
My concern is libraries
A local, national and global view
Welcome!
Jan Richards Consulting offers practical, tailored solutions to assist libraries in realising their potential. I believe in conversations and I recognise that every library and every project is different. I will work with you to get the best outcome for your community.
With an in-depth knowledge across the sector and strong professional networks, I specialise in being honest, realistic and getting the job done.
Yes, everybody loves libraries! But if we are to remain relevant, we need to be agile, adaptive, accountable and collaborative.
Jan Richards

Engage
Let’s engage with your internal and external stakeholders to undertake library reviews, develop strategic and marketing plans, evaluate organisational structures and staffing, develop policy and procedures, contemplate new initiatives and conduct community consultations and surveys.

Enhance
Together we can enhance your service offer: explore opportunities for partnerships and collaboration; creation of communication and advocacy strategies including branding and collateral; tweaking what you’re already doing to maximise the impact. Sometimes you have the skills but you just don’t have the time – researching an issue, writing a report, developing a policy. Here and happy to assist.

Enable
Increasing the capacity and capability of your team through their involvement in any project is key to the JRC philosophy. Building skills and confidence enables them to undertake similar projects in the future – doing myself out of a job I know! Follow up is included in all consultancies and mentoring and coaching is an option.

ALIATas on track for an exciting 2021
It was exciting to meet up with Tasmanian colleagues yesterday afternoon to discuss plans for ALIATas Group for next year, and into the future. Representatives from a number of sectors and locations came together around the table and on screen to put forward suggestions for developing an exciting and inclusive program. Great to see newContinue reading “ALIATas on track for an exciting 2021”

Time for a change
During the years in which I have been involved in libraries (which are many!) things have changed significantly: the services they deliver; the physical buildings; the people who work in them and the rich and diverse skills and experiences that these people bring. A comment I have often heard voiced by employers is that professionalContinue reading “Time for a change”

Looking to the future
Last week I attended the NSW Public Libraries Association‘s AGM via Zoom. This was a first for all of us. Normally the AGM follows the Association’s highly regarded SWITCH Conference and in the past has been the scene of some heated debate. Sadly SWITCH had to be cancelled, another victim of COVID, but the AGMContinue reading “Looking to the future”
I acknowledge the Nuenonne people of Bruny Island, and all the Traditional Custodians of the Land on which I work. I acknowledge all elders past and present and extend this respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.