scholarly journals Sharing Success: A Review of Strategic Planning, Annual Reports, and Publicly Available Information from Academic Libraries

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 70-82
Author(s):  
Kaitlin Springmier ◽  
Elizabeth Edwards ◽  
Michelle B Bass
Keyword(s):  
Strategic Planning ◽  
North American ◽  
Academic Libraries ◽  
Academic Library ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Quality Of Data ◽  
Funding Model ◽  
Use Of Data ◽  
Communication Practices ◽  
American Academic

Objective – This paper reports on a study which explored web-based information sharing practices in North American academic libraries. This study specifically focused on how selected academic libraries use data, reports, and other strategic planning documents to communicate success and demonstrate impact to stakeholders, administrators, and peers.   Methods – An environmental scan was conducted to explore the assessment programs and communication practices of 97 North American academic libraries. The population for this study was identified on the basis of several metrics: consortial membership, Association of Research Libraries (ARL) ranking on various criteria, and institutional attendance at the 2014 and 2016 Library Assessment Conferences (LAC). Researchers conducted content analyses on the websites of the 97 libraries to identify measures of institutional support for assessment and to explore the range, depth, and quality of data made available. These iterative analyses were supported by the use of a rubric developed based on emergent criteria observed during multiple phases of review.   Results – Of the libraries reviewed, 57% made some form of data available to the public. The most robust and effective use of data observed in this study involved the use of data to tell stories about the library and its impact. While this study found a positive correlation between libraries with clear investments in assessment and their use of data in public documents, it found that other factors such as an institution’s consortial memberships or funding model may more strongly influence a library’s decision to make data available.   Conclusions – While observations gleaned from this study may serve as a benchmark for evaluating communication practices in academic libraries, further research is necessary to understand how factors within an academic library, its parent institution, or the profession at large may contribute to this decision making process.

scholarly journals Surveying North American Academic Library Websites for Instructional Outreach and Delivery Reveals a Broad Range of Approaches Employed

2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 61
Author(s):  
Heather Coates
Keyword(s):  
Information Literacy ◽  
North American ◽  
Academic Libraries ◽  
Academic Library ◽  
Library Instruction ◽  
Web Presence ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Library Websites ◽  
The Web ◽  
American Academic

A Review of: Yang., S. Q., & Chou, M. (2014). Promoting and teaching information literacy on the Internet: Surveying the web sites of 264 academic libraries in North America. Journal of Web Librarianship, 8(1), 88-104. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/19322909.2014.855586 Abstract Objective – To determine the extent to which academic libraries have used the Web to market and deliver information literacy both as a service and as a concept. Design – Survey of web content. Setting – Websites of North American academic libraries. Subjects – A random sample of 264 libraries selected from Peterson’s Four-Year Colleges. Methods – The investigators reviewed and analyzed content on academic library websites by recording the presence of various types of information. Presence was recorded for the term information literacy, tutorial content, guides and tests, and delivery of information literacy instruction. The frequencies of tutorials and guides were also reported. Main Results – Approximately 65% of the libraries used their website to promote instruction, while 30% did not mention information literacy or library instruction. A wide range of terminology was used to denote library instruction, but information literacy was not highly used. Approximately 5% of libraries had no public web presence. Research guides, tutorials, or both were provided by 64% of libraries. More than 300 tutorials in a variety of formats, including Adobe Flash videos, static web pages with little or no animations, webcasts, documents, and presentations were offered by 111 libraries. The tutorials addressed general research topics, databases, concepts and technical skills, among others. Conclusion – While the majority of academic libraries sampled have incorporated information literacy and library instruction into their web presence, it is unclear why nearly one third did not mention these activities. Further study is needed to benchmark how libraries are using the Web for instruction and outreach.

scholarly journals Effects of the digitization to the printed collection policies

2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (2/3) ◽  
pp. 167-174
Author(s):  
Jarmo Saarti ◽  
Markku Antero Laitinen ◽  
Pentti Vattulainen
Keyword(s):  
Academic Libraries ◽  
Academic Library ◽  
New Paradigm ◽  
Scientific Publications ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Use Of Data ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Collection Cost ◽  
Rapid Transition ◽  
Printed Materials

Purpose The recent changes in the knowledge economy and scientific knowledge dissemination have put academic libraries in a new situation. The demand for open access of scientific publications and the increasing amount of documents published need a new paradigm in the collection policies and collection building strategies of the academic libraries. At the same time the resources allocated to the academic institutions have been decreasing which has caused the need to reallocate the resources in the collection building and management as effectively as possible. The purpose of this paper is to analyse how the use of data compiled from different sources, such as statistics and assessing user experience, as a tool for analysing the effectiveness of the library’s economic resources and how this has effected on the use of the libraries. Design/methodology/approach Statistical and trend analysis based on Finnish academic library collections database. Findings The Finnish academic libraries have made a rapid transition to the digital dissemination of documents. At the same time the national services have enabled the long-time preservation of less used printed materials and have enabled the libraries to save premise costs. Research limitations/implications Modeling the findings to other countries maybe difficult because of the specific characteristics of the Finnish academic environment. Practical implications Gives examples on managing the shift from a printed to a digital library. Originality/value Evidence based tools for collection cost management.

Community users in North American academic libraries

2011 ◽  
Vol 112 (3/4) ◽  
pp. 141-149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wanda V. Dole ◽  
J.B. Hill
Keyword(s):  
North American ◽  
Academic Libraries ◽  
American Academic

scholarly journals AAU Library Directors Prefer Collaborative Decision Making with Senior Administrative Team Members

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carol L. Perryman
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Organizational Change ◽  
Strategic Planning ◽  
Succession Planning ◽  
Academic Libraries ◽  
Academic Library ◽  
The United States ◽  
Incremental Change ◽  
Job Title ◽  
Terminal Degree

A Review of: Meier, J. J. (2016). The future of academic libraries: Conversations with today’s leaders about tomorrow. Portal: Libraries and the Academy, 16(2), 263-288. Retrieved from http://muse.jhu.edu/article/613842 Abstract Objective – To understand academic library leaders’ decision making methods, priorities, and support of succession planning, as well as to understand the nature, extent, and drivers of organizational change. Design – Survey and interview. Setting – Academic libraries with membership in the Association of American Universities (AAU) in the United States of America and Canada. Subjects – 62 top administrators of AAU academic libraries. Methods – Content analysis performed to identify most frequent responses. An initial survey written to align with the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) 2014-2015 salary survey was distributed prior to or during structured in-person interviews to gather information about gender, race/ethnicity, age, time since terminal degree, time in position, temporary or permanent status, and current job title. 7-question interview guides asked about decision processes, strategic goals, perceived impacts of strategic plan and vision, planned changes within the next 3-5 years, use of mentors for organizational change, and succession planning activities. Transcripts were analyzed to identify themes, beginning with a preliminary set of codes that were expanded during analysis to provide clarification. Main results – 44 top academic library administrators of the 62 contacted (71% response rate) responded to the survey and interview. Compared to the 2010 ARL Survey, respondents were slightly more likely to be female (55%; ARL: 58%) and non-white (5%; ARL: 11%). Approximately 66% of both were aged 60 and older, while slightly fewer were 50-59 (27% compared to 31% for ARL), and almost none were aged 40-49 compared to 7% for the ARL survey. Years of experience averaged 33, slightly less than the reported ARL average of 35. Requested on the survey, but not reported, were time since terminal degree and in position, temporary or permanent status, and current job title. Hypothesis 1, that most library leaders base decisions on budget concerns rather than upon library and external administration strategic planning, was refuted. Hypothesis 2, that changes to the academic structure are incremental rather than global (e.g., alterations to job titles and responsibilities), was supported by responses. Major organizational changes in the next three to five years were predicted, led by role changes, addition of new positions, and unit consolidation. Most participants agreed that while there are sufficient personnel to replace top level library administrators, there will be a crisis for mid-level positions as retirements occur. A priority focus emerging from interview responses was preparing for next-generation administrators. There was disagreement among respondents about whether a crisis exists in the availability of new leaders to replace those who are retiring. Conclusion – Decisions are primarily made in collaboration with senior leadership teams, and based on strategic planning and goals as well as university strategic plans in order to effect incremental change as opposed to wholesale structural change.

scholarly journals Lack of Annual Reports Make it Difficult to Analyze Library Strategic Credibility

2011 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 34
Author(s):  
Kirsty Thomson
Keyword(s):  
Academic Libraries ◽  
The United States ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Institutional Repositories ◽  
Research Libraries ◽  
Association Of Research Libraries ◽  
Training Development ◽  
Strategic Plans ◽  
New Buildings ◽  
American Academic

Objective – To investigate whether libraries achieve strategic credibility by assessing if strategic planning goals match the achievements described in annual reports. Design – Content analysis of annual reports and strategic plans from a sample of Association of Research Libraries (ARL). Setting – Academic libraries in Canada and the United States of America. Subjects – A random sample of 12 Canadian and 16 American academic libraries. All libraries were members of ARL. Methods – The researcher contacted the directors of 28 ARL libraries and asked for copies of their strategic plans and annual reports. She also visited the websites of libraries to obtain the reports. The contents of the strategic plans and annual reports were analyzed, and trends in the Canadian and American strategic plans were identified. Main Results – This study found that only 39% of ARL libraries produce annual reports, making it difficult to assess if libraries have strategic credibility, as their strategic plans cannot be assessed against annual reports. The strategic plans gathered in this study were analyzed and emerging themes were identified. These included physical library space (renovations, expansions or new buildings); offsite storage; assessment (both of the libraries’ services, and of information literacy training); development activities such as fundraising and marketing; and personnel issues. Cultural differences also were found in the strategic plans, with American libraries being more focused on trends such as digitization and institutional repositories, and Canadian libraries’ plans being more focused on users’ needs. Trends in annual reports were not reported due to the small number of annual reports in the sample. Conclusion – This study gives a snapshot of the trends in strategic plans of ARL members. It shows that many ARL members do not produce an annual report, and that it is therefore difficult to assess if their strategic plans are implemented successfully. The article hypothesizes that the communication of achievements may now be part of development and marketing efforts, rather than traditional annual reports.

scholarly journals Discovery layer decisions, configurations and strategies

Bibliosphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 83-95
Author(s):  
R. Schwartz
Keyword(s):  
Open Source ◽  
Open Source Software ◽  
Academic Libraries ◽  
Academic Library ◽  
Usability Testing ◽  
Product Type ◽  
The Other ◽  
Implementation Processes ◽  
American Academic

The problem that patrons frequently encounter with searching via a discovery layer linked to a knowledgebase is the overwhelming number of hits. Few if any research or discussion compares how libraries resolve this difficulty. To begin a discussion, the author disseminated an open invitation for academic libraries to participate on three panels from October 2018 to June 2019 to discuss their implementation processes and decisions. Five academic libraries accepted the invitation. This paper reviews the approaches of the five American academic library systems with the intent to encourage further examination of the issues of design, implementation, and maintenance of discovery layers. The conclusions reached point to the evolving nature of discovery layer interfaces and the struggle for libraries to adapt their needs to this still changing product type. Within this group, the larger institutions with more financial and staff resources have designed a ‘’bento box’’ interface with open source software, while the other institutions with lesser means have chosen to create different instances of their subscribed proprietary discovery layers to meet their specific institutional demands and the specific needs of their patrons. A statistically relevant examination with rigorous comparison of usability testing would have to be done to see how these and other factors play out in the wider field.

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