The George Washington University Libraries rethought its approach to collection development using a cross-functional, team-based strategy that leveraged the benefits of Agile project management. Adopting an Agile approach to collection development maximized the impact of the library’s financial resources and enabled staff to develop new skills. The project underscored the value of collaboration, agility, and experimentation in libraries.
At the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) they were building a digital library using Agile methodologies. They used quick iterative sprints, worked towards a minimum viable product and continuously deployed as they built. This was a switch from the waterfall building techniques that resulted in many unfinished projects and long waits for simple changes. The team used the Agile tools and methods, including sprint planning, retrospectives, pair programming, and test driven development.
ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library) is a set of IT Service Management best practices to ensure clients receive the best customer service and IT services are continually improved. University of Waterloo Library’s Digital Initiatives department was applying agile techniques like Scrum and Kanban and ITIL service management best practices to manage multiple projects concurrently, manage sprints, and track progress.
The UC San Diego Campus (UCSD) libraries were using an Agile-based Approach to Develop a Library Mobile Website.
The Library at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden adopted the principles of Scrum throughout the library after introducing Scrum to cross-disciplinary teams involving librarians and developers, working on projects like developing a new website.
Tampere University of Technology Library was implementing agility into development processes. The following elements of agility were considered the most effective and relevant: appreciating the needs of the customers, eliminating the waste, quality assurance, ability to redesign and make decisions fast and empowering the team. The library of Tampere University of Technology made an early adoption of the methods in its development projects during 2012.