ACRL News Issue (B) of College & Research Libraries


Septem ber 1987 /  455

INNOVATIONS

Creativity in an urban university library

B y  H a n n e lo r e  B . R a d e r

Director of Libraries 
Cleveland State University

I applaud Joanne Euster for initiating a C& RL 
News column on “Innovations.” Using creative ap­
proaches to problem -solving in an academ ic li­
brary setting is an idea whose tim e has come. W ith 
newly–developed technologies helping us to im ­
prove library work and services, innovative solu­
tions to problems are a must because traditional 
models are no longer effective.

Creative m anagers can guide their staffs tow ard 
a p ath of innovative problem-solving and prepare
them  for the risk-taking implied in that. Such m an­
agers must be able to assess traditional situations
w ith a view to the future and initiate appropriate
changes. They must become change agents w ithin
their library and role models for their staffs. They
must be able to seize opportunities at any given mo­
m ent and develop them  in innovative ways for the
express purpose of providing users w ith the best
and most effective library service. Creative m an­
agers will approach situations positively and will
be successful in taking advantage of opportunities
whenever they present themselves.

At Cleveland State University we are beginning
to approach problem-solving creatively. A new or­
ganizational structure of the library is being imple­
m ented which features a blending of services and a
softening of area demarcations in view of autom a­
tion. Major departm ents will be collection devel­
opm ent, processing, reference, and docum ent de­
livery w ith staff responsibility crossovers. Middle
m anagers will function in a participatory environ­
m ent which utilizes task forces and other action
groups to address problems and issues in creative
ways.

A new Office of L ibrary Studies and Research is
being established w ith an ambitious agenda. This
office will provide grant support for the library; 
bibliographic research support for grant-related
and special faculty projects; research help for the
cam pus developm ent office; statistical develop­
m ent for the library, evaluation studies of library

services and collections, and so on. It will be staffed 
by th e most experienced senior lib ra ry  faculty 
member.

New relationships and services are being devel­
oped w ith the urban com m unity to help the cam ­
pus w ith recruitm ent and retention of minorities. 
Library internship for high school students and an 
innovative reference assistant program  are but the 
beginnings of th a t endeavor. The library will play 

 a more active role in supporting such campus con­
cerns.

 W e are taking some risks as we are em barking 
 upon new endeavors. A contract w ith G eneral 
 Electric has just been signed to provide library ser­
 vices for th e ir research facility. A lthough this 

promises to be an exciting venture for both parties 
 involved, many details will need to be worked out 
 and adjustments will need to be made during the 

first year.
 Overall, it seems th a t our agenda for innovative 
 services and projects is growing at an accelerated 

pace. New opportunities are presenting themselves 
 faster than we are able to deal w ith th em . Once an 

organization decides to “go creative” and people 
understand w hat th at means, there are virtually no 

 limits for growth and success.

Popular culture papers sought
 

T he P o p u lar C u ltu re Association w ill be 
 meeting in New Orleans, March 23-26, 1988. 
 Scholars w ith an interest in popular culture 

m eet and share common interests. Anyone who 
 is interested in presenting a paper on a topic re­
 lated to popular culture and libraries should 

w rite by November 15, 1987, to: B arbara B. 
 M oran, School of Library Science, University 
 of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, 

NC 27514.