Changes at  Wesleyan University Library

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Timetable for phase 1

Spring 2009:  Library department head meetings to brainstorm possible solutions.

May 2009:  Dept. head meeting to identify major functional areas where changes will be necessary, and assignment of a 3-4 person task force for each major area to develop a recommendation for making changes. 

June 2009:  All-staff library retreat to discuss reductions and plan for determining and implementing changes.

 July 2009:  Task force recommendations submitted to the Library Management Group. 

     - Library Management Group to review recommendations and develop a comprehensive recommendation of all changes.

      - Joe Bruno and Pat Tully review, discuss any changes in the recommendation with the Library Management Group, and approve in its final form.  Final changes distributed to library staff; posted on transition web site.

 August 2009:  Implementation of final changes.  Assessment at the end of the fall semester, and again at the end of the academic year.

Task forces, phase 1

Selector / liaison assignments:  Alan Nathanson's retirement necessitated reassigning selection and liaison responsibilities.  The task force took this opportunity to review all selection and liaison assignments, and as much as possible align these responsibilities so that the same librarian is both selector and liaison to an academic department or program.  The task force recommended that Andrew Klein, Science Librarian, assume the responsibilities of coordinator of collection development.  Task force members:  Suzy Taraba, University Archivist and Head of Special Collections; Michaelle Biddle, Head of Preservation Services; Andrew Klein, Science Librarian; Diane Klare, Head of Reference; and Susanne Javorski, Art Librarian.

Reference services:  Alan Nathanson worked several hours at the Olin reference desk each week, including some evenings and weekends; Pat Tully also worked some hours at the desk.  The task force explored alternative ways to provide reference services and staff the Olin reference desk.  Members:  Diane Klare, Head of Reference; Sally Grucan, Head of Cataloging; Alec McLane, Music Librarian, and Suzy Taraba, University Archivist and Head of Special Collections. 

Government documents:  The task force considered how the shift to electronic format of many (but not all) federal government documents has changed the library's responsibilities as a partial federal government depository, and what changes might be implemented to streamline cataloging and management of this important collection.  Members:  Sally Grucan, Head of Cataloging; Erhard Konerding, Government Documents Librarian; Scott Antonio, Library Assistant - Serials and Government Documents; and Kendall Hobbs, Reference Librarian.

Library administration:  Pat Tully has assumed the role of interim University Librarian and the Associate University Librarian position will not be filled.  The existing Library Management Group will explore alternative models of library management and identify the most critical functions of library administration.  Members of the Library Management Group:  Pat Tully, interim University Librarian; Kate Wolfe, Library Assistant, Interlibrary Loan; Diane Klare, Head of Reference; Suzy Taraba, University Archivist and Head of Special Collections; Sally Grucan, Head of Cataloging; Susanne Javorski, Art Librarian; Jolee West, Director of Academic Computing Services (ITS) and Director of Digital Projects.  NOTE:  This committee will continue its work this fall. 

In general, each task force will consider these questions:

• What are the most critical elements of this functional area?

• What data should be analyzed to determine what changes to make?

• How can staff time and budget best be focused on the most critical elements?

•  What changes should be made?

• How should the changes be implemented?

• How can the success of these changes be assessed?

Other topics that will be addressed next academic year (phase 2) include:

Internal and external communication, including the library's committee structure.

Streamlining the selection of books and other materials, including experimenting with patron-driven acquisitions for some kinds of items and auto-shipping books that meet certain criteria.

Technical Services:  Assessing how changes in selection methods and the acquisitions budget has affected Technical Services workflow, and determining how to adjust to these changes.

Send us your questions, concerns

As a library user, you have a perspective on the library and its services that we do not.  If you have experiences or  observations that you think will be of value to us in this process, or if you have any concerns or questions, please contact Pat Tully at ptully@wesleyan.edu, or 860-685-3887 (x3887 on campus), or your library liaison: http://www.wesleyan.edu/libr/services/facliais.html 

We will periodically post updates on this site.