Managing Library Services

Program Overview

This short course explores the management and provision of library and information services, emphasizing performance evaluation and decision-making. It covers key principles, professional skills, and the impact of community needs on service development. Assessment includes a case study where students plan and deliver services for a community, demonstrating their understanding of the sector.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

This short course explores the nature, provision and management of library and information services in a variety of contexts, emphasising the importance of effective performance evaluation and decision-making. It provides an understanding of collection and service management, placing strong emphasis on the needs and characteristics of user communities. It introduces key principles and philosophies associated with the management of library and information services. The course provides an insight into how libraries must meet the needs of the communities they serve and considers how their services and collections are shaped by this understanding. It covers a range of professional management skills, from generic ones such as financial or budgetary management and human resource planning to specifics associated with the library and information sector, such as collection management, information literacy, digital libraries, and community engagement. Strong emphasis is placed on the significance of measuring the value and impact of library services. These aspects are explored through a case-study approach, where students attempt to plan and deliver services for a community and with reference to real policies, frameworks and political agenda that shape public service cultural provision.

Outline:

The module is broken down into a series of topic blocks including:

• Communities and services
• The practical management of library and information services
• Performance quality and impact (including How good is our public library service?
which was developed for the Scottish Government by the module tutor)
• Services, collections and space
• Strategic and operation human resource management
• Financial management and budget
• Libraries, heritage and culture

Assessment:

The module is assessed using a sophisticated case-study, which has been created to enable students to explore managing a library service within a community. There are two assignments:

• The first is a community profile for part of the community in question.
• The second is the creation of a service development plan for the future enhancement of library provision.
For the second assignment, students collaborate in groups for part of it (although the bulk of the grade is awarded for individual work).

Teaching:

You will learn via the online virtual learning environment, CampusMoodle which provides you with lectures and course materials and allows you to study from any location. You will participate in active, group-related learning within a supportive online community setting. You will have access to recorded lectures and opportunities to meet up online via discussion fora and live sessions. This course is taught by a member of academic staff within Information Management with significant teaching experience, active engagement in research and scholarly activities in this area. The module tutor is created the quality standards for public libraries in Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government and has wide experience of performance management and quality enhancement within the sector.

Careers:

The course will provide students with the ability to understand the management and development of library and information services across a range of different sectors and contexts. It lays strong emphasis on the importance of partnership working and, therefore, has resonance in the wider cultural and education landscapes.

Other:

The course is ideal for students who possess an undergraduate honors degree in any discipline. All international students, for whom English is not their first language, will need either IELTS 6.5 or its equivalent in TOEFL.

Tuition Fees and Payment Information:

Academic Year 2024/2025 Course Fees: £2,330 Academic Year 2023/2024 Course Fees: £2,240 Additional Costs The following course-related costs are not included in the course fees: Accommodation and Living costs Printing As this is an online course, access to a computer or laptop with an internet connection is a requirement. For interactive sessions students may use a headset with microphone. Other Fees and Charges