Top Ten Tips for Managing a Building Renovation Project

1. Look at the whole building, spaces and services, inside and out during the preliminary planning process, not just the glaring needs. Even if you don’t have funding to do it all, you will have the basis for building the program into the future.
2. Visit other sites with your architect to develop a sense of what you like and don’t like and what would work in your own environment. Don’t limit yourself to your type of library.
3. Assign an inhouse project manager to handle details, communications, and followup.
4. Develop a to-do list for project elements, with a listing of responsible parties and due dates.
5. Document all your questions and followup immediately if you haven’t received prompt replies.
6. Ask input from all staff members regarding effects on their service areas.
7. Make sure the hierarchy of needs is covered at the very basic level: heating and cooling, lighting, comfortable furniture, sound control.
8. Develop a communication mechanism such as newsletter, e-mail list, bulletin board to keep both staff and users up-to-date during the construction process.
9. Assess your priority services and make a plan to keep those running at all costs; notify users of the services that will not be available and how to find alternate resources.
10. Be proactive in presenting the plan to your staff, your users and your administrators; make sure they know the benefits of the building project and invite them all to the dedication!