12: Administration

Planning, management, and evaluation of information services

The transformation of libraries is a much discussed topic today. Libraries, as bureaucracies, are often slow to change. Nevertheless, it is the responsibility of library directors to have vision and encourage librarians and staff to implement changes. One such director is Carla J. Stoffle, Dean of the University of Arizona Libraries and the Center for Creative Photography. An outline of her vision for the University of Arizona Libraries can be found here.

Ms. Stoffle's ideas have included clearing old journals and subscribing to the same material electronically. This has freed up room in the library for computers and study space, which is more valued by students than extensive hard copies of journals. Ms. Stoffle has also allowed coffee to be sold on the premises, noting that many students were forsaking the library for espresso and coffee houses off campus. Her ideas about technology resulted in the creation of the Integrated Learning Center, with several rooms full of computers and printers, complete with up-to-date software. The ILC also features wireless access for students, and wireless access is available all over campus now. Some of her ideas for the future include implementing more technology and making all library resources "desktop," meaning that they would be sent directly to users offices, dormitories or homes, and users would not need to come to the library for their materials at all.

While radical, Ms. Stoffle's ideas have transformed the university library from a storage facility to a useful tool for students. As more libraries embrace the idea of transformation and accept the public's increasing need for access to technology, the benefit to library patrons will increase.