OITF Final Report: Index to Appendix G

MIT Libraries Task Force on Organizational Issues Final Report
Appendix G

Organizational Issues Anonymous Web Form
July 7 - July 23, 1998

The Questions
Response Statistics
Notes on this Appendix

The form enabled staff to respond to any or all of the following questions:

1. Should the MIT Libraries create functional groups so that, for example, all reference staff, or all circulation staff, work together as a team?

2. Is there a better way to coordinate all or some of the public service units in Building 14? (These include Science, Humanities, Hayden Circulation, Hayden Basement, the Reserve Book Room, the Music Library, Archives, and Document Services.) For example, would the management of public space in Building 14 be improved by having one person responsible?
3. What one thing would you change about the MIT Libraries?

4. What is the single greatest impediment to getting your job done?

5. What organizational changes might allow us to better communicate with our various user groups?

6. In what ways does the current structure fail to provide adequate links or communication between and among public services, technical services, systems and the library administration? How might the situation be improved?

7. Are there any services or operations that should be streamlined or eliminated?

8. What would you describe as the most striking characteristic of MIT Library culture? Is there something about the culture of the MIT Libraries (as opposed to the official structure) that you would like to see the Task Force address?

9. What alternative structure or organizational model might enable us to provide better service and make more efficient use of staff?

10. Other comments (for example, what other organizational issues should we be discussing?):

Statistical Analysis of Organizational Issues Anonymous Web Form Responses

We received 35 responses to this web form, representing up to 25.93% of Public Services staff (please note that the web form was available to all MIT Libraries Staff). In addition, two e-mail messages were sent to OITF's e-mail list in response to the ten questions listed on the web form. These two responses have been folded into the results presented in this appendix.
Taken together, these 37 responses represent the views of 27.41% of Public Services staff (again, if responses came only from PS staff).

Questions in Order of Frequency of Responses

Question One (functional teams):	31
Question Four (greatest impediment):	31
Question Three (one thing I'd change):	29
Question Two (Building 14):	24
Question Eight (MIT Libraries culture):	26
Question Six (intra-library communication):	23
Question Nine (alternative structure):	22
Question Seven (streamline/eliminate):	21
Question Five (patron communication):	20
Question Ten (other organizational issues):	16

Notes on Appendix G

Responses are categorized by question.
In cases where the respondent has referred to his or her answer to one question in the response to another question (e.g. "See question #3"), the answer referred to is provided in square brackets.
All names of respondents have been omitted. Responses may not be presented in chronological order.

1 (functional teams) || 2 (Building 14) || 3 (one thing I'd change) || 4 (greatest impediment) || 5 (patron communication)
6 (intra-library communication) || 7 (streamline/eliminate) || 8 (MIT Libraries culture)
9 (alternative structure) || 10 (other organizational issues)

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MIT Libraries Task Force on Organizational Issues Final Report Appendix G

Statistical Analysis of Organizational Issues Anonymous Web Form Responses

Notes on Appendix G

MIT Libraries Task Force on Organizational Issues Final Report
Appendix G