Library Administration

Library Mission Statement

The University of Oregon Libraries enriches the student learning experience, encourages exploration and research at all levels, and contributes to advancements in access to scholarly resources.

VISION

The UO Libraries will be an active and visible partner in the enhancement of learning and creation of new knowledge. We will engage students, faculty, and campus leadership in dynamic, user-centered processes for planning, delivering and assessing all programs, services, and information resources.

STRATEGIES

Collaborative endeavors: Through collaboration, we can begin to see new roles and opportunities, with the campus developing a broader appreciation of the contributions of the library as more than book stacks. We understand more about the campus community's changing needs. We become a key partner in student and faculty success as it is defined by them. By aligning services with collaborative partners, we gain efficiency for the campus as a whole. Collaborations with partner institutions result in more effective services, less unnecessary duplication of effort, and more efficient use of limited resources.

Flexible physical environments to enhance learning and research: The way students and faculty use space has changed dramatically.. Space is extremely important on this campus. It fosters collaboration, discovery, community. If our spaces remain static, use will decline, especially in an environment where so much content is available through the network. The same principles apply to the virtual environment.

Timely and convenient access to information resources: We frequently hear that students and faculty care most about timely/convenient access to information, in addition to its relevance. In a competitive environment, we need to learn from our competitors' success, and then add value. We also need to think of information flowing out, not just flowing in – faculty require dissemination and visibility of their research and scholarship.

Transparent, easy to use systems and services: The information world has been redefined by Google. Current library interfaces are complex, and can be difficult to use. No amount of marketing can correct for this complexity Furthermore, it is essential that patrons understand what to expect in regard to onsite services from library faculty and staff, and have a positive customer service experience.

Maximized use of resources: Our resources are limited and getting more so. It is imperative that we be good stewards of the resources we have. We cannot afford to do things or buy things that are not used and used heavily. Maximizing use of resources involves making the right decisions to begin with, and removing any and all disincentives to use.

PRIORITY INITIATIVES (FEBRUARY 2009)

Data Services Needs Assessment

In partnership with Information Services, the Libraries will conduct a pilot data audit of the UO Science departments, institutes, and research programs. At the end of the project period, we will have an inventory of data assets produced in our science departments, pertinent information about suitability and priority for curation and preservation, and one or more potential partners from the sciences for a pilot data curation project.

Team: Brian Westra, Erin O'Meara, Victoria Mitchell, Sara Stubbs (Information Services)

Timeline: Winter/Spring 2009 - Audit Survey and Interviews: Summer, 2009 - Analysis and Report

Faculty Publications Database

In collaboration with the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) and the Development Office of the UO Foundation, the Libraries will improve access to information on faculty publications and research interests. Numerous units on campus need easily maintained data about faculty publications and research. The Community of Science database provides some of these data, but is not widely updated by faculty, and is not easily searchable by administrators. A locally designed and controlled database would allow both customization of user input and much greater flexibility. Furthermore, within the UO Libraries, a faculty publication database serves as a strong collection development and budgeting tool. At a minimum, success would include deliverables as of August 2009 including a maintainable collection of faculty vitas and processes for building a list of recent faculty monographs. As the first phase in a possible multistage process, this initiative should also produce usable information on costs and benefits of a variety of data management approaches, and the planning and feasibility analysis for a possible follow-on project implementing a system such as Cornell's VIVO.

Team:

Timeline: Spring/, 2009

Gift Book Process Redesign

This project seeks to improve internal efficiency in reviewing and processing gifts to the UO Libraries. It also examines policies and procedures that touch upon the donor experience. The goals include better stewardship of gifts, increased understanding of responsibilities and expectations and significantly improved turn around time for gift processing.

Team:

Timeline:

Improved Video Capture & YouTube Enhanced Channel

The UO Streaming Media Service was established in 2002-2003 as a collaboration of the UO Libraries (CMET:Video) and Information Services. In the initial phase, the program used the Virage software platform for capture, indexing, storage, and delivery of video content for instructional purposes. In the intervening years, the program expanded far beyond the initial Virage service to include a wide range of academic and general university content, provided via new delivery channels such as the UO Channel and the youtube enhanced channel. In a closely related development, there is increased demand for automated capture and publishing of classroom lectures. Beginning in winter term 2008, CMET began a pilot service for automated lecture capture, using the Tandberg Content Server. These diverse efforts and technologies need to be focused on the services of highest priority, and presented to the campus in a framework that is understandable to teaching faculty, administration, and campus event sponsors. It is also critical to know that UO content is findable and usable by the intended audiences of UO students, prospective students, alumni, donors, other institutions, and the general public.

Team:

Timeline:

PAST INITIATIVES

Priority Initiatives, 2005 - 2007

Maintained by: Andrew Bonamici, bonamici@uoregon.edu
Last Modified: 08/11/2009