john j. huber, ,lean library management: eleven strategies for reducing costs and improving customer...

Diversity Programming and Outreach for Academic Libraries, byKathleen A. Hanna, Mindy M. Cooper, and Robin A. Crumrin. Oxford:Chandos Publishing, 2011. 180 p. $80.00. ISBN 978-1-84334-635-7.

This book is an account of the Indiana University–PurdueUniversity Indianapolis (IUPUI) University Library's strategic, system-atic approach to enhance their diversity and outreach programming,in line with institutional directives. Understanding diversity program-ming and outreach to mean “special events that have been initiatedand developed by library staff specifically to engage students and thatfoster awareness and understanding of diverse populations” (p. 2),the text presents eight chapters that describe: the state of diversityprogramming in academic libraries (chapter 1); the process ofdeveloping a framework for diversity programming within theIUPUI University Library (chapters 2–3); the resulting diversityinitiatives (chapters 4–6); and suggestions, based in practice, forassessing, and identifying and overcoming challenges to, diversityprogramming (chapters 7–8). The projects undertaken at IUPUIUniversity Library can be “adapted or adopted by others interestedin developing their own diversity initiatives” (p. 15).

The authors provide an easy-to-read narrative that includes helpfuldescriptions of their major projects and the lessons they learnedthrough implementation and assessment. It is important to acknowl-edge the administrative and financial support that enabled the successof diversity programming at IUPUIUniversity Library.While the authorsinclude suggestions for incorporating initiatives under differentcircumstances, many of the significant programs outlined involveinstitution-specific components that vary in scalability.

Readers looking for diversity-themed outreach endeavors will findchapter 4 particularly useful as it offers a number of outreach ideassuch as “diversity-focused book clubs” (p. 61) and ways to involvediversity issues in library instruction (p. 63), while chapter 6 details anumber of ideas for diversity initiatives like oral histories (p. 90) andquestions to consider before undertaking projects (pp. 92–93).

While formal and informal strategies for assessing the success ofdiversity programming and outreach initiatives are presentedthroughout the text, the discussions are cursory. Additionally, chapter7, titled “Assessing Programming and Outreach” deals only with threeprojects and primarily details ideas for assessment rather than theresults of assessment methodologies applied to various projects.Readers will want to look elsewhere to supplement their knowledgeof assessment and diversity programming.

Each chapter begins with an abstract and list of key words,providing a useful overview of the contents and setting expectationsfor the reader. Additionally, the inclusion of numerous figures andtables throughout the text and relevant, longer materials in theappendices enhances the authors' account of their projects, providingkey details for a fuller understanding of their undertakings andreplication or adaptation of projects at other institutions.

As academic libraries continue to serve increasingly diverse usergroups, the importance of diversity programming and outreachwithin the academic and global community continues to grow,making this book, written for academic information professionals, avaluable resource for librarians interested in enhancing their efforts inthis area.—Kerry M. Creelman, English Librarian, M.D. AndersonLibrary, 114 University Libraries, University of Houston, Houston,TX 77204-2000, USA bkcreelman2@uh.eduN.

doi:10.1016/j.acalib.2012.03.005

Lean Library Management: Eleven Strategies for Reducing Costsand Improving Customer Services, by John J. Huber. New York: Neal-Schuman, 2010. 175 p. $65.00. ISBN 978-1-55570-732-3.

This publication clearly demonstrates how the adoption of Leanmanufacturing principles can dramatically reduce cost and improvecustomer services within a library. It is a comprehensive step-by-stepguide for those seeking information about the Lean process and how itcan be applied to a variety of areas within large or small libraries. Theauthor, John J. Huber, has devoted the majority of his career workingwith organizations to implement strategies in order to increaseproduction or workflow proficiency and to eliminate wastefulpractices. He includes within this work a number of case studiesthat methodically detail the Lean process from inception tocompletion.

The book is organized to give the reader who may not be familiarwith the Lean process a brief overview of the history of how it wasdeveloped and put into practice within manufacturing. This isfollowed by a description of the principles of Lean, laying a foundationfor understanding the process and the subsequent benefits, as well.Based upon his experience the author has developed what he calls hisown “Lean library transformation methodology.” The volume describesin detail eleven Lean transformation strategies and how they havebeen carried out within actual library settings. The first strategy titled,“Recognize That Service Performance is the Key to Customer Retention,”makes the case for libraries to acknowledge the similarities betweenthe ways they operate, when compared to for-profit businesses. It alsostresses how important it is for libraries to become aware of threatsfrom a competitive landscape filled with popular commercial entitiesproviding similar services. The second strategy titled, “Transform YourChange Resistant Culture” lays the groundwork for constructing acomprehensive plan of action for applying the Lean process. It iswithin this chapter that the author describes how a Lean transfor-mation project is organized and introduces the Lean Project Organi-zation Chart. The chart's structure contains the following; a steeringcommittee, project manager, team facilitator, Lean consultant, andcross-functional team. Throughout the book the Lean projectorganizational flow chart is applied. And it becomes clear from theonset how essential each component is to the successful implemen-tation of change within an organization. This is followed by anexamination of delivery service systems, where the author takes a“walk a mile in their shoes” approach when observing and evaluatingthe service chains for problems. Moving on, the author demonstrateshow the performance of delivery systems affects a library's overalloperation. Of note is strategy nine titled, “Transform Your DigitalResearch Delivery Service Chain,” which addresses the need torecognize that Google® and similar search engines are popularprimarily because of their rapid delivery of service in comparison to alibrary's electronic delivery systems.

The author has carefully crafted a manual for library administratorsor managers who seek solutions that are continuous and not simplystopgap measures. It is a common sense handbook that presents theprocesses by outlining the planning stages and describing the outcomesstemming from the implementation of Lean transformation strategieswithin actual libraries.—Loretta Wallace, Business Librarian, M.D.Anderson Library, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204-2000,USA bwallace3@uh.eduN.

doi:10.1016/j.acalib.2012.03.006

188 The Journal of Academic Librarianship