SPECIAL LIBRARIESA Survival Guide
James M. MatarazzoToby Pearlstein
SLA New EnglandSeptember 27, 2013
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Monday, September 30, 13
Will you
paddle
or
be swept
overboard?
TURBULENCE IS NOTHING NEW
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Used with permission of Crab Apple White Water, Inc http://www.crabapplewhitewater.com
Monday, September 30, 13
PUT ON YOUR HELMUT & LIFE JACKET
State of the profession
Survival Skills
Assess
Measure
Sustain
Monday morning
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Monday, September 30, 13
SOME OF US ARE WORKING LONGER
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Monday, September 30, 13
SALARIES ARE KEEPING PACE WITH CPI
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Monday, September 30, 13
THE GAP NARROWS
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Monday, September 30, 13
ASSESS THE RAPIDS
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SUPPLYDEMAND
Monday, September 30, 13
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Decisions made at the top without user consultation
Reduction in number of customers
Availability of outside resources
Lack of evaluation of services
Evidence of financial crisis
ASSESS THE RAPIDS AGAIN
Monday, September 30, 13
PREPARE THE OARS
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• Overall Satisfaction
• Satisfaction with Service Type
• Service Level
• Efficiency & Effectiveness
• Use of Products & Services
• Researcher Confidence
• Employee Retention
• Team Satisfaction
• Revenue Strategy
• ROI
• Cost Recovery
Customer Metrics
Internal Process Metrics
Learning & Growth Metrics
Financial Metrics
Monday, September 30, 13
PADDLE AS A TEAM
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Conducting research on user’s behalf
Managing a physical library and print collection
Evaluating and purchasing content sources
Managing internal content
Researchers working on project teams
Integrating content into work processes
UsersProviders
Monday, September 30, 13
THE RAFT NEEDS TO BE STRONG ENOUGH
Model of service
Strategic planning & alignment
Alternate sourcing
Scenario planning
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Monday, September 30, 13
IS THERE ONE RIGHT COURSE?
Gatekeepersole access to information productsresearcher delivers results to clients
Intermediaryclients have some access after traininghigher level reference & research
Facilitatorembedded in business teamvisible at business level
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Monday, September 30, 13
NAVIGATING THE COURSE
Develop internal vision statement
Refine with stakeholder involvement
Create & Implement 3600 view of information needs
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Monday, September 30, 13
TIME TO ALTER COURSE?
IS depth of experience
Position yourself to drive decisions
Be prepared to participate if not lead
If yes, then:what?when?where?how?
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MAKE
BUY
OUTSOURCEINSOURCE
VALUE COST
Monday, September 30, 13
WHAT IF YOU CAN’T SEE AROUND THE NEXT BEND?
Future is volatile
Analyze underlying assumptions
Identify key questions
Recognize forces driving change
Ongoing SWOT analysis
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Monday, September 30, 13
ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS
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• What could happen?
• When might it happen?
• Why might it happen?
• What can I do to make it happen?
• What can I do to stop it happening?
• Where will I be if it happens? • What did we expect?
• In retrospect, was it the right thing?
• Is the outcome in our control?
• If not, what needs to change?
Monday, September 30, 13
KEY TAKEAWAYS
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Monday, September 30, 13
SUSTAINABILITY: LONG TERM
Competencies
Learning + Continuing Education = Employment
Data gathering
Context + Predictability = Opportunity
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Monday, September 30, 13
SUSTAINABILITY: ON A DAILY BASIS
Support organization’s competitive edgeunderstand itparticipate in it
Cannot be all things to all peoplefocus resources to add greatest value
Strategic planning & alignment sets boundaries
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Monday, September 30, 13
BACK TO DRY GROUND
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“The future’s not set. There’s no fate but what we make for ourselves.”
Monday, September 30, 13
MONDAY MORNING
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• Take organization’s pulse
• Refuse status quo
• Be a thought leader
• Be pragmatic
• Ask “what if?”
• Take risks
Monday, September 30, 13
SHAMELESS PLUG
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Available today or via Amazon.com
Also available via the publisher with
discount coupon
Monday, September 30, 13
THANK YOU
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Monday, September 30, 13
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