Minutes from the Dean's Council Retreat on Jan. 25

Opening remarks

Mara brought the Council’s attention to recent developments in the University’s mission and vision, and University Planning Council activities which will frame the Libraries’ planning. The seven UVM strategic goals are evolving and will be refined through the semester.

Mara encouraged the Council to create the libraries’ goals for 2008-2012 from the users’ perspective, calling it, “FOUR FOR FOUR: Aspirational and inspirational goals.”

The Council members discussed their desires for retreat outcomes

• Creating processes that affect change in a positive way.
• Generating 3 or 4 concrete goals that will capture everyone’s imagination.
• Making conscious decision about who we are going to be in a rapidly changing environment.
• Getting clarity about our direction and with constancy of purpose.
• Focusing on realistic, linear progression and drawing people into the process.
• Setting high-level goals that would guide our work and help set priorities, rather than describe what we are doing.
• Creating teamwork.
• Framing the context for goals, so that everyone (top to bottom) can buy into them.

The Council brainstormed library trends, in general, for the next five years. Following is a sampling of that discussion:

• User handheld devices instead of laptops.
• Technology without electricity. Global energy resources not sustainable.
• The economy. Increasing competitive aspects of national/international markets.
• Customer-value orientation.
• Environmental crises. (Where will used technology go?) What will we do with decommissioned machines?
• Globalization. Students going abroad. International partnership with Africa, China, Eastern Europe.
• Changes in online computing environments, social networking, Web 2.0, etc. (The way we push services and the way people will interact.)
• Culture of experimentation.
• Blurring of all lines: jobs, roles, technology.
• Changing nature of information itself.
• Importance and meaning of here and now vs. long view.
• Outsourcing of functions.
• Greater accountability of universities.
• What will distinguish an individual library’s collection in age of shared resources?
• Privacy. Library passion for it versus patron’s growing disregard for it.

Implications of trends (sample from brainstorming session)

How to be all things to all people? What things will we choose what and who will be? How will we tell our story? Articulate our value? Static vs. dynamic? Understand and preserve long-view information, as well as rapidly responding to the Zeitgeist.

UVM Libraries’ Values and Guiding Principles (brainstorm session)

Users first. Innovation through Experimentation. Scholarship. Learning. Research. Inquiry. Knowledge. Discovery. Stewardship. Intellectual. Cultural. Materials. Preservation. Heritage. Community. Diversity. Access.

Two-member teams assigned to draft a strategic-goal statement; outcome measures; and actions for each of the following:

• Info Resources & Access (Paul and Birdie)
• Facilities (Jeanene and Peter, Nancy)
• Libraries’ Programs and Services (Keith and Jeanene)
• Digital (Jeff and Selene)

The group will reconvene on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 3-4:30 p.m.

The Council discussed the clear and straight-forward Strategic Plan created by Oregon State University as a potential model for UVM Libraries.

http://osulibrary.oregonstate.edu/strategic_pw.pdf

Libraries Open Forum: Ideas Wanted

I'd like to organize open forums (fora) based on input from the libraries employees. If you have an idea for a topic or speaker, let me know and I will pursue them. Thanks!
--Nancy

The Van Gogh's New Logo & Com Team Updates

Working with the Scoula Group design firm, University Communications, and Mara S. and Paul P., the Libraries’ Communications Team has selected a logo for the University Libraries. You’ll start to see the logo appear slowly over the next month or so. Meanwhile, the “Com Team” continues to work with the Scoula Group to design handy templates that include the logo and additional design elements for frequent publications such as handouts, temporary signage, Powerpoint slides, letterhead, and annual reports.

The Libraries’ tagline (“Ask. Discover. Create.”) was finalized based on feedback from students, faculty, and staff. Many thanks to all of you who participated in surveys and discussions.

We’ll soon be undertaking a major project to revitalize current and temporary signage in our campus libraries.

Feel free to send thoughts or suggestions our way. The Communications Team is: Nancy Bercaw, Selene Colburn (Chair), Prudence Doherty, Laura Haines, Trina Magi, and Peter Spitzform.

Scoula Group = http://scuolagroup.com/ourValue.html

In the latest issue of Vermont Quarterly