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Innovative management strategies for building and sustaining a digital initiatives department with limited resources

A. Miller (Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, USA)

Digital Library Perspectives

ISSN: 2059-5816

Article publication date: 14 May 2018

Issue publication date: 14 May 2018

2756

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to offer and explore innovative strategies for building and sustaining digital initiatives at information organizations. Although the examples provided are based on case studies at an academic library, the practices are rooted in project management principles and therefore applicable to all library types, museums, archives and other information organizations. The innovative strategies on staffing and funding will be particularly useful to organizations faced with monetary and staffing shortages and highlights collaborative management practices.

Design/methodology/approach

Concept of strategic and collaborative management practices led by an experienced project manager cross-trained in management, technical and soft skills enables the successful development and sustainability of digital initiatives. A cross-trained librarian’s management practices of leading the Digital Scholarship Initiatives at a particular university will be examined as a case study and aided with literature supporting the need for digital initiatives leaders to have training beyond the credentials of librarian, curator, archivist or historian in the technologically savvy twenty-first century ecology of information centers.

Findings

The innovative strategies implemented in the case study yielded increases in the number of hours of digital lab usage, digital projects developed, seminars or workshops presented, attendance of library hosted events, number of programs implemented and awareness on campus, all with limited staff and funding. The variety and level of production and marketing is instrumental to the growth and sustainability of digital initiatives.

Practical implications

The innovative strategies emphasized in this paper use the concept of borrowed or shared time to start staffing needs and is particularly helpful to organizations that do not have a strong line of dedicated staffing or funding to begin building digital initiatives. Offers small ways to start immediately while setting the stage to plan for big ideas for the future.

Originality/value

This paper suggests a credentialed information expert, such as a librarian, archivist or curator, that is, also cross-trained in project management and technology is the key to not only successfully leading digital initiatives but is instrumental for its sustainability and the marketing, growth and future of digital initiatives.

Keywords

Citation

Miller, A. (2018), "Innovative management strategies for building and sustaining a digital initiatives department with limited resources", Digital Library Perspectives, Vol. 34 No. 2, pp. 117-136. https://doi.org/10.1108/DLP-08-2017-0029

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited

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