Streamlining Library Services: What We Do, How Much Time It Takes, What It Costs, and How We Can Do It Better (3rd ed.)

Citation

Calvert, P. (2009), "Streamlining Library Services: What We Do, How Much Time It Takes, What It Costs, and How We Can Do It Better (3rd ed.)", The Electronic Library, Vol. 27 No. 1, pp. 188-189. https://doi.org/10.1108/02640470910934876

This book is crammed full of practical tools and techniques for improving the cost‐efficiency of library services. It avoids management buzz words and fashionable trends. It deals with all sorts of library activities including the often forgotten functions of inter‐library loan, equipment maintenance, and even shelving. So – all in all this is a very unusual book!

The focus of the book is the use of practical work flow techniques to examine what libraries are doing, how they are doing it and how much time it requires. Based on the data produced, this results in managers having options for changing what is being done, or even abandoning the activity. The approach used by Dougherty comes very close to Taylor's scientific management. A century old now, Taylorism went out of fashion in the 1930s only to be revived again by Deming, the father of total quality management.

The author thinks that almost any activity in a library can be analysed with a view to doing it better. He is not beguiled by technology, and as a warning that readers of this journal should heed says that you cannot automate inefficiency out of a system. There is a lengthy list of activities that can be analysed in Section Two.

First, identify the problem, he says, and the methods he suggests for this vary from the “soft” methods such as focus groups and brainstorming, though Nominal Group Technique, to the use of Pareto and fishbone charts.

Then, in the core of the book, he explains in some detail the use of a wide variety of techniques, mostly for work flow analysis: block diagrams, check sheets, flow process charts, work‐flow diagrams, flow charts, through‐put analysis, self‐administered diary studies, work sampling, and direct time studies. All the techniques are described in some detail, with numerous figures. There are case studies with practical examples. Post‐analysis activities, such as data analysis, and reporting methods, are not forgotten.

Dougherty, a librarian with a truly outstanding curriculum vitae, is nothing if not persistent. It is hard to credit that the first edition of this title appeared as long ago as 1966, with the second edition published in 1982. That is evidence of his belief in the merit of what he writes, and our willingness to buy copies of the book. It has a thorough index. This book is very good value for money and I recommend it to all librarians.