University Libraries Strategic Plan, 2006-2008

Educational Experience: Student Success

Goal 1. Improve information literacy skills.

2006 Initiatives/Priorities:

• Sponsor at least one major campus engagement event.
• Incorporate new instruction labs and their enhanced technology into the libraries’ instruction program.
• Advocate for central funding of citation management software.

Ongoing Strategies

• Work with curriculum planning groups from other units.
• Develop and teach credit courses on information resources.
• Teach course-specific sessions on request.
• Teach sessions to community groups on request.
• Conduct faculty workshops on topics of interest.
• Conduct information literacy assessments.

Success indicators:

• Attendees at campus engagement events are satisfied with the event.
• At least one new instructional lab is fully operational.
• Number of participants in instruction sessions or tutorials increases.
• Number of course-specific and upper division instruction sessions taught increases.
• Faculty and students are satisfied with the libraries’ instruction program and the instructors.
• Students have a positive impression of the libraries’ contribution to their academic success.
• Students have a positive impression of their ability to make future use of skills learned from using the library.
• Students indicate that use of the libraries increases their engagement with the campus.
• Campus decision is made on centralized purchase of citation management software.

Goal 2: Offer library services that respond to users’ needs.

2006 Initiatives/Priorities:

• Assist users with the transition to changes in libraries’ facilities and service points.
• Improve access to computers.
• Explore performance standards for interlibrary loan and document delivery.
• Explore use of Blackboard for delivery of library services.

Ongoing Strategies:

• Respond to research assistance requests.
• Redesign top level web page to facilitate navigation and enhance content.
• Implement and maintain technology that improves access to resources.
• Increase awareness of libraries’ information services, instruction opportunities and document delivery services.
• Increase awareness of the libraries’ liaison program.
• Conduct usability studies on the libraries web pages and online resources.
• Create additional opportunities for user feedback on services.

Success Indicators:

• Students and faculty are satisfied with reference services.
• Students and faculty are satisfied with the web site.
• Students and faculty are satisfied with online access to resources.
• Version 1 of MetaLib is implemented.
• SFX is customized based on user feedback.
• Students and faculty are satisfied with Interlibrary Loan services.
• Students and faculty are satisfied with e-reserves.
• Students and faculty are satisfied with the computers in the libraries.
• Students and faculty find what they need on our web site or know whom to call for assistance when they don't.
• Faculty indicate they know at least one person in the libraries to contact if they have a question or concern.

GOAL 3: Create and enhance library spaces that meet user needs.

2006 Initiatives/Priorities:

• Complete Ekstrom construction project.
• Complete Kersey integration project.
• Plan a post-occupancy evaluation.
• Begin at least one renovation project.
• Establish new service points in new/renovated spaces.

Ongoing Strategies:

• Sponsor/host special exhibits.
• Provide opportunities for user input on use of library spaces.
• Increase awareness of library facilities.

Success Indicators:

• Ekstrom construction is completed and all service points in the new wing are open to the public.
• Offices are moved to new locations.
• Students and faculty are satisfied with the libraries public spaces.
• Use of library buildings increases.
• Post-occupancy evaluation is drafted.
• Libraries receive positive feedback about exhibits.

Research, Creative and Scholarly Activities

Goal 4: Select and provide access to information resources that support the ongoing research needs of users.

2006 Initiatives/Priorities:

• Integrate Kersey collections.
• Load selected collections into the Robotic Retrieval System (RRS).
• Develop a digitization program.
• Review monograph approval plans.
• Review journal holdings, standing orders and database subscriptions.
• Review collections budget allocations.
• Implement technology that will enhance access to the collections.
• Review the binding program.

Ongoing Strategies:

• Add 40,000 volumes.
• Add at least 10 new archival collections.
• Preserve existing collections.
• Manage the university’s records retention program.
• Conduct collection assessments.
• Increase awareness of the collections.
• Provide opportunities for user input.

Success Indicators:

• Collections from Kersey are moved to new location by the beginning of the 2006 fall semester.
• 150,000 volumes are relocated to the RRS by December 2006.
• Collections budget is balanced.
• Students and faculty are satisfied with the collections.
• Circulation transactions increase.
• Database and e-journal usage statistics increase.
• Online catalog usage increases.
• Number of volumes added meets or exceeds 40,000.
• Digital Initiatives librarian is hired.
• Shared set of metadata standards are implemented.
• Number of electronic theses/dissertations (ETDs) in the existing repository increases.
• Content DM system is set up for testing and initial data entry.
• At least 15 collections are placed in the MetaArchive.
• Number of bindery errors is reduced.
• OCLC collection analysis report of unique titles in the Ekstrom and Art libraries is made and distributed.
• Loading of electronic resources into the link resolver (SFX ) and the resource discover system (MetaLib) is completed.

Goal 5: Foster a campus-wide understanding of scholarly communication (SC).

2006 Priorities/Initiatives:

• Sponsor an SC event.
• Further develop the SC web pages.
• Develop a plan for campus conversations on SC issues.

Ongoing Strategies:

• Provide guidance on copyright issues to campus community.
• Review licensing agreements for electronic resources.
• Raise awareness of SC issues.

Success Indicators:

• Attendees at SC event provide positive feedback on the event.
• Traffic to web pages increases.
• Campus conversation is completed and reviewed by the Administrative Coordinating Committee (ACC).
• Handouts and other educational tools are widely distributed.
• Endowed chairs involvement on campus committees increases.

Accessibility, Diversity, Equity and Communication

Goal 6: Create an organizational climate in the libraries that fosters respect for diversity.

2006 Priorities/Initiatives:

• Conduct a diversity climate survey.
• Increase the number of minority applications in candidate pools for library faculty positions.
• Sponsor at least one public event designed to highlight diversity.
• Sponsor at least one exhibit designed to highlight diversity.
• Increase awareness of libraries resources that support diversity research.
• Revise web pages with enhanced accessibility.

Ongoing Strategies:

• Increase awareness of employment opportunities in the libraries and the benefits.
• Provide mentoring for minority employees.
• Provide diversity training within the libraries.
• Sponsor employment opportunities for minority students.
• Provide specialized services for users with disabilities.

Success Indicators:

• Minority applicants in 2006 faculty pools increase over previous averages.
• Diversity climate survey is completed and baseline results are recorded, analyzed and distributed.
• Diversity event is held and evaluated.
• Diversity exhibit is held and evaluated.
• Use of the following databases increases:
• African American News
• Contemporary Women’s Issues
• Ethnic Newswatch
• Gerritson Collection
• History Universe
• Hispanic American Periodicals Index
• North American Women’s Letters and Diaries
•  A cross-section of libraries faculty and staff are satisfied with their employment in the libraries.

Partnerships and Collaboration

Goal 7:  Establish, develop and maintain strategic alliances in support of the libraries’ goals.

2006 Priorities/Initiatives:

• Apply for at least one grant to support a partnership with area businesses.
• Initiate at least one outreach program.
• Create at least one new advisory board.
• Collaborate on sponsoring at least one conference.

Ongoing Strategies:

• Maintain relationships with the medical community.
• Maintain consortial relationships.
• Build community awareness of collections and services.

Success Indicators:

• Grant application is completed for business partnership idea.
• Number of partnerships and collaborations increase.
• Number of advisory boards increases.
• At least one jointly-sponsored conference is held. 
• Press coverage of the libraries increases.

Instituional Effectiveness of Programs and Services

Goal 8 : Enhance the libraries’ organizational effectiveness.

2006 Priorities/Initiatives:

• Hire outstanding faculty and staff to fill vacant lines.
• Review organizational staffing needs.
• Evaluate the effectives of organizational changes made in 2005.

Ongoing Strategies:

• Support continuing education.
• Increase the number of minority faculty and staff.
• Increase external funding.
• Develop appropriate policies and procedures.

Success indicators:

• Vacant lines are successfully filled with highly qualified faculty and staff.
• Assessment of the organizational changes is conducted and analyzed.
• Funding for faculty and staff continuing education increases.
• At least three, quality in-house continuing education programs are offered.
• Libraries faculty and staff are satisfied with their employment in the libraries.
• Employee profile reflects more diversity.

Goal 9: Provide the technical infrastructure necessary to support the libraries’ mission.

2006 Initiatives/Priorities:

• Upgrade servers to Active Directory.
• Implement Voice Over IP (VOIP).
• Identify software or write programs that enhance services.
• Implement servers or other hardware that enhance services.
• Equip new spaces.

Ongoing Strategies:

• Maintain public and staff workstations in good working order.
• Continue ongoing replacement/upgrade program of existing workstations.
• Continue participation in Microsoft Campus Agreement.

Success Indicators:

• Implementation projects are completed within established timeframes.
• All new equipment purchased is installed within established timeframes.
• Hardware maintenance occurs within established timeframes.
• Software upgrades are made within established timeframes.