Using Time-Driven Activity-Based Costing to Implement Change

ABSTRACT

Academic medical libraries have responded to changes in technology, evolving professional roles, reduced budgets, and declining traditional services. Libraries that have taken a proactive role to change have seen their librarians emerge as collaborators and partners with faculty and researchers, while para-professional staff is increasingly overseeing traditional services. This article addresses shifting staff and schedules at a single-service-point information desk by using time-driven activity-based costing to determine the utilization of resources available to provide traditional library services. Opening hours and schedules were changed, allowing librarians to focus on patrons’ information needs in their own environment.

KEYWORDS:

• Academic medical libraries
• activity-based costing
• emerging roles
• liaison librarians
• public services
• time-driven activity-based costing

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ellen N. Sayed

Ellen N. Sayed, MLS, M.Acc., AHIP ([email protected]) is Director, Medical College of Wisconsin Libraries, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226.

Sa’ad Laws

Sa’ad Laws, MLIS, MA ([email protected]) is Information Services Librarian, Distributed eLibrary, Weill Cornell Medicine–Qatar, Qatar Foundation, Education City, P.O. Box 24144, Doha, Qatar.

Basim Uthman

Basim Uthman, MD ([email protected]) is Professor, Clinical Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine–Qatar, Qatar Foundation, Education City, P.O. Box 24144, Doha, Qatar.