Tips On Choosing Library Consultants

By Elena McDowell


It is important to hire consultants when starting a new project. Though you may prefer to do the planning and the execution by yourself, the work may be too much for one person. You need a consultant who is specialized to make your work easier. Most library consultants get their skills and expertise from working in libraries. Others are professional from other fields but they have knowledge that is relevant to information systems and libraries.

There are thousands of consultants to choose from. It is important to have the right knowledge on how to hire the best professional for your project. You need to find an advisor who is affordable. Word of mouth is one of the options you can use to get a decent consultant. Ask your colleagues and friends to refer you to advisors if they have ever dealt with them.

You can also find advisors from various agencies. There are many state agencies that have lists of qualified advisors. Go through them and choose the person you think is most qualified to work on your project. Library associations keep databases of professionals who are qualified to offer advice to people who are setting up libraries. Many libraries can also recommend a consultant to you.

Many universities maintain lists of advisors on the internet. Publishers also have information on consultants. It is advisable to come up with a few names of people who you think are qualified for the job. Interview them to narrow down to one person. You can decide to do the interview over the internet. Alternatively, you can meet them in person. State your requirements and let the advisors define their approaches. This will give you an idea of how they plan to deal with your project.

Evaluate every candidates methodology and approach to the project. Go through their credentials to find out if they are qualified to deal with your assignments. It is important to find professionals who have the right knowledge. This will ensure that the project is done in time. Most companies usually prepare requests for proposal and request for qualifications.

Each consultant should come up with a quotation. If you go through the estimates and the qualifications you should come up with a shorter list of advisors who are fit for your project. To get the right consultant you should also look at the references. As long as there are enough references and proper credentials, any bidder can get the job. All you need is someone who is able to carry out the assignments given.

You need to know how to come up with a request for proposal as well as the request for qualifications. There are many samples online. State libraries and several associations have samples that you can learn from. It is also important to have standard forms for the assignments that you have. Any assignments that have other requirements should have forms that are altered accordingly.

Library consultants do not require bonding. This is unlike building contractors. If you want great results from your assignment, you need to find an advisor with a perfect track record. It is important to cooperate with the consultant to make sure the project runs smoothly.




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