(1)-----------------------------------------
Date: Mon, 15 Jan 2007 09:41:59 -0500
From: Leighann Ayers (U. of Michigan) <layers_at_umich.edu>
Subject: RE - Technical services space renovation
We're in the process of restructuring technical services
and all work flow which means we're moving staff to the new units.
However, I wouldn't say that we're truly renovating space rather
reorganizing space within the current limitations. TS staff will
continue to be on three separate floors. I'm not sure that what we're
doing will be of help to you.
Leighann
______________
Leighann Ayers
Head, Acquisitions/Serials
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1205
(2)----------------------------------------------
Date: Tue, 16 Jan 2007 13:41:35 -0500
From: Deborah Curry (SUNY-Oswego) <dcurry_at_oswego.edu>
Subject: RE - Technical services space renovation
Please post responses to the list...we are looking at renovations also.
Deborah from SUNY Oswego.
(3)-------------------------------------------------
Date: Sun, 28 Jan 2007 15:24:07 -0500
From: Eleanor Cook (Appalachian State U.) <cookei_at_appstate.edu>
Subject: RE - Technical services space renovation
At Appalachian State University, we struggled with our cramped technical
services space for a
number of years prior to moving to a wonderful new building. That
experience helped us plan the
new space as well. However, here are a couple of things I think I've
learned from both planning situations:
1. Make your needs very, very clear and don't assume that they will be
heard. A couple of years ago we
began a modest physical reconfiguration project for our government
documents area designed so that we'd have
some flexibility and we did <not> want actual walls - we wanted fewer
walls. But that is not what we got. This
happened because once the written plans were submitted, no one followed
up and someone else decided to build
us walls. We never really knew why this happened, it just did. Stuff
like this happens all the time so be sure to have
someone with some clout on your side, following the progress of things
carefully. And don't be afraid to ask questions
if something doesn't seem right.
2. Always expect the unexpected. When we were getting ready to move
into our new building, after literally years
of careful and thoughtful planning, again, stressing the need for
<flexible> space, we were horrified to discover, once
the contractor was allowed to let us into the building prior to the
move, that the space we had designated for our
processing and preservation operation would not work because we were
moving wall-mounted cabinetry with us and
the walls we thought we would put these would not work. There were fire
alarms on the walls, placed so that the
cabinets would not fit. We had to do a quick rearrangement of two major
areas in order to accommodate these needs.
It eventually worked out, but this was the kind of thing that could have
been avoided if this detail had been made aware
to us earlier.
3. Depending on how extensive your renovation, you will be depending on
certain outside players to make it successful.
This includes your larger organization's financial office, outside
contractors (building, electrical, plumbing, etc.) your own
physical plant personnel, furniture vendors, and so on. Do NOT expect
your administrators to get all the details correct
and if they insist on managing your project for you, be sure to allow
some opportunity to communicate directly with the
companies that are going to be doing the work. Get someone who knows the
ins and outs of construction lingo to help
you "translate."
4. Involve all affected personnel: Even if all you are doing is
rearranging furniture and people with little in the way
of physical renovation, still take the time to include everyone
affected. The absolutely worst thing you can do is
physically move people without their involvement - this is one of the
most severe morale killers there is. It is
traumatic, cruel and needless. People will have to put up with excess
noise, dust and interruptions in order to
get things rearranged, but if they feel part of the process, it becomes
less onerous for everyone. Besides, the
people who do the work know best how things should be arranged and they
should have the chance to give
their ideas, which will probably make things go smoother.
There is a NASIG proceedings session from the 2000 conference in San
Diego that addresses workplace
renovations (and includes information about the situation I describe in
point #1). The citation is:
"Sink or Swim: Organizing Your Workplace is a Lifesaver." Workshop
leaders were John Blosser,
Philenese Slaughter and Allan Scherlen, and the workshop recorder was
Priscilla Mathews.
Published as the NASIG Proceedings (and available to members of
NASIG via their website (www.nasig.org) and also available as an issue
of _Serials Librarian_
v. 40, no. 1/2 and 3/4 (2001).
I hope these thoughts will have some use.
Sincerely,
Eleanor Cook
Serials Coordinator
Appalachian State University
Boone, NC 28608-2026
cookei_at_appstate.edu
828-262-2786
828-262-2773 fax
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Received on Sun Jan 28 2007 - 16:00:59 EST