17:610:573
Financial Management for Library and Information Organizations

Dr. Betty J. Turock

DescriptionPrerequisitesObjectivesOrganizationAssignmentsRequirementsBibliography

Catalog Description

Introduction to fiscal management as a strategic planning process resulting in the selection of accounting systems and the development and control of budgets. Emphasis is on the creation of a financial plan based on an assessment of fiscal status, an environmental scan, market survey, and the selection and implementation of a budget format. Special attention is given to capturing alternate sources of funding, preparation of grant proposals and determination of appropriate investment strategies.

Prerequisites

17:610:570 Management of Library and Information Organizations

Course Objectives

  1. Introduce the purpose and process of financial management as well as the major functions and tasks of the financial manager.
  2. Develop the process for determining fiscal status and create an understanding of the major accounting system applicable to library and information organizations.
  3. Focus on the concept and implementation of an environmental scan, including the analysis of economic, legal, political, social, and technological conditions in both internal and external spheres of influence.
  4. Emphasize conducting a market survey with attention to the population the organization is chartered to serve and the population actually served.; how programs and services are delivered; what constitutes the library or information center's competition; and methods of evaluating performance using a combination of population, input, output, impact and cost measures.
  5. Consider the organization's potential for recruiting new customers and setting assumptions about future financial problems and their solutions.
  6. Demonstrate the process for setting financial goals and objectives and establishing long term budgetary forecasts.
  7. Introduce the development of budgets using four budgetary processes: line item, program, performance, and zero-base.
  8. Explore funding strategies including gathering grants and finding funding from a variety of sources.
  9. Create familiarity with the process for evaluating the financial plan.

Organization of the Course

Major Assignments

  1. Fiscal Analysis (30% of grade)
    Using the current fiscal trends of your library workshop, make some assumptions for its future financial health. Due Class IV.
  2. Market Analysis (30% of grade)
    Prepare a Market Survey of your library workshop from available data. Observe the library in operation. How well is the library serving its population? Due Class VIII.
  3. Financial Plan (40% of grade)
    Create or improve the financial plan for the library workshop and a critique of the financial planning model. Due Class XIV.

Requirements for the Course

  1. Class attendance. Practice assertively presenting a point of view backed up by information you have gathered that is relevant to the topic. It is expected that you will come to class each week, ready to participate in discussions based on your reading as well as your experience.
  2. Reading assignments. Actively apply what you learn to class discussions, activities and assignments.
  3. Completing all assignments on time.

Bibliography


DescriptionPrerequisitesObjectivesOrganizationAssignmentsRequirementsBibliography
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