Implementing the Transition From Full- to Self-Service Table of Contents Alerts: A Case Study

Abstract

Health care professionals are committed to maintaining current awareness of developments in their field, and providing electronic Table of Contents (TOC) alerts is a way that medical libraries can create goodwill and market additional services. However, with a small staff and the amount of time required by a hands-on approach to providing TOC alerts, library capacity can be severely challenged. This article outlines one library's process of transitioning its TOC alerts service from mediated to self-service, outlining a Lean problem-solving and information-gathering approach, investigating alternative options, and the eventual method of and reactions to implementing the change.

Keywords:

• change management
• current awareness
• Lean
• self-service
• service capacity
• TOC alerts