Best practices for managing innovations in public libraries in the USA

Abstract

Public libraries serve as anchors for thousands of communities across the United States. Innovations are critical for the survival and relevance of public libraries in the country. Few studies, if any, identify the best practices for managing innovations in public libraries based on the experiential guidance shared by administrators of public libraries that are recognized for their innovations. This empirical study fills in the gap by identifying the challenges and solutions for managing innovations in public libraries in the USA. A thematic content analysis of qualitative responses collected through an online anonymous survey of 219 administrators of 211 innovations in 106 urban public libraries awarded for their innovations revealed 30 unique challenges to planning and implementing innovations and an equal number of solutions, which were then organized into five clusters: strategy, finance, organizational behavior, human resource management, and communication. Administrators and staff in public libraries need to develop competencies in these five areas to better manage innovations in the future. Other public libraries can learn, apply, and benefit from these best practices. The best practices for managing innovations, if applied, can enhance the perceived and real value of public libraries to their local communities.