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Alma/Primo and the Pivot to Remote Technical Services�

Presented by 

Mary Beth Weber

and

Melissa De Fino 

Ex Libris Northeast User Group Conference

October 27, 2021

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Overview

  • Contingency plan 

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  • Eighteen months hybrid or fully remote

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  • Successes

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Universities with Remote Work Policies

The following have remote work policies in place or are conducting pilots.

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Pivot to Remote

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Our pivot to remote was precipitated by two things:

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  • A steady increase in the purchase of electronic and digital resources

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  • The availability of web and cloud-based tools to do our work

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Upside of Disruption

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  • Disruption as a vehicle for innovation

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  • Shift to remote work a natural pivot

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  • Vendors have successfully used remote work for years

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  • Instead of “why,” ask “why not?”

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Workflows that Can Effectively Function as Remote

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  • Copy cataloging
  • Some original cataloging
  • Loading and editing vendor supplied records
  • Digital projects
  • Database enhancement projects
  • Order and receipt of resources
  • Responding to problem tickets

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On-site Cataloging Workflow

  • Metadata from item in hand

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  • Search OCLC (online)

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  • Import record and enter data into Alma (cloud-based)

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  • Use RDA, ClassWeb, other sources (online)

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  • User accesses record through Primo

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Off-site Cataloging Workflow

  • Metadata from item in hand

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  • Search OCLC (online)

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  • Import record and enter data into Alma (cloud-based)

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  • Use RDA, ClassWeb, other sources (online)

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  • User accesses record through Primo

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Remotely cataloged, Alma

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Remotely cataloged, Primo

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Benefits of Remote Work

  • Increased job satisfaction

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  • Reduced stress levels

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  • Decreased absenteeism

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  • Greater impact and productivity

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  • Alleviate the impact of climate change

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Future Changes for Technical Services Work

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  • No longer relevant to see employees to know they’re working

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  • Hybrid, flexible, and remote schedules 

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  • Lockers for employees to pick up/drop off work

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Virtual Technical Services 

  • Virtual Technical Services: A Handbook

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  • Expected publication date of spring 2022.

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  • Extensive research, including an interview with international disaster planning expert Guy Robertson.

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  • Management, disaster planning, wellness and burnout research are some of the topics we cover. 

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Thank you!

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Questions?

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Mary Beth Weber mbfecko@libraries.rutgers.edu

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Melissa De Fino mdefino@libraries.rutgers.edu