Identifying and investigating strategic management practices in diverse libraries in the Republic of Ireland

Abstract

Strategic management planning is a style which has been widely adopted by various organization types since its initial implementation in business after the Second World War. By adopting this approach organizations can become better structured, aligned, managed, transparent and accountable for proceedings. Strategic management planning approaches have been widely adopted in Irish libraries. The scope of this research encompasses three library types, academic, public and special and the different strategic methods they adapt. Furthermore, what they require to be strategically managed, how they implement this strategic approach and the elements of these different strategic management styles. While literature is available on the overall topics of strategic management in libraries and information organizations, this is a rather undocumented area in the context of strategic management planning approaches in selected Irish library types particularly presenting different library results within the same research. This approach is adopted here to present an overview and more rounded synopsis of the strategic approaches within Irish libraries as a sector. The presentation of strategic approaches in the diverse libraries chosen offers an original approach to research of this kind. This study increases the awareness on this topic and provides research by collecting and correlating a narrative of strategic management approaches in different library types across Dublin and Kildare. These approaches in the forms of practices, methods and planning have been identified and investigated in selected diverse library settings. An in-depth analysis of these various methods in the varied organizations is discussed. The results and findings present an insight into dissimilar strategic approaches and identify an outline towards successful strategic management planning in Irish libraries.