The keys to successful change management for serials

Recent debate among librarians focuses on how the acquisition and management of electronic resources can be incorporated into traditional technical services workflows. From the perspective of serials acquisition, this may mean many changes and new responsibilities. But the degree of success in such undertakings depends foremost on whether or not an organization can reconcile new expectations and new responsibilities with the traditional organizational culture and structure. Serials departments, serials librarians, and serials staff are often on the font lines of dealing with the changes that new technologies, new work processes, and new organizational relationships can bring. In order to make the most of these changes with respect to serials acquisition and management, the author proposes four key areas that any library should examine before contemplating change: (1) The information and serials environment, (2) organizational structure and culture, (3) workflow analysis and staff resources, and (4) the implementation and use of technology.