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Useful Tips In Selecting Library Planning Consultants

By Lucia Weeks


Running a facility is no simple task. It requires the proper attitude, knowledge and expertise. Such an important responsibility cannot be entrusted to just anyone. You will need the most reliable set of people who can manage it effectively. Even if you wanted to complete all the tasks on your own, you might not have the luxury of time. The best solution given the circumstances is to commission an adviser.

The library planning consultants can provide you the services you are looking for. They are experts in every steps from the planning and establishing to the operation of every type of libraries, may it be digital or traditional. Most of these professionals are librarians who worked in a depository firsthand. Others were coming from different fields but gained substantial exclusive knowledge related to libraries and the information systems in general.

Although the consultant's background should be taken into consideration, you must focus more on the candidate's ability. Prior experience in the industry may give a librarian an edge, but someone exposed to a different field may contribute a fresh idea or two. A combination of both rookie and seasoned adviser is a great idea because it can brew an interesting result.

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.

The answers to these questions can help you identify the skills and qualifications to look for in a candidate. In certain cases, the tasks prove to be more complicated than it seemed at first. If not addressed right away, this could lead to unfavorable results. So, if you are expecting a complex task, you should hire more consultants so the tasks and responsibilities are split across.

After finalizing the details, you may get started with the selection process. Gather the names of qualified consultants in your area. The referrals of your friends and acquaintances can be helpful at this point. You also have other sources like the associations of librarians, the state agencies and the internet.

To narrow down your search, filter the candidates by assessing their expectations on the project. Contact your potential candidates and provide a brief overview of the project. Ask them what they think about the project, do they have the expertise and qualifications required, how they intend to accomplish it and if they can deliver it on the time frame you set.

This is your chance to discuss on the adviser's schedule as well. Expect the best consultants to be busy with several offers coming in. Still, a professional must allocate a fair amount of his time for the completion of his tasks. You must also talk about how you could communicate with one another to keep yourself updated on the progress status despite your busy schedules.

Finally, decide on the fee structures. Some advisers charge a standard rate for the entire length of the contract while others charge hourly. If the project is divided into different stages, you may offer to break down the payments per stage. Anticipate the need to negotiate since you must also consider the organization's finances.




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