Library Administrators as Liaisons – Notes

Ed Van Gemert spoke to the Liaison Forum about what Administrators’ work as liaisons.   Administrators are always trying to demonstrate the relevance of the library, particularly in the current budget and political environment.   We’re lucky that the library has a great reputation for efficiency and “top-notch services” that we can leverage.  We are always looking for new ways that the library can collaborate with others on campus to demonstrate library’s relevance.

Examples:

• Common Book Project with the Chancellor (I will distribute URL when it is up)
• Reaccreditation
• Campus Strategic Plan (in draft, Ed will distribute when published)
• UW System DIN

In these context, administrators think about language and ideas expressed in terms of informing about how libraries support the educational enterprise.   Our image of longevity/stability can create a sense of complacency, we need to constantly update our message and make new connections.  We also need to further develop our political allies to develop stronger constituencies.  The discussion needs to be framed in terms of what our constituencies care about (e.g. for politicians, jobs and the state’s economy).

One area of liaison is to campus administration.  Ken Frazier reports to the Provost but sits on the Leadership Council of the new Chancellor (this is the full group of Deans and Directors).   Every year we put in a budget request for collections, staffing, and facilities via the Vice Chancellor for Budget and Administration.   Library administrators also sit on the Provost’s Executive Group, which includes directors of academic units on campus, vice-provosts, etc.; this is a great spot for developing collaborations.  While campus collaborations and partnerships may appear ad hoc, we are strategic about how we collaborate and partners.

Within UW System, there’s an office devoted to libraries with a $3.2 million dollar budget for shared electronic collections, systemwide technology, statewide document delivery, UWDC, and Minds@UW.   The UW System DIN focused on the shared electronic portion, which still have a chance of getting into the Governor’s budget and through the legislature.   They also work with CUWL and FP&M re: building projects.  Administrators also liaise with larger groups such as ARL and CIC.  Media relations is an important responsibility, but the new position will assist with that.

In the area of shared governance, Ed has been working with the University Library Committee for a long time; this group will be important as we make changes.   The Library Coordinating Committee  is our own group of directors which talks about budget issues (e.g. cost shift from collections to ILL/DD.  Library Management Group).

We discussed ways to better address the information needs of administrators within and outside the libraries.

(Sent to Ed for review 1/21/09)

Reading Books

Quite a few times people have said to me, “I’ve always wanted to be a librarian.  It must be wonderful to be around books all day!”  And I try to remember the last time I touched a book,  particularly one that wasn’t about library science or higher ed.  All that may be changing a little, though.

After talking with the new Chancellor, our University Librarian has convened a campus group to initiate a common book program.  I’ve been asked to lead the project based on my experience with what I really do all day as a librarian, which is organizing projects.   We’re starting way behind schedule with a lot of questions to answer, but what else is new with projects?

My favorite site about common book programs is Barbara Fister’s site, “One Book, One College: Common Reading Programs.”   A new National Endowment for the Arts study just came out showing that reading is on the rise among young adults.   The New York Times article says, “the proportion of overall literary reading increased among virtually all age groups, ethnic and demographic categories since 2002. It increased most dramatically among 18-to-24-year-olds, who had previously shown the most significant declines.”

I also joined a few book clubs this year (never one for moderation) so perhaps I’ll turn this book reading thing around.

I’m back — and Educause Targets 21st Century Literacies as Key Issue for 09

Despite my best efforts, it’s tough to stay on top of blogging.

I noticed an important item in CHE today, though, “Educause Names Top Teaching-with-Technology Challenges for 09

I would argue that all the items on the list should be of interest to infolit folks, but in particular #2 on the list is “2. Developing 21st-century literacies — information, digital, and visual — among students and faculty members.” UW system is a pilot for the AACU LEAP initiative, which features information literacy among the essential learning outcomes for liberal education.   Faculty specifically requested that “technology literacy” be added alongside information literacy, and we’ve begun some preliminary meetings to identify synergies between the two.  While in the past our fear has been that technology literacy would confuse or subsume the information literacy issue, this new framework seems to level the playing field.

I’ve created a feed for changes to the wiki and I’m hoping to contribute, participate in these conversations on campus, attend EDUCAUSE, and whatever else I can afford in time and money.