Transforming the academic library: creating an organizational culture that fosters staff success [article]

Culture plays a critical role in creating a work environment where employees are committed and contribute to the success of the organization. A research study assessed organizational culture in an academic library to identify current and preferred organizational cultures. Specific actions to implement culture change, achieve organizational transformation, and facilitate a positive, creative and rewarding working environment are proposed

Assessing organizational culture: moving towards organizational change and renewal [article]

Published in Building Effective, Sustainable, Practical Assessment: Proceedings of the 2006 ARL Library Assessment Conference, Charlottesville, Virgini

Developing a community of practice: report on a survey to determine the scholarly communication landscape in western Canada

The Council of Prairie and Pacific University Libraries (COPPUL) Scholarly Communications Working Group (SCWG) surveyed COPPUL member libraries with a short questionnaire in November 2012. The stated purpose of the survey was to inform both the educational efforts of COPPUL with regard to scholarly communications, as well as the agenda of a proposed meeting of scholarly communication practitioners in COPPUL libraries. This paper discusses the results in the context of the formation of a Community of Practice (CoP) since conducting the survey. The paper concludes that a CoP has not yet formed; however, it presents the challenges with the formation of the CoP, identifies some of the actions taken so far, and makes recommendations for future direction for continuing to develop the CoP among COPPUL institutions.N

Screening in the community to reduce fractures in older women (SCOOP): a randomised controlled trial

Background Despite effective assessment methods and medications targeting osteoporosis and related fractures, screening for fracture risk is not currently advocated in the UK. We tested whether a community-based screening intervention could reduce fractures in older women. Methods We did a two-arm randomised controlled trial in women aged 70–85 years to compare a screening programme using the Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX) with usual management. Women were recruited from 100 general practitioner (GP) practices in seven regions of the UK: Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester, Norwich, Sheffield, Southampton, and York. We excluded women who were currently on prescription anti-osteoporotic drugs and any individuals deemed to be unsuitable to enter a research study (eg, known dementia, terminally ill, or recently bereaved). The primary outcome was the proportion of individuals who had one or more osteoporosis-related fractures over a 5-year period. In the screening group, treatment was recommended in women identified to be at high risk of hip fracture, according to the FRAX 10-year hip fracture probability. Prespecified secondary outcomes were the proportions of participants who had at least one hip fracture, any clinical fracture, or mortality; and the effect of screening on anxiety and health-related quality of life. This trial is registered with the International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial registry, number ISRCTN 55814835. Findings 12 483 eligible women were identified and participated in the trial, and 6233 women randomly assigned to the screening group between April 15, 2008, and July 2, 2009. Treatment was recommended in 898 (14%) of 6233 women. Use of osteoporosis medication was higher at the end of year 1 in the screening group compared with controls (15% vs 4%), with uptake particularly high (78% at 6 months) in the screening high-risk subgroup. Screening did not reduce the primary outcome of incidence of all osteoporosis-related fractures (hazard ratio [HR] 0·94, 95% CI 0·85–1·03, p=0·178), nor the overall incidence of all clinical fractures (0·94, 0·86–1·03, p=0·183), but screening reduced the incidence of hip fractures (0·72, 0·59–0·89, p=0·002). There was no evidence of differences in mortality, anxiety levels, or quality of life. Interpretation Systematic, community-based screening programme of fracture risk in older women in the UK is feasible, and could be effective in reducing hip fractures. Funding Arthritis Research UK and Medical Research Council

Mining the Cultural Evidence: Situating Planning and Leadership within the Academic

Objective – This study investigated organizational culture in two academic librariesin order to propose culturally responsive strategies for developing planning andleadership initiatives. A case study conducted at the University of SaskatchewanLibrary (Shepstone & Currie, 2008) was replicated at two other Canadian academiclibraries to generate some comparative data on organizational culture in Canadianacademic libraries.Methods – The Competing Values Framework (Cameron & Quinn, 1999, 2006)provided the theoretical framework and the methodology for diagnosing andunderstanding organizational culture. The Organizational Culture AssessmentInstrument (OCAI) was administered by questionnaire to all library staff at MountRoyal University and Carleton University libraries.Results – Scores on the OCAI were used to graphically plot and describe the currentand preferred culture profiles for each library. We compared the cultures at the threelibraries and proposed strategies for initiating planning and developing leadershipthat were appropriate for the preferred cultures.Conclusions – This research demonstrates that academic library culture can be diagnosed, understood, and changed in order to enhance organizational performance. Examining organizational culture provides evidence to guide strategy development, priority setting and planning, and the development of key leadership abilities and skills. Creating culturally appropriate support mechanisms, opportunities for learning and growth, and a clear plan of action for change and improvement are critical

"Tourner en commun" : La fusion de Canadiana.org avec le Réseau canadien de documentation pour la recherche/Canadian Research Knowledge Network

This article explores the background and process that led to the merger of the Canadian Research Knowledge Network / Réseau canadien de documentation pour la recherche and Canadiana.org in 2018.  Seizing a moment of opportunity in a rapidly shifting digital research landscape, the two organizations “spun in” to each other in order to leverage their complementary mandates and overlapping memberships.  The new merged organization is now better positioned to meet the challenges of collaborative work in research and Canadian heritage content acquisition and access.Cet article présente le contexte et le processus qui ont mené à la fusion du Réseau canadien de documentation pour la recherche/Canadian Research Knowledge Network et de Canadiana.org. Saisissant une opportunité dans un paysage de recherche numérique en pleine mutation, les deux organisations se sont rapprochées afin de tirer parti de leurs mandats complémentaires et du chevauchement de leurs membres. La nouvelle organisation fusionnée est maintenant mieux placée pour relever les défis du travail collaboratif en matière de recherche ainsi qu’en matière d’accès et d’acquisition de contenu du patrimoine canadien

“Spinning In”: The Merger of Canadiana.org with the Canadian Research Knowledge Network / Réseau canadien de documentation pour la recherche

This article explores the background and process that led to the merger of the Canadian Research Knowledge Network / Réseau canadien de documentation pour la recherche and Canadiana.org in 2018.  Seizing a moment of opportunity in a rapidly shifting digital research landscape, the two organizations “spun in” to each other in order to leverage their complementary mandates and overlapping memberships.  The new merged organization is now better positioned to meet the challenges of collaborative work in research and Canadian heritage content acquisition and access.Cet article présente le contexte et le processus qui ont mené à la fusion du Réseau canadien de documentation pour la recherche/Canadian Research Knowledge Network et de Canadiana.org. Saisissant une opportunité dans un paysage de recherche numérique en pleine mutation, les deux organisations se sont rapprochées afin de tirer parti de leurs mandats complémentaires et du chevauchement de leurs membres. La nouvelle organisation fusionnée est maintenant mieux placée pour relever les défis du travail collaboratif en matière de recherche ainsi qu’en matière d’accès et d’acquisition de contenu du patrimoine canadien

Transforming the academic library: creating an organizational culture that fosters staff success [presentation]

CACUL peer reviewed research paper presented at the CLA annual conference, St. John's Newfoundland, May 26, 200

Which frail older people are dehydrated? The UK DRIE study

Background: Water-loss dehydration in older people is associated with increased mortality and disability. We aimed to assess the prevalence of dehydration in older people living in UK long-term care, and associated cognitive, functional and health characteristics.  Methods: The Dehydration Recognition In our Elders (DRIE) cohort study included people ≥65 years living in long-term care without heart or renal failure. In a cross-sectional baseline analysis we assessed serum osmolality, previously suggested dehydration risk factors, general health, markers of continence, cognitive and functional health, nutrition status and medications. Univariate linear regression was used to assess relationships between participant characteristics and serum osmolality, then associated characteristics entered into stepwise backwards multivariate linear regression.   Results: DRIE included 188 residents (mean age 86 years, 66% women) of whom 20% were dehydrated (serum osmolality >300mOsm/kg). Linear and logistic regression suggested that renal, cognitive and diabetic status were consistently associated with serum osmolality and odds of dehydration, while potassium-sparing diuretics, sex, number of recent health contacts, and bladder incontinence were sometimes associated. Thirst was not associated with hydration status.  Conclusions: DRIE found high prevalence of dehydration in older people living in UK long-term care, reinforcing the proposed association between cognitive and renal function and hydration. Dehydration is associated with increased mortality and disability in older people, but trials to assess effects of interventions to support healthy fluid intakes in older people living in residential care are needed to enable us to formally assess causal direction and any health benefits of increasing fluid intakes