TY - THES
AU - L. Tiffany Evans
AU - Arlene G. Taylor
AB - Using the tenets of Organizational Development (OD) theory, this research investigates the founding, development, and functioning of OhioLINK as a statewide academic library consortium dedicated to improving user access to academic resources. It focuses on OhioLINK's formative years from 1986 to 1992.

The processes by which OhioLINK emerged and developed as a statewide academic library consortium are demonstrated. The key actions and decisions made by OhioLINK members and participants during OhioLINK's formative years, and how these actions and decisions positively and negatively impacted OhioLINK's establishment and development are examined. Finally, this research examines the perceptions of OhioLINK's membership in terms of which services members deemed to be most and least effective.

This research employed the single case study methodology and applied inter-organizational and inter-institutional coordination and organization concepts to investigate, describe, and analyze the structure, processes, and outcomes of the OhioLINK organization. Using that framework, OhioLINK is described through a research design that incorporates four methods of data collection and analysis: (1) telephone interviews; (2) an E-mail survey; (3) an analysis of OhioLINK archival documents; and (4) analytical interpretations of the interviews, survey, and documents.

This research yielded nine common organizational threads about OhioLINK, and these threads defined its organizational character. The findings of this research can serve as an organizational blueprint or guideline for organizations seeking to develop successful academic library consortia. They also can serve as a model for developing future policy that focuses on providing students and faculty with the maximum access to the highest quality library resources in a cost-effective and efficient manner. Readers are provided with a step-by-step understanding of these findings and their impact and importance for OhioLINK, and there is value in being aware of the factors that played a significant role in OhioLINK's success and those that hindered its progress. Awareness and understanding of how OhioLINK dealt with them provides a collection of action options for those in similar situations. Having action options and their related outcomes can assist a budding academic library consortium with organizational design, organizational offerings, financial planning, strategic planning, political positioning, and public relations.
LA - English
M3 - Ph.D. Dissertation
N2 - Using the tenets of Organizational Development (OD) theory, this research investigates the founding, development, and functioning of OhioLINK as a statewide academic library consortium dedicated to improving user access to academic resources. It focuses on OhioLINK's formative years from 1986 to 1992.

The processes by which OhioLINK emerged and developed as a statewide academic library consortium are demonstrated. The key actions and decisions made by OhioLINK members and participants during OhioLINK's formative years, and how these actions and decisions positively and negatively impacted OhioLINK's establishment and development are examined. Finally, this research examines the perceptions of OhioLINK's membership in terms of which services members deemed to be most and least effective.

This research employed the single case study methodology and applied inter-organizational and inter-institutional coordination and organization concepts to investigate, describe, and analyze the structure, processes, and outcomes of the OhioLINK organization. Using that framework, OhioLINK is described through a research design that incorporates four methods of data collection and analysis: (1) telephone interviews; (2) an E-mail survey; (3) an analysis of OhioLINK archival documents; and (4) analytical interpretations of the interviews, survey, and documents.

This research yielded nine common organizational threads about OhioLINK, and these threads defined its organizational character. The findings of this research can serve as an organizational blueprint or guideline for organizations seeking to develop successful academic library consortia. They also can serve as a model for developing future policy that focuses on providing students and faculty with the maximum access to the highest quality library resources in a cost-effective and efficient manner. Readers are provided with a step-by-step understanding of these findings and their impact and importance for OhioLINK, and there is value in being aware of the factors that played a significant role in OhioLINK's success and those that hindered its progress. Awareness and understanding of how OhioLINK dealt with them provides a collection of action options for those in similar situations. Having action options and their related outcomes can assist a budding academic library consortium with organizational design, organizational offerings, financial planning, strategic planning, political positioning, and public relations.
PB - University of Pittsburgh
PY - 2004
EP - 169 pp.
TI - A History and Organizational Development Analysis of the Formation of OhioLINK: A Statewide Inter-Organizational Library Consortium, 1986-1992
ER -