Project management is an important topic and skillset for librarians of all types, as much of the work we do often takes the form of projects. In this interview, author Kirsten Clark discusses Practical Project Management for Librarians and shares insights on how librarians can approach project work with confidence. Her book provides practical tips and clear guidance for librarians getting started with project management.
1. Please introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Kirsten Clark and I work at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities Libraries as the Director of Library Enterprise Systems. I spent several years as a government information librarian at universities in Minnesota, New Mexico, and Colorado. I then started at the University of Minnesota as the Regional Depository Librarian for Minnesota, South Dakota, and Michigan.
I also have served as director of Access and Information Services. Throughout these positions and places, I have seen managing projects as a way to plan and implement my own and my department’s priorities, and a way to support collaborations across organizations and libraries.
2. Briefly summarize Practical Project Management for Librarians.
This book takes two pathways to learning about project management, both with a focus on libraries and library staff/librarians. The first walks through specific aspects of project management, from project idea development and buy-in, through project planning and managing the project details, then on to managing project teams and change management, and finally to project closure.
The second pathway uses four examples of library-related projects, differing in size and work focus, to bridge between the chapter information and how best to determine which tool and which management method might work best for the reader’s situation.
3. Why did you decide to write this book?
Many wonderful books and websites provide information on project management tools and guides, or specific projects within libraries. I felt there was an opportunity to write a resource that would translate project management principles to practical experience, and would take into account that many librarians do not have formal project management training, or indeed the resources to take training.
4. How have you seen project management affect librarians?
Managing projects has always been part of the work librarians do, but it may not be recognized as project management, especially when much of the literature on project management focuses on business and technology examples. As resources—funding in particular—become scarce, libraries need to communicate how their work ties to organizational goals and strategic priorities, and use the resources they have in the most effective and economic ways possible. Aspects of project management can directly affect all the pieces of what libraries and library staff/librarians do, and once in place, can translate to many aspects of library work.
5. You describe the book as a practical guide. Will you share details about what makes it a practical guide?
Going back to the two pathways described in an earlier question, the individual chapters focus on aspects of project management with specific examples that apply the chapter information. The reader can use this book to see real-situation opportunities to apply the information to their specific project needs, throughout the life cycle of the project. I hope there will be something in the book that resonates with the project opportunity in front of the reader and makes what may feel overwhelming more manageable.
On the other side, not all projects need to have each step followed exactly like another project might or how another library might. Ideally, this book will help the reader think about what is required to ensure project success, and decide what will work best with the people involved in moving a project forward. This might mean using some aspects of project management detailed in this book or using it in combination with many of the other great resources available.
6. How should readers use the book?
Each chapter focuses first on a particular step in the project management process, and then explores how those processes and tools relate to actual library project examples. For more advanced project managers, this book may help refine current processes, or it may give a basic starting point for someone with limited experience and/or limited resources to envision how a project may move forward. The book can also be viewed as a whole, providing a pathway through focused project management within the context of libraries.
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