A Librarian’s Time Management Toolkit

I'm sure that all of you have had "the conversation." You know, the one in which somebody asks what you do, then comments about how peaceful your job must be, surrounded as you are by quiet study and tomes of learning. Whether this stereotype was ever accurate is the subject for another book, but it is certainly not true today. Librarians and library staff of all stripes are busy and getting busier. Along with tight schedules and varied responsibilities, many of us are coping with shifting organizational and community needs, budget cuts, and reduced staffing levels. Add the strain of keeping up with rapidly changing technologies, and it's no wonder that librarians regularly experience job stress and burnout (Harwell 2008). Without a doubt, excellent time management is a survival skill for the contemporary library professional.