Great Expectations: Leading Libraries Through the Minefield of Continuous Change

If there is one thing all library administrators and managers can be sure of, it is that our space, our collections, our systems and our leadership will be impacted by change. Managing that change is critical if managers, directors, deans in our libraries will be able to continue to meet the needs of our communities with different tools and resources. This lively discussion will feature brief presentations about how libraries at Carnegie Mellon University and at Kresge Business Administration Library (University of Michigan) have changed in recent history. The presenters will include what worked well and what worked not as well at the two institutions. They will focus on two areas. First, Denise Novak will explore change through five key aspects: nature, process, role, culture and staff participation of change. Second, Corey Seeman will explore change as defined by six key terms: inevitability, rapidity, flexibility, hospitality, accountability, and empathy. Participants at the meeting will be invited to share how change is managed at their institutions and what issues might be present or on the horizon.