Designing a Powerful Library: A Case Study on Reorganization Laurie Thompson and Brian Bunnett The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas

May 25, 2004UT Southwestern Medical Center Library Outline Problems facing the library prior to reorganization How did we address these problems? Data collection and evaluation Unexpected findings Outcomes Pearls

May 25, 2004UT Southwestern Medical Center Library Problems We Were Facing Too oriented toward print Too many dysfunctional teams Too fragmented Too little money

May 25, 2004UT Southwestern Medical Center Library Preconceptions Reduce number of teams Shift some personnel within existing unit structure

May 25, 2004UT Southwestern Medical Center Library How Did We Address These Issues? Organizational Efficacy Task Force Detailed timeline/methodology Keep private information private

May 25, 2004UT Southwestern Medical Center Library Data Collection and Evaluation Unit charges Team responsibilities Individual job inventories Unit managers analyses AAHSL statistics Environmental scan Literature review

May 25, 2004UT Southwestern Medical Center Library Unexpected Findings Tasks needing additional personnel Obvious/immediate changes Debatable changes requiring additional information Talking points for individual managers and staff New or modified charges for units Global issues

May 25, 2004UT Southwestern Medical Center Library Outcomes Fewer teams Consolidation of digital collection activities New units Regions and regional meetings Council to monitor and recommend further changes

Director Associate Director Information Desk Campus Outreach Reference & Education Interlibrary Loan Special Projects Librarian Digital Infrastructure R & D Acquisitions & Licensing Digital Access Print Resource Mgt & Optimization Library Administration Information Systems Director Assoc Director 1 exempt 1 non-exempt Regional Facilitators University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas Library Contact RegionCollections Region Support Region Organizational Efficacy Council Special Projects Librarian Teams & Task Forces Info Resources Development Corporate Communications Technical Liaisons Task Forces 8/21/03

May 25, 2004UT Southwestern Medical Center Library Guiding Principles Create a clear goal for the project at the outset –Have the right people in the right number of jobs (allocated to the right tasks) to best support our current environment and the Librarys stated vision for the future. Develop a unifying vision statement and use it to lead the change Priority ONE

May 25, 2004UT Southwestern Medical Center Library Guiding Principles Assemble a guiding coalition to manage the project Choose members based on needed skills –varied experience –analytical skills –consensus-building abilities –capacity to approach problems with a global perspective

May 25, 2004UT Southwestern Medical Center Library Guiding Principles Communicate, communicate, and communicate again –Share detailed methodology –Invite input and suggestions from all staff –Involve Human Resources department –Avoid public surprises

May 25, 2004UT Southwestern Medical Center Library Guiding Principles Incorporate transition planning Outcomes assessment Not all problems can be solved with reorganization –Additional efforts to address other issues revealed Expect the unexpected and be flexible

May 25, 2004UT Southwestern Medical Center Library Designing a Powerful Library Laurie Thompson, Director Brian Bunnett, Associate Director For more information: staffPresentations.htm