Brick & Click: an Academic Library Symposium, Maryville, Missouri, 2006 Brick & Click: an Academic Library Symposium, Maryville, Missouri, 2006 Saddling the Whirlwind: Exploring the Organizational Culture of a Hybrid Library Susan Matveyeva Susan Matveyeva Nancy Deyoe Wichita State University Libraries

11/03/2006Matveyeva, Deyoe, Brick and Click Library Symposium, Maryville, MO2 Outline A Hybrid Library Concept A Hybrid Library Concept The University Library Reorganization The University Library Reorganization Empowering Employees of Cataloging Department Empowering Employees of Cataloging Department Two Organizational Cultures Two Organizational Cultures Q & A Q & A A Hybrid Library Concept A Hybrid Library Concept The University Library Reorganization The University Library Reorganization Empowering Employees of Cataloging Department Empowering Employees of Cataloging Department Two Organizational Cultures Two Organizational Cultures Q & A Q & A

11/03/2006Matveyeva, Deyoe, Brick and Click Library Symposium, Maryville, MO3 Hybrid Library The new concept of a library The new information environment should be built New information environment should consist of a seamless mix of printed and electronic resources

11/03/2006Matveyeva, Deyoe, Brick and Click Library Symposium, Maryville, MO4 The University Libraries The Wichita State University Libraries is on its way to a hybrid library. The Wichita State University Libraries is on its way to a hybrid library. What need to be done: What need to be done: services to add services to add diverse groups of users to reach diverse groups of users to reach new technology should be implemented in all library’s areas new technology should be implemented in all library’s areas

11/03/2006Matveyeva, Deyoe, Brick and Click Library Symposium, Maryville, MO5 Reorganization Goals at Library Level Improve flexibility Improve flexibility Evolve to respond to changes in academic environment and libraries; ever more information delivered electronically BUT still demands for traditional services and processes Evolve to respond to changes in academic environment and libraries; ever more information delivered electronically BUT still demands for traditional services and processes University Libraries as an integrated whole, no department stands alone University Libraries as an integrated whole, no department stands alone

11/03/2006Matveyeva, Deyoe, Brick and Click Library Symposium, Maryville, MO6 Reorganization Goals at Library Level (cont’) Organization must allow for free flow of information and improved communication between units Organization must allow for free flow of information and improved communication between units Development of corporate spirit and culture with involvement in organization Development of corporate spirit and culture with involvement in organization Active support of and advocacy for University Libraries goals and mission Active support of and advocacy for University Libraries goals and mission Flatten organization Flatten organization

11/03/2006Matveyeva, Deyoe, Brick and Click Library Symposium, Maryville, MO7 Need for Empowered Employees Staff must be willing and able to look for new solutions to challenges and changing environment Staff must be willing and able to look for new solutions to challenges and changing environment Employees must know they will be given support to take risks and make significant decisions Employees must know they will be given support to take risks and make significant decisions Ability and desire of employees to work together Ability and desire of employees to work together

11/03/2006Matveyeva, Deyoe, Brick and Click Library Symposium, Maryville, MO8 Beginnings: Changes in Cataloging Department to Date Staff Organization: Monographs Unit, Serials Unit, Music and Media Unit Staff Organization: Monographs Unit, Serials Unit, Music and Media Unit Faculty (Professional) Positions Have Evolved Faculty (Professional) Positions Have Evolved Principal Cataloger now Assistant Dean of Technical Services Principal Cataloger now Assistant Dean of Technical Services Metadata Cataloger hired Metadata Cataloger hired Electronic Resources Librarian created (internal transfer) Electronic Resources Librarian created (internal transfer) Catalog Librarian responsibilities enhanced Catalog Librarian responsibilities enhanced (hired for Music and Media cataloging originally – now also in leadership role with ETDs and Institutional Repository)

11/03/2006Matveyeva, Deyoe, Brick and Click Library Symposium, Maryville, MO9 Employee Empowerment As organization has flattened, more employees encouraged to act as leaders and promote improvements As organization has flattened, more employees encouraged to act as leaders and promote improvements Cataloger’s responsibilities have increased, but they should also benefit from greater recognition and central roles in the Libraries Cataloger’s responsibilities have increased, but they should also benefit from greater recognition and central roles in the Libraries

11/03/2006Matveyeva, Deyoe, Brick and Click Library Symposium, Maryville, MO10 Employee Empowerment (cont’) Opportunities for activities in public services and collection development (Serve at public desks, collection development roles, public displays) Opportunities for activities in public services and collection development (Serve at public desks, collection development roles, public displays) Participation in task forces, committees, library-wide initiatives Participation in task forces, committees, library-wide initiatives

11/03/2006Matveyeva, Deyoe, Brick and Click Library Symposium, Maryville, MO11 Challenges yet to Be Met Continue to Evolve the Department. Re-evaluate! Continue to Evolve the Department. Re-evaluate! Recognize overlapping responsibilities (roles no longer black and white) Recognize overlapping responsibilities (roles no longer black and white) Continue to Encourage the reluctant to also change Continue to Encourage the reluctant to also change Are there old procedures and practices we should stop doing? Are there old procedures and practices we should stop doing? Reward professionals and staff who have taken on greater responsibilities Reward professionals and staff who have taken on greater responsibilities

11/03/2006Matveyeva, Deyoe, Brick and Click Library Symposium, Maryville, MO12 Organizational Culture Importance of culture at the time of changes Importance of culture at the time of changes “People have often habitual ways of working (and thinking) which are not easily shifted.” (Stephen Pinfield) “People have often habitual ways of working (and thinking) which are not easily shifted.” (Stephen Pinfield) “We were really aiming at a sea- change, a cultural shift” “We were really aiming at a sea- change, a cultural shift” (Chris Rusbridge) (Chris Rusbridge)

11/03/2006Matveyeva, Deyoe, Brick and Click Library Symposium, Maryville, MO13 Apollonian Culture (Hierarchy) A role culture A role culture Hierarchical order Hierarchical order Values rules and procedures Values rules and procedures Stability, rationality (job could be boring, but it is secure & predictable) Stability, rationality (job could be boring, but it is secure & predictable) Productivity Productivity Routine operations Routine operations Traditional library functioning Traditional library functioning Great order, but: what about creativity & innovations?

11/03/2006Matveyeva, Deyoe, Brick and Click Library Symposium, Maryville, MO14 What culture do we need now? that love innovations and challenges that love innovations and challenges the culture of learning the culture of learning that accept responsibilities even if they do not written in a job description that accept responsibilities even if they do not written in a job description the culture of empathy that allows us to understand another values and standards (which a bare necessity considering the need to work with programmers, vendors, teaching faculty, etc.) the culture of empathy that allows us to understand another values and standards (which a bare necessity considering the need to work with programmers, vendors, teaching faculty, etc.)

11/03/2006Matveyeva, Deyoe, Brick and Click Library Symposium, Maryville, MO15 Athenian Culture (Teamwork) Task culture Task culture Flat structure (everybody is equal) Flat structure (everybody is equal) Brings resources where find it (from any department) Brings resources where find it (from any department) Values: creativity and innovations Values: creativity and innovations Teams Teams Goals & results oriented (projects) Goals & results oriented (projects) Development of the new services Development of the new services A Fishnet: independent, equal, flexible, enthusiastic, work for results A Fishnet: independent, equal, flexible, enthusiastic, work for results

11/03/2006Matveyeva, Deyoe, Brick and Click Library Symposium, Maryville, MO16 Where we are now: Hybrid Organizational Culture Role and Task Role and Task “Is it in my job description?” vs “I’d like to do it” “Is it in my job description?” vs “I’d like to do it” Hierarchy and Flat structure Hierarchy and Flat structure We need to learn the new limits We need to learn the new limits Committees and Teams Committees and Teams Lead by a position and lead by expertise Lead by a position and lead by expertise

11/03/2006Matveyeva, Deyoe, Brick and Click Library Symposium, Maryville, MO17 Where are we now Hybrid Organizational Culture (cont’) Operations Operations Main Activity Main Activity Continue indefinitely Continue indefinitely Well established Well established relationships, relationships, responsibilities, responsibilities, workflow workflow Reporting line is clear Reporting line is clear Projects Projects Extra Activity Continue for a limited time No established relationships, responsibilities, workflow Reporting line is blurring

11/03/2006Matveyeva, Deyoe, Brick and Click Library Symposium, Maryville, MO18 Conclusion To build genuine “hybrid library” we mobilize the internal resources of the department To build genuine “hybrid library” we mobilize the internal resources of the department One of the most important resources – young-spirited Athenian organizational culture that help us “to saddle the whirlwind” One of the most important resources – young-spirited Athenian organizational culture that help us “to saddle the whirlwind”

11/03/2006Matveyeva, Deyoe, Brick and Click Library Symposium, Maryville, MO19 Thanks!! Any Questions? Saddling the Whirlwind: Exploring the Organizational Culture of a Hybrid Library Presented to the Brick & Click: an Academic Library Symposium by Susan Matveyeva and Nancy Deyoe. Maryville, Missouri, November 3, 2006 Maryville, Missouri, November 3, 2006