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.

Table of Contents:
Part 1 How Do You Look at Time? Part 2 Learning to Use Time More Efficiently Part 3 Dealing with Job Stress Part 4 Strategic Planning Part 5 Prioritization

About the Author :
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.

Review :
Siess has written a super time management guide for librarians, especially those with few support staff...Highly recommended for all librarians. The book helps any librarian learn how to avoid procrastination, manage e-mail, become more efficient and effective, and deal with stress. This concise, compact handbook is almost a mini-management seminar and should be required reading for every librarian who is a manager, as well as those that aspire to management positions. A good addition to the professional shelf for use by the staff as well as the administration. Many overwhelmed librarians will find illuminating passages throughout the book that will aid them in coping with the many pressures of the profession. Siess pulls together a multitude of systems and ideas from a variety of sources – and is able to show how it all relates to librarians...Of value to both neophyte and seasoned...If you are looking for ways to be a more effective, efficient, productive and valuable librarian, then this book is for you. Finding enough time to set a course and forward direction for the team can seem impossible. This book can help…[Siess's] step-by-step model for conducting a strategic planning exercise is especially useful, in that she identifies three cornerstones for visioning, implementing, and analyzing the efforts, with carefully outlined stages to be considered from beginning to end. ...provides the reader with a smorgasbord of time management, strategic planning, and prioritization tips....There is truly a piece of advice for everyone in this work!...Short and compact, it's a solid reference book to have on hand to remember the basics for the times when life and work may seem overwhelming.