How the smallest state in Australia ended up leading in the Australian GLAM sector: the power of collaboration when you only have a small project budget

A successful University Research Infrastructure submission saw the allocation of a small grant to the Library to select and implement an online archival description and content management system, over a twelve month period. This paper will chart a journey from the excitement of initial bid success, to the successful recruitment of an experienced and enthusiastic Project Manager, to the establishment of an engaged Steering Committee, with senior university academics, Information Technology Services representation and colleagues from the wider Tasmanian GLAM sector. Then go on to show the challenges of tight time frames, unexpected developments, as well as managing a plethora of competing priorities, perspectives and expectations. The paper will also document how the project ultimately reached its successful conclusion. A system selected and implemented, a roadmap for the future developed for the Library. Relationships built between the Library and other Tasmanian GLAM institutions, while collaborating on the project, opening doors for potential ongoing valuable collaboration opportunities.