Redesigning Technical Services for the 21st Century: A Case Study from the University of Alabama Libraries

Abstract

The University of Alabama Libraries began the process of workflow analysis over a decade ago.  Primarily focused on the traditional technical services areas, this process has been iterative and has evolved from looking for efficiencies to a broader change in the culture and an acceptance of an ongoing process of improvement.  This article distills lessons learned from workflow analysis in the areas of acquisitions, electronic resources, and cataloging/metadata but also examines how these changes impacted the broader library and philosophies of collection development and management.