Open AccessProcess mapping as an academic library tool: Five steps to improve your workflow
Author(s) -
Natalie Ornat,
Renee K Moorefield
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
college and research libraries news
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.281
H-Index - 23
eISSN - 2150-6698
pISSN - 0099-0086
DOI - 10.5860/crln.79.6.302
Subject(s) - workflow , interlibrary loan , reference desk , process (computing) , computer science , desk , world wide web , work (physics) , academic library , documentation , knowledge management , library science , database , engineering , mechanical engineering , programming language , operating system
The academic library is a complex organization whose staff executes numerous processes each day to deliver materials and services in a timely manner to patrons. A process where tasks, information, or documents are passed from one participant to the next is called a workflow. Libraries use workflows to coordinate tasks between people and departments and create an efficient progress of work. Interlibrary loan shipping, electronic serials acquisition, damaged item repairing, and reference desk referrals are just some of the hundreds of workflows within the academic library. When diagrammed, these workflows provide valuable information in visual form regarding the path a process takes throughout a library. Diagramming workflows is known as process mapping.