Library Pathways: Organizing for Change

As you can tell from the many exciting initiatives and resources discussed in the rest of this newsletter, Cowles Library maintains a rapidly changing environment. Staying abreast of change while organizing for service is a major challenge. Therefore, almost a year ago, the Library’s faculty, staff, and Dean Henshaw established a new organizational structure that we call “Pathways.”

The chief characteristics of the process insure that every faculty and staff person is assigned to a Pathways group, that individual performance goals are set based on the overall goals of the group and that the composition of the groups are reviewed every year, to shift personnel to new projects as organizational needs change.

How does this impact users? Many of the innovations you read about here (or elsewhere) began as Pathways activities. For example: The designation of Cowles Library as the Drake University Archives began as a Pathways request. Facilities upgrades (including the 24-hour area) were planned by the Facilities Steering Committee, the archetype for Pathways groups.

Going forward, users will continue to see benefits from the Pathways process. Future priorities include enhancing our collections through collaboration and close management; detailed study of the user experience; and ongoing improvements to services and the facility.

We will ensure that the patrons receive the best in academic library services, facilities, and collections. We shape the Pathways approach addresses our internal organizational dynamics so that our faculty, staff and student workers are able to address the challenges of a rapid change while delivering the services and support that Drake needs.