State University System Library Strategic Plan

SUS Library Vision

The SUS Libraries continue to build traditional library collections and services, while capitalizing on the versatility of emerging technologies to both create an SUS Digital Library and leverage inter-library activities. Utilizing FCLA as a major partner in such efforts, these complementary thrusts enhance the delivery of information resources in support of teaching, learning, and research for all students and scholars throughout the State University System of Florida.
 

SUS Library Mission

The mission of the State University Library System of Florida (SUS Library) is to:
1. Select, acquire, organize, and provide access to recorded knowledge, information, and data to support the teaching, research, and service mission of the SUS.
2. Provide knowledgeable assistance, instruction as well as the space and equipment required to make information available.
3. Archive materials (library holdings) and preserve for the use of future generations.

Institutional Strengths

This plan builds on three pillars of strength:

1. The SUS University Libraries, whose collection strengths serve as:
  • Vital centers of University life
  • Florida's largest information system providing a wealth of information resources for the entire state of Florida
  • Resources for independent and curriculum based learning
  • Archives of the record of the past

    •  2. SUS Integrated Services which are building an interactive statewide system transparent to the user
  • Reciprocal privileges allowing any SUS student the use of any library
  • Interlibrary courier facilitating movement of physical collections
  • Development of student information literacy programs

    •  3. The SUS Digital Library, an integrated approach to electronic resources developed by the directors and staff of each institution working with each other in sub-groups or with the staff of the Florida Center for Library Automation (FCLA) as appropriate. The SUS Libraries are actively collaborating in purchasing and sharing resources. The major components of the SUS Digital Library are:
  • Joint management of library catalogs, indexes, image and full test databases.
  • Shared acquisition of electronic resources which saves money for all partners
  • Coordinated distance education programs including reference, referral, and instruction/training services for distance students
  • Digitized unique collections
  • Internet access to selected resources

    •

    Library Environment

    The library environment is, and has been, one of extraordinary change for the past 25 years. The major external factors with which libraries must contend include:
  • Huge increase in the amount of scholarly publication
  • Inflationary increases in the cost of publications
  • Rapidly changing information technologies

  • Shift in traditional educational techniques and patterns (electronic courses, distance education)
  • Changing Copyright law in the electronic environment
  • A shifting balance of power between publishers and libraries and changes in methods of information acquisition (negotiated license agreements)
  • Users' changing expectations (everything electronic, library can produce results immediately)
  • A broadening user base (many more than those who attend local classes and pay tuition)
  • Electronic publications increasing at a rapid rate, especially in the sciences, technology, medicine, and business
  • Costs of electronic information resources outpacing costs of printed resources
  • Rapidly evolving technology requiring frequent equipment upgrades to access information
  • Preservation of deteriorating print materials
  • Archiving/preservation of electronic information resources (migration to updated and accessible formats)

    • Strategic Goals

    To achieve our vision of an integrated SUS Digital Library, the SUS Libraries will work to enhance and develop information resources, library services, human resources, physical and technological infrastructure, and the funding base, thus providing better and easier access to traditional services and resources. The following goals are directed toward creating and integrating the SUS Digital Library.

    1. Purchase organize, and provide access to digital information resources that complement traditional resources in the SUS campus libraries to serve the needs of SUS students and faculty.
     1.1. Implement collaborative collection development and acquisition projects to leverage state resources for both digital and print materials.
    1.2. Develop strategies and protocols to ensure long-term access to resources in electronic formats.
    1.3. Integrate diverse formats into effective and useful collection that support student/scholarly needs.
    1.4. Provide students, faculty, and other valid users appropriate access to information resources in support of their learning and intellectual needs, regardless of location, learning style, or economic circumstances.
    2. Enhance SUS Library Services in support of teaching and learning
     2.1. Develop state guidelines for information literacy competency.
    2.2. Develop, refine, and implement an interlibrary loan/document delivery system that provides delivery of materials to SUS faculty and students within two to three days of receipt of request.
    2.3. Develop electronic paths that guide students to locate the most useful resources such as improved catalog records for electronic materials, specialized web pages, and online tutorials.
    2.4. Develop and implement a cooperative cataloging pilot project to demonstrate the feasibility of reducing duplication of effort within the SUS system.
    3. Convert unique SUS collections into digital formats to serve the citizens of Florida.
     3.1. Develop core and /or unique collections to benefit users and a wider constituency (K-12, community colleges, distance learners, and the public).
    3.2. Capture, preserve, and disseminate Florida's heritage.
    3.3. Make readily available university publications such as theses and dissertations.
    4. Obtain an increase in the number and strengthen the effectiveness of staff in SUS libraries.
     4.1. Obtain additional staff to serve the increasing enrollments and meet the increased demand for sophisticated and time-consuming electronic instruction and support.
    4.2 Obtain additional staff to support the interlibrary sharing of resources.
    4.3. Increase the number and expertise of staff with technological skills by hiring new staff with high technology competence and
    4.4. Establish a system-wide training and professional development program for current library staff to develop the skills required to function successfully in a changing library/higher education environment.
    4.5. Enhance human resource funding to ensure competitive salaries within the SUS, with peer institutions, and with the local market to retain skilled staff.
    4.6. Create library organizations that maximize the contributions of all staff.
    5. Obtain the physical and virtual space infrastructure needed in the SUS Libraries to support teaching and learning.
     5.1. Obtain support to replace NOTIS, the SUS catalog and automated library operations system.
    5.2. Develop and provide inter-operable library services and resources.
    5.3. Obtain support for facilities which house up-to-date workstations for information access and research; as well as space and equipment to support full utilization of print, recordings, graphic, and other electronic resources—including reference collections, audio-visual materials, and journals in multimedia formats.
    5.4. Support distance and other distributed learners with increased bandwidth and improved networking capacity; training for staff and patrons; and refinement of the Reference Referral Center.
    5.5. Establish complete connectivity among campus library facilities and all users—on campus or at remote sites—provided through integrated, high-speed, reliable telecommunication networks that facilitate electronic information sharing and retrieval for students, faculty, and staff and defines the SUS as a member of the global electronic community.
    5.6. Develop the capacity for digitization of unique library resources through the use of scanning equipment, server support, networking capacity, storage, metadata/access standards, integrated access and the creation of an administrative support structure.
    6. Obtain appropriate funding for the SUS Libraries to ensure the needs of students and faculty are met.
     6.1. In collaboration with the CAVP, suggest funding priorities among the many identified needs.
    6.2. In collaboration with BOR staff, develop an effective "generation formula" which will identify adequate funds for meeting continuing library needs in the areas of collections, technology, staff resources, and facilities.
    6.3. Identify and actively pursue alternative sources of funding to leverage state resources on collaborative SUS projects.