Motivate, Accommodate, Facilitate: Human resource management initiatives adopted by the University of Queensland Library'

Abstract Coping with reduced staffing numbers, growing customer service demands and constantly changing technology has placed great demands on staff at all levels. Library management at the University of Queensland has implemented programmes that address these issues, provide opportunities for staff to gain new skills and knowledge and help staff develop personal and professional approaches to deal with increasing complexity. A job rotation scheme, flexible working hours, improved induction, systematic ongoing staff development, management skills development, mentoring and shadowing schemes, staff involvement in planning and projects and a “Wellness program” are some of the initiatives implemented by the University of Queensland Library. Background The Library badges its services as the University of Queensland Cybrary, indicating its unique combination of real and virtual information resources, physical facilities and cyberspace and service delivery in person and via the internet. The Cybrary is the largest in the state of Queensland, with over two million items that meet the teaching, learning and research needs of the University. With over 33,000 students, 22% of whom are graduate and 18% international, 7 faculties, 32 schools and 5000 staff, the Cybrary services one of Australia’s leading universities. While the number of printed new book titles remained constant at around 24,000, the print journal collection has contracted to 13,000 titles and the number of e-journals expanded to over 19,000. E-books have also grown in number to reach 296,000 with 600 online databases. The UQ Cybrary comprises 13 branches, several of which are located in major hospitals as well as the various campuses of the University at St Lucia, Ipswich and Gatton, the University archives and several warehouses (to store infrequently used materials). There are 250 EFT staff and an annual budget of A$28 million. The Cybrary has over 1300 computers; centralised planning, information technology, collection management and human resource deployment; the Innopac integrated library management system and a website of over 5,500 pages.