Achieving Cultural Change in Networked Libraries

by Foster,William; Reid,Bruce J.

• ISBN13: 9780566082009
• ISBN10: 0566082004
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2000-01-28
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

The advent of globally networked information is a historic change. Educational, commercial and industrial institutions depend on its effective exploitation for their success, but cultural and human factors are the biggest obstacles. This book looks at the roots of these problems and how they may be overcome, through understanding recent developments in technical services, the difference between service and technical orientation, organizational culture, the role of subject expertise and the cultural heritage of the information profession.The book provides guidance and outlines best practice in: managing converging technologies; supporting change with organizational models; using cultural audits; the role of focus groups in implementing change; characterizing a learning organization; succeeding as a change agent, and managing change through technical services. Several chapters discuss the Electronic Libraries programme and the TAPin (Training and Awareness Programme in networks) model as examples of how cultural change takes place, particularly in the academic environment; one chapter concentrates exclusively on the characteristics of special libraries.This illuminating insight into the evolution of information cultures and how they do or don't adapt to networked services will help information and library managers to achieve change with deeper understanding, and will provide useful advice for senior managers restructuring IT and information departments. The book is core reading for students of Information Studies.

Table of Contents

List of figures	vii
List of tables	ix
Notes on contributors	xi
Acknowledgements	xvii
Introduction
Bruce Reid
Professionalism and the cultural legacy	1	(14)
Bruce Reid
Organizational models for managing academic information	15	(12)
Bruce Reid
Developments in technical services: cultural change and organizational management	27	(18)
William Foster
The Electronic Libraries Programme: a vehicle for academic cultural change	45	(18)
William Foster
Convergence: a review of the literature	63	(14)
Alison Sutton
Technical convergence and the response of the academic institution	77	(28)
Alison Sutton
The change agent	105	(14)
Matt Holland
Identifying and working with stakeholder perspectives	119	(18)
Rob Lloyd-Owen
Organizational culture: assessment, audit and change	137	(16)
Bruce Reid
Helen Williams
The special library environment	153	(20)
Sharon Penfold
The TAPin model	173	(18)
Kay Flatten
The impact of the TAPin project on LIS staff	191	(16)
Helen Williams
Bruce Reid
Learning organization theory in the networked environment	207	(18)
Linda Newall
Out of our past: understanding our communication environment	225	(18)
Matt Holland
Change, research approaches and the future	243	(6)
Bruce Reid
William Foster
Matt Holland
Glossary	249	(28)
Index	277