Developing an IT Strategy for Your Library

Organizations such as libraries are becoming dependent upon IT systems for all their vital functions. With the inherent implications of this for management, service provision and budgetary considerations, it is important that library professionals tackle the sharp learning curve required to come to terms with new technology. This text offers a step by step guide to the IT strategy process. It aims to outline the importance of IT in library and information services and produce a coherent guide to designing a strategy which avoids a piecemeal approach to IT. It also considers the wide variety of IT systems available for libraries and indicates how these can be integrated within the organization for both internal use and service provision to form part of the overall strategic management of the organization. Contents include: benefits of an IT strategy; information technology audit; the physical infrastructure; monitoring and review; strategies of other organizations; resource implications; implementation programmes; and the future for information organizations.
The book should appeal to a broad range of staff in library and information services, and to all information organizations wishing to implement an IT policy.