Improved Communications

Working Group: Lura Joseph, William Maher, Scott Walter, and David Ward

Communication between the EC and the faculty

Have been improved communications, especially through use of the EC web site

Vs.EC unresponsive and does not

adequately consider both sides of issues

Concerns: not sufficiently detailed, timely, or informative

Communication between the EC and the faculty

Suggestions and Requests: more direct communication from EC

members more opportunities to their opinions

considered as part of EC discussions more time to provide feedback eliminate short deadlines that suggest that

faculty input was perfunctory acknowledge feedback when it has been

received.

Communication between administration & faculty

Anecdotal insights only. Ranging from satisfied to: one-sided & echo chamber Satisified: LIBNEWS, State of Library, Faculty

Meetings Need to generate more debate at faculty

meetings Administrative Council structure not always

most efficient way of communicating to units. Divergence on whether should make EC more

representative based on Divisions, but regardless, need for improving communications between EC and divisions

Communication between administration & faculty (contd.)

Sense that there is a timidity among faculty, or even self-censorship

This concern came from untenured, senior faculty, and some with administrative responsibility

Must work to set fears at rest perhaps through “point|counterpoint” presentations.

Communication within the faculty

E-mail, LIBNEWS-L, and LIBFAC-L useful for sharing, but not as discussion forums

Some concern re “dysfunctional” communication, e.g., gossip

More concern re general lack of real discussion of substantive issues in public forums, disagreements should be possible without concern for repercussions

Variance among divisions in terms of extent of discussion and exchange

Recommendations: Communication

between EC & faculty

Continue to improve by:Post EC agenda and documents on the website

sooner; provide a mechanism for feedback (e.g. wiki, email, etc.) on agenda items prior to EC meetings;

Email EC minutes to LIBFAC-L or announce posting of minutes via RSS feed

Provide mechanism to suggest EC agenda items

Post EC minutes sooner; provide more details

Recommendations: Communication between EC & faculty (contd.)

Anonymous feedback form on the EC website similar to the NSM website

Set a deadline for all calls for feedbackAcknowledge all feedback received from

faculty (OTRS-like system?) Have one open EC meeting per semester*Schedule a timed discussion time for

agenda topics before some EC meetingsHave an EC member visit each division at

least once a semester

Recommendations: Communication between EC & faculty (contd.)

Provide time at faculty meetings for a more robust discussion on EC’s topics

Provide an opportunity for suggesting possible EC agenda items

Discuss upcoming EC agenda items at faculty meetings

Recommendations: communication

between administration & faculty

Achieve greater inclusiveness of faculty in determining strategic directions

University Librarian should meet regularly with each Division

Increase day-to-day, two-way communication between administration and faculty

Associate Librarians should develop more regular communication practices

Recommendations: communication between administration & faculty (contd.)

The minutes and agenda of some of the key groups need to be distributed by e-mailing links, including for: Budget Group, Services Advisory Committee, Executive Committee, and Administrative Council

Administration should issue more focused communications that clearly lay out what decisions have been made, why, and with what consultation

Recommendations for improved communications within the faculty

Clarify understanding of shared governance, its process, and extent

Provide guidelines for faculty meeting procedure and etiquette to encourage participation

Attempt to change the organizational culture to encourage debate, discussion, and participation

Create one online, library-wide bulletin board which can be constantly updated by faculty

Recommendations for improved communications within faculty (contd.)

Create more opportunities for casual interactions.

Provide more means of across-unit/across-division communication re whole Library

Reduce the amount of unexplained acronyms in e-mails and documents.

Provide training, perhaps by outside specialists, on effective communication

Make more effective use of technology and build people skills