Innovative Redesign and Reorganization of Library Technical Services

by Eden, Bradford Lee

• ISBN13: 9781591580928
• ISBN10: 1591580927
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-04-30
• Publisher: Libraries Unltd Inc

Summary

In the changing modern-day library, the area of technical services has undergone radical redesign and reorganization not just once, but many times in the last thirty years. Shrinking budgets, new electronic formats, the advent of the Internet, and technological innovations have drastically changed the face of library technical services departments and presented new challenges, such as finding and hiring qualified catalogers; dealing with the exponentially expanding range of print and electronic formats; reorganizing workflows due to staff reductions; and trying to find answers for organizing and describing information in its many manifestations. The first part of this book explores the future of technical services through surveys, research essays, and insightful opinion pieces. The second part focuses on redesign and reorganization efforts through a number of fascinating case studies. The majority of these case studies come from academic library technical services departments, highlighting efforts to meet and deal with challenges through a myriad of options. For anyone involved in the day-to-day supervision, management, and future of a library technical services department, this book will provide food for thought, as well as practical lessons.

Author Biography

BRADFORD LEE EDEN is Head of Web and Digitization Services for the University Libraries at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Previous positions include Head of Bibligraphic and Metadata Services at UNLV, and Coordinator of Technical Services for the North Harris Montgomery Community College District in Houston, Texas. He has a Masters and Ph.D. in Medieval Musicology, and publishes in this area, and is also a well-known J.R.R. Tolkien scholar. He publishes extensively on the topic of metadata, recently producing Metadata and Its Applications in the Library Technology Reports series (Sept/Oct 2002). He sits on the editorial boards of journals in the area of librarianship, medieval history, and music, and was recently appointed Associate Editor of Library Hi Tech.

Table of Contents

Introduction	xi
Part 1: Theory
Chapter 1 Review of the Literature: Technical Services Redesign and Reorganization	3	(24)
Laurie Lopatin
Academic Library Organization and Reorganization	3	(2)
Changes and Trends in Technical Services in the 1990's	5	(6)
Technical Services Reorganizations in the 1990's: Case Studies	11	(3)
Current and Future Issues in Technical Services	14	(5)
Conclusion	19	(1)
References	19	(8)
Chapter 2 What Is Technical Services?: Perspectives from the Field and from LIS Education	27	(14)
Pat Lawton and Deborah Rose-Lefmann
Technology	28	(1)
A Conflict of Objectives	29	(1)
Practitioners' Responses to Changes in LIS	30	(4)
Educators' Perspectives	34	(2)
Conclusion	36	(1)
References	37	(4)
Chapter 3 Staffing Trends in Academic Library Technical Services	41	(12)
Vicki Toy Smith and Kathryn Etcheverria
Literature Review	41	(1)
The Survey	42	(1)
Results	43	(3)
Insights from the Follow-up	46	(1)
Conclusions	47	(1)
Note	48	(1)
References	48	(5)
Chapter 4 Change and Adaptation in the Technical Services of a Group of Mid-sized Academic Libraries: A 14-Year Overview	53	(26)
Pamela Cline Howley
The Context of the Study	53	(3)
Technical Services Organization	56	(9)
Changing Responsibilities of Librarians and Staff	65	(5)
Responses to the New Environment	70	(3)
Conclusion	73	(1)
References	74	(5)
Chapter 5 Quality Cataloging with Less: Alternative and Innovative Methods	79	(40)
Mary L. Mastraccio
Technical Resources	80	(11)
Policies and Practices	91	(2)
Staff	93	(6)
Workflow	99	(1)
Conclusion	100	(1)
References	100	(19)
Chapter 6 The Name and Role of the Cataloger in the Twenty-First Century	119	(42)
Nadine P. Ellero
Introduction	119	(3)
The Data	122	(5)
Data Description and Analysis	127	(13)
Comparison with Other Studies	140	(13)
Conclusion	153	(2)
Notes	155	(1)
References	155	(6)
Part 2: Case Studies
Chapter 7 Redesign of Database Management at Rutgers University Libraries	161	(18)
Ruth A. Bogan
The Core Competency Model	163	(1)
The Core Competency Model and Libraries	164	(2)
The Core Competency Model and DBM	166	(8)
Future Directions	174	(2)
References	176	(3)
Chapter 8 Successfully Merging Workflow and Personnel in Technical Services: A Management Perspective	179	(20)
Ann Branton
Institutional Profile	180	(4)
Bibliographic Services	184	(11)
Final Thoughts on Management	195	(1)
Conclusion	196	(1)
References	197	(2)
Chapter 9 Workflow Analysis as a Basis for Organizational Redesign at McMaster University Library	199	(48)
Cheryl Martin
Planning of the Reorganization	202	(2)
Workflow Analysis	204	(2)
Results of Workflow Analysis	206	(4)
Conclusion	210	(1)
References	211	(36)
Chapter 10 Centering Technical Services: Developing a Vision for Change at Union College	247	(16)
Annette M. LeClair
Professional Staff Reorganization and Development	250	(4)
Support Staff Development	254	(2)
Space Planning and Design	256	(5)
Conclusion	261	(2)
Chapter 11 Merging Departments In a Small Academic Library	263	(12)
Rhonda R. Glazier and Dr. Jack D. Glazier
The Transition	264	(1)
The Process	265	(3)
Staff Reactions	268	(2)
Management	270	(2)
Conclusion	272	(3)
Chapter 12 Creating Career Paths for Cataloging Support Staff	275	(32)
Karen M. Letarte, Charles Pennell, and Shirley Hamlett
Statement of the Problem	276	(1)
Definitions	277	(1)
Historical Perspectives	278	(2)
Role Differentiation	280	(4)
Support Staff Within Cataloging Operations	284	(9)
Toward Career Paths for Support Staff in Cataloging	293	(1)
Existing Career Ladder Programs	294	(2)
Career Ladders for Cataloging Support Staff: Models and Processes	296	(1)
Considerations for Establishing a Career Ladder Program	297	(3)
Conclusion	300	(1)
References	301	(6)
Chapter 13 Navigating Toward the Future, Building on Our Strengths: Reorganization and Change at Emory University Libraries	307	(22)
Susan B. Bailey
Change as Operating Model	309	(1)
Structural Progression	310	(3)
CORC (Cooperative Online Resource Catalog) Pilot Project	313	(2)
Next Steps: Reorganize or Reconceptualize?	315	(3)
Conclusion	318	(1)
References	319	(10)
Chapter 14 Technological Change and Technical Services: A Case Study of a Mid-Sized Research Library	329	(14)
Karen M. Ramsay
Technical Services 10 Years Ago	330	(1)
A Decade of Change	331	(3)
Technical Services Today	334	(3)
Future Plans	337	(1)
References	338	(1)
Additional Readings	339	(4)
Chapter 15 Personnel Turnover as Impetus for Change	343	(12)
Martha Ann Bace and Patricia Ratkovich
Overview of Personnel Turnovers	344	(2)
The Problem of Retention	346	(1)
The Search for a New Organizational Structure	347	(1)
Where We Are Now	348	(1)
Conclusion	349	(1)
References	349	(6)
Chapter 16 Shifting Duties and Responsibilities of Technical Services Staff	355	(24)
Karen Davis, Constance Demetracopoulos, and Daryle McEachern Maroney
Chapter 17 Technical Services Between Reality and Illusion: Reorganization in Technical Services at the Ohio State University Libraries-Questions and Assessment	379	(20)
Magda El-Sherbini
Introduction	379	(1)
Literature Review	380	(3)
Technical Services in the Last 10 Years	383	(4)
Case Study at the OSUL Cataloging Department: Reorganization Revisited	387	(5)
The Future of Technical Services: An Assessment Based on a Case Study at OSUL	392	(4)
Conclusion	396	(1)
Note	397	(1)
References	397	(2)
Chapter 18 Shuffling the Deck: Two Reorganizations at the University of Massachusetts Amherst	399	(12)
Patricia S. Banach
Notes	407	(4)
Chapter 19 Redesigning Technical Services In an Academic Law Library	411	(24)
Andrea Rabbia
Law Library Structure	412	(1)
"Cracks" in the Technical Services System	413	(1)
New Requests to "Add Value"	414	(1)
Reevaluation	415	(1)
Priorities in Practice	416	(4)
Management's Priorities	420	(1)
Common Priorities and Diagnosis	421	(1)
Impact of the New ILS	422	(1)
Linearizing Workflow	423	(2)
New Models for Technical Services	425	(4)
The Suffering Silent	429	(1)
Changes to Redesign Acquisitions	430	(2)
Other Redesigns	432	(1)
Looking Back	432	(3)
Chapter 20 National Cataloging and Indexing Program for United States Government Publications: Innovative Responses to Challenges Created by Online Publishing	435	(10)
Thomas A. Downing
The Challenges	435	(1)
The National Cataloging and Indexing Program	436	(1)
Cataloging and Indexing Program Objectives	437	(1)
Cataloging Standards and the Dissemination of Bibliographic Records	437	(1)
Evolving Challenges	438	(1)
Past Organizational Responses	438	(1)
Impact of the World Wide Web	439	(1)
Evolving Operational Initiatives	439	(1)
Evolving Results	440	(1)
GPO and OMB New Compact for Government Printing and the Future of the C&I Program	441	(2)
Do Internal GPO Initiatives Have Applications Elsewhere?	443	(1)
Notes	444	(1)
Chapter 21 A Vision for the Future: Cornell University's Geospatial Information Repository (CUGIR)	445	(20)
Elaine L. Westbrooks
Literature Review	447	(1)
CUGIR History	448	(1)
CUGIR Data	449	(1)
CUGIR Metadata	450	(1)
CUGIR Metadata Management	451	(4)
DC-RDF for OAI and the Semantic Web	455	(1)
Achieving Object Permanence	456	(1)
Building the CUGIR Metadata Framework: Skills and Costs	457	(1)
Outcomes of the CUGIR Metadata Framework	458	(1)
Conclusion	459	(1)
Notes	460	(1)
References	461	(4)
Index	465	(12)
About the Editor and Contributors	477