1. Extreme Makeover – Library Edition: Roles and Tools for Positive Workplace Changes John J. Burke OPAL Annual Conference Columbus College of Art and Design August 4, 2005

2. Ch-ch-ch-changes Change happens Constant Healthy Responsive “How” and “why” changes

3. Change barriers Necessary, unavoidable, immediate results Perspectives of evolution and revolution External and internal Change for change’s sake Not until we’re good and ready

4. Where do you come in? Accommodate and create Tools Roles Inspiration (and singing and dancing)

5. Today’s Metaphor: Have you seen the show?

6. Extreme Makeover Home Edition: The Basics A needy family is selected The design team puts a plan together The family goes on vacation for one week Hundreds of construction workers and volunteers tear the house down and rebuild it ABC, Sears, et al., foot the bill The new home is unveiled to the family Joy ensues

7. Suspend your disbelief Questions linger about EMHE Overkill? Property taxes? Resale? Affordable housing?

8. Truths from the tube Does any of this apply to libraries? 8 aspects from EMHE – not chronological What if we pursued change in our libraries as though it worked like this? What if our libraries really did work like this?

9. 1 – 2 – 3... Unbelievable!

10. 1. Assess your needs EMHE: the family makes a video and writes out their story Clearly state what you want to do Focus on what is needed Brainstorm as though from outside

11. One person’s library...

12. ... is not the next person’s...

13. ... or the next person’s.

14. Visions of sugar plums danced in their heads Many visionaries Shared vision ≠ uniform vision Consensus What if your library could come up with a vision that everyone rallied around?

15. 1 – 2 – 3... Unbelievable!

16. 2. Prepare your environment EMHE: Often total destruction is required (and shown to family) Starting from scratch? Clear preconceptions; open possibilities Mindsets are just as important as logistics

17. 1 – 2 – 3... Unbelievable!

18. 3. Change should preserve EMHE: an item from the home is preserved or given greater emphasis in the new home The baby and the bathwater Extension, addition, improvement “Googlezon, Robots, RFID, and Ranganathan”

19. 1 – 2 – 3... Unbelievable!

20. 4. Effort inspires effort EMHE: ABC & Sears foot most of the bill, but others pitch in to volunteer/fund One person’s effort inspires others Be open to another’s enthusiasm We might be surprised at sources of support that open up as we make a change

21. 1 – 2 – 3... Unbelievable!

22. 5. Deeper impact EMHE: what happens to one house can be mirrored in the neighborhood (or might last beyond the taping of the show) Impact on our patrons Campus collaborations Library partnerships

23. 1 – 2 – 3... Unbelievable!

24. 6. Changes have an expiration date EMHE: Seven day deadline to change everything What’s the rush? Will meaningfulness last? What if we could focus and act on a change in a timely manner?

25. 1 – 2 – 3... Unbelievable!

26. 7. Share input, responsibility, and trust EMHE: design team has a leader (Ty) but everyone has a role and a voice in the outcome (family goes on vacation) The “secret room” We are family: trust and support What if we listened to one another and believed our individual role mattered?

27. 1 – 2 – 3... Unbelievable!

28. 8. Communicate clearly EMHE: bullhorn at the beginning and end, but lots of talking in between (and practical jokes) Coworkers, community, partners Choose methods that work for you (humor?) What if those around you (and you) felt like you were “in the know”?

29. 1 – 2 – 3... Unbelievable!

30. Roles to remember Play your part (but no pigeonholing!) Reporting a need for change? Designing a solution? Working on your piece? Supporting and cheerleading? Making sure everything comes together? Building positively on the end result?

31. Tools to take away Assess your needs Prepare your environment Change should preserve Effort inspires effort Deeper impact Changes have an expiration date Share input, responsibility, and trust Communicate clearly

32. Getting to “The Reveal” The end... or the beginning? Use the tools Follow your role(s) A “laugh-a-minute” experience Concentrate on the greater good

33. Mr. Bus Driver, Move That Bus!

34. 1 – 2 – 3... Unbelievable!