looking ahead: thinking about the future of academic libraries private colleges and universities...
TRANSCRIPT
Looking Ahead: Thinking About the Future of Academic
Libraries
Private Colleges and Universities
CARLI Annual Conference 2015 Friday, November 13, 2015
Champaign, IL
David Stern, Library Director Robert and Mary Rita Murphy Stump Library
Saint Xavier University Chicago, IL
Private Organization Concerns
• FACTORS and INFLUENCES • QUESTIONS and CHALLENGES • POSSIBLE ACTIONS
FACTORS and INFLUENCES
Changing user behaviors/expectations:
• 24x7 access• everything online • sharing acceptable (copyright)• single search box • critical thinking required advanced navigation options
• citation tracking, visual interfaces, altmetrics?
Space:
• pressure from outside for offices • support both changing and traditional behaviors
• quiet space
• group study
• maker spaces
• blended services (i.e. Frustration Room)
FACTORS and INFLUENCES
Budgets:
• staffing patterns for new tasks with reduced funds• revised service points (physical and virtual)• just-in-time collections and/or access • unknowns (?)
Embedded (or else irrelevant) services:
• learning objects within online syllabi (CMS)• on researcher desktops (virtual, interactive beyond chat) • at a distance delivery
QUESTIONS and CHALLENGES
Customized services vs centralized consortial services • economies of scale vs customization and effectiveness • emphasize local materials … special collections, IRs, and other digital
materials
Subject experts • only for languages and special vocabularies? • vs technology, data/GIS, and instruction support
IT support • can’t be shared when you have local conditions …
• i.e. scanners
• networked printing
• unique ILL arrangements
• local Zotero and CMS standards
DMPs and regulations compliance • shared solutions for data servers and preservation
QUESTIONS and CHALLENGES
BUDGET
Shared collection development and management • intention: expand coverage for all OR save (reallocate) money within each organization • last paper copy to reduce collection footprint
Pricing: scale in relation to tiered costs, use, and value • unfair for very small depts. in larger tier Carnegie classifications • some vendors don’t have very small tiers
ILL vs immediate seamless commercial document delivery agents, based upon local needs … • embargoes, local subscriptions vs packages, dept accounts and quotas
RoI assessment and cancellations • When there are less discretionary funding dollars … packages are untenable regardless
of CPU
POSSIBLE ACTIONS
Cooperative collection assessment (Best Practices)• review criteria for studying use data • sample reviews and modifications based upon such reviews • propose cooperative collection development areas, etc.
Information Fluency and Instruction outlines • talking points for student sessions (at scaffolded levels)• faculty research support • effective pre/post session reviews • rubrics for demonstrating outcomes and impacts
Staffing and Staff Development • methods to review effectiveness and appropriateness of current
operations, staffing patterns, and staff training • based upon evidence and evaluation (coordinated Service Quality
Reviews including beyond-consortial environmental scans)
POSSIBLE ACTIONS
Facilities considerations • protecting and re-allocating space • designing new learning spaces• blending with other services in your spaces
Test new technologies• E-book value and satisfaction
• added testing capabilities
• Replacements or supplements for paper materials
• Reduce textbook costs and explore better pedagogy options• Institutional Repository (and accompanying Scholarly Communication
issues)
Library • seamless integration into pedagogy and platforms
• standards
• protocols
• metadata
• links
• sharing
• privacy
POSSIBLE ACTIONS
Effective ways to communicate value to campus administrators
• measure and demonstrate library impact
• demonstrate hidden value (remote access, time saved )
• build partnerships (trust) with key stakeholders
• request funding for new initiatives … and prove creativity
