Reengineering Library Services
In the fall of 1997, the Libraries formed two task forces in response to the campus' Continuous Quality Improvement team report on undergraduate library services. One of the task forces, the Services Task Force, met intensively for three months and its recommendations were made in early 1998. Soon thereafter, initial steps were taken to begin implementation of its two key, interrelated recommendations. These included the establishment of a new service model and the reorganization of librarians into three discipline-based subject teams. The new service model, called Service Plus, represents a philosophical approach to meet the needs of new users as well as a physical environment that facilitates putting this philosophy into action. Service Plus is a new way of doing business for all of the campus libraries that seeks to break down the barriers between users and the information they need, minimizing referrals and emphasizing user education. The three discipline-based subject teams-Arts and Humanities, Social Sciences and Allied Professions, and Science and Technology-provide reference services, user education, and collection management for their assigned subject areas as well as contribute to the delivery of general reference services. The goal is to provide better support, in a more focused and intensive manner, of the curricular and research needs of the university.
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