Financial Management in Academic Libraries

An academic library’s budget and expenditures demonstrate its accountability, effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability to its institution. All library managers must understand and manage budgets, from planning through implementation, reporting, and conducting audits. Budgeters also need familiarity with the use of metrics, the ability to relate the use of the data gathered to improved performance and organizational efficiency, and automated management information systems to effectively tell their library’s story and advocate for budgetary support.

In its first eight chapters, with tables, figures, data application, and exercises throughout, Financial Management in Academic Libraries: Data-Driven Planning and Budgeting covers the various stages and topics involved in managing budgets: planning; the types of budgets used in academic institutions; the overall budgeting process as well as a specific process in program budgeting; managing a budget during the fiscal year and its aftermath; and providing reports on the budget. The ninth chapter introduces general concepts to help address budget reduction strategies, potential fraud, and financial best practices. And the final chapter elevates the discussion from financial management to financial leadership, the articulation of a detailed vision, and the realignment of the budget with the promises specified in that vision.

Financial Management in Academic Libraries explores the connection between financial management and accountability, effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability, and demonstrates how to capture them in a realistic, data-supported budget. Among the different units of an academic institution, the library has an advantage in that its managers can link these concepts to the library’s infrastructure, its staffing, collections, services, and technology. Focusing on these components can enable everyone in the library to work to achieve organizational sustainability over time and advocate for their place in the institution.