Libraries Annual Meeting: Notes from the Dean's Remarks
I. Welcome, and thanks to:
· Larry, Darcelene, and the Library Social Committee
· Dean’s office: Peter, Annette, Nancy and Lisa—especially for the slide show.
II. Themes
· Every year we have a theme, which we discover largely in retrospect—we don’t always know what theme we’re making as we’re working. The past year seems to have several themes: change, collaboration and coming together. We are evolving to new levels of service.
· Thesaurus.com defines “together” as: calm, cool, in sync, well-balanced; as one, collectively, in unison, side by side, with one voice; and, in a state of preparedness.
III. What has come together over the past year in the Libraries?
· The evolution of the R2 report in very practical ways:
o Tech Services re-visioning, through the work of the Technical Services Working Group (TSWG) and the Serials Implementation Team (SIT)
o Discovery and Delivery Council
o Newly-constituted Collections Team
o Bringing Dana and Bailey/Howe processes together
o Materials budget realignment
· The evolution of our organizational structure.
o Collection Management Services (CMS) into Resource Description and Analysis (with Birdie as Director) and Collection Development and Acquisitions (with Tina as Interim Director)
o Jeanene Light as Interim Director of B/H Instruction & Information Services
· The evolution of our Web site to something that is aesthetically pleasing as well as flexible and functional with a January 2009 release.
· The evolution of our communications and marketing initiatives: LOGO design and ASK campaigns. Also connecting with our users through our various new and re-energized liaison programs.
· The evolution of our facilities.
o Evolution of Dana as an even faster and flexible research machine: informatics, no ILL fees, etc.
o Evolution of B/H: renovating a better building
o Including partners: Writing in the Disciplines (WID), ETS Help Desk
o Devolution of Cook to a largely virtual library
o Billings becoming a reality
o Our virtual space: CDI and institutional repository
· The evolution for the future in a newly created Strategic Plan.
o The Strategic Plan has been circulated, and there will be an open forum to discuss on Wednesday, Nov. 12.
IV. The Libraries’ evolution amidst economic uncertainty. We need to be even more flexible and focused. The budget implications suggest that we must be streamlined.
· Better shape than many other institutions:
o So far, no hiring freezes or layoffs
o Paychecks covered
o Near-term and longer term concerns:
Enrollment uncertainties, Retention, Research focus
· Strategic planning and University Planning Council
· New student learning outcomes
· Accreditation
· New vision/mission statements:
Vision Statement: To be among the nation’s premier small research universities,
preeminent in our comprehensive commitment to liberal education, environment,
health, and public service.
Mission Statement: To create, evaluate, share, and apply knowledge and to prepare students to be accountable leaders who will bring to their work dedication to the global community, a grasp of complexity, effective problem-solving and communication skills, and an enduring commitment to learning and ethical conduct.
In closing, this will continue to be a year of evolving together. In fact, the new libraries’ group photo represents the convergence of all our efforts and the progress we have made. Seeing all our colleagues pictured together under Billings represents the past as well as the future –all of which is coming together for the UVM Libraries.
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