ACRL College & Researc Libraries News

College & Research Libraries News

Library Organization Development at Northeastern University

Thomas H. Cahalan, Chair

Northeastern University Library Organization Development Study Team

A library organization development program is being conducted at Northeastern University, Boston, as a result of a survey of library staff members which indicated a high interest in organizational change. Plans for the program are based on recommendations given in a report of a study of the Management Review and Analysis Program (MRAP), a self-study program designed by the Association of Research Libraries Office of Management Studies and used in more than 20 large academic libraries.¹ These include giving careful consideration throughout the study to the feasibility of implementing recommendations being developed, having the study team work closely with the Dean of Libraries and Learning Resources, and providing for consultation of NU administrators, faculty, and students as well as widespread participation of library staff.

The first phase of the program includes selected modules of the Academic Library Development Program (ALDP), a self-study program designed by ARL/OMS for use in medium-sized academic libraries. Because of plans for an architectural competition for the design of a new central library facility, it is focusing on desired organizational changes with implications for the design of the new facility. Funds for this phase, to be completed by March 1982, are being provided by the National Endowment for the Arts Design Arts Program on a matching basis in consideration of funds being spent by NU for the design competition and in accordance with NEA/DAP policy of fostering excellence in design by promoting design competitions. Jeffrey J. Gardner of ARL/OMS is serving as the organization consultant for this phase, and an internal study team to direct the self-study is chaired by Thomas H. Cahalan, assistant librarian for acquisitions.

The first two units of the study have been concerned with planning for integration of the individual libraries in the new facility and planning for integration of various reference services now segregated because of the design of the present main library building. Reports of both of the task forces involved have been fully accepted for implementation by the library administration.

The method of selection and the composition of the study team provides an interesting model for a library organization development program. Instead of having a separate study team for this purpose, it was decided to have the study conducted by a pre-existing Library Joint Committee which had been formed to provide liaison between various staff levels. As members of this committee are elected to represent their constituent groups, this arrangement has helped secure support for the organization development program at all levels. It also should provide a useful mechanism for reassessment of the work of the present study team and for further study in future years because members of the Library Joint Committee are selected annually.

Notes

1. E. R. Johnson & S. H. Mann, Organization Development for Academic Libraries; an Evaluation of the Management Review and Analysis Program. Westport, Conn., Greenwood Press, 1980.