Program
When challenged to create an organizational chart for your library that was patron -- and not staff -- focused, it is unlikely we would come up with the cumbersome, siloed org charts we are used to. The Hillsboro (OR) Public Library did away with traditional library departments, replacing Circulation, Reference, and Technical Services with four quadrants -- Innovate, Cultivate, Explore, and Connect -- that speak to the experiences we want patrons to have in the library. How did we do it? By learning from the self-management, or holacracy, movement, and implementing a new structure that prioritized supporting staff skills and expertise, allowed for significant cross-training, and empowered staff to manage their own time and participate in and lead organizational projects.
In this session, we will share information about self-management, share our resources (including our Quality Service Standards and our team and work circle structure), and lead participants through hands-on activities, including visual mapping, matrix-based allocation, and a "World Cafe" style brainstorming session to get participants thinking about how their organizational structure could be more patron-focused. We'll discuss our challenges, address how this might work in an unionized environment, and share tips on the importance of recruitment and hiring in sustaining this type of change.
ALA Unit/Subunit: LLAMA
Meeting Type: Program
Cost: Included with full conference registration.
Open/Closed: Open
Stephanie Chase
Director
Hillsboro Public Library
Hillary Ostlund
Library Manager, Cultivate
Hillsboro Public LIbrary