Director, MIT Libraries

Transcription

1 Directr, MIT Libraries Ad Hc Task Frce n the Future f Libraries In Octber 2015, MIT Prvst Martin A. Schmidt asked Chris Burg, directr f Libraries, t cnvene and lead an Ad Hc Task Frce n the Future f Libraries. The Task Frce was charged with seeking brad input frm the MIT cmmunity and frm dmain experts n hw the MIT Libraries ught t evlve t best advance the creatin, disseminatin, and preservatin f knwledge and t serve as a leader in the reinventin f research libraries. Members f the Task Frce included faculty frm all five schls, staff frm the Libraries, IS&T, ODL, and the MIT Press, as well as graduate and undergraduate students. The Task Frce gathered input thrugh a variety f frmal and infrmal mechanisms, including several pen frums designed t elicit ideas frm MIT faculty, students, and staff n their visins fr the future f research libraries. The Task Frce website als included an Idea Bank, where members f the MIT cmmunity culd submit their ideas abut the future f libraries and cmment n the ideas f thers. Frm all f this input and extensive discussin, the Task Frce develped a bld new visin fr libraries and a set f recmmendatins detailed in a reprt t be released fr public cmment this fall. The visin and recmmendatins develped by the Task Frce are grunded in the principle that libraries shuld facilitate abundant, equitable, meaningful, and durable access t knwledge and t the prducts f the full life cycle f research. The verarching theme f the Task Frce s new visin is that the MIT Libraries must be a glbal library fr a glbal university. T enable that visin, the MIT Libraries must: 1. Establish an pen platfrm that serves MIT s glbal audience f knwledge creatrs, seekers, and curatrs 2. Becme a center fr rigrus interdisciplinary research and develpment in infrmatin sciences and schlarly cmmunicatin 3. Priritize the pen discvery, access, and use f research and teaching bjects 4. Reimagine and reinvigrate cre library functins and values related t the rles f library spaces, library educatin, and the rle f libraries in prmting diversity, inclusin, and scial justice. The Task Frce envisins the MIT Libraries as an pen, trusted, durable, interdisciplinary, interperable cntent platfrm prviding a fundatin fr the entire lifecycle f infrmatin fr cllabrative glbal research and educatin. Under this visin, the library shifts frm seeing itself (and being seen) as a lcal treasure fr the MIT cmmunity t being a leader in the cllabrative develpment f a glbal netwrk f pen repsitries. As the Task Frce wrked t develp this visin, the MIT Libraries cntinued t prvide exceptinal services, expertise, and resurces t the cmmunities we serve. The wrk described in this reprt reflects ur dual emphases this year n building capacity t prepare ur rganizatin t enact the recmmendatins f the Task Frce and experimenting with and assessing the kinds f innvative services that will mve us tward the visin develped by the Task Frce.

2 Academic Supprt Library services in supprt f MIT s dynamic research and learning missin cntinue t evlve in alignment with the needs f departments, labs, and centers and in cllabratin with campus partners. Significant expansin f academic services was nted in several areas: The Aga Khan Dcumentatin Center raised its prfile by serving as an expert resurce fr preserving at-risk cultural heritage in the Middle East with UNESCO. New staff rles were created t supprt innvatin and entrepreneurship, teaching and learning, digital schlarship, Gegraphic Infrmatin Systems, and research data management. The Data Management Planning Tl (DMPTl) was implemented; the Libraries cllabrated with MIT IS&T n the release f LabArchives; with library supprt, Open Researcher and Cntributr IDs (ORCIDs) were deplyed thrughut the campus. The Libraries upgraded self-service scanners, printers, and micrfrm equipment. The Libraries expanded ffice delivery f library materials t mre campus-based user grups and enhanced the ppular scan and deliver ptin t include n-campus cllectins. The capacity fr new initiatives was created by imprving efficiencies in tw traditinal functins: The Libraries simplified brrwing ptins frm reginal partners by streamlining MIT s resurce sharing partnerships and cncentrating n develping services thrugh IviesPlus partners. Staff reviewed n-site cllectins and initiated a majr strage initiative t create cllectins space fr future grwth and rearrangement. The Libraries explred the needs f the academic cmmunity in several areas: research data management infrastructure, visualizatin, and digital maker spaces. The Libraries als initiated prpsals t increase user self-service fr hlds and reserves, create an active learning classrm in Barker Library, and use drnes fr the cllectin f GIS data. Cllectins Greg Ew, newly appinted assciate directr fr Cllectins, began in August 2015 and led a realignment f the Cllectins directrate that realizes efficiencies in bth staffing and wrkflws and cllectively repsitins the MIT Libraries t cntinue its glbal leadership rle in schlarly cmmunicatins and pen access initiatives. These changes represent a strategic pivt t invest increasingly in the Libraries ability t cllect, preserve, and disseminate MIT s research and knwledge utput fr a glbal audience. Ntewrthy develpments in the cllectins realm: A new fcus n develping negtiatin skills resulted in the frmatin f a crss-functinal Negtiatins Team t lead the Libraries annual negtiatins with majr electrnic jurnals vendrs. By prviding frmal negtiatins training pprtunities fr team members, and by

3 develping a team-based apprach t annual negtiatins, the Libraries will be better psitined t make headway in ur effrts t cntain rapidly rising csts in serials subscriptins. An experimental fund t spur innvatin and creativity in library cllectins was used t purchase a web archiving platfrm (Archive-It!), t acquire a streaming vide service (Kanpy), and t launch a study f patrn preferences fr digital versus print music scres in the Lewis Music Library. T prmte student engagement with rare bks, a $50,000 acquisitin fund was established in the Institute Archives and Special Cllectins. All f the first-year acquisitins made thrugh this fund including a Mesptamian clay tablet have been incrprated int MIT classes, giving students a hands-n engagement pprtunity with the cultural recrd. The Open Access Articles cllectin added mre than 3,000 articles, representing a 19% increase ver FY15 article depsits and bringing the ttal number f OA articles in the cllectin t mre than 20,000. The Libraries cntinue t play a substantial leadership rle in digital preservatin, as the glbal library and archives cmmunities search fr technlgy and business mdels t supprt sustainable lng-term access t the digital recrd. A cmprehensive digital preservatin strage plan was cmpleted ver the past year that, when implemented, will establish a fully-supprted fundatin fr the lng-term management f ur digital cllectins. Technlgy Fllwing an internal study cmpleted in FY2015, an external team f library technlgists visited campus in September 2015 and, as in the internal study, recmmended substantial additinal investment in library technlgy and technlgy staff. Strategic technlgy pririties emerged and are nw a fcus, including the fllwing: Replace Integrated Library System (ILS) with a next generatin cmmunity-surce Library Services Platfrm (LSP). Develp a multi-platfrm digital repsitry infrastructure t allw brader and mre rapid expansin f digital cllectins and assciated services. Develp a transparent IT gvernance prcess (prject prpsal, priritizatin, and apprval) t align prject investments with the MIT Libraries strategies, pririties, and resurces (implemented in early 2016). Ntable technlgy initiatives included the fllwing: Overhauled suite f GIS services with cntent management fr bth GIS files and metadata and autmated wrkflws t supprt them. Partnered with IS&T t transitin Libraries web cntent and functinality t an imprved MIT mbile applicatin platfrm, t hst and manage the Libraries strage and cmputing hardware, t hst high-availability library systems, and t increase ur reliance n MIT s Distributed IT Resurces (DITR) team fr nging desktp supprt and fr special prjects. Develped slutins that enhance the quality and discverability f, as well as access, t the Libraries digital cllectins, particularly Open Access materials and ebks. Deplyed/deplying imprtant new digital tls:

4 Symplectic Elements t replace a lcally develped Open Access bibligraphic data stre and assciated wrkflw supprt tls. Archivematica, a preservatin system designed t prvide wrkflw supprt t the life cycle management f digital cntent. ArchiveSpace t manage Institute Archives cntent and peratins. Launched an explratin f the Yewn search tl, which prvides a graphical display f cnnectins between ndes f infrmatin, ptentially allwing fr new frms f discvery and knwledge creatin. Diversity, Inclusin, and Well-Being The Libraries pririties in these areas ver the past year were evident in several ntewrthy ways: The Cmmittee fr the Prmtin f Diversity and Inclusin (CPDI) cntinued its high level f activities, spnsring mre than a dzen different events with hundreds f attendees ver the curse f the year, and intrducing a weekly news digest fr library staff. CPDI members als played imprtant rles in MIT-wide events and activities. A Cde f Cnduct was adpted t demnstrate the Libraries cmmitment t an inclusive, cllabrative, caring, and respectful cmmunity envirnment. The cde is specifically intended t help ensure that all events spnsred by the Libraries prvide supprtive and respectful experiences fr all attendees. The tpic f diversity and inclusin was actively discussed at a variety f library staff frums thrughut the year, including in cnnectin with the review f ur search prcess fr administrative staff and als as a perfrmance factr. The verall prtin f underrepresented minrity staff rse frm 14% t 15%, which falls shrt f the Libraries aspiratins while cmparing favrably with ther ARL libraries in the New England regin, which average 9%. The Libraries develped and prmulgated a statement n diversity and inclusin: The MIT Libraries is cmmitted t supprting diversity, inclusin, and well-being within the cmmunities we represent and serve. T that end, the Libraries seek t: Prmte and enhance the well-being f all ur cmmunity members especially students by maintaining inclusive, safe, and welcming spaces and by prviding resurces, services, and prgrams that prmte and reflect diversity, inclusin, scial justice, and wellness. Increase the percentage f underrepresented minrity (URM) staff in the Libraries. Prvide nging training and supprt fr all library staff in develping cultural cmpetencies. Maintain strng relatinships within the MIT cmmunity, especially with URM grups and prgrams, supprting their gals and valuing their pinins. Be a leader within the library and archives prfessinal cmmunities t advcate fr brader adptin and implementatin f these gals. Resurce Develpment Fiscal Year 2016 was the Libraries first full year under the leadership f Directr Chris Burg, marked by enthusiasm fr innvative ideas, a willingness t engage frequently with past and prspective dnrs, and a desire t cllabrate with clleagues in central Resurce Develpment and the Alumni

5 Assciatin. Thanks in part t a large gift frm an annymus dnr, the Libraries recrded a remarkable increase in annual gift revenue fr FY16 ver FY15, up by nearly 200% t a ttal f just under $1 millin. The fundraising team will be augmented in FY17 by the additin f a Grants Develpment Officer. The gal f this new psitin will be t fcus mre attentin n Libraries and MIT Press effrts in the sphere f fundatin and spnsred activities. Spnsred Research The Libraries Prgram n Infrmatin Science, led by Directr f Research Micah Altman, was active in a number f areas: Data Management and Privacy (Slan Fundatin, U.S. Census Bureau, Micrsft Research, and Harvard University); Data Transparency, Cllectin, Participatin, and Reprducibility (Harvard Berkman Center fr the Internet and Sciety, Micrsft, and the Berkeley Center fr Law and Technlgy); Enhancing Teaching and Learning (Natinal Science Fundatin, the Technical Educatin Research Center, and Landmark Cllege); and hsting a Pstdctral Fellwship in Sftware Curatin (Cuncil n Library and Infrmatin Resurces). Tw ther staff members als led spnsred research prjects. Nancy McGvern (Prgram Manager, Digital Preservatin) was active in several cntinuing digital preservatin prjects spnsred by the Natinal Science Fundatin/University f Minnesta, the Institute fr Museum and Library Services and the Cuncil n Library and Infrmatin Resurces (IMLS), IMLS and Harvard University, and the Natinal Endwment fr the Humanities. Jana Dambrgi (Thmas F. Petersn ( 57) Cnservatr) was awarded grants frm three spnsrs in supprt f her research int letterlcking: the Delmas Fundatin, the Seaver Institute, and the Nederlandse Organisatie vr Wetenschappelijk Onderzek (Netherlands). Administrative Cmmunity Supprt and Staff Develpment: This was the first year f a new psitin fcused n utreach t many campus partners in supprt f a variety f student and cmmunity wellness prgrams, as well as the creatin f a structured staff develpment prgram. Human Resurces cmpleted a majr review and update f the Libraries administrative staff search prcess. Marketing and Cmmunicatins: New staff were hired int bth psitins; the Libraries suite f marketing materials was redesigned; and a study f internal cmmunicatins practices and preferences was cnducted. Financial: The business mdel fr the Libraries resurce sharing and digital scanning peratins migrated frm cst-recvery t standard budgeted peratins at the end f FY16. Althugh this change had been cnsidered fr several years due t the peratinal advantages it affrded, it was implemented nly after analysis revealed a negligible fiscal impact. Chris Burg Directr f Libraries