Cover

Cover

How Libraries MakeTough Choices in Difficult Times: Purposeful abandonment

How Libraries MakeTough Choices in Difficult Times: Purposeful abandonment

Copyright

Copyright

Contents

Contents

List of figures

List of figures

List of case studies

List of case studies

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements

About the author

About the author

Introduction

Introduction

1 Considered and effective leadership

1 Considered and effective leadership

Why undertake a review?

Why undertake a review?

Managing expectations, not operations

Managing expectations, not operations

Reporting to multiple masters: finding a balance of service quality and efficiencies

Reporting to multiple masters: finding a balance of service quality and efficiencies

Involvement and understandings across the organization

Involvement and understandings across the organization

The four Ds: Do, Delegate, Delay, Drop

The four Ds: Do, Delegate, Delay, Drop

Project management

Project management

Decisionmaking skills and implications

Decisionmaking skills and implications

2 Preparing for analysis

2 Preparing for analysis

Failure is easy, success takes thoughtful effort

Failure is easy, success takes thoughtful effort

Understanding the Mission and objectives of your organization

Understanding the Mission and objectives of your organization

Decide on transitional or transformative change

Decide on transitional or transformative change

Emphasize an ongoing process

Emphasize an ongoing process

Continue to communicate your clear intentions

Continue to communicate your clear intentions

Managing operations or managing expectations

Managing operations or managing expectations

3 A few important analysis techniques

3 A few important analysis techniques

Reviewing operations proactively and willingly

Reviewing operations proactively and willingly

Beyond re-engineering

Beyond re-engineering

The importance of project management

The importance of project management

Problem discovery processes

Problem discovery processes

Chart goals, operations, and interests

Chart goals, operations, and interests

Completing the review program

Completing the review program

Service Quality Improvement

Service Quality Improvement

Outside factors and influences

Outside factors and influences

Assessments: some initial and obvious first analysis opportunities

Assessments: some initial and obvious first analysis opportunities

Reference

Reference

4 Understanding and utilizing data and statistical reports

4 Understanding and utilizing data and statistical reports

Collection and analysis of appropriate data

Collection and analysis of appropriate data

Evidencebased collection and analysis of appropriate data

Evidencebased collection and analysis of appropriate data

Using data effectively

Using data effectively

Utilizing statistics

Utilizing statistics

Internal reports

Internal reports

Suggested readings, tools, and contacts

Suggested readings, tools, and contacts

5 Environmental scans and the power of best practices

5 Environmental scans and the power of best practices

Steps toward identifying best practices

Steps toward identifying best practices

Performing Service Quality Improvement analyses

Performing Service Quality Improvement analyses

6 Key management skills that contribute to organizational leadership and direction

6 Key management skills that contribute to organizational leadership and direction

Normal staff attention to tasks

Normal staff attention to tasks

Leadership skills

Leadership skills

Assessment skills

Assessment skills

The four Ds: Do, Delegate, Delay, Drop

The four Ds: Do, Delegate, Delay, Drop

Harness internal power

Harness internal power

Conclusion

Conclusion

Appendix A

Appendix A

Appendix B

Appendix B

Index

Index