Change And Change Management In Libraries

Karolien Selhorst

Digital library/knowledge manager Library of Vlissingen

Web 2.0: introduction

Web 2.0: chances for libraries

Library 2.0: intro, examples and conclusion

How to introduce change in your library? (7 steps)

Top tips to manage change

The web as a platform

Collective intelligence & much richer user experience

The end of the traditional software cycle

RSS Wikis Blogs Social networking sites (MySpace,

Facebook,…) Social bookmarking sites Podcasting Instant messaging Photograph-sharing sites (Flickr,…) …

“Web 2.0, however you define it, is providing new and interesting resources for librarians to continue to do what they have always done so well in the past – bringing order out of chaos and making information readily available.“ (<Phil Bradley, How to use web 2.0 in your library)

Definition by synonym: web 2.0-applications used in a library context

Definition by example◦ Chatting librarians

◦ Social OPAC

◦ Library blogs

Definition by analysis (<Michael Casey et al. 2005-2007)

◦ Library 2.0 as a model for user-centered change

◦ Active customer participation/collaboration

◦ Online tools/technology are/is a medium to foster collaboration

Doing the same things differently => Library marketing 2.0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwCUtpbUWgk (The L-Team)

“What makes a service Library 2.0? Any service,

physical or virtual, that successfully reaches

users, is evaluated frequently, and makes use

of customer input is a Library 2.0 service. Even

older, traditional services can be Library 2.0 if

criteria are met. Similarly, being new is not

enough to make a service Library 2.0.”

(<Michael Casey et al., 2006)

What does this mean for librarians?

A librarian‟s 2.0 Manifesto

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZblrRs3fkSU&feature=related

If „Library 2.0‟ fundamentally means „doing the same things differently‟, then how do you introduce this „change‟ in your organisation?

Change management

Make change happen in 7 steps:

◦ Decide what needs to change/‟diagnose‟ change

◦ Conceptualise change

◦ Prepare the organisation for change

◦ Organise the planning group

◦ Plan the change

◦ Implement the change

◦ Evaluate the change

Diagnose your organisation: what can be done better or differently?

◦ Deliver better service?

◦ Introduce new ways of working?

What is the nature and scope of the change?

Are there any alternatives?

Is the timing right for change?

Envision the change

Communicate change; talk & listen to people

Create a sense of ownership

Focus on „early adopters‟

Assemble a group of people

Choose a group leader

Build the team

Organise the first meeting & set the agenda

Develop a vision

Define a strategy

Write down the goals and objectives

Make an action plan/create a time line

Introduce the change formally

Control resistance

Keep communicating

Choose the time for evaluation

Appoint evaluators

Select a good method => AAR

Re-examine goals and make needed adjustments

“AARS are a simple way for individuals and teams to learn immediately, from both successes and failures, regardless of the length of the task in question. The learning is by the team, for the team. The format is very simple and quick – it‟s a „pencil and paper‟ or flip chart exercise. In an open and honest meeting, usually no longer than twenty minutes, each participant in the event answers four simple questions:

What was supposed to happen? What actually happened? Why were there differences? What can we learn from that?

Team learning, and building trust, and team integrity are equal objectives of the process.“ (Collison en Parcell, 2004: 134-135)

Make no false promises; be honest; be fair Ensure staff support Acknowledge and promote the incentives for

change Observe the environment Emphasise the group Provide good orientation and training Pay attention to all levels of hierarchy Help employees find their new roles Create a sense of ownership of the change

Casey, M. et al. (2006). Library 2.0 Service for the next-generation library. Library Journal, 9/1/2006. Available at: http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6365200.html

Collison & Parcell (2004). Learning to fly. West Sussex:Capstone Publishing Limited.

Curzon, S.C. (2006). Managing change. London: Facet Publishing.

Questions?