CHANGE STRATEGIES IN A PROACTIVE LIBRARY MANAGEMENT by Fe Angela M. Verzosa

Overview Libraries are user-centered organizations focused on patron satisfaction. Libraries value access to information as fundamental to higher education/research. Up-to-date technology provides one of the best means to reach their goals. Information Technology has brought significant changes to Libraries

Libraries are user-centered organizations focused on patron satisfaction.

Libraries value access to information as fundamental to higher education/research.

Up-to-date technology provides one of the best means to reach their goals.

Information Technology has brought significant changes to Libraries

Today’s situation Coping with sheer quantity of published material Growing number of non-print and media materials Escalating user demand for access Rising costs Accepting innovations due to IT Implementing new strategies

Coping with sheer quantity of published material

Growing number of non-print and media materials

Escalating user demand for access

Rising costs

Accepting innovations due to IT

Implementing new strategies

Information technology technologies are tools to make information- handling easier, more efficient, and less costly. Technologies must be looked into as means to an end --- not the end themselves. The technological concerns are: effectiveness efficiency economy

technologies are tools to make information-

handling easier, more efficient, and less

costly.

Technologies must be looked into as means

to an end --- not the end themselves.

The technological concerns are:

effectiveness

efficiency

economy

New Technologies Automation Online databases CD-ROMs Interactive Multimedia Electronic publishing Electronic mails and file transfers Digitization Networking from Librarian ...

Automation

Online databases

CD-ROMs

Interactive Multimedia

Electronic publishing

Electronic mails and file transfers

Digitization

Networking

from Librarian ...

to information intermediary Impact of New Technologies collection policies budgeting & funding acquisition methods bibliographic control cataloging processes reference services staffing physical facilities

to information intermediary

collection policies

budgeting & funding

acquisition methods

bibliographic control

cataloging processes

reference services

staffing

physical facilities

Definition of Management “ the exercise of responsibility for the effective use of the human, financial and other resources available to meet an organization’s objectives .”

Strategic Planning proactive than reactive focused on desired outcomes participative

proactive than reactive

focused on desired outcomes

participative

Resources and the Managerial Function FUNCTION: Planning Organizing Staffing Directing Controlling RESOURCE Money People Facilities Master plan covers all three multi-year budgeting hiring plan building plans Selection, training, motiva- tion periodic acct’g data meetings, written memos repair orders budgets job rating, review mainte- nance logs

Ingredients of an Effective Manager Self-knowledge - competence, skills, limits Leadership-- -charisma, power to influence opinion, ability to inspire Vision Time management: spending more time at work, doing work quickly and efficiently, delegating work, eliminating unnecessary tasks, etc. Effective Communication: meetings, writing memos, submitting reports, organizing paperwork Public Relations: dealing with people, fund-raising, promoting/marketing

Self-knowledge - competence, skills, limits

customer satisfaction basic expected desired unanticipated responsive/reactive towards proactive

Change Strategies in a Proactive Library Management Redefine the role (image) of librarians Upgrade librarians’ professionalism Improve recruiting Restructure library management (from hierarchical to horizontal structure) Redesign library work Reinvent the library

Redefine the role (image) of librarians

Upgrade librarians’ professionalism

Improve recruiting

Restructure library management (from hierarchical to horizontal structure)

Redesign library work

Reinvent the library

IMAGE-BUILDING adopting the faculty-researcher model knowledge-bavigators resource managers diversifying from collection development to library management systems design, and research and publications

Upgrade librarian’s professionalism *delegating non-professional work to support staff *increasing pay scale *continuing education *adherence to code of ethics

IMPROVE RECRUITING * HIRE PROFESSIONALS: systems managers, media specialists, programmers, archivists, documentalists *REQUIRE MLS as entry point *HIRE ONLY LICENSED LIBRARIANS

CONTINUING EDUCATION ...to produce management-minded librarians with special skills in computing, multimedia, and archival documentation work .

RESTRUCTURE library management * developing participatory management style *evolving semi-autonomous workgroups *reducing the number/ level of supervisors or flattening the structure

Change Strategies as solutions to org problems increased control cutbacks - downsizing right sizing incentives motivators consultants team management

increased control

cutbacks - downsizing right sizing

incentives

motivators

consultants

team management

redesign library work *create semiautonomous depts *review job functions with emphasis on flexibility *adopt flexitime schedules

reinvent the library wall-less hi-tech people-centered proactive