Lean Library Management: Eleven Strategies for Reducing Costs and Improving Services

Libraries today face reduced budgets, increased customer expectations, and aggressive competition from web-based information sources. Management guru John Huber, a pioneer and leader in the Lean Manufacturing movement, has worked as a consultant with libraries across North America. Featured Review: "I handed out John Huber's Lean Library Management book -- to rave reviews -- at our own Lean Value Stream Mapping event to improve library services, a key part of Delaware's Library Quality Cycle to achieve performance excellence. It is so well written and timely, we don't have to reinvent the wheel!" - Dr. Annie Norman, State Librarian of Delaware In this new book, he shows you how to apply Lean principles and practices--how making small, simple changes in everyday routines will reap large time- and money-saving results. You'll learn how to: Create a culture of change Define and streamline your library's service delivery chains Transform everyday operations like placing customer reserves and technical service processes Implement performance measures that can drive continuous improvement Apply Lean techniques in digital operations. Ten years of success-proven strategies and success stories from libraries where John Huber has partnered are included throughout. By learning and applying these principles, your library will dramatically improve efficiency, service performance, and service lead times.