Washburn University Library 2013 Action Plan Summary

8/14/2019 Washburn University Library 2013 Action Plan Summary

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Washburn University Library 2013 Action Plan Summary

Mission: To guide teaching, learning and research; the roles of the faculty and librarians; the Librariesrole in the purchase/exchange of materials through consortia and the impact of the scholarly publishingenvironment on decisions regarding the acquisition/preservation of content.

Collection Development Policy: Ultimate responsibility for collection development lies with the Dean ofLibraries. The Dean's authority is delegated to the librarians under whose direction materials in specificsubjects are selected in collaboration with the faculty. Liaison librarians provide assistance and guidanceto faculty selectors, evaluate and recommend content for purchase in their subject areas and fillcollection gaps.

The Libraries provide faculty and librarians access to collection development tools, both print andelectronic. The Libraries allocate a portion of its funds to academic departments so that faculty canassist the librarians in building a relevant collection. The Libraries have the final responsibility on thepurchase decisions for all content. Any material purchased with Libraries funds shall be the property ofWashburn University and shall be cataloged as part of the Libraries collections. Effective collectiondevelopment depends upon the identification and evaluation of the University's information needs onthe part of librarians, faculty, students, and other library users.

Included in this effort are the following:

1. review of existing and new courses of instruction, degree programs and research projects in thecontext of overall University goals and priorities;

2. participation of librarians in the deliberations of committees on curriculum and/or other groupsdealing with changes in or additions to existing courses, degree programs and research projects;

3.

routine mechanisms for eliciting from faculty members course reserves, reading lists, syllabi,and for receiving from any member of the University community suggestions for the addition ofparticular content to the collections;

4. participation in library consortia and other organizations responsible for coordinating theavailability of information resources;

5. formal and informal mechanisms (library faculty participation in faculty meetings, the UniversityLibrary Committee, suggestion boxes, etc.) for channeling suggestions regarding the Libraries collection development policies and practices;

6. programs for maintaining librarian and user awareness of unique materials, specializedinformation services and significant collections available outside the University Libraries.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION/WITHDRAWAL

The focus of all collecting is on content which expands the capability of the Libraries to support teaching,learning and research. This activity is based on criteria which apply generally to all content beingconsidered for addition to or removal from the collections.


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The Libraries collect all applicable forms of information, regardless of format, if it is important to thecurricular or research goals of the University. Particular criteria may assume greater or lesserimportance depending on the format of material under consideration.

Decisions concerning the acquisition and retention of content should be made within the context of the

following general criteria: Relevance to the needs of the Universitys educat ional programs andappropriate level of subject matter Scope and depth of subject coverage Relevance to existingcollections or importance of a work in comparison with other similar content on the subject Scholarlyworth or research value Currency, timeliness or permanence of the content Cost effectiveness andavailability Language and country of origin The need for balance and multiple perspectives User-friendlysearch interface or ease of use Stability of URL, accessibility through IP authentication and compatibilitywith University and Libraries systems Technical quality Availability of the title in indexing andabstracting sources The criteria for withdrawal are generally the same as those used in selection, butmay also include: Poor physical condition (worn or badly marked) Frequency of use or demand Spaceconsiderations Obsolete format

COLLECTION EVALUATION

Collection development includes the selection of new content as well as the ongoing review of existingcollections and resources. The Libraries c ollections should be continually evaluated by the librarians incollaboration with departmental faculty to determine how well the collections are serving users and toidentify and plan to remedy deficiencies.

SPECIAL COLLECTIONS

The Libraries Special Collections support research by students, faculty and other scholars whose work

relies on primary resource materials, including rare or special books, manuscripts, media and archives.These collections complement the general collection by preserving and providing access to unique anddistinctive materials. The Special Collections Librarian is responsible for the general supervision andcoordination of collection development activities

DONATIONS/GIFTS

The Libraries accept appropriate donations of library materials with the understanding that such giftsbecome the property of the University and that the Libraries will make the final decision on the use orother disposition of the donation in the best interests of the Libraries and its users. The Libraries willdecide the conditions of display, housing and access to the materials.

The Libraries do not provide itemized lists of donated materials. However, each donor will receive aletter of acknowledgment of their gift unless he or she requests otherwise. In accordance with InternalRevenue Service requirements the Libraries, as an interested party, cannot make appraisals of giftmaterial. Appraisals are the responsibility of the donor. The acceptance of any gift that has beenappraised by an outside person or agency does not imply an endorsement of the appraisal by theLibraries.


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Monetary gifts are deposited into the Friends of Mabee Library account or into one of the Librariesendowment funds. Anyone interested in donating money or collections to the Libraries should contactthe Dean of Libraries.

CHALLENGED MATERIALS

The content provided by the Libraries is selected by faculty and librarians to meet the curricular andresearch needs of the Washburn University community. It is the responsibility of the Libraries to collectresources from differing perspectives so that students may practice applying critical thinking skills andunderstand opposing viewpoints. Washburn University officials will follow the procedures outlined inAppendix A to render a thoughtful decision.

COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT POLICY REVIEW

The Libraries Collection Development Policy will continue to be modified in response to the changinginformation needs of the University and the evolution in information delivery and access models. This

policy will be reviewed (and amended as necessary) no less than every three years by the librarians incollaboration with the Dean of Libraries and the Faculty Library Committee.

Budget Breakdown:

Telephone $2,000

Freight/ILL/Document $25,000

Printing Charges $20,000

Book & Periodical Binding $5,000

Transportation/Training $35,000

Other Fees/OCLC $15,000

Software Maintenance Fees $30,000

Licensing and Copyright Fees $14,000

Dues, Memberships $1,000

Subscriptions/Databases $319,964

Subscriptions/E-Journals $135,000

Subscriptions/ATLAS $60,000

Subscriptions/Print Journals $175,000

Stationary &Office Supplies $30,000

Books & Library Materials $116,331

Computer Software Purchases $18,000

Total: $997,845

Action Steps: In response to a mandatory 15% ($150,000) budget cut next year, the WashburnUniversity Library Collection Development Planning Committee has come up with several objectives andactions steps listed below. The collection development budget was reduced by 15% through thesemeasures.

Objective 1: New Opportunities for Income

Action Steps:


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- Increase fines and fees for lost/damaged materials- Develop fundraising opportunities on campus and in the community- Seek donations from companies and individuals with incentive of room naming rights- Collaborate with university board to maximize funding opportunities- Charge a yearly library fee of $20 for each student in tuition fees

Objective 2: Review Interlibrary Loan program

Action Steps:

- Increase visibility of program to reduce material purchases by 5%- Negotiate shipping rates with carrier to save 30% per year- Increase partners in ILL program to allow for wider book selection saving 5% in material

purchases- Reduce ILLs for articles which require copyright payment with the loan saving 20% on copyright

fees

Objective 3: Reduce Operating Costs

Action Steps:

- Educate staff to reduce paper printing whenever feasible- Mandatory conservation measures in place including double-sided printing- Charge students for additional pages beyond the allotted pages

Objective 4: Migrate to Open Source Software

Action Steps:

- Migrate to free email accounts , i.e., gmail accounts- Transfer to Open Office software in place of Microsoft Office- Evergreen/Forgenet??

Objective 5: Increase Digital Collection and Reduce Print Materials

Action Steps:

- Reduce book binding charges by 75% by reducing the print collection- Reduce book purchases by 25% by increasing digital materials- Reduce print database subscriptions when material is duplicated online

Conclusion

Washburn University is a diverse campus with a unique atmosphere and a thriving student population.The Maybee Library, completed in 1977-78, is located at the center of the Washburn campus. The


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library is at the heart of the university, and serves the student, faculty and staff. However, budget cutswill make changes necessary to the collection development policy. Implementing these five objectivescan help to address the current budget deficits, to help encourage long term success for Maybee Libraryon the whole. These objectives can help the library manage through a tough budgetary period, whilestill maintaining a high level of service for the university community.

Documents

Washburn University Library 2013 Action Plan Summary