Change Management In Academic Libraries: A Case Study Of The Technical University Of Kenya Library, Nairobi County

ABSTRACT

The purpose of the study was to find out how the library leadership has initiated and managed change at The Technical University of Kenya, Nairobi in order to meet the expectations of diverse categories of users and get support from the parent organization and donors. The study was guided by the following objectives: To identify the change management programs at the Technical University of Kenya Library, to identify the role of the University Librarian in change management, to establish both the driving and inhibiting forces for and against change, to determine the strategies and processes adopted by the University Librarian in managing change. The study was guided by Kurt Lewin’s theory of change management and adopted the case study research design. The target population for this study was thirty (30) staff members from the subject university excluding and subordinate staff. Systematic random sampling was used to obtain a sample size of 28 respondents. Questionnaires and interview schedules were used as data collection instruments. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics with the aid of the Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS). The interview schedules were decoded and explained in prose. The study’s key finding was that; TUK Library leadership was committed to change, had developed a library strategic plan and involved library staff in change management program for successful results. The study further established that developments in information technology with mean 3.35, the changing economy, changing educational and learning environment and changes in scholarly communication with a mean of 3.10, 3.05 and 3.0 respectively influenced change (forces for change) at TUK library. Change from USC of Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) to Library of Congress Classification (LCC) and the implementation of KOHA library management system were the major change programs implemented by TUK library, while staff training and capacity development as the least change programs initiated. The research recommends staff training program, succession plan, provision of modern facilities and further study on change management strategies. The study findings will inform the TUK library and other academic libraries in policy formulation, contribute to the body of knowledge in schools of information science