Sunday, October 20, 2013

How To Hire The Best Choosing Library Consultants

By Elena McDowell


When beginning a new project you need to hire the right professionals. It is not possible to carry out the planning and the execution work by yourself. Having a consultant makes the work easier. Many library consultants are experts in other fields but they have skills that are relevant to libraries and information systems. Others have the skills because they have been around libraries for long. You need to know how to go about hiring the right advisors for your assignment.

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.

Another option is to go through lists maintained by various agencies. Many local and state library associations have databases of professionals you can hire when you need consultation. You can also approach libraries and ask them to recommend good advisors. Various state agencies can also help you to find the right expert.

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.

Ask questions regarding their work plan and methodology. Find out if the advisors have enough knowledge to deal with your project. Go through their credentials to determine if they have the right qualifications for your project. It is important to hire a professional who will meet the deadline. Most of the time, the body that is funding the project will want the request for proposal to be availed to several advisors.

All the professionals should prepare estimates. Look at the quotations to determine which advisors fit in your budget. It is advisable to look at the references that each candidate has. If there are ample references and the professional has all the credentials you need on your project you can hire him or her. You do not necessarily have to pick the lowest bidder. You need someone who can deliver quality services.

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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