environmental scan subgroups - scope notes
Each of the task groups identified below will perform an environmental scan, collecting, reviewing, and compiling data and other information from a range of sources on each of the outlined topics. Each group will analyze the data collected and identify trends. The findings of each group will be reported back to the Core Planning Group. The information will then be analyzed and translated into goals and objectives for the University Libraries strategic plan.
Collaborations and Partnerships
Chair, Barbara von Wahlde
This group will explore libraries and their partnerships -- business as well as academic. It will look internally as well, identifying current campus partnerships for a better understanding of how we operate effectively at UB. We will also determine if collaboration and partnerships are indeed a trend, and if so, in what areas we might develop an interest.
Facilities, Space Planning, and Equipment
Chair, Karen Senglaup
What do people expect to find when they walk into our facilities? This group will respond to projected space planning and environmental design in the library facility of tomorrow, to reflect the social, psychological, physical, and behavioral needs of our clientele.
Library Catalogs and Web Access Tools
Chair, Mary Beth Betzold
This group will collect, compile and review information on emerging and developing trends in library catalogs and web access tools. Coverage encompasses information/resource access mechanisms provided by library catalogs, library websites, and related information portals including web search engines, directories, metasearch engines, etc. as well as the metadata creation processes (cataloging and authority control) that enable this access.
Library Collections
Chair, Mike Lavin
The group will collect, review, and compile data and other information-- from a wide range of sources -- on the selection, acquisition, deselection, preservation, and management of library materials in all formats, including electronic
Library Financial Resources
Chair, Sharon Schiffhauer
This group will examine academic libraries today, particularly those identified as our "peers", to determine which ones are succeeding, viewed as vital to the institution, receive or obtain more financial resources, and provide services that are valuable to their clientele.
What are they doing? What services do they provide? What are they buying? How are they marketing themselves? What are they doing that makes them successful?
Who is failing? What do we need to stay away from?
Library Organization Communication
Chair, Sharon Murphy
The task group will collect, review, and compile data and other information - from a range of sources - on emerging and developing trends in library communication. This encompasses internal and external communication, including communication with library organizations and administrative bodies. How do we effectively market and promote our services, solicit and synthesize feedback, and communicate in a meaningful way on all levels, inside and out?
Library Service Trends
Chair, Glendora Johnson-Cooper
Information technology is changing the services libraries provide along with the expectations of our users. This group will examine what services our patrons are using and what services they may be expecting in the near future. We will project some key directions that academic libraries will be taking with regard to service focusing on Web usability, technology, reference services, access issues, document delivery, collection needs, instruction/learning, and related topics.
Overlap may occur with other sub-groups such as library users, technology, and collections
Library Users
Chair, Ken Hood
The universe of UB Libraries users will continue to become more remote and distant: telecommuters, distance learners, SUNY Connect, web searchers. How do we identify these users and make the UB Libraries a place to bookmark? At the same time, we have local users: students, faculty, community, who have traditional needs and some new needs. How do we identify and respond to local needs?
Demographics will change over the next two or three years with more adult learners and a world of capabilities and abilities. How do we determine new, potential user groups and their needs and ability to access our information services?
Personnel, Training, Development
Chair, Ruth Oberg
The primary goal of training and development is to provide staff with skills necessary to work effectively in a rapidly changing work environment. Topics include how libraries will: recruit, develop, and recognize a staff that displays a wide range of skills, knowledge and competencies; cultivate and expand staff diversity; encourage risk-taking, flexibility, creativity, and innovation among the staff, and; use teamwork to facilitate decisions, plan, and implement library operations and services.
Scholarly Communication, Research, and Libraries
Chair, Austin Booth
This group will be gathering trend data on: 1) the effects of changes in the economics of scholarly communication (e.g., the increasing number of journals, increasing inflation rates, and increasing cost of maintaining both print and online collections) on all facets of library operations; and 2) libraries' creative responses to these changes.
Some topics we may be examining include:
- Scholarly electronic-publishing projects (society-based efforts SPARC, BioOne, etc.)
- Copyright issues
- Preprints and working papers
Teaching, Learning, and Curriculum Issues
Chair, Terry McCormack
The task group will collect, review and compile data and other information from a range of sources related to teaching and learning trends that are measurable in library and classroom environments, and may have influence over library service and curriculum support. The group's research will encompass such emerging and developing topics as: distance education, curriculum based collection development, library classroom instruction, special seminars and programs, and other areas that are relevant to the role of libraries in teaching and learning.
Technology Platforms for the Library
Chair, Scott Hollander
The world of information technology grows and changes every day. Because so much technology is used to enable access and the exchange of information, it is important to us, as library staff, to be familiar with innovative advances in technology that might affect the role of the library. This group will scan technological "hardware" infrastructure platforms such as wireless access, personal digital assistant, digital books, video, as well as other topics which might include hand-held devices, integrated access to resources, services for remote patrons, virtual reality, streaming media, application service providers and uses of XML.
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Comments: lib-staffweb@buffalo.edu
Last update:
27 October, 2004