Are you perpetually surrounded by carts and boxes of materials awaiting cataloging and processing? Have you ever been tempted to construct and hide inside a cardboard fort to avoid the backlog? Have you ever dreamed of working remotely? Are your customers knocking down the doors to get their hands on new releases? If this sounds familiar, you need our session! Our session aims to provide Catalogers and other Technical Services staff with the foundation and infrastructure to rethink and revolutionize their workflows. This session will focus heavily on the concept of Workslip Cataloging, with a splash of LEAN for good measure. We will highlight our current workflow and staff layout, and share our trials and failures, as well as best practices developed along the way. Sno-Isle Libraries are unique in our efficient workflow of moving materials from the selection and ordering stages all the way through processing and cataloging, and out to our customers. We have utilized LEAN principles and Workslip Cataloging to reorganize and realign all of Circulation and Collection Services staff and their duties in order to get new materials into the hands of customers within days of delivery, rather than weeks or months. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated our shift to Workslip Cataloging when taking materials home was not an option. Applying LEAN principles and adapting quickly during that difficult time helped us succeed. Change does not have to be sudden, nor overwhelming-- start with small improvements, move away from traditional practices, stay open to new ideas, and consider Workslip Cataloging as your next step toward efficiency! Join us to discover practical strategies that will help you clear the backlog, speed up delivery, and delight your customers! Topics/Sample Outline: LEAN (15 mins) Customer Service Change Management Staff and Duty Realignment Continuous Process Improvement (or "Question and Critique EVERYTHING!") Ergonomics and Equipment Enhancement Workflow Streams: Shelf-Ready, Pretty Darn Quick (PDQ), and nonPDQ (lightly or unprocessed materials) Workslip Cataloging (30 mins) Value to Staff and Customers Remote vs. In-Person Work Surrogate Cataloging Process & Resources Workslip Layout and Data Call Number Redesign and Assignment Process Reports & Other Support Tools Handling Processing & Cataloging Errors Leveraging Community Library Staff Processing and Delete Permission and Training What's ahead? (5 mins) Leveraging Vendor Pre-Processing and Enriched EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) to increase SR and PDQ Materials, while reducing nonPDQ Zebra Printer Pilot with Community Library Processors Q & A (10-15 mins) This session is appropriate for public libraries and Circulation/Technical Services staff of any size or budget utilizing any integrated library system. Attendees will leave armed with the tools, tips, resources, and confidence needed to implement their own LEAN and Workslip Cataloging revolution at their libraries!
