University and college mergers are increasingly common, and merging institutions have consequences for and demand new skills from their academic libraries. How do you turn an independent organization steeped in its own procedures and mission into a merged library that is effective, cohesive, and student-centered? 

Integrating Academic Libraries When Institutions Merge can help library workers experiencing a merger understand the process and prepare for some of the challenges. In three sections, authors who have undergone a merger provide strategies for integrating collections, systems, and teams while maintaining critical library operations.

• Preparing to Merge
• The New Integrated Culture
• Managing Change

The key to every merger is almost always the same: People and culture working together to get the job done and, in the process, creating a new culture. Integrating Academic Libraries When Institutions Merge can help you confront the past, adapt to the present, and strategize for a sustainable future.

Scott R. DiMarco is the former library director of the Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania Libraries. CU is part of the Pennsylvania state system of higher education. Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania consists of the former Bloomsburg University, Lock Haven University, Lock Haven University–Clearfield Campus, and Mansfield University. He was part of the library leadership team that saw the integration of the universities into Commonwealth University and is the inaugural library director of Commonwealth University. DiMarco has thirty years of experience in libraries and twenty-seven years in higher education. He has had positions at Miami University of Ohio, Herkimer County Community College (SUNY), and Mansfield University of Pennsylvania all in progressively higher academic appointments. Additionally, he has served as adjunct instructor in history in the SUNY System. He has served the middle states commission on higher education as a compliance reviewer and site team member for accreditation. He has a Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts in history from the State University of New York at Brockport. Additionally, he has a Master of Library Science from the State University of New York at Buffalo. He successfully completed the ACRL’s institute of information literacy program and Harvard University’s graduate school of education’s institute of higher education management development program. His publications, research interests and presentations include library management, history, library security, library mergers, and censorship. In his spare time, he writes audio book reviews, volunteers in his community, and spends time with his family. 

Lisandra R. Carmichael is the dean of university libraries at Georgia Southern University. After receiving her BA at the University of Puerto Rico–Rio Piedras, she was commissioned in the United States Air Force and served ten years of military service where she received the rank of captain. She then shifted her professional interests to a career in academic libraries after working as a schoolteacher for five years where she reconnected with her academic roots. Dr. Carmichael received her master’s degree in library sciences and learning technologies from the University of Missouri, Columbia, and her doctoral degree in information studies from Florida State University. Dr. Carmichael’s experience in academic libraries expands over twenty-seven years at four institutions in higher education. She has held a series of progressively higher administrative appointments including department chair, director, associate dean, interim dean, and dean. She is an avid advocate for lifelong learning and deeply believes in helping others to succeed by providing them with educational attainment opportunities. She has successfully completed the legal affairs bootcamp, diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace certificate, Harvard leadership institute for academic librarians, sunshine state library leadership institute, and the institute for academic leadership, department chairs workshop. She is a tenured, full professor, whose research interests include succession planning in academic libraries, academic library spaces and design, and how academic libraries survive university consolidations. She is the recipient of numerous grants and is currently engaged in writing about her experiences as a library leader providing services to students with disabilities. She is the co-chair of the Georgia international conference on information literacy. Dr. Carmichael has a distinguished nationally recognized scholarship and service record. 

Courtney Heatley is an associate professor and the electronic resources and acquisitions librarian at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas. She previously held multiple leadership roles at Commonwealth University– Mansfield, serving as the interim director of the North Hall Library and interim assistant director of public services for Commonwealth University Libraries. Her extensive background in technical services includes expertise in acquisitions and cataloging. Courtney holds a BS in Psychology and Criminal Justice from Mansfield University and an MSLS from PennWest University–Clarion, where she is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Data Science and Analytics.

Introduction

Scott R. DiMarco and Courtney Heatley 

Part 1: Preparing to Merge

CHAPTER 1

The Merger of Two University Libraries

Its Impacts on Roles and Constituents and Academic Library Leadership Strategies

Lisandra R. Carmichael 

CHAPTER 2

The Path to Consolidation

Integration Approaches for Implementing a Library Merger

Amanda Nash 

CHAPTER 3

Merging Electronic Resources

Taryn L. Bartholomew 

CHAPTER 4

Streamlining Support

Implementing a Merged Library Liaison Model at Georgia Southern Libraries

Vivian Bynoe

CHAPTER 5

Preserving Pasts, Building Futures

A Roadmap for Special Collections Consolidation

Autumn M. Johnson and Caroline Hopkins 

CHAPTER 6

How Three Technical Services Departments Let Go of the Status Quo and Became One Functional Department

Jamey L. Harris & Marilou Z. Hinchcliff 

CHAPTER 7

Preparing for Consolidation While Maintaining Pre-Merger Library operations

One Librarian’s Experience

Amanda Nash 

CHAPTER 8

Consortia and a Merger

Wilhelmina Randtke and Lisa Tatum 

Part 2: The New Integrated Culture

CHAPTER 9

Cultural Sensitivity

Melissa Edmiston Johnson 

CHAPTER 10

Integrating Libraries, Integrating Systems

A Staff Perspective

Courtney Heatley 

CHAPTER 11

Integrating Libraries

Administrator Point of View

Heather Feldhaus 

CHAPTER 12

When Cultures Collide

Observations on Navigating Resident Library Practices and Perspectives

Monty McAdoo

CHAPTER 13

Eddies in the Flow

Lingering Faculty and Staff Perceptions of University Consolidation

Lee Bareford

CHAPTER 14

New Culture

Megan P. Smith 

Part 3: Managing Change

CHAPTER 15

Different Structures

Advantages and Disadvantages

Melissa Edmiston Johnson and Kathy J. Davies 

CHAPTER 16

Integrating While Still Open for Business

Alejandra Nann and Susan Currier 

CHAPTER 17

Developing a Unified Strategic Plan in Merged Libraries

Scott R. DiMarco 

Conclusion

Scott R. DiMarco 

About the Editors and Authors