Conference proceedings from the Living the Future Conference, April 21-24, 1998, University of Arizona Libraries, Tucson, AZ.

Poster presentation from the Living the Future Conference, April 21-24, 1998, University of Arizona Libraries, Tucson, AZ. / Interlibrary Loan staff were suffocating under a heavy burden of an ever increasing workload. Was it possible to change from an environment where the process controlled the staff, to an atmosphere where staff control the process? Interlibrary Loan had to get ready for change. Staff needed time to shift from being apprehensive about change, to embracing it as solution for a better workplace. A Continuous Quality Improvement Team was formed, out of which emerged a new culture and a new structure. The reorganization formed two process teams (Borrowing and Lending) and a management team (Coordinating). Interlibrary Loan had to get set for change. Reorganization into teams removed many familiar routines and structures that apply meaning to one's job. Each team member sought to define his role as he learned to work unsupervised in a team-directed atmosphere. Interlibrary Loan changes. Interlibrary Loan staff members successfully moved from an environment where the process controlled the staff, to an atmosphere were staff control the process. During this transition, staff members gained invaluable experience in teamwork and developed quality service guidelines. Equipped with these new skills, ILL Teams are prepared and empowered to meet the challenges of continuous change. This is Penn State Interlibrary Loan's recipe for incorporating change. This is what worked for us. Instead of trying to make our department fit into a textbook team structure, we took the concept of teams and teamwork and applied them to our office culture, working within the University Libraries' hierarchical structure.

Conference proceedings from the Living the Future Conference, April 21-24, 1998, University of Arizona Libraries, Tucson, AZ. / Seeking to understand user's needs, assumptions, and on-line behavior was critical in the design of The University of Arizona's new Information Gateway system. Focus groups helped direct the initial design and then usability studies shaped the prototypes and the end product. We will discuss both the methodology and the results of these studies.

Conference proceedings from the Living the Future Conference, April 21-24, 1998, University of Arizona Libraries, Tucson, AZ. / Taking the structure of a regular academic department as a model for library collegial management has enabled College, a liberal arts college, to revitalize its library professionals and to mentor quality leaders. A panel will discuss history of rotating leadership, consensus management and holistic librarianship.

Conference proceedings from the Living the Future Conference, April 21-24, 1998, University of Arizona Libraries, Tucson, AZ. / This presentation will outline the training program established at the University of Connecticut, Regional Campus Libraries. The purpose of this program is to prepare technical services staff moving to public services positions and to enhance the skills of reference librarians assuming new responsibilities as a result of strategic initiatives and new services. The presentation will include discussion of the proposal, needs assessment questionnaire, and training topics.

Conference abstracts from the Living the Future Conference, April 24-27, 2002, University of Arizona Libraries, Tucson, AZ.

Conference schedule from the Living the Future Conference, April 24-27, 2002, University of Arizona Libraries, Tucson, AZ.

Conference schedule from the Living the Future Conference, April 14-17, 2004, University of Arizona Libraries, Tucson, AZ.

Presentation abstracts from the Living the Future Conference, April 14-17, 2004, University of Arizona Libraries, Tucson, AZ.

Conference schedule from the Living the Future Conference, April 5-8, 2006, University of Arizona Libraries, Tucson, AZ.