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• Strategic Plan Committee

Meeting Minutes January 27, 2003

1 p.m. in L109b

A G E N D A

• Introduction
• Goals, Objectives, and Framework of the LSPC
• Data Collection
• Student Survey
• Faculty Survey
• Self-Survey
• Identification of Assumptions, Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (ASWOT)
• Assignment of Initial Tasks

Introductions

Everyone introduced themselves, by name and department and/or school.

Opening comments from Mark Vargas

The people on the committee were asked to serve because everyone is on a different level, has different roles within the University.

Mark asked if everyone had a copy of the “Proposal for a Strategic Plan” which identifies the initial framework and general goals of the Plan. He said the library staff will do most of the work, and the non-library people on the committee will act as a guidance control and let us know if we’re heading in the right direction.

Goals, Objectives, and Framework of the LSPC

Mark passed out a pyramid chart illustrating the strategic framework with our Mission being at the very top and Facilities, On-Campus Services, Off-Campus Services, and Assessment shown as the base. He asked for comments regarding the pyramid.

John Eber indicated that Students were missing from the pyramid. Where are they within this framework?

Bob Hansen felt that students were imbedded in the Mission and throughout the pyramid. It is important to keep in mind that we serve a multi-type audience. Besides students, we also serve faculty, staff, non-SXU patrons, the local community, etc.

Pat Philbin wondered if we should get more definitive with our mission statement. She feels students are the framework. She also mentioned that the people who we serve help us fulfill our Mission. People are the base.

Graham Peck said that students are not the only focus. There is a relationship between scholarship and teaching.

Mark pointed out that the University’s Strategic Plan is on hold until a new President is selected. However, he identified some points we need to consider. Where does the library fit in? Who is the audience? What do we do with the local community? We need to identify our actual mission, and how it interacts with the University’s mission.

Dave Kohut pointed out that the library belongs to three consortia – giving students more than 60 schools that they can go to – either in person or through Interlibrary Loan.

Data Collection

Mark will work on the student survey. Kathleen Carlson, Director of Planning & Assessment, will finalize the format.

Surveys

Mark plans on conducting three surveys: survey to students, survey to faculty, and a self-study survey among the library staff. The surveys will be shown to the Committee for their comments.

Graham said we need to see what surveys have been done in the past. He asked what the time frame was for the surveys. Mark said he expects the student survey to be held during the third week of March.

John Eber commented that surveys tend to show “wants” instead of “needs”. “Needs” are driven by the curriculum.

ASWOT: Assumptions, Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats

Bob Hansen asked for an overview of ASWOT. Mark replied that a lot has never been done before, but we need to know the library’s strengths and weaknesses. The game plan is to conduct three surveys. These surveys should give us some idea of our strengths and weaknesses and what direction we should be going. We will look at each goal and break it down. This will give us opportunities for future goals.

Mark hopes to compare us to peer institutions. Hopefully, something will appear. Of course, the bottom line is that our budget will indicate what we can do.

Bob asked Mark, “What do you expect to find from the student survey?”

Mark said three things:

1. Book collection is old and may not be serving our needs
2. Computers – we need more of them
3. Hours of service are not long enough

Bea Julian commented that “old” depends on the subject. As research techniques increase among students, we may not necessarily need more computers or more open time.

Carol Poston made the comment that writing skills are going down across the country but our numbers at SXU are pretty bad. Writing, reading, researching – not good.

Mark said that SXU does more multi-choice tests than research. We need to sell “research” to the faculty.

Graham said History is definitely interested in research but changes are hard to push through a department. The younger faculty have a different outlook toward research.

Carol felt we need collaboration between faculty and the library.

Other Business and/or Comments

Mark passed out an organization chart of the library. Bob inquired why the librarians don’t have anyone reporting to them and if the organizational chart was working as it is. Mark said all of “Tech Services” reports to the Technical Services Librarian. The faculty librarians handle reference, collection development, B.I., committees, etc.

Bob asked what B.I. was, and Bea Julian, our Bibliographic Instruction Coordinator, went on to explain the B.I. program and how the teaching aspect impacts on the faculty librarians.

One of the things we need to know is the enrollment projection for the future. We need the numbers so the library can make adjustments and/or suggestions to Administration concerning staffing issues, collection development, and budget.

Bob also asked if the library was going to expand. Mark said there would be no new building. The latest plan is that the library will move into the art space (adjacent to L119) when the Art Department moves to the new wing in five years.

The meeting adjourned at 2:05 p.m.

The next meeting is scheduled for February 17, 2003, at 1 p.m. in L109b.

The library members continued to discuss library issues after the regular meeting adjourned, and it was decided that a description of library staff duties should be put on paper for those non-library members that are on the committee.

Specific assignments were handed out, as follows:

• Dave and Anita will look at the five strategic intentions mentioned in the 1997 campus self‑study and base our library mission upon those intentions. Mark asked for a draft by the next meeting, which will be February 17, 2003.
• Bea is going to write a description of the librarians’ duties concerning bibliographic instruction.
• Anita will write a brief description for Technical Services, which includes, Acquisitions Technician, OCLC Technician, Interlibrary Loan Technician, Periodicals Technician, and Book Processor.
• Judy will do the Circulation Desk description.
• Virginia will re-do the organization chart.
• These descriptions will then be attached to the organization chart.
   

Meeting adjourned at 2:30 p.m.

Minutes submitted by Virginia Preuss, Library Coordinator