Core Library Consulting Interest Group

This pre-conference explores building a successful library consulting business. Topics include the required personal attributes, establishing the business, areas of consulting, the importance of understanding a client's motivation, dealing with project scope creep, and the methodologies typically employed in consulting work. The workshop covers contract deliverables, including incorporating client feedback and presenting results. Interactive activities are included in each part of the workshop, providing plenty of opportunities for discussion.

Are you interested in becoming a library consultant? Please join us to hear how you can launch your consulting career helping libraries and colleagues with your talents and skills. The target audience for this pre-conference includes librarians considering starting a consulting business, whether part-time while still working full time for an organization or launching a start-up company on a full-time basis.

At the end of this preconference, participants will understand the legal options for a consulting business, and the necessary insurance requirements. Participants will have a sense of the various areas of consulting opportunities, including facilities planning, strategic planning, and technology and organizational development. Participants will also have a realistic picture of what various consulting jobs look like from start to finish, including proposal development, client interactions and the employment of typical methodologies such as surveys, interviews, and document review, and the development of final reports.

Select this session when registering for the ALA Annual Conference.