What does it mean to be an agile library organization? We are still trying to figure it out. One thing we have learned during the transformative years of the Internet is that everything changes. However the core of library knowledge and skills remain the same:

We serve students, faculty and the public. We collect, describe and teach people how to use scholarly information. We disseminate research activities and results from our universities to the rest of the world.

Being an agile library organization is foremost about responding to, and even welcoming, change. Technology changes user behaviour and perception of service and the library needs to adapt to the new world.

We are in a unique position at the university where we get to walk side by side with students from the first trembling steps during their university introduction to graduation. We help researchers as they think about research topics and publish their results.

Our current three divisions reflect the nature of our operations;

Scholarly Communication offers services for the dissemination of research information, bibliometrics, university ranking and information literacy.

Discovery and Delivery is responsible for acquiring and describing the information resources needed by Chalmers students and researchers. They also maintain and develop the libraries on campus.

Support and Systems supports the library operations with systems development, accounting, project management, blended learning and develop the virtual presence of the library.

Being an agile library organization means we are constantly improving. How? By listening, observing and doing.

                 this is how we work

together Shared responsibility over individual responsibility. We trust each other and are confident in our skills. Transparency encourages collaboration. The role of management is to facilitate and remove obstacles.

agile We develop services of value for our users, not ourselves. Iterations enables us to plan, perform, evaluate and improve. Tools are chosen by the people who solve the problems.

forward We find out instead of debating or speculating.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The competencies at the library are evolving at every turn. We are constantly recruiting and developing our skills in scientometrics, user and customer experience, agile development and scholarly communication.

At the core of our discipline is the organization of knowledge. That core is expressed through our work with supplying Chalmers researchers and students with the information they need to conduct their research and studies. We acquire, asses, maintain and make sure information can be discovered and delivered to the users when they need it.

We gather and disseminate scholarly information from Chalmers University of Technology, making this unique information available to the public. Our teaching methods create an open flexible and attractive learning environment.

The current trend for academic libraries is to strengthen the universities’ scholarly communication, providing strategic insight and advice for university departments and management.

 

”The value of service is our top priority. By focusing on users, trying to understand their needs, we do not only deliver services that add value. We also surprise them with services they did not know existed, but love when they find.”

Daniel Forsman, Library Director

 

Chalmers Library participates in international and national networks. During times of change it is important to stay current and to share experiences. Our contribution to several conferences and working groups within the profession helps promote the development of libraries, universities and the society.