TQM and Academic
Libraries
A Bibliography by
Jerry Seay
College of Charleston, Robert Scott Small Library
October, 1997
Bibliography
TQM: The Director's Perspective
Author: Gapen, D. Kaye et al.
http://thorplus.lib.purdue.edu/xl21/resources/articles/143.html
Explores the value of Total Quality Management (TQM) for
libraries as a management
methodology to complement the changing needs of research
libraries in light of changing
information technology. The planning process for a new academic
library which used many
TQM elements is described.
TQM: Quality Improvement in New Clothes.
Author: Riggs, Donald E.
http://thorplus.lib.purdue.edu/xl21/resources/articles/142.html
Academic libraries, pursuing excellence in their products and
services, are a natural entity for
total quality management (TQM). Basic TQM principles include
making decisions based on
objective data, respecting people and their ideas, empowering all
library staff, focusing on the
process, and doing the job correctly the first time, all to
benefit the library user. (three
references)
The use of total quality management (TQM) in libraries
and information services in Australia and overseas
Author: Michael Cooper
http://www.alia.org.au/alia/alj/45.2/tqm.html
Total Quality Management (TQM) is a management philosophy which
is driven by customer needs and a commitment to continual quality
improvement. A system which focuses on processes as much as
products, key components of its methodology include customer
input, staff participation and continual measurement of its
success. This essay summarises where TQM has been successfully
used in libraries and information services, and includes an
outline of its implementation in selected case studies from
overseas and Australia.
Solving Reshelving Backlogs in a University Library: A
Case Study Using an Interactive Problem-Solving Technique with a
TQM Application.
Author: Sheather, Graeme; Nolan, Tony.
http://thorplus.lib.purdue.edu/xl21/resources/articles/99.html
Describes the application of the General Purpose Utility
Problem-Solving technique that was developed at the University of
Technology, Sydney, to the problem experienced by a satellite
university campus library where there were periodic shelving
backlogs. Highlights include cluster methods, total quality
management applications, and the use of matrices and dendograms.
Organizational Development and TQM: The Harvard
College Library's Experience.
Author: Clack, Mary Elizabeth.
http://thorplus.lib.purdue.edu/xl21/resources/articles/68.html
Summarizes the experience of the Harvard College Library
(Massachusetts) with Total Quality Management (TQM) and its plans
for a pilot implementation and training process. The strength of
the approach is shown to lie in the broadly based membership of
the steering committee, commitment to group process, and ongoing
communication efforts with staff.
Total Quality Management in Academic
Libraries: Initial Implementation Efforts
Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on TQM and
Academic Libraries
Author: Laura Rounds and Michael Matthews,
editors
http://www.arl.org/pubscat/pubs/tqm.html
A collection of the papers from "Total Quality Management in
Academic Libraries: Initial Implementation Efforts" held
April
20-22, 1994 in Washington, DC. Presentations and papers focus on
TQM in higher education; using TQM management and
planning tools; benchmarking; initiating and implementing a TQM
program; building a continuous improvement climate; and
facilitation skills for teams.
Benchmarking, Total Quality Management,
and Libraries.
Author: Shaughnessy, Thomas W.
http://thorplus.lib.purdue.edu/xl21/resources/articles/11.html
Discussion of the use of Total Quality
Management (TQM) in higher education and academic libraries
focuses on the identification, collection, and use of reliable
data. Methods for measuring quality, including benchmarking, are
described; performance measures are considered; and benchmarking
techniques are examined. (11 references)
Source: Library Administration &
Management. v7 n1 p7-12 Win 1993.
Web Links
Continuous Quality Improvement at
Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indian
http://thorplus.lib.purdue.edu/xl21/index.html
TQM: Samford University Library
http://davisref.samford.edu/tqm/tqm.htm
Rutgers University Program for Organizational Quality
and Communication Improvement
http://www.scils.rutgers.edu/qci/qci.html