How Do We Manage? Project Management in Libraries: An Investigation

Abstract

Despite the fact that libraries are undertaking projects to accomplish their goals and objectives, there is little information in the library literature about how libraries, large and small, are managing their projects. While organizations in both the public and private sector have embraced formal project management (PM) methodologies such as those espoused by the Project Management Institute, there is little evidence that libraries are using formal or standardized approaches. This paper seeks to take a first step toward understanding how libraries are managing their projects and to uncover the activities, tools and techniques, best practices, challenges, success criteria and success factors of projects undertaken in libraries, especially those in Ontario. To accomplish this, a literature review, an online survey of Ontario library staff and interviews with library administrators were conducted.