Stewart Library - Weber State University |
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Weber State University Stewart Library Information Technology Plan
2005-2008
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Contents: Current State of Technology in the Library Mission & Goals of the Stewart Library Role of Information Technology Life-Cycle Management Calendar Introduction1. The purpose of the Library Technology Plan (LTP) is to: Inform the library’s efforts to effectively deliver information resources to the Weber State University community in a variety of print, audiovisual, multimedia, and electronic formats. Ensure that information technology is appropriately integrated into the library’s existing programs and services and encourage innovation in the development of new services. Provide documentation of technology needs and a recommended plan of action to meet those needs. Coordinate planning for library information technology with planning undertaken elsewhere in the university. Guide the library’s effort to acquire financial support for additional information technologies. Inform the allocation of current expenditures for information technology and serve as a point of reference for projecting future budget requirements for IT implementation, maintenance and enhancement. Organize and prioritize IT projects and activities and institute life-cycle management of hardware and software in the library. The Library Technology Plan will be reviewed and updated annually. 2. Factors influencing the development and implementation of a plan for the effective utilization of information technology in the library include: Assessment, Maintenance and Enhancement Library information technologies require routine assessment of effectiveness and efficiency. Ongoing utilization of information technologies requires routine maintenance and periodic enhancement. Community University-wide commitment to support information technologies. Cooperative and supportive local, state and national associations and organizations. Concurrent Planning Processes by Affiliated Associations and Divisions Stewart Library Council Annual Review of Goals and Objectives. Utah Academic Libraries Consortium Legislative Request. WSU divisions of Academic Affairs and Information Technology Needs Assessment. WSU Academic Resources and Computing Committee Needs Assessment. WSU Administrative Technology Advisory Council Needs Assessment. External Environment Access vs. ownership for information resources and a growing dependence on commercial database vendors. User preference for and increased dependence on Internet-based access to information resources. Heightened expectations for technology based resources and services to make access to information easier. Prevalence of personal computing technology increasing the demand for reliable remote access. Consortia sharing and licensing negotiations to access electronic resources. Availability of tools to provide remote access to locally held unique resources (i.e. archives and special collections). Need for improved security systems for copyright compliance, privacy protection and prevention of vandalism. Local Environment Diverse clientele with diverse information needs and disparate levels of information literacy skills. Growing population of onsite and online learners. Commitment to provide open access to information and yet be sensitive to community standards. Integration and interoperability between disparate but complimentary information technologies. Continually changing nature of technology and the increased need to routinely update skills. Expectation for single-point authentication access to protected resources within a common information management system. Funding Static state funding and the ongoing need to seek outside funding to support the cost of information technology and the life-cycle management of hardware and software. Balancing the cost of information technology with the need to support growth and maintenance of traditional library resources and services. Market competition - salaries within the university for IT employees cannot compete with the outside market. Infrastructure Libraries on two separate campuses in two separate counties with network access to library resources and services. Information technology delivery systems housed in the Stewart Library, Ogden campus. Technical support adequate to maintain daily operational status within the library and the university. Library Programs, Resources and Services Education & General Budget - 2005: $3,253,131 Personnel: 45 FTE positions: 1 Executive; 12 Faculty; 16 Professional Staff; 16 Classified Staff. Collections: Bound volumes: 528,000; plus approximately 200,000 Government Publications. E-resources: approximately 200,000 (sum total of electronic books, indices, journals and serials to which the Stewart Library subscribes independently or as a member of the Utah Academic Library Consortium.) Audio Recordings: 10,465 Video Recordings: 10,476 Maps: 65,619 Microforms: 600,000 CDs: 1,500 IT Equipment: 320 staff and public PCs, 6 servers, 5 system printers, 1 planetary scanner Utilization of Resources and Services - 2004/05: Circulation Statistics: 165,231 Web Site Visitor Sessions: 1,579,348 Reference/Research Assistance (# of reference/research questions): 13,501 User Assistance (# of directional questions): 33,733 Instructional Sessions: Course Integrated: 113 English 2010: 110 First Year Experience: 21 For Credit Courses: LibSci 1704 (Internet Navigator): 23 LibSci 2201, 2704, 2804: 5 Total Number of Students (in all instruction sessions/courses): 6,164 Ereserve Page Visitors: 42,007 Interlibrary Lending Requests: Received: 9,896 Filled: 6,291 Interlibrary Borrowing Requests: Received: 4,856 Filled: 3,900 Shared Values Providing an environment supportive of academic and intellectual freedom. Promoting innovation, learning, scholarship and intellectual growth. Creating and maintaining equitable and reliable access to information resources and preserving information resources in a variety of formats. Developing user centered programs and services and employing creativity, flexibility and simplicity in the design and improvement of our services. Using technology as a catalyst to create new services and to re-engineer existing services. Promoting the development of information and computer literacy skills. Using assessment data to improve our resources and sources. Current State of Technology in the LibraryTechnology Supported Services Include: Library website Online catalog Real-time online reference assistance Remote computer access/authentication Wireless/wired Internet access Self-serve, fee-based printing Integrated library system (Horizon - Acquisitions, Cataloging Circulation, Serials) Electronic/digital interlibrary loan services and document delivery Equipment: The library currently maintains the following equipment: 66 patron access computers configured for secure/authenticated access to the Internet and operation of licensed software applications 72 computers in three multi-media classrooms 50 faculty/staff computers Infrastructure: The library’s in-house technological services infrastructure consists of 7 production file servers that operate the library’s integrated library system (Horizon), online catalog (HIP); library website (IIS), remote authentication (Ezproxy), electronic reserve (DocuTek), interlibrary loan (ILLiad), and local authenticated Internet gateway (BlueSocket/RPA). Servers are housed in a climate controlled environment and are connected to redundant power, redundant storage arrays, and offsite storage. All in-house technology assistive services are administered, maintained, and operated by library staff. The library’s network infrastructure is maintained and managed by the university’s Network Management Department. Mission and GoalsThe Stewart Library’s mission is to: 1) Advance the instructional, scholarship, and community service mission of Weber State University through the development of on-site collections, access to off-site resources, personalized assistance in the use of library and information resources, and instruction on research strategies and tools. 2) Assess the services we provide and the relevancy and use of the collections and use assessment outcomes to continually improve our resources and services. Ongoing Goals In support of the university’s mission to “provide students with high-quality comprehensive programs in professional and liberal arts areas as well as studies in advanced professional fields,” the library has adopted the following goals: Continue to improve the quality and relevancy of the collection by systematically assessing the information resource needs of the academic community and developing a focused collection of print and electronic resources to support instructional and research needs. Leverage existing and emerging technology to foster the development of library collections and services that support WSU teaching and learning. Enhance access to information resources by subscribing to electronic databases and full-text journals and, in consultation with faculty, canceling print subscriptions for titles available full-text online. Continue to develop and sustain a comprehensive instruction program that includes for credit, online and on demand instruction in order to graduate students with information literacy competencies. Augment the library’s budget with funding from grants and private gifts . The library reflects the University’s community service mission by actively seeking to establish appropriate partnerships with libraries and other organizations within the community and by providing community access to its resources and services. 2005/06 Objectives Planning - In conjunction with the university’s planning process, develop planning initiatives, goals, and objectives that will guide library resources and services for the next three to five years. Assessment - Begin using the qualitative and quantitative approach provided in ACRL’s Standards for College Libraries, 2002 Edition to assess the effectiveness of library resources and services. Information Literacy - Secure funding for a third library classroom to meet the continually increasing demand for information literacy instruction. Technology Commons - Expand library services to the university community by creating a Technology Commons within the library. Online courses - Collaborate with WSU-Online faculty to include online library resources and services in the university’s web-based and web-enhanced courses. Budget - Increase the number of grants and proposals written by the library by at least 10%. 2006/07 Objectives
2007/08 Objectives
The Role of Information TechnologyInformation technology provides the tools to assist the library in meeting its ongoing goal to enhance and expand library resources and services. Each year, in consultation with faculty and staff, library-wide goals and objectives are established by Library Council. An essential part of this planning and goal setting process is identifying our information technology needs for the coming year, prioritizing those needs, determining costs, and establishing a budget based on the priorities determined and the amount of funding available. The Systems Team is responsible for administering, implementing, and maintaining information technology in the library and for assessing the effectiveness of technological applications in support of library goals and objectives. It is also responsible for recommending technology applications to support the goals and objectives approved by Library Council. The following section of the Library Technology Plan includes projects and applications recommended by the Systems Team and approved by Library Council for implementation during 2005 - 2008. Projects 2005/06 Projects
Enhancing Information Literacy at the Stewart Library Goal: Continue to develop and sustain a comprehensive instruction program that includes for credit, online and on demand instruction in order to graduate students with information literacy competencies. Action: Create an additional electronic classroom. Cost: $25,200.00 Implementation Period: Summer 2005 Technology Commons in the Stewart Library: Goal: Leverage existing and emerging technology to foster the development of library collections and services that support WSU teaching and learning. Action: Convert Library first floor south into a technology friendly environment dedicated entirely to patron study and congregation. Cost: $32,000.00 Implementation Period: Spring 2006 2006/07 Projects (To be added spring, 2006) 2007/08 Projects (To be added spring, 2007) Life-Cycle Management Calendar
* Systems does not include the following in this estimate of annual expenses: toner cartridges fusers scanners fax machines office workstation components (disks mouse keyboard speakers etc.) or items typically requested as “supplies” by library personnel or the Administrative Office.
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