University Libraries Lyla University Chicag Strategic Plan, 2010-2013 The University Libraries include the Cudahy Library, Infrmatin Cmmns, Lewis Library, Rme Center Library, University Archives and Special Cllectins, Cngressinal Archives, and Wmen and Leadership Archives. Our services and cllectins supprt the prgrams f the Cllege f Arts and Sciences, Schl f Business Administratin, Schl f Cmmunicatin, Schl f Cntinuing and Prfessinal Studies, Schl f Educatin, Schl f Nursing, and Schl f Scial Wrk. The libraries cllabrate with ther institutins in Chicag and acrss the cuntry thrugh membership in the Center fr Research Libraries, OCLC internatinal library cnsrtium, and the Cnsrtium f Academic and Research Libraries in Illinis, as well as cperative agreements with the Assciatin f Jesuit Clleges and Universities and ther universities. We welcme ur Rgers Park and Edgewater neighbrs thrugh ur Cmmunity Access Plicy. The intent f this plan is t illustrate ur visin fr the next three years. Using ur wn missin and visin as a fundatin and in respnse t Our Cmmitment t Excellence: Lyla's Plan 2009-2015, we have synchrnized ur directins t fully supprt the directins utlined in the University s plan. Our Missin: The Lyla University Libraries facilitate the pursuit f knwledge and creativity thrugh user-fcused services and cllectins in an inviting, cllabrative, and innvative learning envirnment. Our Visin: T be Lyla s gateway t the wrld f infrmatin and schlarship. The libraries will pursue three directins t advance ver the next three years: Re-envisin the cllectins. Re-align services and facilities t meet established and emerging needs. Re-affirm ur identity and centrality t the academic missin. We are grateful fr the extrardinary University supprt and funding in recent years. This has helped us t deliver quality services and has helped t cmpensate fr earlier years f underfunding in the cllectins. Recent cllectin assessment indicates that the lean years resulted in a gap between the quality f ur cllectins and thse f ur peer institutins, s we will cntinue t rebuild cllectins t be cmpetitive with ur peers. We understand ur respnsibility t cntinue as gd stewards f ur current and future resurces. The libraries must deliver excellent quality in ur established services while mving int new and emerging areas such as creating and managing digital cllectins, respnding t unprecedented demand n ur facilities, and extending services t new platfrms and via new delivery paths. While all ur gals require a cmmitment f persnnel and funding, ur aim is t identify tactics and actins that can be scaled t allw us t make prgress in any ecnmy.
Re-envisin the cllectins We will define and clearly describe the cllectins we have and the cllectins we need t ensure academic success. As schlarly publishing evlves, delivery f cntent will increasingly be thrugh new means and in new frmats. Current analysis suggests that the primary frm f schlarly cmmunicatin in many disciplines remains the peer-reviewed jurnal, ften in electrnic frm. In additin, university press publicatins and ther schlarly bks are primary in sme fields. The strength, depth, and cntinued grwth f the library s cllectin remain cre indicatrs f bth the library s quality and reputatin and the University s cmmitment t success. We will cntinue t build bth print and digital cllectins thrugh acquisitins and digitizatin f unique lcal cllectins. The fllwing actins are imprtant t ur success in implementing this strategy: Define, re-define, and braden cllectin parameters t create and maintain a cllectin that meets the evlving needs f library users and supprts the University s areas f strategic grwth thrugh cllabratin with faculty, students, ther libraries, and cnsrtia. These cllectin guidelines will recgnize and balance the increasing imprtance f digital cllectins with enduring value f print and ther material cllectins. Evaluate the academic ptential f alternate frmats and media t determine their imprtance t the library s cllecting missin in rder t refcus, refresh and reinvigrate ur cllectins t better serve ur users Develp and implement a multi-year prject t assess the print cllectin in rder t identify areas with ptential fr grwth, specifically in disciplines fr which the schlarly mngraph is a primary means f schlarly cmmunicatin. Build a digital repsitry t enable the best use f unique and riginal material by the university cmmunity. The digital repsitry will be used by the library t rganize, preserve, and prvide nline access t dcuments and media riginated at Lyla, with ptential benefits f increasing use f this material and freeing space fr ther uses in the library facilities. This repsitry may include Lyla faculty and student wrks; gvernance, cmmittee, and ther university dcuments; theses and dissertatins; and ther pertinent resurces. Wrk with faculty and ther campus cnstituencies t determine the emphases and cntent f the digital repsitry. Expand current digital special cllectins by adding mre cntent. Create new digital cllectins, including a digitized rare bk cllectin. Develp skills in digital resurce creatin as we - the University, the library, and the faculty - begin t create ur wn resurces and repsitries. Knwledge in yur grasp. 2.
Re-align services and facilities t meet established and emerging needs We will align ur services, resurces, and space t respnd better t the ways ur users apprach the prcess f inquiry, research, and reflectin implied by the transfrmative educatin addressed in the University s plan. We will use the results f ur wn assessment t define these imprvements. The fllwing actins are imprtant t ur success in implementing this strategy: Imprve delivery f persn-t-persn services by ensuring that a wider range f basic library services is available at all service pints and by streamlining the prvisin f services. Establish a baseline f service that will be available at every service pint and frm every service persn. Prvide effective and accurate referrals t mre specialized library, ITS, and ther university services. Increase crss training, internal cllabratin within the libraries, and external cllabratin, fr example between the libraries and ITS, in rder t reduce the need fr library users t distinguish between varius service pints and departments. Implement the staff develpment prgramming needed t ensure the success f this service. Experiment with alternate lcatins f service prviders, in rder t be available in lcatins in which assistance is mst needed, within the libraries and beynd. Imprve virtual access t the cllectin and services. We will create a web site that is mre user-centered, based n assessment f Lyla student and faculty preferences as well as research n infrmatin-seeking behavir. Rerganize the cntent f the library web site t guide users thrugh the prcess f research. Redesign the appearance f the library web site t harmnize with the university s site in rder t enhance its usability by students, faculty, and members f the Lyla cmmunity and t capitalize n the Lyla brand. Increase user awareness f Archives and Special Cllectins, the Wmen and Leadership Archives, the Cngressinal Archives, the digital repsitry, and ther unique Lyla resurces, by making them mre prminent in the libraries web site and by increasing the inclusin f special cllectins, rare bks, and e- bks in the library catalg. Facilitate access t the cllectins f ther libraries and t full-text nline resurces by using WrldCat Lcal as ur public catalg. Develp r adpt applicatins t make ur resurces mre accessible by new technlgies as they are adpted by ur users, fr example, mbile devices. Knwledge in yur grasp. 3.
Imprve and expand cllectin services t the Centers f Excellence. The University s strategic plan emphasizes the develpment f these centers and we will supprt their success by delivering services similar t thse ffered t the academic departments. Appint a library liaisn t each Center t prvide the subject services currently ffered t the academic departments and t develp the cllectin t supprt the interdisciplinary wrk f the Centers. Ptential services may include develpment f research tls, targeted events r prgrams, specialized reference services, and targeted cllectin develpment. Imprve physical access t the libraries and ur cllectins. Explring ur cllectin shuld be pleasant, intuitive, and even fun. Cudahy, Lewis, and the Rme Center Libraries will prvide atmspheres cnducive t quiet individual schlarship and immersin in the physical cllectins. Facilitate the use f the physical cllectins thrugh rearrangement, imprved signage and directinal infrmatin, and aesthetic imprvement. Create a variety f flexible spaces that meet the educatinal and scial needs f the users. Our patrns use the library facilities in a variety f ways: fr quiet study and grup prjects; as a place t learn and t scialize; fr brief visits r hurs f hard wrk. The Infrmatin Cmmns, Cudahy Library, Lewis Library, and the Rme Center Library ffer technlgy and learning spaces, media use facilities, and ther cnfiguratins t supprt cllabrative learning. As the Learning Cmmns Initiatives are realized, these features will becme mre prminent in all f ur facilities. Use assessment data t define future needs and infrm future renvatin f the libraries. Knwledge in yur grasp. 4.
Re-affirm ur identity and centrality t the academic missin We have a well-develped sense f ur rle, expressed in ur missin, visin, and values. We will raise the awareness f that identity and increase utreach services and prmtin f ur new initiatives s the Lyla cmmunity recgnizes what we ffer and hw we can cntribute t student, faculty, and University success. We will als take advantage f new methds t engage users utside the library, thrugh imprved technlgy and prgramming. The fllwing actins are imprtant t ur success in implementing this strategy: Supprt transfrmative learning by develping infrmatin literacy skills in all students. Infrmatin literacy is imprtant t the missin f Lyla University Chicag, as recgnized in the infrmatin literacy sectin f the Cre Curriculum Guide. Students wh are intrduced t infrmatin literacy skills during their first year will be able t use thse skills thrughut their careers at LUC and in their future lives. The University Libraries are eager t develp cllabrative relatinships with ther Lyla departments t prvide all students with pprtunities that imprve infrmatin literacy skills and supprt transfrmative learning. Wrk with the University cmmittee n the Cre Curriculum with the gal f incrprating library infrmatin literacy prgramming int the Cre. Wrk with the Office f First Year Experience with the gal f incrprating library infrmatin literacy prgramming int the Lyla Seminar. Initiate fcused utreach and instructin fr transfer students, nn-traditinal students, and students participating in prgrams that supprt retentin and success at Lyla such as Learning Enrichment fr Academic Prgress. Enhance the quality and extent f instructin t the first year and transfer students, specifically in research-fcused class sessins taught by a librarian. Expand library instructin t upper-level undergraduate and graduate classes. Prmte innvatin in infrmatin literacy curriculum, delivery methds, and prgrams, by establishing a Library Instructin Crdinatr psitin respnsible fr leading the librarians in this wrk. Supprt excellence in teaching and research and supprt faculty develpment thrugh cllabratin with ther Lyla departments. Faculty develpment prgrams cntribute t the verall success f the classrm faculty and their effrts in teaching, research and mentring f students. Cllabrate with the Center fr Faculty Prfessinal Develpment t prvide library tls fr teaching and research thrugh CFPD prgrams. Cllabrate with EMERGE t ffer librarian-taught wrkshps t the Lyla cmmunity n tpics such as cpyright and schlarly publishing issues. Knwledge in yur grasp. 5.
Offer general library rientatin t all incming faculty and at every Fcus n Teaching event, in additin t the specialized sessins such as cpyright, r archives and special cllectins at Lyla. Target individual classes fr specialized services such as curse-specific research guides, r librarians participatin in nline class frums in rder t advise n research questins. Create pprtunities and spnsr r c-spnsr events that bring faculty tgether, such as the Faculty Publicatin Celebratin and ther sympsia. Increase the impact f the libraries subject services including cllectin develpment and specialized reference and instructin services. All f ur services fcus n the success f the academic missin, and the subject specialist librarians have primary respnsibility fr ensuring that the libraries fully supprt what is being taught and researched at Lyla. Subject specialists will als be necessary t ensure Lyla s Centers f Excellence have access t the library resurces required t develp their multi-disciplinary prgrams. Thrugh increased cmmunicatin and cllabratin, we can recgnize, develp, and deliver the mst relevant cllectins and services. Develp individualized prfessinal develpment plans fr subject specialists t deepen their expertise in relevant areas f knwledge, including the academic disciplines fr which they select, the structure f schlarly cmmunicatin in thse disciplines, specialized research tls and methds, digital resurce creatin, and new infrmatin technlgy. Develp individualized utreach plans t establish and enhance relatinships with academic departments and centers in rder t ensure that teaching and research faculty are well infrmed abut the services prvided by their subject specialists and that subject specialists are well infrmed abut current and anticipated directins in teaching and research. Knwledge in yur grasp. 6.
Summary Implicit in these prpsals is a fundamental cmmitment t utreach, prmtin f services, and cntinuus assessment t infrm imprvement. We want every member f the Lyla cmmunity t knw what we have t ffer them and hw ur services can supprt their success, and thereby advance the university s gals as expressed in Our Cmmitment t Excellence. Specific crrelatins with the university s strategies include: Strnger library cllectins meet the research needs f ur graduate students and faculty and thereby cntribute t the reputatins f the graduate and prfessinal schls. Library services and cllectins tailred t the Centers fr Excellence will supprt the success f these centers and ptentially t inter-disciplinary and inter-campus cllabratin. The digital repsitry cllectin will increase visibility f graduate and faculty research and s has the ptential t cntribute t reputatin f the university. Cllabratin with the Center fr Faculty Prfessinal Develpment t reach ut t faculty allws us t supprt faculty t meet the teaching and research expectatins laid ut in the university plan. Infrmatin literacy skills cntribute t students immediate academic success and t students capacity fr lifelng learning. By cntributing t student success, these skills may als cntribute t retentin. The libraries can supprt the university s strategy t create spaces that prmte academic and scial pursuits thrugh majr building prjects such as the planned Rme Center Library and the prjected renvatins f Lewis Library and Cudahy Library. Every imprvement the libraries make in services, cllectins, and facilities will help the university meet and exceed student expectatins and thereby supprt recruiting and retentin. The University Libraries are cnfident that thrugh cllectin building, develpment f frward lking services, and cllabratin with thers in the University t supprt their academic gals, we will cntribute t a future fr Lyla characterized by excellence in teaching, research, and service as envisined in the University s strategic plan. Knwledge in yur grasp. 7.