when is a team really a team? moving from subject librarians to a liaison group
TRANSCRIPT
When is a team really a team? Moving from subject librarians to
a liaison group
Caroline GaleLibrary Liaison Manager
University of [email protected]
University of Exeter background
• 21,273 students (inc. 5,521 international):– 17,425 Undergraduate– 2,388 PGT– 1,461 PGR
• 3 campuses:– Exeter (Streatham & St Lukes)– Cornwall (Penryn campus - shared with Falmouth
University)
Context
• Wider HE environment• University ambitions• Professional Services
Transformation• Voluntary Severance
Scheme
Scenario planning
• No real knowledge of outcome
• Creative thinking• Team workshop• Clear that the old
model would no longer work
‘the future soon’ by k rupp, http://flic.kr/krupptastic/4738992473Licence at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0.
Decision time
• If offered VSS – 3 weeks to decide• If accepted – leave 2 weeks later• Managers had 2 weeks’ notice to reassess,
redesign and deliver
‘Not that way’ by Gareth Jones, http://flic.kr/gjones/3420223723Licence at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/
The new model
• No more subject librarians• Team-based approach– Enquiries generic email– Repository submissions– Teaching– Meetings– College Communications– Outsourcing
‘Working together…’ by Lolly man, http://flic.kr/lollyman/4424552903Licence at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/
Is it working?
• Successes:– Teamwork – essential you
are good at this!– Resilience – illness and holidays are covered– Broadening knowledge/experience– Solutions based approach – all have to pitch in
with suggestions and be prepared to try them out– Agile processes – if it doesn’t work, we change it!– Feedback has been good
’21 Steps to Success’ by Bernard Goldbach, http://flic.kr/topgold/6399333937Licence at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/
Is it working?
• Issues– Perceptions of some
academic disciplines– Specialist subject areas
(Law, Business, Medicine)– Teaching method changes
haven’t all been welcomed
‘Casio fx-5500LA Problem Solving’ by Vincent Li, http://flic.kr/hunter0405/5748613518Licence at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/
