Friday, October 22, 1999
                                        ImpActs XII


A New Model for Decision-Making

Imps Hold Second Brown Bag Lunch

Librarians Are Surveyed on Specializations

ISP Resource Group Update


A New Model for Decision-Making

Because so much of the final phase of Implementation will be handed-off to
various committees for the operational phase, Deborah Helman and Michael
Leininger met with the Public Services Management Committee to begin a
conversation about the new working methods espoused by imps, the need to
support these methods, and the need for finding a new way to reach
decisions. The complexity of 'broadened decision-making' within a retained
hierarchical structure requires a new paradigm for decisions, from
'the power to decide' to 'the responsibility for a decision.' IMPS has
devised a 'Systems Model for Decision-making.' This was handed out to
members of PSMC and will be reviewed at their next meeting. 


October Brown Bag Lunch

About 6 library staff members gathered at the Imps monthly brown bag lunch
to chat about 'new ways of working'.  Michael Leininger and Sarah Shreeves
spoke about how the implementation process was trying to address many of the
comments and critiques that came from the Redefinition process.  The
conversation ranged from project management training to effective meeting
skills to new paradigms of decision making.  Our next brown bag will be held
in November.


Librarians Are Surveyed on Specializations

One of the recommendations to come from the Redefinition process was that
librarians choose from collections, reference and instruction one area of
primary responsibility and one secondary area.  The hope was that such a
model would allow librarians and their supervisors to set priorities and to
develop more focused job descriptions.  In response to feedback from
librarians that this model has not had the desired effects, a survey has
been sent to all public services librarians seeking information about their
expectations for the model, whether reality matched those expectations, and
recommendations for changes to the model.  Those of you who received the
survey, please respond with your comments by November 1.  If you desire
anonymity with your response, a web address for doing so was included in the
message.


ISP Resource Group update

The ISPRG has now visited both Dewey and Rotch libraries, reviewed what data
elements the ISP pilots in those libraries collected from users and staff,
and is now in the process of reading that material. The group is about to
begin the evaluation of the pilots around a series of issues and impacts
such as training, effects on staff, effects on users, and technology
concerns.  3rd Barton vendor demos these past few weeks have interrupted the
work of the group, making it difficult for them to find a time to meet but
the still plan to have their final report, including recommendations for and
models of implementing an ISP, ready on January 14.


Questions, thoughts, and ramblings about implementation are welcome.  Please
contact us at imps@mit.edu or through our web comments form at
http://libstaff.mit.edu/imps/submit.html.