Crash Course in Time Management for Library Staff

(Paperback)

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Description

This book offers time management tools, tips, and techniques for busy librarians, so they can better serve their communities and feel greater satisfaction with work and life. Being short on resources is now "the new normal" for librariesand having too little money and too few staff members always brings library staff to the same predicament: not enough time. While it is not possible to create more time, by making use of the right time management tools and techniques, it IS possible to make huge improvements in your productivityand as side benefits, a decrease in job stress and frustration and a greater sense of work satisfaction. This book shows how to apply powerful time management strategies so you can get more done, deliver the best service possible to your patrons, and enjoy being in an environment that fosters greater creativity and workplace satisfaction. Topics include time tracking, task management, identifying goals and priorities, beating the obstacles of procrastination and perfectionism as well as distractions and interruptions, and staying on top of time management when collaborating. Quotes and stories from individuals who work in libraries illustrate key points and concepts throughout the book. The final chapter explains how to set a personal plan for time managementusing the awareness of your own patterns, obstacles, and goals, and the experience you have gained with various time management techniques and toolsto create your own unique time management strategy and make time management an ongoing, long-term priority.

Reviews

Readers unfamiliar with the subject will find many helpful hints here. . . . VERDICT For readers new to the topic of time management. * Library Journal *
This useful book of time management tools is applicable to all library staff in all types of libraries, with a holistic treatment of both work and personal tasks. . . . Even the most effective manager can pick up something new from Brenda Hough's manual, such as experimenting with a different time-control tool or coaching staff to apply more effective time management skills at work. Whether you are a student juggling work with classes, a librarian or tech running a program or staffing a public desk, or a harried supervisor, you can further hone your skills to become more productive and happier with what you can get done. Time Management for Library Staff can give you clear-cut ideas, but it is up to you to try them out. * Public Library Quarterly *
On the whole, I found this to be an informative resource on time management for library staff. The examples given provide a meaningful context for readers working in libraries, including specialized health libraries. And while many of the ideas that Hough presents may not be new to readers already familiar with the concept, the book provides a great overview of time management ideas and tools. * Journal of the Canadian Health Libraries Association *

Author Bio

Brenda Hough has focused on professional development in libraries for more than 20 years.