I am your outreach librarian”: new ways of delivering services at the UNSW Library (Neil Hinsch and Kate Dunn) - Presentation Transcript
“ Hello, I am your Outreach Librarian” A new service paradigm at the UNSW Library By Kate Dunn and Neil Hinsch Information Services Department UNSW Library [email_address] [email_address]
Background
Changes in Academia :
Corporatisation of Higher Education
Competition for resources
Outcomes based (previously collaborative)
IT changes
Economic rationalism
Library no longer perceived as the heart of the University
UNSW: New Directions
Enter the new Vice Chancellor
UNSW Strategic Directives 2007:
Confirm UNSW’s distinctiveness
Lift research performance
Recruit more high calibre students
Shift resources into identified high priority areas
Develop underpinning capabilities at Senior Management level
UNSW to be back in the top 3 of GO8
Previous Library Structure
5 semi-autonomous libraries and numerous units
Hierarchical
Leadership driven as opposed to team-based culture
Discontinuities in service delivery
Strong emphasis on the “physical” as opposed to the elibrary
UNSW Library’s Response!
New Library Model
New modes of service delivery
New services, including Outreach
Enter the Outreach Librarian
Role :
“ Relationship managers”
Show the value of the library’s services and content
Identify and create effective solutions to user needs
Promote library services elicit feedback
Understand the Academy’s content requirements
Identify opportunities for the delivery of new services
Neil Hinsch & Kate Dunn
Library, University of New more
Neil Hinsch & Kate Dunn
Library, University of New South Wales
OBJECTIVE
To describe innovative service delivery methods implemented in the University of NSW Library.
BACKGROUND
As one of Australia’s largest academic libraries, the University of NSW Library serves a community of 2300* academics, and 37,000* students supporting both their learning & teaching and research needs. In 2006, the Library restructured in an effort to build a stronger communication model with the faculties and a new method of delivering services to this community. The goal is to build a strong partnership between the Library and the academy, where the value of the Library and its offerings is understood and appreciated as being integral to achieving the University’s learning & teaching and research priorities.
*These figures are taken from the 2006 annual report
METHOD
Taking inspiration from a variety of service professions, the University Library has separated the distinct functions of service development, service delivery and communication. Specialist staff are assigned to innovation and new service development projects. Subject librarians are given ownership of relevant areas of the collection and the resultant services. Communication and delivery of these services is managed by a team of individual client contacts.
IMMEDIATE IMPACT
The response to this model amongst the academic community has been mixed, but primarily positive. The academy was used to seeing the Library primarily as a service centre for the undergraduate community and therefore the reassignment of professional services to support research represents a considerable change. Benefits demonstrated so far are an increased penetration into the academic community and therefore a greater awareness of our user requirements, and a consolidated approach to collection management.
NEXT STEPS
Future challenges involve:
Consolidating the way in which the Library offers value to our community
Implementing appropriate measures to record the impact of the model
Maturing the service towards a more targeted solutions delivery method
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