This document summarizes the challenges and changes that have occurred at McMaster University Library over the past several years under its new University Librarian. It describes how the library has transformed its services, resources, facilities, and staffing structure to better support the evolving needs of today's learners through innovative initiatives and partnerships. Key updates include the creation of 7 new librarian positions, investments in staff training, the adoption of new technologies like Second Life reference and an open source ILS, and the development of new learning spaces on campus.

1. McMaster University Library Exponential Change in Traditional Organizations

2. Introduction New to McMaster 20+ years experience Public/academic libraries Grant initiatives involving archives, museums and others Systems background Last position: Wayne State University, Detroit

3. Member: Gamer Generation Tauren (Horde Faction) Hunter Class Currently Level 70 and enjoying the Burning Crusade Born: 20-Sep-2006

4. The beginning of the story…

5. July 2006 University Librarian at McMaster University Top 200 Universities worldwide Canada’s most research intensive Recognized as “Canada’s most innovative” Problem-based learning

7. Why did I choose to come to Canada?

8. Challenges

9. McMaster University Library Challenges Library in state of decline 1991: Ranked 86 th among ARL 2006: Ranked 109 th

10. Challenges Lowest funded medical-doctoral library in Canada Lowest # of librarians in ARL Lowest #FTE in ARL Unionized environment Length of service App. 40% staff in “back office” 10-15% of staff on LTD

11. The kick in the teeth 8 weeks after I started: Provost left $20m structural deficit Freeze vacancies Across the board cuts

12. State of transition Three Provosts (one interim) Two VPs Research Two Deans of Humanities Interim Dean of Engineering Interim Dean of Graduate Studies

13. My first 18 months Period of change…..(details forthcoming)

14. Where we are…. Budget Library acquisitions exempted from campus-wide budget cuts $630,000 base budget increase $600,000 one-time budget reallocation Two capital campaign items $6m “Innovative Learning” $4m “Learning Commons @ Thode” $1.2m in donations this year

15. Where are we now…. Created 7 new librarian positions Gaming Librarian Marketing/Communications/Outreach Teaching and Learning Digital strategist Digital technologist E-resources Archivist/Librarian Two new positions on the way Data/GIS Librarian Scholarly Communications Librarian

16. Where are we now… Inherited Classroom Audio Visual Services Staff of 10 Budget of $1m Responsible for all classroom technologies Opportunity to integrate instructional technologies, academic resources, and support services

17. Campus News

18. Local News (The Spec) Note: they read my blog!

19. National News (CBC, G&M)

20. National Television (Canada AM)

21. One week: PR hat trick University Affairs The Spec G&M

22. Awards Learning Commons: two significant awards: Rudy Heinzl award PMI award

23. Late breaking news Recipient 2008 ACRL Excellence in Academic Libraries Award Sponsored by Blackwell Book Services Previous recipients include: Cornell Virginia Arizona Georgia Institute of Technology Others

24. Most importantly Co-chair of the Provost’s Task Force on Teaching and Learning Identifying SWOT on our campus Recommendations to Provost Potential campus-wide impact on teaching and learning

25. How did we get here?

26. “ The Change Agent’s Handbook” Full disclosure: a little reverse engineering!

27. 1. Clarify the mission, vision, and reasons for change

28. A new message, bold vision, get attention Do not fear to be eccentric in opinion, for every opinion now accepted was once eccentric.

30. Today’s learner Intuitively visual communicators Easily move between virtual and physical Learn through discovery Respond quickly Able to shift easily Diana Oblinger

32. Vision and Mission Vision McMaster University Library will be recognized as Canada's most innovative, user-centred, academic library.

33. Vision and Mission Mission The University Library advances teaching, learning and research at McMaster by: teaching students to be successful, ethical information seekers facilitating access to information resources providing welcoming spaces for intellectual discovery promoting the innovative adoption of emerging learning technologies

34. 2. Establish the roles, responsibilities, and structure to support change

35. Transformation Team

36. Transforming our organization Stopped doing what we didn’t need to do: Eliminated copy cataloging as a function 8 voluntary separation packages; 6 months pay $300,000 salary savings 9 new positions created 7 new librarians New positions=new functions

37. Reassignments Metatadata librarian User Experience Librarian Director of Liaison Program Director of Assessment Development officer Clerical support: Digitization maps e-reserves tiered reference

38. Seven new librarians in one year! Digital Strategies Librarian (Nick Ruest) Digital Technologies Librarian (John Fink) Teaching and Learning Librarian (Karen Nicholson) Marketing, Outreach, Communications Librarian (Catherine Baird) Immersive Learning/Gaming Librarian (Shawn McCann) E-Resources Librarian (Janice Adlington) Archivist Librarian (Rick Stapleton)

39. 3. Develop the required leadership team capability

40. Informed ourselves: guest speakers Faculty: Dr. Brian Detlor (Business), Dr. Claude Eilers (Classics) and Dr. Geoffrey Rockewell (Multimedia) Mike Ridley (Guelph) Perry Willett (UofM) Alane Wilson (OCLC) Michael Stephens (tametheweb) Joan Lippincott (CNI), John Shank (blendedlibrarian.org)

41. Retraining: Learning 2.0 @ Mac

42. Learning 2.0 @ McMaster 12 week program use freely available online tools Blogger Wordpress Bloglines Del.icio.us Flickr Firefox and plugins

43. Investment in staff Significant increase in funding allocated to training and development ALA CLA OLA EDUCAUSE CNI Many, many more

44. 4. Assess the current situation

45. Assessment LibQUAL SAILS

46. Determine the key strategies for achieving the change

47. Transformation: Four themes Transforming ourselves Transforming our resources Transforming our services Transforming our facilities

48. 5. Develop implementation plans Implement and monitor progress

49. Seven new librarians Digital Strategies Librarian (Nick Ruest) Digital Technologies Librarian (John Fink) Immersive Learning/Gaming Librarian (Shawn McCann) Teaching and Learning Librarian (Karen Nicholson) Marketing, Outreach, Communications Librarian (Catherine Baird) E-Resources Librarian (Janice Adlington) Archivist Librarian (Rick Stapleton)

50. First in Canada: Reference service in Second Life

51. First in Canada: Endeca

52. First in Canada: Digital Commons

53. Digital Dissertations

54. Map Mashup and digital maps

55. Drupal: Peace and War Open source content management Open content Canadian Memory Fund Digitize materials from 20 th century peace and ward Partnership with Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum and Hamilton Public Library

56. Evergreen Open source ILS Partnership with Windsor and Laurentian Hope to be the first ARL to go open source for our ILS (2009?)

57. News to come…. “ This close” to making a major announcement Getting into mass digitization Innovative partnership – first of it’s kind in the world Partially supported by math and engineering

58. Our Facilities Learning Commons @ Mills

59. Thode Library Renovations

60. 6. Determine causes of under- and over-performance

61. Still a work “in progress” Annual reviews UPC Budget This year: Thode Science and Engineering Library staffing model review Staff vacancies: no “status quo” Assessment plan: this year

62. 7. Apply learnings

63. My own lesson: Do not fear to be eccentric in opinion, for every opinion now accepted was once eccentric.

64. Note of caution Tell all the Truth but tell it slant--- Success in Circuit lies Too bright for our infirm Delight The Truth's superb surprise As Lightening to the Children eased With explanation kind The Truth must dazzle gradually Or every man be blind--- Emily Dickinson

65. 8. Celebrate, reflect, document

66. ACRL Application Recipient 2008 ACRL Excellence in Academic Libraries Award Sponsored by Blackwell Book Services Previous recipients include: Cornell Virginia Arizona Georgia Institute of Technology Others

69. Thank you! Jeff Trzeciak email: [email_address] blog: ulatmac.wordpress.com