technical services talks
DESCRIPTION
Technical Services Talks: Fostering Faculty Collaboration through Reorganization and CommunicationSpeakers: Kyle McCarrell, Augusta State University; LouAnn Blocker, Augusta State University.Do you wish you could get out from behind your desk and find out what patrons really want? Are you stuck staring at your computer screen wishing your department’s workflow could be more efficient and effective? If this sounds like you, come to this session to hear how one mid-size technical services department (acquisitions, cataloging, serials, and e-resources) at a regional public university of 6,000 students created a leaner, meaner, more focused unit by doing just that. By reorganizing our department and overhauling our workflow to take a more active role in the collection development process, we revitalized relationships with faculty and students to communicate and collaborate with faculty year-round. Focused on small and mid-size libraries, this session will teach attendees practical strategies to create more efficient workflows to better interact with users and hopefully save time and money in the process. Time will be built into the session for attendees to share about similar issues they have faced and their ideas on improving workflows and communication.TRANSCRIPT
TECHNICAL SERVICES TALKS:FOSTERING FACULTY COLLABORATION THROUGH REORGANIZATION AND COMMUNICATION
LouAnn Blocker and Kyle McCarrellCharleston Conference – Nov. 3, 2011
Who We Are
LouAnn Electronic Resources
and Serials Librarian First job after MIS Paraprofessional with
reference and instruction experience; limited e-resources/serials experience
2nd Charleston Conf. Dog-lover
Kyle Acquisitions and
Cataloging Librarian First job after MLIS Cataloging experience,
but no Acquisitions experience
3rd Charleston Conf. Enjoy playing trombone
and piano
What We Hope to Cover
Background of Augusta State and Reese Library
Reorganization of Tech. Services dept.
Collection development process
Changes we made in and out of dept.
Outcomes of improved communication
Future goals Questions/Discussion
http://www.flickr.com/photos/erikveland/439175834/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pocketwiley/446226585/
Augusta State University – Benet Hall
Augusta State University
6000+ students Liberal arts with business and education Mostly commuters Large number of non-traditional
students Part of University System of Georgia
Reese Library
10 Librarians (MIS degrees) 20 Support staff + student
workers All librarians assist with
instruction and reference Informal subject liaisons
Collection Budget
Budget
Books, CDs, DVDs, E-books - 21%
Journals (print and electronic) - 28%
Databases - 51%
Old Technical Services Dept.
Library Director
Electronic Resources
(pt. time Lib.)
Assistant Director
(Coll. Dev.)
Director of Technical Services
Acquisitions(1 full, 1 pt. time staff)
Cataloging(1 full, 2 pt. time staff)
Serials(2 full staff)
New Technical Services Dept.
Library Director
Electronic Resources Lib.
Serials(1 full staff)
Reference Lib.(Coll. Dev.)
Acquisitions and Cataloging Lib.
Acquisitions(1 full time
staff)
Cataloging(1 full, 1 pt. time staff)
Collection Development Process Ultimate Patron-Driven Acq. (PDA)
Each department (17 total) selects representative
Dept.’s get ~70% ; library keeps ~30%
They select items using their dept.’s allocation until money is gone
With some faculty input, library spends the rest
Changes in Acquisitions
TitleSource GOBI (communication device)
Hired Acq. person with strong computer skills
Compare prices from multiple sources
Initiated new faculty voucher system
http://www.flickr.com/photos/smemon/4518528819/
Changes in Acquisitions (pt. 2)
Communication with reps. and faculty improved Trained reps. how to use the GOBI system Now submit orders through GOBI or email with faculty
names included Once processed, email sent to faculty member Updated allocation amounts emails sent every 3-4 wks. For reps., this counts toward tenure and promotion
http://www.flickr.com/photos/krossbow/3154262365/
Changes in E-resources
Compare database content to reduce redundancy
Send journal and database lists to reps. Little used journals swapped for different items Collaboration resulted in improved use and
considerable savings Cost sharing between depts.
Created Libguide for trials
How We Escaped…
Impetus New faculty who wanted to be active
Emailed each department to get on faculty meeting
Asked for 10-15 minutes
Designed handout(s) with relevant information
Desire to rotate through all 17 depts. every 2 years
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pyxopotamus/2427637230/
What happened at meetings?Anything
from…. Silence
Unawareness
Discussion
Demonstration
Direct Results
Know faculty (and they know us)
Follow-up for more personal and group instruction
Increased requests for student instruction
Trust developed as larger weeding begins
Increased number of staff
Indirect Results
Eliminates the middle man (saves time and overhead)
Content more likely to be used Eliminates time searching for
ways to spend money facilitator (providing options for them)
Eliminates some wasteful spending
Empowers the user
Future goals
Continue faculty visits Provide more targeted and specific
faculty instruction; possibly collaborate with Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL)
Allow faculty more active role in weeding
Takeaway…
If you intentionally make yourself visible through action and communication ,
people are more likely to utilize you
If you intentionally make yourself visible through action and communication ,
people are more likely to utilize you
Questions and Discussion
LouAnn Blocker Kyle [email protected] [email protected]
Contact Info