The Significance of Organizational Development in Academic Research Libraries

Holloway, Karen

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/1721 Copy

Description

Title

The Significance of Organizational Development in Academic Research Libraries

Author(s)

Holloway, Karen

Issue Date

2004

Keyword(s)

• Leadership in libraries
• Library organization

Abstract

More and more academic research libraries are applying organizational development (OD) concepts in their organizations. The outcomes of focusing on and utilizing this management approach are described, including how OD has made significant differences in these libraries. To assess the current state of OD in academic research libraries, interviews were conducted in July–August 2003 with twelve individuals who have some part of OD in their job responsibilities or are library directors. The approaches to implementing OD vary. In some organizations, it has been a complete library-wide undertaking, while in others the changes started in one or two units, sometimes with an overarching plan and sometimes with no intent to shift the entire organization. What is evident is that there is not a linear progression of OD from one step to another and it is a continuous process of change. Within the university structure, libraries have been given the leeway to be “different,” with the library becoming the focal point for demonstrating new ways to work in the academy. Most of those who have undertaken OD initiatives believe that their organizations would not be responsive or flexible if they had not committed to change.

Publisher

Graduate School of Library and Information Science. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

ISSN

0024-2594

Type of Resource

text

Language

en

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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/1721

Copyright and License Information

Copyright owned by Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. 2004.

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