NELINET EXPANDS LIBRARY CONSULTING SERVICES

NELINET has announced its plans to expand the focus of its popular consulting services NELINET Consulting Solutions (NCS) by offering new customized consulting and educational programs in administrative and managerial planning, including strategic and organizational planning, as well as general program development, assessment and facilities planning. At the same time, NELINET has increased its online and in-person educational programs and current awareness services geared specifically to the needs of senior library managers.

"Our decision to extend the breath and depth of NCS is driven by the evolving and growing needs of our membership," said Arnold Hirshon, NELINET's Executive Director. "Our members have been requesting more programs and services that address the critical needs of library administrators. NELINET has provided a significant level of administrative consulting and programming in the past. This is the next logical step to broaden our scope so we can help members to adopt best practices within their libraries, and to assist in members' efforts to achieve maximum productivity and efficiency throughout their organizations."

ANJA SMIT JOINS NELINET STAFF

To ensure the future success of the newly expanded NCS and educational programs, NELINET also announces the appointment of Anja Smit to the position of Executive Consultant for Library Administration and Management. Beginning October 1st, Ms. Smit will serve as NELINET's principal consultant for libraries on strategic and tactical planning, human resource management, facilities renovation, and other topics critical to library administrators. She will also be responsible for creating educational programs for senior library administrators on issues related to library management.

"Anja's substantial library administrative background maps well with what NELINET is looking for in an executive consultant," said Diane Baden, NELINET's Associate Director. "She has the right mix of proven abilities and experience in senior library administration and management that will no double serve our membership well."

Ms. Smit, a native of The Netherlands, joins NELINET from Nijmegen University Library, where she first served as an associate librarian and most recently as library director. While at Nijmegen University Library, Ms. Smit launched a management development program, developed the library's strategic plan and led the library through a process of incorporation in a facilities management group within the university. During that same period, she also supervised a large-scale renovation of the Central Library that included the integration of four separate library locations.

From 1996 to 2002, as associate librarian, Ms. Smit was responsible for automation, digital services, staff training, statistics and benchmarking. Prior to working at Nijmegen University Library, Ms. Smit served as sales/application specialist at ATEX Publishing systems, which is headquartered in Bedford, MA. She installed editorial applications and advertising systems at large newspapers throughout Europe.

Earlier in her career, she worked at the Centre for Library Automation Pica, which now is OCLC/Pica, based in Leiden, Netherlands. At Pica she served as an account manager for mainly university libraries and large public libraries, but was also involved in product development, educational services, and large implementation projects.
Active in the Dutch library world since 1988, Ms. Smit has chaired several national committees and publishes articles on the use of OPAC systems and benchmarking. She earned her Masters of Arts at the University Utrecht, The Netherlands.

ABOUT NELINET, INC.

NELINET is a non-profit membership cooperative of nearly 700 academic, public and special libraries in the six New England states. NELINET works collaboratively with members to shape the future of New England libraries in the evolving information environment. NELINET invites museums, archives and historical societies to become members.

Reprinted with Permission
NELINET Contact:
Mary Basilone
(508) 597-1948