University Library

University Library Mission

 UCSC Library Mission Statement

The University Library strengthens the UCSC academic enterprise by providing, presenting, and preserving a wide range of information resources. We utilize innovative approaches in working with faculty and students to help them discover, use, manage, and share the array of information that supports their research, teaching, and learning.

 

UCSC Library Strategic Directions

 

1.  The University Library pushes information services beyond our current boundaries to reach our constituencies where they are and to educate them to become effectively self-sufficient.
  • Experiment with scalable, sustainable approaches to enhance lower-division undergraduate student preparedness to do research to write papers and handle other information-intensive responsibilities (e.g., work with Writing 2 instructors).
  • Deliver assistance and information anytime, anywhere by offering digital public services including online guides and digital reference services. 
  • Create a divisional team based framework to offer upper division and graduate student instruction to familiarize them with the key resources in their disciplinary areas.
  • Experiment with scalable, sustainable approaches to assist faculty in remaining current with the tools, resources, and technologies available to support their research and teaching.
  • Develop innovative websites and web-based tools to enhance discovery and access.
 
 2. The University Library deploys innovative tools and services to provide, present,  preserve, and share a broad and deep array of information resources. 
  • Retool librarian skill-sets and leverage system-wide expertise to acquire the knowledge needed to support faculty adapt to changing models of scholarly communication.
  • Develop an in-service training program to equip librarians and staff with the knowledge they need to communicate effectively with faculty, students, and other campus staff about the services and resources available to them to support their teaching, learning, research, and scholarship.
  • Partner with faculty to explore, develop, test, and assess tools and services in support of research.
  • Expand engagement in scholarly communication initiatives at both the local and national level by supporting COLASC, UCOLASC, and SPARC efforts to create a sustainable model.
  • Develop sustainable collection development and management strategies and when possible participate in systemwide collaborative efforts.
  • Streamline workflows to take advantage of new tools and methods to provide increased access to resources.
  • Build and provide ready access to special collections. 
  • Enrich and/or sustain library collections by finding new sources of funding.
  • Increase awareness of intellectual property rights management and copyright issues and policies.
 
3. The University Library’s facilities offer a variety of physical and virtual spaces and tools that enhance teaching, learning, and research for members of the UCSC community, either individually or in groups. 
  • Integrate and embed web-based tools and resources into eCommons.
  • Enhance and support the student educational experience by creating a “learning commons” and other study and collaboration spaces in the Science & Engineering Library.
  • Enhance student and faculty opportunities to create new media objects for teaching, learning, and research by fundraising to establish “creativity commons” equipped with a wide range of tools and spaces.
  • Partner with FITC to share and expand support for faculty creation and use of instructional technology.
  • Simplify the user experience by providing a unified help desk environment in collaboration with ITS and other campus units, as appropriate.
  •  Explore all alternatives to maintain lengthy service hours for both library buildings. 

 

Operational Approaches

 

The University Library is a model for the campus on the efficient use of resources. We employ the following approaches to meet the strategic directions described above.
  • Create a flexible organizational structure. 
  • Retool and train all staff to equip them with appropriate skills in our rapidly changing environment. 
  • Utilize strategies that are both scalable and sustainable.
  • Establish succession plans for key positions.
  • Budget effectively, with resources dedicated to the highest priorities and sufficient flexibility to reallocate as needed.
  • Increase the efficiency of basic services (e.g., info services desks, cataloging and processing of new books).
  • Fundraise aggressively.
  • Communicate effectively to both internal and external audiences.
  • Grow the assessment program.
  • Continue to utilize effective project management techniques.


October, 2012