WebJunction

Guide to Working with Consultants

When the situation and budget allow it, hiring a consultant for certain projects or services can be a great option for libraries. Consultants can serve in a wide variety of capacities, including technical support or helping with a building needs assessment. Use this guide to help answer some big questions and plan out the scope of the consultant's work.

Before the interview

• Define the Consulting Project: know what you want before the interview process

Recruit consultants

• Choose the Right Consultant: how to determine a good fit
• Finding a Consultant: strategies and resources for finding a technology consultant
• Websites and Internet Resources on Consultants: external links to consultant listings
• Select a Database Consultant: how to interview for a database consultant

Contracts and supervision

• Writing a Contract with a Technology Consultant
• Managing a Consultant

Special consulting services

• Building a Virtual Workforce: NW Iowa Library Services Consulting Service: how one library system got creative with consulting services for member libraries
• John DeBacher's Transformation from Library Director to Library Consultant: a former librarian helps new directors

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