Transcript Outsourcing An Webcast Monday, October 15, 2007 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m. Presenters: Nancy Johnson and Mark Smith [email protected] and [email protected] Infopeople webcasts are supported by the.

Outsourcing
An
Webcast
Monday, October 15, 2007
12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m.
Presenters: Nancy Johnson and Mark Smith
[email protected] and [email protected]
Infopeople webcasts are supported by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library
Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act,
administered in California by the State Librarian.
Agenda

Definitions and overview

History of Riverside County
Library System

Outsourcing Fact and Fiction

How Outsourcing Works
Outsourcing overview
Definition of “Outsourcing”
 Why consider outsourcing
 Who provides outsourcing services
 Factors to consider
 How to outsource functions

History of Riverside County
First and largest—why did they do it?
 Library Systems and Services in Riverside
 Previously managed by City of Riverside
 Reasons for outsourcing

RCLS Steps to Outsourcing
RFP issued early 1997
 Three entities responded
 Evaluation of bids

Why was LSSI chosen
In business since 1981
 Maximum service for the dollar
 Financially secure

Other providers
Library Associates
 OCLC for many library services
 Automation vendors for ASP solutions
 Book jobbers for technical services
 Temporary agencies
 Consultants and search firms

Concerns

Widespread concerns
 Job
security
 Concerns about salary and benefits
 Level of staffing
 Availability of library services
 Local control
 Concerns with merchandizing
Myth # 1: Privatization
 Outsourced
Publicly
libraries are…
funded
Publicly governed
Public policies
A public library
Myth # 2: Loss of local control
 Outsourced
libraries are…
Accountable
on an annual basis
Highly scrutinized
Fully auditable
Valued for offering greater local control
Myth # 3: No librarians

Outsourced libraries are…
 Librarians
doing library work
 72 MLS staff in LSSI
 Rehired former staff
Myth # 4: Limited services
 Outsourced
libraries offer…
Programming
Interlibrary
loan services
Reference and information services
Literacy
Outreach
Myth # 5: Low Wages

Outsourced libraries…
 Hire
at market rate
 Hire former salary
 100% filled on the West Coast
 Wages driven by contract
 Provide annual (merit based) increases
Myth # 6: No Benefits

Outsourced libraries offer. . .
 Full
range of benefits
 Part-time benefits
 No pension, but 401K
Then how DOES it work?

“How do you people make any money!?”
 Efficiencies
 Valuing
and rewarding creativity
 Economies of scale
 Seeking plural funding
 Building long-term relationships
Looking for Efficiencies
Eliminate wasteful practices
 Emphasize public services
 Minimize “back room” operations
 Use Automated solutions

Motivating Staff
“Working smarter” encouraged
 Staff cross-trained
 Creativity and motivation rewarded
 Customer service
 Training and continuing education
 Professional involvement

Economies of Scale

Centralized support for
 Automation
 Human resources
 Accounting
 Collection development
 Management consultation
Seeking “Plural Funding”

Outside funding through:
 Grants
 Concessions
 Donations and bequests
 Memberships
10 years of progress in RCLS
 18
new libraries
 Increased hours
 $2 million+ in grants
 Increased staffing
 Book budget ten-fold increase
New Programs
 Early
literacy
 ESL classes
 Inland Library Network
 Award-winning Latino outreach
 Author programs
 Staff development day
Satisfied Customers
 Public
 Friends
of libraries
 Staff
 The
Board of Supervisors
Making it Work

Riverside County Lessons:
 Oversight and due diligence
 Transparent record keeping
 County policies
 Partnership
Conclusions
Not the norm
 It has worked in RCLS
 Viable option in some places
 Can bring stability
 Come visit!
