Overarching New Directions for the Library
1. What is the Library's role in "Discovery", incuding cataloging and discovery systems
How do our discovery and cataloging services relate to Google and other search engines? Do we even need a local catalog anymore? Should cataloging change to better support new discovery services?
- Despite some degree of difference by discipline, over time the importance of the library as gateway has been dropping among the faculty surveyed.
- How do we respond to other organizations (e.g. Google) that have moved into Library territory?''' See Google Book Search
- More flexible bibliographic controls including keywords, user tagging, reviews, and user ownership. Implement FRBR and FAST.
- ProQuest published a study titled "Observing Students in Their Native Habitat;" See Yet another wake-up Call
- Search & discovery - new ideas; See New Directions and the OPAC
2. Do we need an assessment program?
- Do we need an assessment program to understand:
- exactly what changes in research & instruction are occurring?;
- how we can adjust to support these changes?; and
- if the adjustments we make are working?
- Do we understand who our students are and their information needs?
3. The relationship between Library services and space?
The role of campus physical collections, references services, liaisons to academic departments, teaching & learning spaces (see The Library's New Roles in Supporting Teaching & Learning - 1.0 Better utilize library space for students needs), etc.
- Completely rethinking space -- See Resonating in Space
- Will large library user spaces be needed?
- How do we respond when school, colleges and departments ask us to turn over Library space _mainly in subject specialty libraries_ to them for their own academic purposes?
