Project Management Fundamentals for Library Staff

Do you find yourself in charge of coordinating projects at your library? Would you like to hone your project planning and execution skills to make your projects more efficient and successful? Do you want to become a more effective project team leader?

By tapping into the principles of Project Management developed in the corporate world, library staff can learn to manage projects more consistently and efficiently. This course will introduce the basic principles of formal Project Management, and cover several factors critical to project success within a library environment.

In this course, we will focus on:

• The fundamental principles of Project Management
• Establishing project goals
• Project Planning strategies and techniques
• Managing change
• Planning for effective communication

Course Description: This four week course will use readings, videos, written assignments, and online discussions to introduce participants to the basics of Project Management as they apply to a typical library environment. Assignments will be shared with all participants, who will be encouraged to give their colleagues feedback on their work and observations. You will be asked to share your reactions to the supplemental materials and discuss the course content via the course forums.

Course Outline: When you log in to the Infopeople online learning site, you will see weekly modules with these topics:

• Week 1 Topic: The Foundations of Project Management
  • The purpose of following a formalized Project Management process
  • General Project Management terms and concepts
  • The Project Lifecycle
  • Becoming an effective Project Manager
  • Project Management within the world of libraries
• Week 2 Topic: Beginning the Planning Process
  • Setting Project Goals and Objectives related to the library's overall mission and strategic plan
  • Defining Project Deliverables and Outcomes
  • Taking stock of Project Stakeholders and their roles
  • Developing a Communication Plan
• Week 3 Topic: Finishing the Plan and Getting to Work
  • Creating an Activity Register and Work Breakdown Structure
  • Developing a Project Schedule
  • The Formal Project Plan
  • Project Documentation
  • Project Execution Tips
• Week 4 Topic: Creating a Sustainable Project Management Program
  • Finishing out the Project Lifecycle
  • Keeping everyone Engaged and Accountable
  • Making Project Management Processes Stick
  • Project Management Software

Pre-course Assignment: None

Time Required: To complete this course, you can expect to spend 2 ½ hours per week, for a total of ten course hours. Each week's module contains readings and various options for assignments, discussions, or online meetings. You can choose the options most relevant to your work and interests. Although you can work on each module at your own pace, at any hour of the day or night, it is recommended that you complete each week's work within that week to stay in sync with other learners.

Who Should Take This Course: Librarians, staff, and administrators who plan and lead team projects of any scale within a library environment, as well as those who plan to do so in the future.

Online Learning Details and System Requirements may be found at: infopeople.org/training/online_learning_details.

Learner Requirements: Word processing software, spreadsheet software.

After the official end date for the course, the instructor will be available for limited consultation and support for two more weeks, and the course material will stay up for an additional two weeks after that. These extra weeks give those who have fallen behind time to work independently to complete the course.

Keywords: Project management