Power Automated Workflows: Leveraging Campus Tools for Streamlined Course Reserves Collaboration

The Cal Poly Library’s migration to a new website in summer 2025 resulted in the loss of embedded third-party request forms, requiring staff to rethink how they managed internal workflows. Acquisitions and Course Reserves staff collaborated to develop an automated workflow using Microsoft Power Automate in which form responses are transformed into shared, actionable tasks. The implementation of a flexible, automated process that supports collaborative work has reduced manual email communication, improved coordination, and created a centralized space for tracking work. Building these workflows in a low-code environment gives staff direct ownership of the process and empowers users to make adjustments in real time as needs evolve. The presentation will provide an overview of the workflow design, followed by a practical demonstration of building a Power Automate flow using conditional logic and customizable formatting. Attendees will leave with adaptable strategies for streamlining routine library workflows using Microsoft tools.