Thursday, December 11, 2014

Useful Tips In Selecting Library Planning Consultants

By Lucia Weeks


Managing a facility is not an easy task. It requires expertise, knowledge and the proper attitude. Such a critical responsibility must only be entrusted to the correct people. Since you cannot possibly accomplish the tasks on your own, you have to find someone whom you can trust.

The library planning consultants have the expertise to do planning, configuration, execution and operation on different types of libraries, from traditional setup to a digital library. Most of library consultants are either librarian with both expertise and experience in working in or managing a depository. Others are people from a different field who gained substantial knowledge relevant to libraries and information systems.

Aside from the consultant's previous work experience, you must also consider the candidate's ability. Although it is true that seasoned librarians have the edge against other applicants, introducing someone who is relatively new could possibly bring in something fresh as well. Better yet, let an experienced adviser work with someone who is new to the field and you might be surprised of the great results it would yield.

Before you start with your search, you must know your needs. Prepare a criteria to determine if a candidate is a good match or not. You must also be able to answer important questions like what responsibilities await successful candidates, is the task going to be simple or complicated and would it require more than one adviser.

This will help you identify the skills and abilities to look for in a candidate early on. In some cases, the tasks turned out to be more than what the consultant can handle, which led to unfavorable and unsatisfactory results. If you are anticipating a complex task, you might be needing more than one consultant. Each one must fit the duties and responsibilities that await.

Once the details were outlined, you may start the hiring process. List down the consultants in your area who meet your qualifications. There are several sources you can get this information from. The most reliable is the word of mouth. You can also visit the internet or check with local and national associations of librarians or the state agencies.

Filter the names you gathered by assessing whether the candidates fit the project or not. Contact the potential candidates then provide them with the project overview. Next, ask them what they understood, what method they would use to fulfill the tasks, do they have the necessary expertise for the project and can they deliver within the given time frame.

The consultant's availability is another important consideration you must cover. Expect top-rate consultants to be pretty busy. Yet a dedicated professional will always allot the time to finish the completion of the projects they take. It is equally crucial to ask how the adviser intends to communicate the progress of the project despite their busy schedules.

Finally, talk about the fee structures. Some consultants charge an hourly rate while the others charge a fixed rate throughout the contract's duration. If the project is composed of different stages, you may break down the payment in each stage if the candidate agrees. Since you must also think about the organization's financial status, you must be open to possible negotiations.




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