Using tailored workflows and cloud computing, the liaison librarian at Grand Valley State University streamlined materials requests from faculty. The original process involved faculty submitting batch requests with metadata to a graduate assistant, who then forwarded the requests to the librarian. The new process has the graduate assistant directly training with and communicating with faculty to submit individualized requests electronically with metadata. This allows requests to be handled more efficiently to meet deadlines and budgets while improving communication and relevance of materials obtained.

1. CLOUD FLOW
Using Tailored Workflows and Cloud Computing to Get Better Materials Requests.
Pete Coco
Liaison Librarian for the Liberal Arts, Grand Valley State University
cocop@gvsu.edu  @pfcoco  www.pete-coco.com
Presented the Charleston Conference, November 5 2011

2. Deadlines
Budgets
Salience
Communication

3. THE ENGLISH M.A. AT GVSU

4. Budgets &
Deadlines
Deadlines
Chair
Librarian ORIGINAL WORKFLOW Faculty
Deadline batch
of requests w/ Grad. Titles for Request
metadata (.xls) Assistant

5. HOW’D IT GO?

7. Deadlines
Budgets
Salience
Communication

8. Portion of
Budgets &
Budget &
Deadlines Chair Deadlines
[actual]
Librarian Faculty
ORIGINAL WORKFLOW
Deadline batch
Requests &
of requests w/ Grad. Topics to Search
metadata (.xls) Assistant

9. Grad.
Assistant

10. Grad.
Assistant

11. Librarian Individual
Order info
requests with
metadata
Training and
communication
Grad.
Assistant

12. The Larger
Why & How
Longer term
considerations
Chair
Budgets & deadlines
Librarian

13. On Time
On Budget
Salient
Lines Open

14. HOW DO YOU REPLICATE
THIS?

16. FUTURE NOW

17. Photos
Slide 1: Roadway, low horizon, mountains, clouded sky, "Near (Grand) Teton National Park,",
1933 – 1942.” http://arcweb.archives.gov/arc/action/ExternalIdSearch?id=519911
Slide 2: “Cats that Webchick is herding.” http://www.flickr.com/photos/ceardach/
4549865709/
Slide 5: “[Portrait of Charlie Barnet and Re-Bop, New York, N.Y., ca. Aug. 1946] (LOC).”
http://www.flickr.com/photos/library_of_congress/5189338179/
Slide 10: “Bumper V-2 Launch.” http://www.flickr.com/photos/nasacommons/4857944855/
Slide 12: “Tailors workshop at tram depot in Stockholm in 1948.” http://www.flickr.com/
photos/stockholmtransportmuseum_commons/6081774887/
Slide 13: “Convair : Model 118.” http://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/