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Setting goals for change in the information age: Approaches of academic library directors in the USA

Zhixian Yi (School of Information Studies, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, Australia)

Library Management

ISSN: 0143-5124

Article publication date: 11 January 2013

2074

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine how academic library directors set goals for change in the information age and the factors influencing the approaches used.

Design/methodology/approach

Bolman and Deal's reframing change model provided the foundation for this research. An online survey was sent to 1,010 academic library directors in the USA. The response rate was 59 percent. The qualitative data were analysed using content analysis. The collected quantitative and qualitative data were analysed using descriptive (frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviations) and inferential statistics (binary and multinomial logistic regressions).

Findings

Most directors used multiple approaches to set goals for change. The structural and human resource approaches were the most frequent single approaches. Regression analysis confirmed that demographics, human capital, and library variables played significant roles in setting goals for change.

Research limitations/implications

Data in this study were collected from directors in libraries of doctoral granting, master‐granting, and baccalaureate‐only colleges and universities. Accordingly, the results of the study might not be generalized to college and university libraries outside this classification.

Practical implications

This paper provides a useful overview of the approaches used to set goals for change and the factors influencing the approaches used.

Originality/value

Directors may use the results to reflect on different options of the strategies for setting goals for change in the information age and balance the weight of the factors' influences. The results may also help librarians better understand various approaches to setting goals for change in the information age.

Keywords

Citation

Yi, Z. (2013), "Setting goals for change in the information age: Approaches of academic library directors in the USA", Library Management, Vol. 34 No. 1/2, pp. 5-19. https://doi.org/10.1108/01435121311298234

Publisher

:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2013, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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