social KM is Better KM
Today's KM systems must capture the information in people's heads—the tacit knowledge—that when added to explicit knowledge completes the picture.
Museums and Millennials – The Art of Engagement
Millennials are the museum patrons of the future. Appeal to them through social media, especially visual channels such as Instagram and Pinterest.
Part Four: Client Engagement in Special Libraries—Simple Tactics to Build On
Special librarians’ best networking options begin outside the library. Stephen Abram offers a roadmap for client engagement via many channels and moments.
Understanding SharePoint’s Limitations as a Knowledge Management Solution
Fifteen years after its launch, evidence of SharePoint’s strengths and weaknesses as a knowledge management platform is emerging.
Part Three: Client Engagement in Special Libraries—What are the skills and competencies for engagement?
Stephen Abram explains what is needed for success and where to focus your professional development in order to increase client engagement in special libraries.
Part Two: Benefits of Knowledge Management
In part two, Stan Garfield shares more tips on how you can become your organization's KM expert and its benefits too.
Part Two: Client Engagement in Special Libraries—Tracking and engaging your clients
Stephen Abram explains how in special libraries, using a CRM platform helps to pull together your knowledge of your clients and colleagues.
Part One: Benefits of Knowledge Management
Selling a KM within your organization means becoming a KM expert. This involves having a clear understanding of KM’s benefits to your unique organization.
Part One: Client Engagement in Special Libraries—What is it?
Stephen Abram explores the difference between a Special librarian and an Information Professional what that means for client engagement. (Part 1)
SLA 2015 Hot Topic Session: Building the Resilient Library –Watch the Video Now!
Attendees at the SLA Hot Topics session, Building the Resilient Library heard practical advice from three peers who leveraged and even created change.
Is Artificial Intelligence All That and a Bag of Chips?
In the future, jobs will impacted by artificial intelligence, but how does the hype surrounding AI affect your career today as a knowledge professional?
How to Break the Gravitational Pull of Legacy Software Applications
CEO, Ron Aspe share some ideas on how to break away from legacy software, so you organization can move on to new, more efficient tools.
Knowing the Difference Between What’s Urgent and What’s Important
Knowing the difference between what's urgent vs. what's important is key for special librarians in order to manage their libraries and deliver the most impact.
New Purpose for KM Systems: Enabling Knowledge Creation
Knowledge and learning are twins and do not exist without each other. KM systems must enable people to take ownership of knowledge creation.
Using Metrics and Stories: What is Measurement?
When we present library performance data to a CFO or COO, our numbers must show how we meet their goals, and help them see what we are measuring correctly.
Part 3: The Single Most Important KM “Sale” You Can Make
Here is how you can help leaders understand the benefits of a Knowledge Management Program, for them personally, and for the organization overall.
Earning the Right to Give Advice
Sometimes it is difficult to offer guidance confidently, yet it is our obligation to do so. In this post, Stephen offers his thoughts on why and how to begin.
From the Director’s Chair: Business as a Second, Third and Fourth Language
Every organization has its own particular vocabulary. To thrive and stay relevant in the workplace special librarians need speak three additional languages.
Ready to Read: Proven Practices for Promoting a Knowledge Management Program
Stan Garfield announces that his new book, Proven Practices for Promoting a Knowledge Management Program, is now available. Get your free digital copy here.
Part 3: 33 Tips to Increase Innovation Capacity in your Library
Part 3/3: Stephen give the final ten tips (and a bonus) on how librarians can increase their capacity for innovation.
Part 2: The Single Most Important KM “Sale” You Can Make
Storytelling is a very useful tool for promoting your KM program. To ensure leadership commitment, sell the benefits and make the business case.
From the Director’s Chair: Follow the Leader
A former Information Services Director, shares her thoughts about how you can develop the most productive strategy for your Information Services department.
Part 2: 33 Tips to Increase Innovation Capacity in your Library
The second post in this series, Stephen shares 22 of his 33 tips for increasing innovation capacity in your special library.
Part 1: The Single Most Important KM “Sale” You Can Make
Storytelling is a very useful tool to help obtain leadership commitment as you promote your KM program. Here are some proven practices to get you going.
Part 1: 33 Tips to Increase Innovation Capacity in your Library
The first post in a series, Stephen shares 12 of his 33 tips for increasing innovation capacity in your special library.
3 Tenets of Customer Service
Letting your clients know you care requires some individualized attention, even when you are busy, and seriously impacts satisfaction and your library’s brand.
Watching the Future: Tracking Library Trends
Stephen Abram shares what he uses to filter the fads from the trends, as well as what hot technologies he plans to continue tracking.
Robust KM is all about Supplements!
In order to be robust in the age of social media, KM needs to be supplemented.
Curation: Buzzword or What?
The word ‘curator’ gets used too liberally to describe the stuff people do on the web and it dilutes and pollutes the professional things that librarians do.
Platform vs. Application—Help for Building a Business Case
The biggest mistake made when selecting a KM system is choosing a platform instead of an application. A business case is simple—yet it is often overlooked.
Are Librarians Experts?
If librarians are experts, what are they experts at? Stephen Abram tackles this question.
Open Source—Pretty Simple or Simply Pretty?
The story open source IT managers and information professionals know fails to paint the whole picture and hides some pretty ugly truths.
Workplace Information Literacy: It’s Different
Stephen Abram looks at the need more discussion and study of the unique needs and challenges of increasing information literacy skills in the workplace.
Part Three: Working Across the Generations—Nobody Likes to be Labeled
The future belongs to those who develop the skills to engage about ideas and innovation, not just for millennials, but for all generations.
Part Two: Working Across the Generations
Stephen Abram offers some advice on how to bridge the generational gap for his baby boomer peers who are working with younger generations of Librarians.
The True Cost of Open Source—There is Nothing Cheap about Free
The common reason for choosing open source is its price. What can possibly beat free? When you dig a little deeper you'll see free doesn't always equal free.
Part One: Working Across the Generations—Getting Over the Hump
Graduates who have started on the path to great librarianship but struggle with finding their footing in teams have something in common with camels.
The Power of Networks—A Conversation with Euan Semple
The new knowledge ecosystem requires active participation in professional online networks as a method of assisted, contextual search and discovery.
SydneyEnterprise and the Masonic Library: Good, Better, Best
The Masonic Library and Museum of PA leverages SydneyEnterprise to help them advance knowledge and understanding of Freemasonry and its place in history.
Do You Understand How Your Organization’s Technology Apps are Reviewed and Approved?
If you need to acquire new products or add-ons to existing ones as part of your KM program, you must understand your organization’s procurement process.
Is Virtual Networking the Best Option for Solo Librarians?
Most librarians think of networking as a personal, face-to-face activity, the challenge for solo librarians is they often cannot leave their libraries.
Evidence-Based Decision Making on-the-Fly
We look at a four tools to help you make evidence-based decisions about your organization's electronic resources for a better KM experience for all.
Part Three: Aligning Research Results with Decision-Making—Tools to Inspire Creativity and Encourage Divergent Thinking
Special librarians should use collaboration exercises to achieve consensus and identify priorities to inform research and services development.
Going it Alone? The Professional Development Secrets of Solo Librarians
All library skills are valuable to both solo librarians and their users. Here are some of the secrets for successful solo librarian career development.
Solo Success: Time Management Apps for Solo Librarians
Guest blogger, Larry Cooperman shares his favorite apps for helping librarians manage their time while they manage their small library.
How Can You Nurture a Knowledge-Sharing Culture?
The culture of an organization has an effect on what can be accomplished. Your KM strategy, should identify the current culture and values of your organization.
End User Tracking—Turn Insights into Action
Learn how to make a successful case for end user tracking and why acting upon the insights is essential for delivering the best in content, tools and services.
Effective Knowledge Managers—Do You Recognize These Traits?
What are the traits of a good knowledge manager? Stan Garfield has the answer and gives you a guide whether you are recruiting or measuring performance.
Is your ILS or KM Platform Multi-Faceted?
Search clustering is indeed an alternative to faceted searching, especially for unstructured data, however, there are important differences between the two.
How Do Ideas Grow?
Too self-effacing to present yourself as an expert, can you admit to your expertise? How can you Librarians show their creative ideas? We'll show you.
How to be a Great KM Communicator
Guest blogger, Stan Garfield, discusses how to communicate as it is critical for new KM initiatives and keeping everyone informed of implementation progress.
Part Two: Special Libraries’ Evolving Role—Continued Success Requires a Business Strategy
Special libraries exist in a highly competitive information marketplace, with lots of options. We give you ideas on how to make your library the best it can be.
Part One: Special Libraries’ Evolving Role—Continued Success Requires a Business Strategy
The role of special libraries is evolving. In the first post of this series, Phil Green looks at how a library's continued success requires a business strategy.
Proven Knowledge Management Methodologies—Arrows in the KM Quiver
Stan Garfield shares a lot of useful KM methodologies and proven practices in his upcoming book—here is a sneak peek of six of these practices you can use now.
Part Six – Overcoming 6 Challenges to Special Library Sustainability
In our final post of our Overcoming 6 challenges to Special Library Sustainability we tackle one of the largest challenges, affordability.
10 Questions Your ILS Should Help Answer
Whether buying new, or upgrading an existing ILS these 10 crucial questions will help you select a platform best fits your organization's needs and goals.
10 Questions Your KM System Should Help Answer
Whether buying new, or upgrading an existing KM system these 10 crucial questions will help you select a platform best fits your organization's needs.
Knowledge Management: End Users, Customers, or Clients. What’s the Difference?
Recognizing the differences between end users, customers, and clients can impact a knowledge center or library’s role and perception within an organization.
Presto for DB/Textworks Ultimately Helps Increase Workplace Safety, Minimize Risk
Learn how PFTA leverages Inmagic Presto for DB/TextWorks to widely disseminate information that helps companies to have safe workplaces.
When is a KM Tool not a Tool?
Tools are supposed to make work easier but, many KM tools only complicate matters—because of this, they are their own biggest barrier to adoption.
Part Five – Overcoming 6 Challenges to Special Library Sustainability
In our fifth post of our six part series we look at the challenge of dependence on the IT department, or on costly vendor services to library success.
What Does Successful Knowledge Management Look Like? 11 Key Attributes
Stan Garfield provides a glimpse into his new book and shares the description and attributes of a knowledge ecosystem.
Part Four – Overcoming 6 Challenges to Special Library Sustainability
In this, our fourth post in our series about the 6 major challenges to library success we look at overcoming a lack of integration with other critical systems.
Do You Deliver Content via Your Organization’s Website? Upward Mobility is Key!
With recent changes to Google's search algorithm, librarians and knowledge managers need to ensure their sites are mobile friendly in order to be found easier.
Global Navigation Enhancements—What’s on the Menu?
Lucidea Labs is continually improving our products. Recently, we introduced a new hamburger menuing system built upon LucideaCore technology.
Knowledge Management—as Easy as Falling off a Bike?
In KM, knowledge is often defined as either explicit or tacit. Collaboration is critical for KM and explicit knowledge is a critical part of your KM ecosystem.
Part Three – Overcoming 6 Challenges to Special Library Sustainability
In this, our third post in our series about the 6 major challenges to library success we look at on overcoming the library being seen as an info bottleneck.
What Does Success Look Like?
When special librarians keep their eye on the bigger picture they know they are succeeding and what that success looks like.
Part Two – Overcoming 6 Challenges to Special Library Sustainability
This is the second post in our series about the six major challenges to library success.
Why Sharing Your Library’s Successes is about more than Celebrating
Communicating the value of your department’s content and services by publicizing your successes is something you must do regularly.
Part One – Overcoming 6 Challenges to Special Library Sustainability
When we talk with information management pros, the same 6 library success and sustainability challenges pop up, regardless of company size, industry or locale.
Is Your Library Ready for Generation Z?
Gen Z is the cohort that follows Millennials and they have very specific expectations about information access and knowledge exchange. Get ready for them now.
The Librarian’s Secret Weapon
Learn how the ability to practice that art in support of a patron’s or user’s needs is a librarian’s secret weapon.
Serendipity—Enabling “Happy Accidents” is both Art and Science
Lucidea brings the purpose-built software platform, and you bring the art and science. Together, we can enable serendipity.
Archives Collections Management Applications—the Buy Versus Build Conundrum
When archivists have poor collections management software, a lot of time is spent working around problems and replacing it becomes a buy versus build scenario.
What Could You have in Common with The Metropolitan Museum of Art?
Like our Argus clients, The Metropolitan Museum of Art focuses on accessibility to attract more than 50 million digital visits per year.
Becoming Even More Relevant to your Target Audience: Webinar Reprise
Nina Simon is back for another webinar with us. On Feb. 2, learn from one of today’s most inspiring and thought-provoking museum evangelists and strategists.
The Arizona State Archives—Fulfilling their Mission to Increase Public Access
With the CuadraSTAR SKCA, the collections at Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records are now more visible and available than ever before. Read how.
Peer Mentoring is a Great Professional Development Option for Solo Librarians
Will you learn from other professionals on how to run your library, and will you share your knowledge with others?
Relevance and its Rewards — For Museum, Library and KM Professionals Interested in Mattering More, to More People
Nina Simon offers advice that applies whether you work in a library, a museum, a theater, a park, an academic institution or a corporation. It’s all relevant.
The American Physical Therapy Association—Small Library; Big Impact; Exciting Plans
We invite you to learn more about the many ways APTA benefits from the rich functionality of Inmagic Presto. Read the full APTA success story here.
Baylor University Libraries and Archives plus SKCA–Inspiration, Discovery and Impact
Learn more about the many ways Baylor University Libraries and Archives benefit from the rich functionality of Star Knowledge Center for Archives (SKCA).
Artificial Intelligence and Your Career—A Lighthearted Look
Artificial intelligence is yet another tool for Librarians and knowledge professionals to help their careers. It's another arrow in their quivers.
VIM and Vigor—The Secrets to a Great KM Application
People at organizations with underperforming KM platforms can really struggle to find information. A great KM platform solves that problem.
Find and Leverage Your Innovation Edge
What are your goals for your museum’s community outreach? How can today’s museum technology help you find your “innovation edge?”
Going it Alone? Professional Development Options for Solo Librarians
Sign up today and learn the techniques for effective and efficient management of a one-person library in a free online course instructed by Larry Cooperman.
Google’s Mobile-First Indexing Strategy is Critical to Your Organization’s Web Presence
Google's new mobile-first will give preferential search rankings to mobile-friendly sites. Learn how this will impact your organization's web presence.
How to Become More Relevant to your Target Audience and Reap the Rewards
Our free webinar on Nov. 15 promises substantive and thoughtful discussion full of useful advice on increasing your museum’s relevance with audiences. Join us!
The Knowledge-based Content Business is Facing Digital Disruption
In less than a decade, we have gone from CDs, to downloads, to streaming. The online content industry is about to face its own tsunami of change.
Using Metrics and Stories: What is a Story’s Purpose?
Thinking that the purpose of telling a story is to communicate something important, but we’re doing it wrong if we work on that assumption.
Using Metrics and Stories: What do we use Measurements for?
When preparing reports for any stakeholder, using visual treatments such as moving the most important thing forward helps you lead with your strength.
6 in 2016: Solving Today’s Major Challenges to ILS and KM Success
Listening to our clients, we have found that organizations of all types have six reoccurring challenges. Here are those challenges are and their solutions.
Ensuring Advocacy, Engagement, Adoption – A Conversation with Euan Semple
Enterprise social networking engagement and adoption remains challenging and happens one user at a time, taking energy, commitment and patience.
SLA 2016 Hot Topic Session: Doing More with More – Whitepaper Available Now!
Based on our 2016 SLA session, Lucidea's latest whitepaper presents valuable insights from our panelists and interviews conducted in prior to the discussion.
Do the Original 5 Laws of Library Science Hold Up in a Digital World?
In 1931, S.R. Ranganathan proposed five principles of operating a library system but, how do “The Original 5” still apply in today's digital world?
From the Director’s Chair: The Best, the Worst, and Lessons Learned
Often librarians and KM managers get promoted into management without administrative training. Here are some interview questions you can ask when you’re hiring.
Ben Franklin and The False Economy
Discount ILS platforms often don’t provide the long term value that strategic library leaders require.
Don’t Let HiPPOs Define Your KM Strategy
Allowing HiPPOs (Highest Paid Person's Opinion) in organizations have complete control of KM strategy could result in project failure.
The Right Archiving Software Addresses 10 Top Challenges for the Archival Profession [Part 2 of 2]
Part 2 of our thoughts on how the right archiving software addresses Mr. Hickerson’s technical challenges for the Archival Profession in the 21st century.
The Right Archiving Software Addresses 10 Top Challenges for the Archival Profession [Part 1 of 2]
Here are some thoughts on how those advancements address the first five of Mr. Hickerson’s technical challenges for the Archival Profession in the 21st century.
IT Jujutsu and the Information Professional
When it comes to KM & ILS systems, forging the best relationship with IT, information professionals have to practice what I call "IT Jujutsu."
Seeing the Wood for the Trees—A Conversation with Euan Semple
Information experts should actively participate in social networks as trusted curators who turn down the noise and sharpen knowledge signals.
The IT Totem Pole and the Information Professional
When it comes to information/knowledge systems working with IT is inevitable. Here are some thoughts on how to make that relationship work to your advantage.
10 Ways to Ensure a Robot Doesn’t Steal Your Job
AI will have an increasingly significant impact on the KM profession over time. With the right strategy, you can remain employed in your chosen field.
KM Gamification—Holy Grail or Child’s Play?
Gamification can enhance KM adoption and encourage ongoing usage. Here a few key takeaways and methods from a recent conversation with KM expert Stan Garfield.
5 Ways to Increase Museum Visitor Engagement (and Visits!) Via Your Collections Management System
Social media tools are great for sharing information about your museum. Think them as an unlimited free advertising resource. Here are 5 ways your CMS can help.
What’s New at Lucidea Labs?
Wanna know what's new at Lucidea Labs? We recently launched a project to make our software more accessible to people with disabilities.
The Top Three Social Technologies for Developing Organizational Strategy
Social technologies are now part of Organizational Strategy. KM professionals and librarians should recognize this represents an opportunity for them to contribute to organizational success.
The Future of Museums – Getting to Awe
Discussion of how is it possible to create an enhanced museum experience in the online world with virtual reality and inspire awe and wonder.
Thriving In a Digital World – A Conversation with Euan Semple
The new knowledge ecosystem includes social sharing and crowd wisdom, enabling meaningful and necessary participation in professional online networks.
5 Things to Do That Will Energize Your KM Career
Every job has its pluses and minuses. Here are five ways to stay excited about your KM career.
Don’t Let Your Information Resources Staff Fly Blind
KM professionals like pilots need instruments to do their job. Here are four tools that can help–some are free and others deliver benefits beyond their cost.
3 Simple Steps for Avoiding Software Purchasing Heartburn
When purchasing software, avoid the heartburn and save your organization hundreds of human hours, and dollars, with these 3 simple steps.
3 Extraordinary Visual Tech Trends You Can Leverage For Your Museum
There are three visual technology trends that offer museums a great way to market their experience and inspire people to visit in person.
Museums and Digital Citizenship
There are three visual technology trends that offer museums a great way to market their experience and inspire people to visit in person.
Special Librarians Cannot Shrink Their Way to Success!
Special librarians are continually asked to do more with less. Learning effective ways to thrive is one reason why people attend the SLA annual conference.
Three Social Media Platforms Museums Must Adopt
Social media is a unique, powerful way for museums to connect collections with visitors and donors. In order to capitalize, there are three platforms that museums must be adopted.
Networking Isn’t Just for Special Occasions. Here’s Why
Networking principles apply equally to conference attendance and within one’s organization and it pays off to make networking part of your daily routine.
Sticky Marketing: Open, Closed, and Making the Lightbulb Go On
Ask open ended questions when interviewing requesters or getting input on KM strategy; the result will be "ah ha!" moments for provider and end users.
How Going Mobile Helps Museums Improve Productivity and Increase Visibility
Why you should leverage this mobile technology to increase the visibility of your museum’s content and improve collection management efficiency.
Knowledge Management: A Disaster Recovery Must-Have
Every organization has a disaster recovery plan. Knowledge Management has a key role to play in ensuring your organization’s survival.
Solo Success: Time Management Apps for Solo Librarians
Many solo librarians use smartphones for time management; consider joining them, as one smartphone holdout did after experimenting with a few apps.
Are You Accountable for Managing Your Organization’s Knowledge and Intellectual Property Assets?
Most people think of managing knowledge or Intellectual Property as a process, but it’s also a project. Here's why it should always start off as a project.
Throwing a Successful KM Pool Party (Part 2 of 2)
The key to a successful KM system is achieving high adoption without creating a content mess. Keep it simple but with clear rules and structure.
KM Pool Party or Just a Hot Mess? (Part 1 of 2)
The key to a successful KM system is achieving high adoption without creating a content mess. Keep it simple but with clear rules and structure.
KM Has an Image Problem
KM has an image problem. People only understand value if they can see impact – help them understand why what you do is important and relevant.
No Longer the Only Game in Town
Business content providers face a new wave of competitors due to the increasing digitization of information resources.
ticky Marketing is (Also) About Seizing Opportunities
There are many serendipitous opportunities to market your library to your organization’s leaders; seize them and enjoy unexpected benefits.
Is Your Intranet Showing Its Age?
Your expensive intranet is showing its age; with great tools, leverage the best of what's there but give it a powerful makeover, cost effectively.
What’s My Motivation?
Information professionals can use technology to offer a wider variety of services with the goals of making it easy for people to find and leverage knowledge.
The (KM) Elephant in the Room
KM encompasses a broad range of meanings with many different definitions that can create too many choices when it comes to selecting a KM system.
This changes everything!
Knowledge management professionals need to better understand the supply and demand sides of their services equation to avoid disruption.
Anticipate Change and Make it Work for Your Library
Being proactive is a key characteristic of successful librarians when change occurs in their organizations.
Can You Respond to a Lady with a Duck? Part 2
When building an information/knowledge strategy, planners should recognize that the world is unpredictable and their strategy should have a means for dealing with the unexpected.
Can You Respond to a Lady with a Duck? Part 1
When building an information/knowledge strategy, planners should recognize that the world is unpredictable and their strategy should have a means for dealing with the unexpected.
Good Design, Great Strategy and the Wow Factor
Software that enables designers to focus on XD (or Experience Design) can create a “wow factor” in their applications that end users crave.
Digital Leadership – Essential for KM Success
Companies that are digital leaders massively outperform digital followers and digital laggards. This applies equally to knowledge management professionals.
Empathy is a Double-Edged Sword
Why are many knowledge managers and information specialists so great at their jobs? Empathy. But, how does empathy both help and hinder?
Your Audience is… Changing! (Part 2)
The way people engage with information is changing and the way they finding that it matters more than what industry veterans believe.
Your Audience is… Changing! (Part 1)
The way people engage with information is changing and the way they finding that it matters more than what industry veterans believe.
Is Faceted Search the Same as Search Clustering? Are They Both Guided Navigation?
There are notable differences in the benefits users can derive when using faceted search, which requires data preparation, and search clustering, which works with unstructured data.
Return on Partnership is as Valuable as ROI
New 2016 trend of friendship as a service is discussed and contrasted against concept of return on partnership. Both are believed to be just as valuable as return on investment.
Going Solo – 8 Skills Critical to the Success of One-Person Library Management
There are 8 skill areas needed to operate as a solo librarian and it's important to prioritize them based on the organization's strategic and operational goals.
A Firm Foundation for Faceted Search
Blog discusses why faceted searching works well when content is well organized and well cataloged, what exactly that means and benefits of faceted searching.
Preparing for The Future of KM, or Running Toward Failure?
Article discusses the value of cataloging all knowledge assets first in a KM project or focusing on just a subset to get early wins quickly.
Content Migrations – Challenge or Opportunity?
Strategies for turning early implementation challenges into opportunities for KM success.
Faceted Searching is Just Better!
Not all library automation systems today offer faceted searching. If they do, it’s definitely a competitive advantage. Here's why.
Museums and Innovation
What are your goals for your museum’s community outreach? How can today’s museum technology help you find your “innovation edge?”
IM & KM – and Where the Twain Shall Meet
This is a discussion of the concept of Information Management versus Knowledge Management and the conclusion that it doesn’t really matter.
Sticky Marketing: Crowdsourced Content Curation
Marketing is about building relationships. For libraries, making a personal connection leads both to advocacy and increased usage of library services.
Are You Getting What You Need from Your Knowledge Portal?
Knowledge should enable users to find information and knowledge quickly and efficiently and they should facilitate the ongoing capture of it.
Managing Online Research Resources – There are 9+1 Reasons You Should
Organizations spend significant money on electronic content. An ERM (electronic resource management) application is effective to determining ROI.
The Law Firm KM Landscape: What Midsized Firms Need to Know
Midsized law firms face the same KM challenges as larger ones but are more resource constrained. What does KM success look like for them, and how do they get there?
Sticky Marketing: The Opportunity for Solo Librarians
Solo librarians are often uniquely positioned to optimize one sticky marketing tenet, making a personal connection.
Life’s Work: Archivists Preserve, Protect and Reveal National Treasures
Archivists are leveraging technology to build awareness of and expand access to their unique materials and services.
Sticky Marketing: What’s Your Problem?
The reference Interview is an opportunity to practice sticky marketing with your requesters by communicating genuine interest and commitment.
Simpson Gumpertz & Heger – A Winning Combination; Genie and Presto Meet the Goals
Simpson Gumpertz & Heger wanted to make critical intellectual property easily searchable and accessible. They chose to integrate Inmagic Presto with their Genie ILS solution.
Law Firm Knowledge Management – A Unique Perspective
Lucidea CEO and founder Ron Aspe’s mission to offer the best, most comprehensive unified information and knowledge management applications is featured in this month's CIO STORY.
Sticky Marketing – All Onboard! The Training is leaving the Station!
One of the tenets of sticky marketing is to “meet people where they are.” Attaching to existing training initiatives provides a terrific marketing opportunity for the library.
Building Credibility with your IT Department
For today’s special libraries, tracking and acting upon the insights gained is essential for delivering the best in content, tools and services.
To Track or Not to Track, That is the Question
For today’s special libraries, tracking and acting upon the insights gained is essential for delivering the best in content, tools and services.
Museums and Mobile – a Huge Opportunity for Digital Visitor Service
Visitors who bring smartphones to the museum represent a significant opportunity for visitor engagement – before, after and during visits.
Sticky Marketing – You Don’t Have to Shout to be Heard
When marketing messages are on point, well placed, and use familiar language, your audience will listen and you won't have to shout to be heard.
Educational Testing Service (ETS) Connects the Dots with SydneyEnterprise: New Case Study
What is a redefined ILS? How does it deliver high impact tactical and strategic benefits? Start by thinking of it as “Indispensable Library Solution”.
SLA 2015 Hot Topic Session: Building the Resilient Library – Whitepaper Available Now!
Our latest white paper actionable advice from change agents who make change work for them as they stay focused on the principles of access, independence, integration and organizational support.
Sticky Marketing – The Google Imperative
Making content discoverable via Google offers competitive advantage for special libraries, helping build business, grow funding, and expand reputation.
The Redefined ILS: Tactical, Practical, Strategic, Sustainable
What is a redefined ILS? How does it deliver high impact tactical and strategic benefits? Start by thinking of it as “Indispensable Library Solution”.
20 Questions Your KM System or ILS Should Help Answer (+ webinar invitation!)
10 KM related questions and 10 ILS related questions that you need to ask yourself when you are planning on buying and ILS or KM system.
Educational Testing Service (ETS) Connects the Dots with SydneyEnterprise: New Case Study
ETS staff produce and collect a significant volume of important content, offering global access to these materials is critical. Syndey ILS is how they manage it all.
The Change Resilient Librarian
Are you a Change Resilient Librarian? These Librarians thrive, both personally and professionally, when they become change agents and think resilience not resistance.
Integration: The Holistic Approach to Knowledge Delivery
KM solutions need to integrate into an organizations existing systems and not dictate how people work.
Independence – Situational Awareness and You
Librarians and knowledge managers need a strategy that embraces both daily partnership and situational independence. Read how to set yours.
Support System: Behind the Scenes at Buffalo Bill Center of the West
The Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody, Wyoming uses Argus to manage their collection and helps interns and volunteers with data entry, cataloguing and more.
Cargill Maximizes their Information Management ROI with Sydney ILS – Learn How
Cargill leverages Lucidea technology to ensure productive collaboration with non-library departments, maximizing their return on investment.
But isn’t SharePoint a KM application?
Isn't SharePoint a KM application? It depends. Let me explain.
Curation Power: Give it All You’ve Got, Just Like the CU Art Museum
CUAM uses Argus.net to share important resources and enrich their visitors' experience.
Webinar Event: GeniePlus Sneak Peak
Sneak a peek at GeniePlus, the newest release in the Inmagic Genie family. Tuesday, January 20, 2015 2pm ET / 11am PT
Mobile and Cloud Computing for SharePoint Users, Part 1
At 2014’s ILTA SharePoint Symposium, solution providers and attendees were very focused on mobile and cloud computing. There are some interesting takeaways that I’d like to share.
6 Principles Supporting the Sustainable Library
The simple truth is, there are serious challenges to the long term sustainability of special libraries, many of which may threaten your future if you don’t act.
Barcodes and your Collection
Just recently, the ubiquitous barcode turned 40. At this point you might be asking: “How does this relate to museums?”
Content Found in Collection Related Documents: Making Full Use of It
Software products offer documentation capabilities that save time and resources but what are museums doing with other critical content?
The Limitations of SharePoint as a Knowledge Management System
SharePoint is not capable of performing functions that are important for managing and organizing content. These are its limitations.
Library Marketing Methods
Following my blog post about the benefits of special library marketing, here are some ways to start thinking about marketing, and developing a formal marketing plan for your library.
Inventory Control for Museums via Mobile Technology
Here's how collection management software for museums has made museum inventory information much easier over the years.
Online Dating: SharePoint and SQL are No Match for Lucidea
Rather than discuss Lucidea's solutions advantages over SharePoint I’d like to share one very powerful differentiator: date handling & date searching.
If Only HP Knew What HP Knows
HP's CEO knows that if the skills and knowledge staff could be tapped, it would be transformative and anyone could easily discover what’s been done by whom and exactly how.
Your audience is… changing!
The audience is changing. It’s not about what we industry veterans think, it’s what our end users think that matters and many of them grew up using Facebook and Twitter.
Mobile and Cloud Computing for SharePoint Users, Part 2
Second of two posts summarizing takeaways from this year’s ILTA SharePoint Symposium, I’ll focus on trends in cloud computing for SP users.
What does Google have to say about your library?
A library’s website forms an impression before visitors see it thanks to search engine snippets. Exert some control over what these snippets contain.
Why Integrated Knowledge Management is Critical
Knowledge management solutions should integrate with an organization’s existing systems and work seamlessly with the current IT infrastructure.
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Responsible Practices for Working with Communities and Collections
Museums have ethical responsibility for objects representing ethnographic communities; engage communities early and often; they are important stakeholders.
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The Roles and Impact of Special Librarians
Stephen Abram offers expertise on special libraries and special librarians, including their various roles and significant organizational impact.
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Best Practices for Crafting an Archival Project Charter
An archival project should have a project charter that is a governing document; it is the formal authority needed by the archival project manager.
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6 Proven Knowledge Management Methodologies
Knowledge management best practices include methodologies collected by KM expert Stan Garfield in his book Proven Practices for Promoting a KM Program.
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How to Construct a Museum Digitization Equation
Accurate digitization equations are necessary for successful museum digitization project planning; they provide a reliable estimate of time required.
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TypeTalk: The Basics for Special Librarians
Skills for special librarians include learning from evaluative and non-evaluative personality type tests such as Myers-Briggs and The Predictive Index.
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How to Manage Archival Project Risks and Assumptions
Identify and analyze archival project risks and assumptions, plan accordingly, select the project management approach best suited to each risk type.
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KM Initiatives Require a Training Strategy
Knowledge management best practices include ongoing training strategies that leverage a variety of channels e.g., webinars and self-paced courses.
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Museum expert Rachael Cristine Woody offers advice for museum professionals electing to learn and attempt grant writing, with a systematic, common sense approach to securing valuable financial sustenance.
Download your free copy!
Available Now!
Perspective and advice from Stephen Abram to special librarians committed to proactively managing their careers with a pragmatic approach to such topics as: strategy, managing communication for impact and value, and the secrets of client engagement.
Get your free copy!
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