Agile Project Management for Library Service Innovation

Abstract

Agile Project Management (APM) has reshaped many sectors, encouraging agility, teamwork, collaboration, and incremental progress. Library services through the delivery of services, technology changes, and even user expectations can change quickly, and the clear advantages of using APM would assist considerably more with enhancing the innovation of services. This paper outlines the belief that Agile practices can assist in the management of library projects, and explores how APM can support the concepts of service development, user engagement, and ongoing innovation. In this research, we explore case studies of libraries that utilize Agile practices and detail the key aspects that enabled their success, the challenges they faced, and their ultimate outcomes. We develop a list of actionable ideas for practitioners in libraries and show how libraries can use Agile practices to remain relevant and can respond to their emerging communities. With the merging of Agile practices with innovations in library services, this paper supports the ability for greater strategies for innovative management for libraries in the future.