July 26, 2010
Note: This document reflects the opinions of those who attended these Webinars and submitted comments. The ideas are not necessarily representative of the official positions of our libraries. This is a place to start the conversation.
The below list is not an exhaustive summary of the Power of Tuesday Webinar series, but rather a listing of salient points. There are 5 additional summaries and all the data is available at http://powerofsunylibraries.pbworks.com.
Overarching Concerns
- It is clear, from the comments that we need to completely rethink the way libraries will work going forward instead of tweaking that which is already in place.
- We are three different types of institutions trying to work as a system. It will be important that the Power of SUNY Libraries encompass all levels without focusing on any one type of institution.
- Campuses show that there are clear benefits to working together as a system.
Coordinated Collection Development Opportunities
- Expanded online coordinated collection development & purchasing (via SUNYConnect and WALDO)
- Coordinated e-book purchasing, with focus on DRM-free content (8)
- Coordinated regional storage (4)
- Streaming audio
- Core set of research (electronic) resources available to all students at all campuses, with an emphasis on undergraduates.
Electronic Resources
- Parallel coordinated collection development outcomes
- Reduce duplication of efforts – several campuses are purchasing the same databases without negotiating as a system
- Develop a single SUNY sign-on for One SUNY E-Resource Collection
- Create sector-based packages for each group: basic, expanded, premium, medical, etc.
- Consider a method for coalitions of the willing to bargain as a group
- Consider open-access alternatives and saying “no” to expensive publishers
- Incorporate e-books, AV, purchase-on-demand books
- Increase communication
Future of the Academic Librarian
- Outline / Support / Require Professional Development Opportunities
- Identify Staffing Goals for libraries / Task Force for standards of new skill sets / Focus on developing a list of skills for specific subject areas (like MAGERT)
- Identify metrics for return on investment, impact on learning outcomes
- Provide guidance to upper administrators on the changing role of librarians in higher education.
- Standardized measurement goals
- Development of best practices / community standards
- Collaborations:
- Framework for campus collaboration to promote PD
- Share subject specialist librarians
- SUNY-wide mentor services
- Look for ways to not only develop new skills but to sustain and implement new programs or technologies that the new skills fit.
- “Strategic vision should not proscribe any particular tactics nor skill sets necessary to execute them.”
- “Recognize that the changes in technology will outpace the time frame of the plan”
- “The new demographic breakdown identified in the strategic plan suggests that more demographic study of how different age groups consume information would be helpful. As well as some studies on the type of information different age ranges require for their endeavors.”
Working Group on Library Access
Top Priorities (based on ranking by B. Grimes):
- Open Doors to Knowledge
- Reinvent the SUNY Library System (some gave this lower priority because they believe it’s already being done)
- Library Partner Initiative
- Information Management and Critical Thinking Initiative
- Business Information Resource Centers
Cataloging & Digital Initiatives
- Digitization for repositories
- Copyright and digital right management
- Sharing of expertise in instruction (shared research guides or libguides)
- Shared electronic tools (ex. training student workers on Aleph circulation system using ANGEL)
- Sharing code for projects from one library to another (ex. making the library present in all courses in ANGEL)
Posted by Maryruth Glogowski 