A successful library involves leadership and careful management. The management perspective starts at the big picture level, establishing goals and objectives, planning for implementation, determining value and promoting community and stakeholder relationships.
There is so much overlap among the tasks related to managing a library that it is difficult to separate them into mutually exclusive buckets. If something seems to be missing in one of these competency sections, it’s likely that it is covered in another section.

• Budget & Funding

  While libraries face stagnant or reduced budgets, the demand for library services increases. The ability to prioritize assumes high importance and must be based on solid numbers and processes. Due to the wide variety of funding structures for libraries, these competencies are more general than specific. The Budget competencies are interrelated with most other competency areas.

  1) Understands and employs basic budget and finance concepts and terminology
  2) Establishes effective financial management processes and services
  3) Identifies and pursues multiple funding sources for the library

• Community Relations

  Fundamentally, the library directors and leaders have to believe in the value of the library and its services in order to demonstrate its value to the community and form strategic relationships to promote the vitality of the library.

  1) Demonstrates the impact and value of the library
  2) Builds support for the library
  3) Maintains positive public relations
  4) Forms strategic partnerships with community organizations

• Facilities

  The significance of the library as “place” underscores the importance of atmosphere, usability, and safety in the physical environment for your community.

  1) Creates a welcoming and user-friendly physical environment
  2) Creates and maintains a healthy and safe environment

• Laws, Policies & Procedures

  Well-written policies and procedures, based on sound legal footings, help all levels of staff to be consistent in their relationships with patrons, colleagues and other stakeholders. (see also: Technology: Systems & IT > Technology Policies)

  1) Understands, applies and explains applicable laws
  2) Develops policies and procedures
  3) Creates policies and practices to ensure safety and security

• Marketing

  Relying on past reputation and word-of-mouth appreciation from patrons may not be enough to insure survival in the face of dwindling tax or government support. Effective marketing can overcome misconceptions, get the community involved, and attract new audiences.

  1) Understands and applies marketing theory and practices
  2) Develops an ongoing marketing plan

• Organizational Leadership

  While library services involve many roles and staff members, the guidance and driving force originate with the director or manager. Examination of any dynamic and successful library will usually reveal an effective and energetic leader at the top.

  1) Provides vision and guidance to library staff, board members, and the community
  2) Contributes effective strategies and decisions
  3) Provides effective leadership of all stakeholders and teams
  4) Applies effective change management

• Personnel Management

  Productive performance by its personnel is the backbone of a successful library. Whether or not you prefer the term Human Resources Management, the strategic oversight of your workforce is key to achieving the library’s mission and goals.

  1) Conducts effective recruitment and selection
  2) Leads and empowers employees
  3) Establishes effective strategies for performance management
  4) Applies legal standards and requirements for performance management
  5) Works appropriately with consultants and volunteers

• Project Management

  The multiplicity of factors involved in managing any library project demands an organized approach. Basic project management skills enable the process for coordinating people, time, money, and deliverables.

  1) Employs sound project management principles and procedures
  2) Leads work teams effectively
  3) Monitors and evaluates projects

• Staff Training & Development

  Staff development continues to be one of the most important needs in libraries. From the smallest library to the largest, training staff has become critical to meeting the library’s mission within the changing landscape.
  Technically, this is a subset of Personnel (HR) Management, but it is called out separately due to the primary focus that WebJunction places on this set of competencies.

  1) Creates a learning environment within the library
  2) Plans for and supports staff career development opportunities
  3) Develops and implements appropriate training strategies
  4) Develops effective methods to evaluate learning initiatives

• Strategic Planning

  A coherent overall plan that aligns with the library’s goals and community needs will help the library provide successful programs and services.

  1) Designs and implements an ongoing strategic planning process
  2) Evaluates the success of the strategic plan

• Trustees and Friends

  The Library Board (Trustees) plays a critical role in the governance of the library. Friends of the Library and Library Foundations provide vital support of the library, raising money and solidifying community relations. It is a primary responsibility of the director to enable the operation of these groups. The relationships with Friends groups and library foundations are different but equally important.

  1) Manages the relationship and communication with the Library Board
  2) Sustains the library's relationships with the Friends Of the Library and the Library Foundation

These competencies are foundational, most of them transferable to any workplace. In most situations in life, your effectiveness is enhanced by clear communication, strong relationships, ethical behavior, and the flexibility to be a leader, team player, and lifelong learner. These competencies are the underpinning of all the other sections and staff who possess all of these qualities will build a vibrant and relevant library.

• Communication

  Clear and effective communication is the basis for success in your relations with co-workers, managers, users, and all stakeholders. Communication competency is integral to customer service.

  1) Communicates effectively using a variety of methods
  2) Communicates effectively with a variety of audiences and individuals from diverse backgrounds
  3) Selects and applies the most appropriate and effective communication means to meet situational needs

• Customer Service

  Customer service is every bit as important in the library as it is in the marketplace. While there are fundamental differences between library services and commercial services, the behaviors and expectations of the people you serve are universal.

  1) Manages the library environment to enhance the user experience
  2) Develops and evaluates standards and practices for the delivery of quality customer service
  3) Applies customer service skills to enhance the level of user satisfaction
  4) Applies effective techniques to address difficult situations with patrons

• Ethics & Values

  The library plays a crucial role in society and the community. Library ethics and values have been carefully formulated to fulfill the institution's commitments to the community and to guide the practice of everyone who works there.

  Understands and acts in accordance with the basic values and ethics of library service

• Interpersonal

  Unless you work alone in a cave, you must interact productively with others in order to accomplish your own and your organization's goals. Master the interpersonal competencies and you have a recipe for success.

  1) Develops and maintains effective relationships with others to achieve common goals
  2) Works effectively in teams with strong team-building skills and attitudes
  3) Applies effective strategies to manage organizational politics, conflict, and difficult co-worker behaviors

• Leadership & Project Management

  It's not necessary to have "manager" in your title in order to exercise leadership or project management. There are many small to large opportunities to demonstrate leadership and build your skills through experience. Practicing good project management processes and approaches will score points with co-workers of all levels and positions.

  1) Aligns efforts with the vision and direction of the organization
  2) Demonstrates an aptitude for leadership
  3) Employs sound project management principles and procedures in the planning and implementation of programs and services
  4) Anticipates and adapts to change and challenges effectively

• Learning & Personal Growth

  No matter what position you occupy or what your employment future holds, an embrace of lifelong learning and continual improvement will enrich your professional path and your life.

  1) Manages the development of one's own career and ongoing improvement of skills and knowledge
  2) Pursues a commitment to personal growth and lifelong learning

Now that technology has permeated all levels of the library's operations and services, every position requires some level of comfort with computers. This section defines a core of technology competency that all staff need in order to contribute to the overall effectiveness of the organization, whether they are behind the scenes or interacting with the public. (Note: see the Systems & IT category for comprehensive technology competencies.)

• Core Email Applications

  1) Performs basic (core) functions of email applications
  2) Performs basic calendar operations and task management

• Core Hardware

  Understands and uses basic computer hardware and peripherals

• Core Internet

  1) Understands and uses the Internet and the World Wide Web
  2) Performs basic information searches
  3) Understands common security protocols related to Internet use

• Core Operating Systems

  Understands and performs basic operating system functions

• Core Software Applications

  1) Understands and performs basic functions and tasks of common software programs
  2) Performs basic (core) word processing operations
  3) Performs basic printing operations from common applications

• Core Web Tools

  Understands and uses common social networking and online collaboration tools

Beyond the core technology competencies, there is an increasing variety and complexity of technology systems that drive library operations. Depending on the size and type of library, there may be strict divisions between the responsibilities of IT staff and other library staff, or the line may be more indistinct as it is for "accidental" systems librarians in small libraries. Find the right combination of competencies from this compilation to meet the needs of your library. ---Many aspects of Systems and IT involve management skills. See the Library Management Competencies set for project management, budgeting, and organizational leadership skills

• Digital Resource Technology

  With so many of a library's resources in digital format, especially in larger academic libraries, there is a host of new skills and knowledge involved in creating or selecting, organizing, managing and providing access to these digital resources. It's an interdepartmental effort within the library, crossing divisions between cataloging, preservation, systems and technology. Project management is pervasive in these efforts. (see also: Library Management > Project Management competencies)

  1) Selects, organizes, and maintains the library's collection of digital resources
  2) Demonstrates working knowledge of programming languages applicable to digital resources
  3) Develops and manages interface services to provide integrated access to the library's resources
  4) Pursues efforts to sustain and improve the digital resource systems and services

• Enterprise Computing

  Many large libraries operate at the enterprise level of computing—a level of complexity introduced by the need to integrate multiple computer systems (including legacy systems) and networks and to accommodate access by a variety of remote users.

  1) Performs enterprise computing management to integrate computing systems across a large organization
  2) Performs enterprise-level software management

• Hardware

  Every position in the library depends on the proper installation and reliable functioning of all of the computer equipment. The hardware is the skeletal structure on which all computing functions are hung.

  1) Installs, configures, and maintains computer equipment and peripheral devices
  2) Installs, configures, and maintains printers and scanners

• Networking & Security

  The network is the electronic nerve center of the library's operations and its intricacy increases with every new technology and new security threat. It's a high wire act to keep on top of it all.

  1) Installs, configures, and maintains the library's local area networks (LAN)
  2) Understands and supports the library's telecommunications and wide area networks (WAN)
  3) Installs, configures, and maintains the library's wireless networks
  4) Troubleshoots problems with the library's networks
  5) Develops and implements practices for network security

• Operating & Automation Systems

  Providing administration and support of the automation systems and the operating systems on the library computers and understanding the dependencies and workflows among systems are critical to maintaining a functional computing environment.

  1) Installs, configures, and maintains all operating systems functioning in the library environment
  2) Demonstrates advanced understanding of the library automation systems

• Public Access Computing

  Computers for public use are among the main attractions that bring people into the library. Public computing has come a long way since its introduction in the mid-90s. In addition to the foundational knowledge in the other technology sections, the public's use of computers puts extra and unique demands on the setup of the hardware, software, networks, and security.

  1) Installs and configures the library's public access computers and networks
  2) Maintains and troubleshoots the library's public computers, networks, and security
  3) Develops, implements, and communicates policies and practices for public access computing

• Server Administration

  The complexity of computer networks breeds an increasing array of servers to deliver particular services to users. It may be necessary to select, configure, and/or maintain any of a variety of server types appropriate to the library's needs.

  1) Configures and maintains the library's email servers
  2) Configures and maintains the library's Web servers
  3) Configures and maintains the library's file servers
  4) Configures and maintains the library's print servers
  5) Configures and maintains the library's database servers
  6) Configures and maintains the library's other servers as needed

• Software Applications

  Many positions in the library require varying levels of proficiency with software applications, depending on which tasks need to be accomplished. In addition, there is a layer of administration necessary to ensure that software is properly installed, licensed, and ready to run when a user needs it. (Note: the beginner-level competencies for word processing and email are duplicated in the Core Technology set.)

  • Administration of Software Applications

    1) Manages software applications for staff and other non-public computers.
    2) Provides administration for optimum performance of database programs

  • Database Application Proficiency

    1) Demonstrates beginner-level proficiency with database applications
    2) Demonstrates intermediate to advanced proficiency with database applications

  • Document Management Program Proficiency

    1) Demonstrates appropriate level of proficiency with document management programs

  • Electronic Publishing Program Proficienc

    1) Demonstrates beginner-level proficiency with electronic publishing applications
    2) Demonstrates intermediate to advanced proficiency with electronic publishing applications

  • Email Program Proficiency

    1) Demonstrates beginner-level proficiency with email programs
    2) Demonstrates intermediate proficiency with email programs
    3) Demonstrates advanced proficiency with email programs

  • Photo-editing Program Proficiency

    1) Demonstrates beginner-level proficiency with photo-editing programs
    2) Demonstrates intermediate to advanced proficiency with photo-editing programs

  • Presentation Program Proficiency

    1) Demonstrates beginner-level proficiency with presentation programs
    2) Demonstrates intermediate to advanced proficiency with presentation programs

  • Spreadsheet Program Proficiency

    1) Demonstrates beginner level proficiency with spreadsheet programs
    2) Demonstrates intermediate proficiency with spreadsheet programs
    3) Demonstrates advanced proficiency with spreadsheet programs

  • Web-based Office Application Proficiency

    Demonstrates proficiency with Web-based office applications for online collaboration

  • Website Design Program Proficiency

    1) Demonstrates beginner-level proficiency with Dreamweaver
    2) Demonstrates intermediate to advanced proficiency with Dreamweaver
    3) Demonstrates beginner-level proficiency with FrontPage
    4) Demonstrates intermediate to advanced proficiency with FrontPage

  • Word Processing Program Proficiency

    1) Demonstrates beginner-level proficiency with word processing programs
    2) Demonstrates intermediate proficiency with word processing programs
    3) Demonstrates advanced proficiency with word processing programs

• Technology Planning

  Technology planning is closely tied to other competency areas. The planning process is all about project management but with the demands of IT factored in; purchasing is entwined with budget and finance but informed by technical expertise. Everyone agrees technology planning is critical in today's library.

  1) Formulates and implements an ongoing technology planning process
  2) Develops and maintains a library technology plan
  3) Develops strategies and processes for purchasing technology for the library

• Technology Policies

  Fairness, efficiency, security, and more depend on the clear definition and application of policies for technology use. See Library Management > Laws, Policies & Procedures for general library policy competencies.

  Creates, evaluates, and implements policies and procedures for library technology

• Technology Training

  There is a continual need for instruction as technology deployment intensifies in the library. Those who "get it" are in the best position to help those who don't. Seizing opportunities for informal knowledge exchange can often deliver the just-in-time learning that will ultimately provide better service to the library user.

  Provides training for staff and patrons on library technologies

• Web Design & Development

  Library websites range from simple to complex, but they all share an awareness of how important it is in today's Web-enabled world to connect with the library community through the Internet.

  1) Designs a website for the library
  2) Implements and updates the library website
  3) Applies advanced Web technologies to the development of a library website
  4) Implements and manages the library's presence on the Web
  5) Demonstrates proficiency with video and audio production programs