Planning

Planning

1. Goals/accomplishments current year
   5. Planning
      1. The past year has seen a major re-evaluation and re-thinking of library operations and priorities. A number of accomplishments are listed in Section D, Special Initiatives. Planning has developed both from accomplishments and realization of needs. Plans for the coming year include:
         1. Develop and begin implementing 5-year strategic plan for Library, beginning with Departmental needs assessments.
         2. Conduct pilot project to test alternative ILS for ND university libraries. Starting with RFP, purchase and implement a new ILS at the NDSU Library.
         3. Establish Library as campus leader in social media. Start by providing blogging and wiki tools for faculty and students. Put on a day of workshops on social media for higher education in during Fall 07 semester.
         4. Significantly increase electronic journals and databases.
         5. Eliminate backlog in Cataloging, and establish more effective system to prevent future backlogs. A major part of this plan involves hiring a metadata librarian.
         6. Finalize library website redesign – roll out during Fall 07 semester.
         7. Begin major initiatives in library development – lay groundwork for fundraising for new library.
         8. Complete renovation of Tech Services area in line with plans developed by Susan Ray-Degges and her interior design class.
         9. Revise and update Library Policy manual.
      2. Challenges
         1. Space: As mentioned in last year's report, adequate space for collections and comfortable space for people continues to be a challenge. The new Annex location provides the library with additional space and we are shifting additional materials to there from the Main Library, Institute/Archives and 3 branch libraries. However, these shifts will address the problem only temporarily.
         2. Budget: Changes in scholarly communication, journal proliferation, and relentless inflation have created a nationwide "serials crisis" for academic libraries. Although the Student Library Fee (now beginning its 4th year) and supplemental funds from administration have helped the past few years, we continue to run short. Industry analysts project journal prices to increase 7-9% this year. Without additional funding, another major serials cancellation will be necessary.
         3. Moving to the "next level." Even without the current fiscal problems, the NDSU Library is not adequate to meet the needs of a research extensive university. In fact, it does not begin to satisfy the criteria for designation as a “research library.” If NDSU is to be a nationally recognized research university, its library must keep pace with its advances in research, scholarship and graduate education.
      3. Program Strengths
         1. The greatest strength of the library continues to be its dedicated and knowledgeable staff. They continue to reach out to various segments of the campus and community through presentations and service activities. Many have exceptional technical and research skills and have much to offer to NDSU.