CHANGE AND INSTITUTIONAL CULTURE
And Academic Libraries
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Forces Driving Change
Stakeholder demands- accountability & transparency
Technology Open access/ scholarly communication/
publishing Budget constraints Staffing
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Definition of a Library
Library as collection (of resources) Library as building or space Library as function (organization of
information) Library as service- supporting role in the
context of the organization
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Change in Libraries4
Competition we are facing, for the first time as a
profession, competition. competitors are using the ubiquity of the
Internet to market and deliver information directly to users, bypassing the library
Perception everything is on the Internet everything on the Internet is free
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Change in Libraries
As a result of competition and perception, the library is transitioning to become more customer focused
Change must be managed through the planning, organizing, human resources management, and coordination/control functions
Not so much that core purpose of libraries is changing, but there is a shifting emphasis on relative importance of various aspects
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Macro Changes in Libraries
From passive housing and storage of materials
Access to information via new technologies
Active agency providing information services to users
Developing services based on information collections in all formats
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Macro Changes in Libraries
From focus on doing things that best fit internal traditions
Focus on need to keep customers satisfied librarians must
understand user expectation and attitudes
users expect to access information and interact with the library 24/7/365
attitudes include less willingness to accept a lack of quality from libraries; they can now “go elsewhere”
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Macro Changes in Libraries
From the organizational culture of “that’s the way we have always done it”
Focusing on continuing improvement and learning
Organizational Understanding and Cultural Sensitivity
Managing Change9
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Institutional Culture
Is the set of values, norms, standards, philosophies, and ideologies that characterize that institution—that is, what people value, believe in, and consider admirable in the institution
The behavior and shared expectations that influences the way in which individuals, groups and teams interact with each other and cooperate to achieve goals
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Institutional Culture
Examples of culture: dress code staff social interaction outside of the library the manner in which staff is addressed
internally (first name; title, etc.)
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Institutional Culture
Elements of the culture symbols, such as the arrangement of office space
(walls or cubicles; arrangement of the space) group norms, such as a meeting starting on time
(or not) slogans, such as phrases found in mission
statements and signage (customer service oriented)
myths and stories, usually introduced to new staff to reinforce current or past values
ceremonies, such as annual rituals.
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Institutional Culture
Institutional culture is often the cause of inflexibility in institutions members can be expected to resist change
that force them to abandon established and approved ways of doing things; “we have always done it that way.”
Institutional Culture
Organizational Culture14
Different cultures within the larger organization
Across departments and divisions Within departments and divisions
i.e. differences between reference, cataloging, circ, etc.
The organization’s culture may, or may not be the same as the institution’s culture.
What characterizes our libraries?
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Organizational Environment
Is a set of forces and conditions inside and outside of the organization that have potential to affect the way the organization operates
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Organizational Environment
External environment set of forces that have profound effects on the
internal environment: competitors perceptions of the library
stereotypes of both librarians and library costs for services provided especially
when the Internet is “free” legal; political; technological; environment;
economic; sociocultural; demographic etc. external environment often outside the
influence of the organization
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Organizational Environment
Internal environment of libraries include: library principles
all things to all people library’s organizational culture allocated resources the condition of the infrastructure