Time Management, Planning, And Prioritization For Librarians

One of the most critical problems for the librarian in a small library is not enough time. This book offers hundreds of practical ways to maximize limited time, based on actual experiences of the author and other practicing librarians. It explains how to use planning and prioritization to determine what to do and what not to do. It also provides techniques to make the most efficient and effective use of your limited schedule. All of these suggestions, which have been developed and proven by working librarians, are accompanied by specific examples from corporate, hospital, law, government, and association libraries. Topics Include: Determining the difference between efficiency and effectiveness Avoiding procrastination Managing email Organizing the workspace Dealing with job stress Optimizing the time spent at conferences Also includes an extensive annotated list of resources, including books, articles, web sites, and electronic lists. A valuable resource for any librarian working in a school, small public, or special library.

One of the most critical problems for the librarian in a small library is not enough time. This book offers hundreds of practical ways to maximize limited time, based on actual experiences of the author and other practicing librarians.

Library Journal

Drawing on her own experiences and those of other practicing professionals in corporate, hospital, law, government, and association libraries as well as culling tips from an exhaustive review of the abundant business literature, Siess (The OPL Sourcebook, Professional Media, LJ 9/15/01) has written a super time management guide for librarians, especially those with few support staff. Her focus is on learning how to use planning and prioritization to determine what to do and what not to do, and to provide numerous techniques to make the most efficient and effective use of a limited schedule. Her heavily cited chapters discuss understanding time, learning to use it more efficiently (the best of the bunch), dealing with job stress, strategic planning, and setting priorities. The appendixes are filled with excellent sample forms, worksheets, and time logs that can help implement Siess's sound advice. What sets this work apart from the vast extant genre is the author's skill in relating to harried librarians the principles of organizing and controlling one's time, while supplying all the tools necessary to accomplish this important goal successfully. Highly recommended for all librarians.-Dale Farris, Groves, TX

Judith A. Siess is a recognized expert in one-person librarianship and interpersonal networking. She is the author of two books, The SOLO Librarian's Sourcebook (1997), and The OPL Sourcebook (2001) and is working on a fourth book concerning advocacy and marketing for librarians.