Restructuring the university library: A North American perspective

As a result of rapid environmental changes, organisations of all types are rethinking their organisational structures in an attempt to provide greater effectiveness and efficiency. A few years ago business process re-engineer ing (BPR) was considered the most promising way to restructure an organisat ion, but has become less popular as shortcomings associated with the proces s have become evident. Today, greater emphasis is being placed upon modifyi ng the actual organisational structure. Most restructured organisations hav e moved away from rigid hierarchies to flatter, more flexible structures, M any of the same forces (including increased automation, changing informatio n needs and expectations of users; reduced budgets and the need for staff t o have more autonomy over their own work) that have precipitated the reshap ing of other organisations have also affected academic libraries. This pape r describes some of the factors leading to changes in the organisational st ructures of academic libraries and provides an overview of trends, excludin g convergence, discernible in North America. The paper includes suggestions for steps to be taken to facilitate successful reorganisations, and commen ts on possible future developments that might radically alter the organisat ional structures of academic libraries.