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Technical Specifications

The Virtual Special Library: The Next Normal?

We recently convened a focus group to analyze the success factors and challenges of virtual libraries and virtual special librarianship. This has turned out to be particularly timely, given the changes in all our professional lives necessitated by COVID-19, many of which may take shape as organizational strategies in our post-pandemic world.

Volunteer focus group members from law and financial services firms, pharmaceutical companies, government agencies, and trade associations discussed fundamental questions, such as:

• What is the definition of a virtual special library?
• What are the drivers of going virtual?
• What are the pillars that support a successful virtual library?
• What are the benefits and challenges of the virtual library?
• What are the fundamentals of process and technology?
• How does the virtual library impact and change professional development?
• What is the future of virtual libraries?

This new whitepaper presents information discussed during a series of focus group meetings designed to explore virtual librarianship, and to surface important issue areas for further consideration.

Don’t Just Be Integral: Be Aligned

During our SLA Hot Topics Session, “Don’t Just Be Integral, Be Aligned”, the panelists focused on how special librarians can go beyond being integral to their clients’ daily workflow, and become (and remain) aligned with organizational imperatives. Panelists discussed fundamental questions, such as:

• Why is it important to be aligned with your organization’s mission?
• What are the benefits and value of being aligned—to the organization, to the library, to the individual?
• How can you speak the language of your organization’s leadership and why is that important?

They covered topics such as prioritizing and delegating projects based on alignment, strategies for partnering with and leveraging other departments, and practicing alignment without guilt.

This whitepaper presents information shared during the event, with valuable insights—including practical approaches to emulating an “aligned” strategy even when resources are limited.

…and don’t forget to read our whitepapers based on previous SLA Hot Topics sessions.

What Does Success Look Like for the Special Library?

Special librarians know that to ensure sustainability they must build a strategy, embrace change, and even create it. They know that the path to success includes doing more with the tools they have, and the skills they’ve built. But do special librarians truly recognize success when they achieve it? Equally important, do they focus on communicating the value of their success to leadership and peers?

Stephen Abram and our panelists discussed important questions, such as:

• What are the characteristics of a successful special library?
• How do you know when you are successful?
• How do you make sure others know you are successful?
• How do you communicate the value of success?
• What are the benefits of success?

Our experts covered topics such as alignment with the strategic objectives of your organization, metrics and measurement (quantitative and qualitative), managerial reporting, storytelling, branding and marketing.

Building the Resilient Library

What does it mean to be resilient, and to run a resilient library?

Special librarians achieve sustainability by understanding that end user requirements and forces at work (e.g. new technologies, globalization and a mobile workforce) all demand change. Learn from Lucidea ILS and KM clients who leverage and often create change in order to ensure the sustainability of their libraries and optimize their own roles.

Topics covered include:

• What it means to be resilient, and run a resilient library
• Setting the scene – organizational overviews
• Leveraging and creating change: practical examples
• Securing organizational support – what works
• Examples of impact
• Characteristics of library change agents

The Special Library Primer: Everything You Need to Know

What’s a Special Library? Primer; basics on libraries with resources on a particular subject, a specific clientele, delivering sector-specific services.