The document summarizes lessons learned from preparing staff for changes at the Royal Holloway library. It discusses moving to a new library system, staff turnover, and a professional services restructure. To prepare staff, the library held away days, staff communication groups, Q&A sessions, and training. They established an internal coaching pool and embraced change management courses. Lessons included timing staff development, having a dedicated change manager, succession planning, and better document saving. Currently, the new library is busy and popular but issues remain due to an incomplete building handover.

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A New Chapter at Royal Holloway:
lessons learnt whilst preparing staff for change
Relationship Management Conference 2017
Emma Burnett & Helen Rimmer,
Academic Liaison Team

2. Library
Royal Holloway: officially the UK’s most beautiful University!*
*Holiday Lettings competition, October 2017 https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/aboutus/newsandevents/news/2017-articles/royal-holloway-named-uk's-most-beautiful-university.aspx

3. Library
Our new Library & Student Services Centre

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Changes in the past 2 years
• Moved from Aleph to Alma
• Review of roles
• Higher than usual staff turnover
• Professional Services restructure
• Student First initiative
o Upgraded enquiry management system

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Challenges faced
• Pace of change
• Certain decisions had to
happen behind closed doors
• Unconfirmed plans and
Chinese whispers

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Preparation for change
• Away Days
• Staff Communications Group
• Q&A sessions with Senior
Management
• Triads
• Embracing Change and Leading
Through Change courses
• Information Literacy training for
Customer Services staff

7. Library
Coaching
• Internal coaching pool established in 2015/16
• “Coaching is about enabling individuals to make conscious
decisions and empowering them to become leaders in their
own lives” (Karen Wise 2010) http://www.karenwise.co.uk/2010/05/20/what-is-coaching-10-definitions-2/#.V3uXtaxwTrg
• How Coaching Works https://youtu.be/UY75MQte4RU

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Lessons learned
• Timing of staff development
• Not “going on” about change
• Having a dedicated role to support
people and coordinate change
management
• Succession planning
• Be better at saving documents!

9. Library
The present
● Busy!
● Higher profile in the College
● Boosted morale - most staff and
students love the new library
● Issues arising because the building
handover is incomplete
● Acting Library Director and
Associate Director
● Process reviews ongoing
● Forthcoming Staff Away Day

10. Library
Royal Opening
Reproduced with the kind permission of Royal Holloway

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Questions?