Managing workflows in a complex and evolving environment is a challenge for technical services librarians. By taking advantage of technology, technical services librarians at the University of Houston Libraries currently develop and revise workflows using tools such as Google docs, Microsoft Outlook tasks, and Drupal-based forms. By embracing technology and harnessing the power of these tools, the UH librarians are able to successfully pair effective communication with a high-level of transparency. The Assistant Head of Acquisitions and the Electronic Resources Coordinator will talk about their experiences in creating workflows using a variety of products, as well as sharing their analysis of the limitations of each tool. Additionally, they will also share their experiences training technology-shy staff and workflow-resistant public services librarians on the newly developed workflows. Highlighted projects to be discussed will include a project to move print titles to online, a project to set up the online portion of print plus online titles, and a project to run three serials reviews in 2012. The UH librarians will lastly touch on how these programs have helped to improve communication and to create a better sense of appreciation between technical services departments as well as improving communication between technical services and public services.
