A Strategy for Academic Libraries in the First Quarter of the 21 st Century (with a Focus on...

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A Strategy for Academic Libraries in the First Quarter of

the 21st Century(with a Focus on Content)

A Strategy for Academic Libraries in the First Quarter of

the 21st Century(with a Focus on Content)

David W. Lewis

CSU Libraries Futures Summit

June 7, 2007

David W. Lewis

CSU Libraries Futures Summit

June 7, 2007

© 2007 David W. Lewis. Permission to use this work is granted under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs license (2.5). You are free: to copy, distribute, display, and perform the work Under the following conditions: 1. You must attribute the work; 2. You may not use this work for commercial purposes, and 3. You may not alter, transform, or build upon this work. For any reuse or distribution, you must make clear to others the license terms of this work. Any of these conditions can be waived with permission of the copyright holder. Your fair use and other rights are in no way affected by the above.

"You've got to be careful if you don't know where you're going ‘cause you might not get there!"

— Yogi Berra

"You've got to be careful if you don't know where you're going ‘cause you might not get there!"

— Yogi Berra

“When you come to a fork in the road, take it.”

“Always go to other people’s funerals, otherwise they won’t go to yours.”

— Yogi Berra

“When you come to a fork in the road, take it.”

“Always go to other people’s funerals, otherwise they won’t go to yours.”

— Yogi Berra

“Because of the fundamental role that academic libraries have played in the past century, it is tremendously difficult to imagine a college or university without a library. Considering the extraordinary pace with which knowledge is moving to the Web, it is equally difficult to imagine what an academic library will be and do in another decade.”

— Jerry D. Campbell, EDUCAUSE Review Jan./Feb. 2006

“Because of the fundamental role that academic libraries have played in the past century, it is tremendously difficult to imagine a college or university without a library. Considering the extraordinary pace with which knowledge is moving to the Web, it is equally difficult to imagine what an academic library will be and do in another decade.”

— Jerry D. Campbell, EDUCAUSE Review Jan./Feb. 2006

A Strategy for Academic LibrariesA Strategy for Academic Libraries

Assumptions Pieces of the Puzzle Putting the Pieces Together - Follow the

Money Organizational Issues Controversial Statements

Assumptions Pieces of the Puzzle Putting the Pieces Together - Follow the

Money Organizational Issues Controversial Statements

AssumptionsAssumptions

1. Libraries are a means, not the end

Information subsidy for institutions and communities — without subsidy information not used in efficient quantities

When better subsidy mechanisms than libraries comes along we should embrace them

1. Libraries are a means, not the end

Information subsidy for institutions and communities — without subsidy information not used in efficient quantities

When better subsidy mechanisms than libraries comes along we should embrace them

AssumptionsAssumptions

GOAL: Find the strategies which provide the most value for the available subsidy

• Open access versus subscriptions• How do we produce more scholarly

monographs with the current investment of resources?

GOAL: Find the strategies which provide the most value for the available subsidy

• Open access versus subscriptions• How do we produce more scholarly

monographs with the current investment of resources?

AssumptionsAssumptions

2. Libraries now confront a variety of disruptive technologies and these technologies will disrupt libraries

Change will not instantaneous, but it will be relentless

What happens when all the books are digitized?

2. Libraries now confront a variety of disruptive technologies and these technologies will disrupt libraries

Change will not instantaneous, but it will be relentless

What happens when all the books are digitized?

AssumptionsAssumptions

3. Real change requires real change

Incremental adjustments at the margins will not be good enough

Can not drift throughHard trade-offs will be required

This is not uncharted territory

3. Real change requires real change

Incremental adjustments at the margins will not be good enough

Can not drift throughHard trade-offs will be required

This is not uncharted territory

AssumptionsAssumptions

4. We have a window of opportunity

People like libraries and honor what we do

We have some good will that we can spend down

The window will not stay open forever

4. We have a window of opportunity

People like libraries and honor what we do

We have some good will that we can spend down

The window will not stay open forever

AssumptionsAssumptions

5. There will be no more new money

Increase to library budgets will be no greater than the rate of general inflation

Buying power of compensation part of the budget may remain constant

Buying power of the collections part of the budget will decline by about at least 3% per year

5. There will be no more new money

Increase to library budgets will be no greater than the rate of general inflation

Buying power of compensation part of the budget may remain constant

Buying power of the collections part of the budget will decline by about at least 3% per year

Parts of the PuzzleParts of the Puzzle

1. Complete the migration from print to electronic collections

2. Retire legacy print collections

3. Redevelop library space

4. Reposition library and information tools, resources, and expertise

5. Migrate the focus of collections from purchasing materials to curating content

1. Complete the migration from print to electronic collections

2. Retire legacy print collections

3. Redevelop library space

4. Reposition library and information tools, resources, and expertise

5. Migrate the focus of collections from purchasing materials to curating content

Parts of the PuzzleParts of the Puzzle

1. Complete the migration from print to electronic collections

2. Retire legacy print collections

3. Redevelop library space

4. Reposition library and information tools, resources, and expertise

5. Migrate the focus of collections from purchasing materials to curating content

1. Complete the migration from print to electronic collections

2. Retire legacy print collections

3. Redevelop library space

4. Reposition library and information tools, resources, and expertise

5. Migrate the focus of collections from purchasing materials to curating content

1. Complete the migration from print to electronic collections1. Complete the migration from print to electronic collections

Reference Works - Indexes User: transition completed Library Purchasing: nearly complete

Reference Works - Other User: Not sure - probably transition nearly

completed Library Purchasing: Some change

Reference Works - Indexes User: transition completed Library Purchasing: nearly complete

Reference Works - Other User: Not sure - probably transition nearly

completed Library Purchasing: Some change

1. Complete the migration from print to electronic collections1. Complete the migration from print to electronic collections

Journals User: Transition completed Library Purchasing: Some change,

substitution accepted

Books User: Beginning transition Library Purchasing: Some purchases,

substitution not generally accepted

Journals User: Transition completed Library Purchasing: Some change,

substitution accepted

Books User: Beginning transition Library Purchasing: Some purchases,

substitution not generally accepted

1. Complete the migration from print to electronic collections1. Complete the migration from print to electronic collections

IUPUI print Journal Use in 2006 2,400 titles - 8,744 uses 1 title was used more than 100 times - 24

were used more than 50 times - 934 were not used at all

In 2005/06 in EbscoHost 467,176 fulltext articles were viewed

1% to 2% of journal use is in paper

IUPUI print Journal Use in 2006 2,400 titles - 8,744 uses 1 title was used more than 100 times - 24

were used more than 50 times - 934 were not used at all

In 2005/06 in EbscoHost 467,176 fulltext articles were viewed

1% to 2% of journal use is in paper

1. Complete the migration from print to electronic collections1. Complete the migration from print to electronic collections

Finish transition in purchasing in reference materials and journals - be assertive

Plan for transition to e-books - be prepared - have tools in place SFX for e-books

Capture efficiencies

Finish transition in purchasing in reference materials and journals - be assertive

Plan for transition to e-books - be prepared - have tools in place SFX for e-books

Capture efficiencies

2. Retire legacy print collections2. Retire legacy print collections

Print will become a less important part of the library’s working collection

Little-used print materials in prime campus real estate will not be acceptable over time

Print will become a less important part of the library’s working collection

Little-used print materials in prime campus real estate will not be acceptable over time

2. Retire legacy print collections2. Retire legacy print collections

Move collections to dedicated storage facilities (we know how to do this) or discard

Provide access to these collections Preserve collections for the long term Enhance ILL/document delivery

Move collections to dedicated storage facilities (we know how to do this) or discard

Provide access to these collections Preserve collections for the long term Enhance ILL/document delivery

2. Retire legacy print collections2. Retire legacy print collections

Better with a plan than doing it “on faith” Better if done collaboratively

Indiana federal documents project

We have an obligation to print legacy collections which requires institutional investment and commitment

Better with a plan than doing it “on faith” Better if done collaboratively

Indiana federal documents project

We have an obligation to print legacy collections which requires institutional investment and commitment

3. Redevelop the library space3. Redevelop the library space

Create a diversity of user study spaces Trade space for relationships Will require additional funding Might become the next “must do”

campus project

Create a diversity of user study spaces Trade space for relationships Will require additional funding Might become the next “must do”

campus project

4. Reposition library information tools, resources, and expertise4. Reposition library information tools, resources, and expertise

Library needs to be where the users are Google Course management systems

If in doubt see: OCLC’s College Students’ Perceptions of Libraries and Information Resources.

Library needs to be where the users are Google Course management systems

If in doubt see: OCLC’s College Students’ Perceptions of Libraries and Information Resources.

4. Reposition library information tools, resources, and expertise4. Reposition library information tools, resources, and expertise

Different mix of in-person and embedded services

New services and systems to support research and scholarship

Librarians will play different roles and will require different skill sets

Different mix of in-person and embedded services

New services and systems to support research and scholarship

Librarians will play different roles and will require different skill sets

5. Move from purchasing materials to curating content5. Move from purchasing materials to curating content

Open Access will succeed The structure of scholarly

communication will change Users will be less dependent on local

library collections Libraries will not have to purchase as

much content

Open Access will succeed The structure of scholarly

communication will change Users will be less dependent on local

library collections Libraries will not have to purchase as

much content

5. Move from purchasing materials to curating content5. Move from purchasing materials to curating content

New role for libraries — curating content created on or important to the campus Digital Campus contribution to the universe of

open access materials

New role for libraries — curating content created on or important to the campus Digital Campus contribution to the universe of

open access materials

5. Move from purchasing materials to curating content5. Move from purchasing materials to curating content

Libraries have always done two things:1. Purchased materials for local users

2. Curated content for the world

Today the split is 80/20 In 20 years the split will be 40/60

Libraries have always done two things:1. Purchased materials for local users

2. Curated content for the world

Today the split is 80/20 In 20 years the split will be 40/60

5. Move from purchasing materials to curating content5. Move from purchasing materials to curating content

2005 2015 2025

Traditional Special Collections

Curated Digital Content

Purchased Materials

Percent of Library ResourcesAllocated

10%

60%

15%

Putting the Pieces Together - Follow the MoneyPutting the Pieces Together - Follow the Money

Moving from print to electronic collections will:

Save staff time in processing Save staff time in selection Save other costs - binding, postage,

cataloging fees

Moving from print to electronic collections will:

Save staff time in processing Save staff time in selection Save other costs - binding, postage,

cataloging fees

Putting the Pieces TogetherPutting the Pieces Together

Moving from print to electronic collections will: Automated systems can be simpler and cheaper

Discovery function to non-local tools - WorldCat, GoogleBooks

Expect organizational resistance when trying to capture these savings

Moving from print to electronic collections will: Automated systems can be simpler and cheaper

Discovery function to non-local tools - WorldCat, GoogleBooks

Expect organizational resistance when trying to capture these savings

Putting the Pieces TogetherPutting the Pieces Together

Retiring print collections will: Require some staff time in the short term Require access to cooperative storage

facilities Require new collaborative funding models

Free up space

Retiring print collections will: Require some staff time in the short term Require access to cooperative storage

facilities Require new collaborative funding models

Free up space

Follow the MoneyFollow the Money

Redeveloping Space will:

Require new resources Philanthropic opportunity Adjustments in staffing

Redeveloping Space will:

Require new resources Philanthropic opportunity Adjustments in staffing

Putting the Pieces TogetherPutting the Pieces Together

Reposition library and information tools, resources, and expertise will: Require rethinking service models Different mix of staff skills - less

“traditional” librarian work and more hybrid librarian/technologist/instructional design work

Some staff savings (maybe)

Reposition library and information tools, resources, and expertise will: Require rethinking service models Different mix of staff skills - less

“traditional” librarian work and more hybrid librarian/technologist/instructional design work

Some staff savings (maybe)

Follow the MoneyFollow the Money

Moving from purchasing materials to curating content will: New staff skills and increased staffing for

this activity Some external funding opportunities -

grants

Moving from purchasing materials to curating content will: New staff skills and increased staffing for

this activity Some external funding opportunities -

grants

Putting the Pieces TogetherPutting the Pieces Together

Moving from purchasing materials to curating content will: Require discipline in repurposing resources

from purchasing to curating — easy in theory, hard in practice

Curation can not be done with only new money

Curation needs to be base funded

Moving from purchasing materials to curating content will: Require discipline in repurposing resources

from purchasing to curating — easy in theory, hard in practice

Curation can not be done with only new money

Curation needs to be base funded

Follow the MoneyFollow the Money

Migration from Print to Electronic

Retire Legacy Print Collection

Redevelop Library Space

Reposition Library, Tools, Resources, and Expertise

Space

$

$

$

Transition form Purchasing to Curating

Staff

To Campus

External

$

Putting the Pieces TogetherPutting the Pieces Together

Budget increase for most academic libraries at (or only a little above) the rate of general inflation will not be unreasonable

Requires a campus conversation and buy-in to this strategy

Budget increase for most academic libraries at (or only a little above) the rate of general inflation will not be unreasonable

Requires a campus conversation and buy-in to this strategy

Organizational IssuesOrganizational Issues

Staff Composition Flexible Staffing and Flexible Staff Principles of Disruptive Innovation

Staff Composition Flexible Staffing and Flexible Staff Principles of Disruptive Innovation

Staff CompositionStaff Composition

In the next 20 years a 25% decline in the number of clerical positions. Ratio of librarians to clerical staff goes from 2:1 to about 1:1. Will not begin immediately

Number of technology position will increase to be about 25% to 40% of professional positions

In the next 20 years a 25% decline in the number of clerical positions. Ratio of librarians to clerical staff goes from 2:1 to about 1:1. Will not begin immediately

Number of technology position will increase to be about 25% to 40% of professional positions

Staff CompositionStaff Composition

Number of librarians will remain about the same, but roles will change

Librarians will do less selection, reference, and instruction

For CSU Libraries more central/shared staff

Number of librarians will remain about the same, but roles will change

Librarians will do less selection, reference, and instruction

For CSU Libraries more central/shared staff

Staff CompositionStaff Composition

New librarian roles will include, teaching new information skills, developing and managing information support systems, and building collections of curated content

If librarians with appropriate skills cannot be found, non-librarians with these skill sets will be hired

New librarian roles will include, teaching new information skills, developing and managing information support systems, and building collections of curated content

If librarians with appropriate skills cannot be found, non-librarians with these skill sets will be hired

Flexible Staffing and Flexible StaffFlexible Staffing and Flexible Staff Culture that values learning and exploration Strategy for hiring and retaining people with

needed skills and personal characteristics Coming wave of librarian retirements will help Commitment to invest in staff and

organizational development

Culture that values learning and exploration Strategy for hiring and retaining people with

needed skills and personal characteristics Coming wave of librarian retirements will help Commitment to invest in staff and

organizational development

Principles of Disruptive InnovationPrinciples of Disruptive Innovation

Clayton M. Christensen and Michael E. Raynor, The Innovator’s Solution: Creating and Sustaining Successful Growth, 2003

Clayton M. Christensen; Scott D. Anthony, and Erik A. Roth, Seeing What’s Next: Using the Theories of Innovation to Predict Industry Change, 2004

Clayton M. Christensen and Michael E. Raynor, The Innovator’s Solution: Creating and Sustaining Successful Growth, 2003

Clayton M. Christensen; Scott D. Anthony, and Erik A. Roth, Seeing What’s Next: Using the Theories of Innovation to Predict Industry Change, 2004

Principles of Disruptive InnovationPrinciples of Disruptive Innovation

Mantra:

Make products and services More reliable, More convenient, Cheaper (less time consuming to

use)

Mantra:

Make products and services More reliable, More convenient, Cheaper (less time consuming to

use)

Principles of Disruptive InnovationPrinciples of Disruptive Innovation

Exploratory project development Learn by doing Save resources for second and third try

Exploratory project development Learn by doing Save resources for second and third try

Principles of Disruptive InnovationPrinciples of Disruptive Innovation

Be impatient for success with small projects, but don’t be in a hurry to grow the project to full scale

Encourages action and risk taking

Be impatient for success with small projects, but don’t be in a hurry to grow the project to full scale

Encourages action and risk taking

Principles of Disruptive InnovationPrinciples of Disruptive Innovation Begin with simple projects that meet the

needs of undemanding users and then move up market to provide services to more demanding users

Don’t ask users what they want, rather watch what they do

Begin with simple projects that meet the needs of undemanding users and then move up market to provide services to more demanding users

Don’t ask users what they want, rather watch what they do

Principles of Disruptive InnovationPrinciples of Disruptive Innovation We should encourage standards that

allow for modularization of the scholarly information value chain SFX and OAI over ScienceDirect®

Add value where things are “not good enough” and don’t worry where they are “good enough”

We should encourage standards that allow for modularization of the scholarly information value chain SFX and OAI over ScienceDirect®

Add value where things are “not good enough” and don’t worry where they are “good enough”

Principles of Disruptive InnovationPrinciples of Disruptive Innovation

Look for solutions outside the library world

Adapt, don’t invent

Look for solutions outside the library world

Adapt, don’t invent

Quotes from War Made New by Max BootQuotes from War Made New by Max Boot“All that is required [to exploit revolutionary technology] is some degree of openness to change, a commitment to meritocracy, and an ability to critically examine ones own mistakes.”

“Successful adaptation to major technological shifts requires overcoming that dread [of innovation] and changing the kinds of people who are rewarded.”

“All that is required [to exploit revolutionary technology] is some degree of openness to change, a commitment to meritocracy, and an ability to critically examine ones own mistakes.”

“Successful adaptation to major technological shifts requires overcoming that dread [of innovation] and changing the kinds of people who are rewarded.”

Quotes from War Made New by Max BootQuotes from War Made New by Max Boot

“The only strategy that definitely won’t work is… cutting existing forces but not investing the savings in any other defense program.”

“The only strategy that definitely won’t work is… cutting existing forces but not investing the savings in any other defense program.”

Controversial StatementsControversial Statements

1. CSU Libraries should do the first deal with Google (and the publishers) for in copyright digital books

1. CSU Libraries should do the first deal with Google (and the publishers) for in copyright digital books

Controversial StatementsControversial Statements

2. CSU Libraries should use Federal Documents and JSTOR as a models for system-wide sharing (and weeding) of print collections

2. CSU Libraries should use Federal Documents and JSTOR as a models for system-wide sharing (and weeding) of print collections

Controversial StatementsControversial Statements

3. CSU Libraries should plan on piggy-backing (free riding) on UC print research collections and should weed rather than store unneeded print collections

3. CSU Libraries should plan on piggy-backing (free riding) on UC print research collections and should weed rather than store unneeded print collections

Controversial StatementsControversial Statements

4. CSU Libraries should aggressively deploy a large scale shared institutional repository and other digital library infrastructure with centralized expertise and local advocacy

4. CSU Libraries should aggressively deploy a large scale shared institutional repository and other digital library infrastructure with centralized expertise and local advocacy

Controversial StatementsControversial Statements

5. To fund item the Google Deal print collecting should be significantly cut backa) Hardly any print journalsb) No more than four copies of

any print book in the CSU system

5. To fund item the Google Deal print collecting should be significantly cut backa) Hardly any print journalsb) No more than four copies of

any print book in the CSU system

Controversial StatementsControversial Statements

6. To fund item central repository infrastructure and some staff/dollars should be moved from local libraries to central facility

6. To fund item central repository infrastructure and some staff/dollars should be moved from local libraries to central facility

Comments orQuestions ?

Comments orQuestions ?

Paper available at: http://idea.iupui.edu/dspace/handle/1805/953

Paper available at: http://idea.iupui.edu/dspace/handle/1805/953

© 2007 David W. Lewis. Permission to use this work is granted under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs license (2.5). You are free: to copy, distribute, display, and perform the work Under the following conditions: 1. You must attribute the work; 2. You may not use this work for commercial purposes, and 3. You may not alter, transform, or build upon this work. For any reuse or distribution, you must make clear to others the license terms of this work. Any of these conditions can be waived with permission of the copyright holder. Your fair use and other rights are in no way affected by the above.

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