The Role of an Operations Manager in Interlibrary Loan and Document Delivery Services

Abstract

The goal of this study is to define and discuss operations management and its applicability to interlibrary loan and document delivery. The model describes an organization that includes an operations manager and a librarian to manage interlibrary loan functions. It is the intent of this article to ascertain whether operations management improves an interlibrary loan operation.     

Transitions in Public Library Management: From the International Perspective of Strategy,Organizational Structure,and Operations

ABSTRACT

The objective of this research is to elucidate changes in strategy, organization, and operations in the field of public library management. It uses research methods based on detailed case analysis. This research focuses on cases involving U.S. public libraries and the Tokyo Metropolitan Library in Japan from the 1960s to the 2010s. It analyzes documents related to strategic management, organization, and operations collected through surveys and interviews with library directors and managers. This research illustrates (1) 11 core operations of public libraries, (2) transitions of basic organizational structures, (3) elements that cause differences between the U.S. and Japanese public libraries, and (4) primary elements that have impacts on public library management.     

Public Services Satellite Cataloging Operations and Non-Print Backlogs

Abstract

Satellite cataloging operations using public services staff trained specifically to complete non-book cataloging are almost nonexistent or are very rarely written about in traditional library literature. A search of the literature provides little or no evidence of their existence. On the surface, they would appear to take more time, effort, and budget outlay to bring up and maintain. There are real advantages as well as some disadvantages to maintaining these operations. There is a risk as public services staff have a primary responsibility to provide public and reference services and very little time to catalog as well as eep up with the changes in cataloging rules and practice. But it can work with planning, organization, and cooperation between the departments and staff involved.     

Adopting a toolkit to manage time,resources, and expectations in the systematic review process: a case report

Background:The proliferation of systematic reviews has impacted library operations and activities as librarians support, collaborate, and perform more tasks in the systematic review process. This case report describes a toolkit that librarians with extensive experience in supporting multiple review teams use to manage time, resources, and expectations in the systematic review process.Case Presentation:The toolkit is a compilation of documents that we use to effectively communicate with and help review teams understand and navigate each stage of the systematic review process. Elements included in the toolkit and discussed in this case report are intake forms, communication templates and memoranda, a process flow diagram, library guides on tools for retrieval and data appraisal, and established standards for guidance during the write-up stage. We describe the use of the toolkit for both education and project management, with a focus on its use in helping manage team time, resources, and expectations.Discussion:The systematic review toolkit helps librarians connect systematic review steps and tasks to actionable items. The content facilitates and supports discussion and learning by both librarians and team members. This toolkit helps librarians share important information and resources for each stage of the process.     

Damn the Recession,Full Speed Ahead

ABSTRACT

Academic libraries have undergone an evolutionary change as emerging technologies have impacted operations and services during the past two decades. For much of this period, increasing budgets have enabled libraries to keep pace with needed change. For the past two years, many academic libraries have lost significant funding due to the economic recession. This article argues that it is not a time for retrenchment and timidity but for expansion and boldness for academic libraries. The library that thrives, even in the midst of a recession, will be the one which seizes the opportunity to redesign itself for the future.     

The Emerging Library: Structure,Culture, and Lessons Learned from the Dissolution of a Combined Libraries–IT Organization

ABSTRACT

In 1997 the University of Southern California merged campus technology operations and the libraries into the USC Information Services Division (ISD). When the university dissolved ISD in 2006, the USC Libraries became a stand-alone entity for the first time in a decade. This article describes the USC Libraries’ approach to rebuilding an identity as an active partner in teaching, learning, and research at USC. It outlines the planning process used to develop a new organizational structure, highlights practical and cultural challenges that followed the dissolution, and describes several significant lessons learned.     

Project management for digital projects with collaborators beyond the library

ABSTRACT

Librarians are increasingly embracing project management to guide their work outside of routine library operations. Some humanities scholars, too, especially within the digital humanities community, are bringing project management techniques to bear on scholarly digital projects. We argue that librarians and their diverse collaborators can apply project management practices to a broad range of research, teaching, and learning projects with collaborators beyond the library. Two case studies illustrate this argument, one from each author's experience: creating a community biodiversity wiki for West-Central Florida and redesigning an interdisciplinary first-year seminar around creating 3-D models of historic Venetian buildings.     

Training and Retaining Student Employees

Abstract

Like most academic libraries, Purdue University Calumet depends heavily on student workers for its daily operations. After the investment of time and effort involved in training student workers, it is important to retain them from one year to the next. This case study examines training procedures that are designed to cultivate a sense of mutual respect between library staff and student workers, with the goal of keeping those whose skills and work experience prove valuable. A training program developed with retention as a goal yields benefits to the student and the library. It can also be a recruitment tool for the profession.     

Exploring strategic public relations management in China: current state and challenges

ABSTRACT

Applying four generic principles that are most relevant to strategic public relations management, this study examines the extent to which public relations is strategically managed in China. Public relations practitioners from four types of organizations participated an online survey (N?=?92) and an interview (N?=?20). It was found that public relations mainly contributes to routine operations rather than strategic policy-making. While typically given a direct reporting line with top management, public relations departments are not trusted to handle government relations and are considered inferior to the marketing department. Practitioners in the survey indicated the use of all four models to various degree in their organizations, despite that interviews revealed the difficulty to implement symmetrical communication model as compared to the other three models. In addition, practitioners were more proficient in fulfilling technician roles than managerial roles.     

Antecedents of children's comprehension of television advertising

This study compared the importance of role taking and logical operations stage in predicting children's understanding of the purpose of television advertising. Role taking was found to be the more critical variable.     

Advocating for Sustainability: Scaling-Down Library Digital Infrastructure

ABSTRACT

Academic institutions have a long tradition of using content management systems (CMSs) for the production of networked scholarship in the digital environment. However, CMSs are complex and rapidly changing infrastructures that do not always meet the needs of smaller ad hoc collaborative projects. CMSs are also difficult to preserve in the library environment given their obsolescence over time. This article uses the History of the Book and Literacy Technologies project at UCLA to illustrate why library administrators should advocate for the systematic production of scaled-down platforms that can withstand the constantly evolving technical environment within libraries and foster more sustainable platform practices.     

Future Proof for Physics: Preserving the Record of SLAC

ABSTRACT

This article provides a brief introduction to the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC), discusses the origins of the SLAC Archives and History Office, its present-day operations, and the present and future challenges it faces in attempting to preserve an accurate historical record of SLAC's activities.     

Addressing challenges with systematic review teams through effective communication: a case report

Background:Every step in the systematic review process has challenges, ranging from resistance by review teams to adherence to standard methodology to low-energy commitment to full participation. These challenges can derail the project and result in significant delays, duplication of work, and failure to complete the review. Communication during the systematic review process is key to ensuring it runs smoothly and is identified as a core competency for librarians involved in systematic reviews.Case Presentation:This case report presents effective communication approaches that our librarians employ to address challenges encountered while working with systematic review teams. The communication strategies we describe engage teams through information, questions, and action items and lead to productive collaborations with publishable systematic reviews.Conclusions:Effective communication with review teams keeps systematic review projects moving forward. The techniques covered in this case study strive to minimize misunderstandings, educate collaborators, and, in our experience, have led to multiple successful collaborations and publications. Librarians working in the systematic review space will recognize these challenges and can adapt these techniques to their own environments.     

Applying Organization Theory to the Interlibrary Loan and Document Delivery Department

Abstract

Anticipating and adapting to change can prove challenging to interlibrary loan units. By incorporating organization theory into interlibrary loan operations, however, interlibrary loan practitioners at all staffing levels can discover new and more effective ways to respond to change. This article explores five organization theory topics as they apply to interlibrary loan: change, communication, culture, leadership, and motivation.     

论图书馆技术业务的聚合

通过统计分析国内高校图书馆技术业务的组织设置,梳理其面临的压力,提出对图书馆技术业务进行聚合,深入探讨其可行性和作用,并从组织、业务和经济模式等角度分析其运作方式。     

Marketing Law Libraries: Strategies and Techniques in the Digital Age

SUMMARY

Marketing is no longer a sporadic activity undertaken on an ad hoc basis, but rather has become an integral component of every library's day-to-day operations. This article provides an overview of basic marketing principles and then examines effective marketing strategies and promotional techniques in an academic environment. While viewed within the context of the law school setting, a majority of the marketing activities discussed are equally applicable in other types of law libraries.     

Knowledge Management on the Web

Abstract

Knowledge management is another valuable concept within the business world. The authors outline major Web resources for finding information on knowledge management as well as Web-based publications.     

Accurate Information and Reliable Statistics: Utilizing Microsoft SharePoint to Resolve Data Collection in an Academic Library

ABSTRACT

The Borough of Manhattan Community College Library is using Microsoft SharePoint as an all-encompassing intranet to streamline library operations, maintain quality, and enhance decision-making by organizing, sharing, and managing information. Digitization of collection data was deemed necessary to increase data speed and accuracy, and improve harmony between library departments. The new collection management plan is a good fit because it uses SharePoint's workflow capacity to insure an easy transition from paper-based methods and prevents fear of disruption and non-compliance.     

High Performance Work Organization (HPWO) Initiatives in Television News Operations

Abstract

The “high performance work organization” (HPWO) concept proposes that greater employee involvement in decision making and greater ability for workers to control their reward structure lead to more efficient workplace procedures, as well as happier workers. Although this sociological model has been studied in a variety of industries and work settings, its examination in the media industries has been limited. In seeking to fill that gap, this study undertook an e-mail survey of workers in television news to determine which, if any, HPWO initiatives stations were using and how effective they were. Findings indicate that profit sharing, in-house training, and suggestion systems were more likely to be offered than cross-training, job rotation, outside training, or merit-based pay, indicating that the HPWO initiatives that require little investment of time or money are the most likely to be offered by television stations. Station ownership patterns were not significantly correlated to presence of HPWO initiatives, and market size was only significantly correlated to 2 HPWO initiatives—outside training and profit-sharing programs.