Library Services Program Review Narrative December 2007 Date: December 10, 2007
Prepared by: Richard H. Swain, Director of Library Service
1. Department/program mission and descriptions 1.1 Mission
The primary mission of Library Services is to provide materials and information in support of the academic programs of West Chester University. Its goals in achieving this function are:
1. To make materials and information in all forms accessible to students, faculty and staff through bibliographic organization and retrieval, and appropriate equipment, facilities, and library services.
2. To teach students and faculty how to use the library and information resources in support of study and research and for the development of lifelong learning skills.
3. To work in partnership with classroom faculty to teach information literacy skills to our students.
4. To provide an academic environment that is conducive to learning and promotes an awareness and appreciation of intellectual diversity. 5. To foster an appreciation for books and reading in all formats that will
culturally enrich West Chester University students during their college experience and beyond.
As a public institution, the University Library has a secondary mission to make its collections available to local and statewide communities for in-house and interlibrary loan use. These goals support the University's mission by creating a
teaching-learning library. While the physical environment will facilitate research and access to resources that are necessary for learning in the 21st century, it is the staff of the Library that will provide the expertise and services to fulfill this mission. The Library staff, through their ever-expanding knowledge of Commonwealth resources and technology, will develop a learning environment that is both personalized and proactive in meeting the information needs of the university community.
Library Services is currently engaged in creating a new strategic plan including new mission, vision, values, goals, and objectives. (See Appendix I for a draft of the new strategic plan, including the new mission statement.)
1.2 Description
West Chester University has two physical libraries, the Francis Harvey Green Library at the corner of High Street and Rosedale Avenue, and the new Presser Music Library in room 121 Swope Music Building and the Performing Arts Center. Both libraries offer excellent environments for study and research. The total collections of both libraries include more than 774,000 print volumes, 8,800 print and electronic periodical
subscriptions, and 72,500 audio-visual items (including videos, DVDs, and sound recordings). In addition, Library Services licenses more than 116,000 electronic books; the full text of articles from more than 24,000 periodicals; over 300,000 streaming audio titles; and 540,000 high-quality images of art works on the Web. The majority of Web materials may be accessed off campus by entering the 14- or 16-digit number from a current WCU ID. These materials are augmented by an extensive collection of maps, government documents, and more than 1,000,000 items in microform, including books, periodicals, newspapers, and doctoral dissertations. The total Library collection compares favorably with other major public and private libraries in the region. Special holdings in the FHG Library include the Chester County Collection of Scientific and Historical Books, the Normal Collection (publications by faculty and alumni), and the Stanley Weintraub Center for the Study of Arts and Humanities. Important rare books donated by William Pyle Philips, son of George Morris Philips, Principal of the West Chester Normal School from 1880 to 1920, include The Biographies of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence by John Sanderson and five Shakespeare folios. Also worthy of note are the collections of children’s literature, instructional media, and the Philips Autographed Collection in Philips Memorial Building. The Presser Music Library contains the University’s collection of scores as well as sound recordings, music books, periodicals, and microforms. This new facility also features the latest equipment for listening to sound recordings in analog and digital formats. The Library web site (http://www.wcupa.edu/library) provides continually updated access to a wide array of resources and services, including PILOT, the Library’s catalog, and links to more than 180 electronic databases. The FHG Library currently has a small coffee café on the main floor. A new Starbucks will open on the ground floor in January 2008. The new Starbucks will seat 50, and it has been built so that it can be kept open for study when Starbucks is closed, when the FHG Library is closed, or when both are closed. The Library offers reference service (in-person, telephone, and e-mail), library instruction, electronic reserves, interlibrary loan, more than 50 desktop workstations with internet access and free printing, wireless laptops for use in the Library, and access to coin-operated photocopiers and microform copiers.
Many library resources are purchased or managed for West Chester by the Keystone Library Network (KLN), an organization that includes all 14 of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) universities, the State Library of Pennsylvania, Lincoln University, Thaddeus Stevens Technical College, Geneva College, and the Harrisburg University of Science and Technology. The KLN is a legal entity under PASSHE and is authorized to make purchases and contracts for KLN libraries. The KLN contracts with Shippensburg University to run a separate instance of the Voyager Integrated Library System for each of the nineteen KLN institutions; to provide
authentication and proxy services for databases; and to run a shared instance of ContentDM for digital collections. The KLN also negotiates many other contracts for PASSHE libraries, including contracts for book purchases, binding, and electronic databases.
Library Services is the official name of the unit of the university including the FHG Library and the Presser Music Library together with their personnel and budgets. The
names “Library Services” and “Library” will be used interchangeably in this report. Individual WCU libraries will be referred to by name, and the lower case word library
will be used as the generic term.
1.2.1 FHG Library Use
The popular assumption is that use of the physical library is declining as the use of electronic resources increases. In fact use of the FHG Library has been increasing dramatically.
2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07
Gate Count 243,407 255,804 313,018 392,331 400,635 452,861
Gate Count in a Typical Week 7,229 8,616 7,500 10,389 10,617 12,001 The LibQual Surveys in 2003 and 2006 show that WCU students are unusually
satisfied with the services they receive, and a 2005 study by applied statistics graduate students “Why do WCU Students go the Francis Harvey Green Library?” indicates that the highest proportion students go to the Library because they find it an excellent place to study – not for social reasons or because there is a coffee shop. (See 6 Assessment).
It is hoped that increasing the number of computer workstations and collaborative spaces will further increase the use of the Library.
1.2.2 Library Collections
Collection History
FY 2001 FY 2002 FY 2003 FY 2004 FY 2005
Print Volumes (Books, serial backfiles government documents, etc.)
788,478 736,793 736,793 744,976 749,885
E-Books 1,888 5,297 5,297 5,297 5,297
Microform – Units 1,039,968 1,048,867 1,052,785 1,068,269 1,068,846 Audiovisual Materials – Units 79,092 71,661 71,661 72,487 72,177 Subscriptions –
Titles including e-journals 4,136 4,136 4,505 4,625 4,954
Collection History, cont.
FY 2006 FY 2007 FY 2008
Print Volumes (Books, serial backfiles government documents, etc.)
757,859 770,808 774,251*
E-Books 5,754 11,051 116,587*
Microform – Units 1,069,051 1,071,438 1,071,438** Audiovisual Materials – Units 72,754 72,804 72,804** Subscriptions –
Titles including e-journals 7,755 8,803 8,803** *Updated from 2007 **Not updated
In general Library collections have grown steadily since 2000. Access to materials on the web has grown enormously. (See 2.1.4.2 Electronic Collections).
1.2.3 Library Staffing Library Staffing since 1990
1990-91 2000-01 2000-01 2006-07 2006-07
FTE FTE Complement FTE Complement Managers (All professional Librarians) 2 2 2 3 Library Faculty 13 11.5 11 13 13 Staff 26 28 19 26 21
The Library has gained two library faculty positions since 2000. The position of Electronic Resources Librarian was added in 2000, and R. Swain, the current Director of Library Services, moved from Humanities/Instruction Librarian to the new position. A new Humanities/Instruction Reference Librarian, Amanda Cain, was then hired. The position of Access Services Librarian was created, and C. Garthwait was hired as the first incumbent in 2003.
K. Marvin, the Library Systems Manager, was transferred from Information Services to the Library in 2004. Kathie is a librarian, and she has managed library systems at WCU beginning with the NOTIS in 1989 through the installation of Voyager in 1998 to today. Transferring this position to Library Services insures that the Library can rely on a systems librarian whose work will not be diverted to other IT projects.
Even with these additions the Library is understaffed compared to its peers. (See 8.1. Areas Needing Improvement)
Library Staff FTE includes 2.9 part-time temporary employees. Neither the FHG Library nor the Presser Library could maintain their current evening and weekend hours without these temporary employees.
One full-time staff member, Corinthian Depte, was transferred to the Library from Grounds because of an injury. Therefore the Library’s complement is one less than the number of FTE staff, and Corinthian’s position as Circulation Attendant will not filled if he leaves. This would leave serious gap in Library staffing, since Corinthian truly the Library’s ambassador of good will. He is extremely popular with students, who have put up a FaceBook page in his honor. He has also won the annual Bayard Rustin Award from the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered Committee and the Office of Multicultural Affairs.
The Library is suffering a severe decline in the number of student workers which is related to the decrease in Federal funding for the Work Study Program and to the increasing number of students who have cars and can therefore work off-campus at better paying jobs. This is a serious problem which is causing hardship in those
library operations which have depended on student workers: especially Circulation and the Instructional Materials Center. (See 8.1.2 Student workers).
Library Student Workers
2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 Decline from 2003-04 to 2005-06
Student Worker FTE 27.3 23.8 16.5 -10.8 % Decline in FTE -13% -31% -39.6%
1.2.3.1 Diversity of Library Staff
Diversity of Library Full Time Library Faculty and Staff
Classification White M White F Black M Black F Hispanic M Hispanic F Other M Other F Administrative Assistant 1 Clerk Typist 1 1 Info Technology Technician 1 Library Assistant 1 6 Library Faculty 5 7 1 Library Technician 2 4 2 1 1 Manager 1 2 Security Guard 1 Totals 9 22 1 3 1 1 0 1 % of Total 23.68% 57.89% 2.63% 7.89% 2.63% 2.63% 0.00% 2.63%
Diversity of Full Time Library Employees
Total Full-Time 38 100% Total Male 11 28.95% Total Female 27 71.05% Total White 31 81.58% Total Black 4 10.53% Total Hispanic 2 5.26% Total Other 1 2.63%
The Library has made a concerted effort to increase the diversity of its staff. All searches reach out to attract minority candidates. In spring 2006 the Library
advertised for and hired the first Frederick Douglass Librarian in the State System. R. Swain modeled this position on the Frederick Douglass Scholars program pioneered by West Chester University, and it was meant to provide academic library experience to a minority librarian who had received his or her MLS within the past year. The position of Collection Development Librarian was held open
for a year to create the opportunity to appoint a Frederick Douglass Librarian. The Library was successful in giving experience to a promising minority librarian.
1.2.4 Library Organization 1.2.4.1 Library Operations
The Library has a traditional operational organization. It is divided into two main divisions, Public Services and Technical Services. (See Appendix VI, Library Organization Chart)
Public Services is comprised of Reference (including instruction and collection development) and Collections (including Government Documents and Maps, Instructional Materials, Special Collections, and the Presser Music Library). The Associate Director of Library Services is the manager for Public Services. Technical Services is comprised of Acquisitions & Serials and Cataloging. The Director of Library Services is the manager of Technical Services.
Library Operational Meetings:
Librarians and staff meet jointly each month.
Public Services and Technical Services each meet monthly. Because of the overlap of functions some Public Services library faculty and staff attend Technical Services Meetings (Music Librarian, Government Documents Librarian or Technician, Collection Development Librarian, IMC Librarian or Technician, and Circulation Supervisor).
Library Services Committees
- Collection Development, chaired by Collection Development Librarian (Standing)
- Electronic Resources, chaired by Electronic Resources Librarian (Standing)
- Library Exhibits Committee, elected annually to plan and prepare exhibits (usually Chaired by the Special Collections Librarian). - Library Faculty Travel Committee: Meets on an ad hoc basis with the
Director of Library Services to propose policies and review travel requests.
- Library Faculty Summer Committee: Meets on an ad hoc basis with the Director of Library Services to discuss summer contracts and work schedules and make recommendations to the Director.
- Library Social Committee, elected annually to plan social events and send messages of congratulations and condolences.
- Library Seminar Committee, elected annually to plan some staff development events.
1.2.4.2 Department of Library Services
According to the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between APSCUF (Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties) and PASSHE (the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education), the members of the Library Faculty constitute a Department within Library Services. The
Department is analogous to the Department of English in the College of Arts and Sciences. Although the Director of Library Services is not a Dean, he or she functions analogously to a Dean under the CBA.
The Department of Library Services elects a Chair, currently R. Gerald
Schoelkopf, the Special Collections Librarian, who receives a stipend which is determined by the CBA. The Department of Library Services elects a Tenure and Promotion Committee, currently chaired by Jane Burton, the Special Materials Cataloger. Annual evaluations of non-tenured library faculty, promotion and tenure evaluations, and five-year review evaluations of tenured library faculty are conducted by the Chair of the Department of Library Services and by the
Departmental Tenure and Promotion Committee. These evaluations are transmitted to the University Tenure and Promotion Committee and to the Provost in accord with the CBA. The Director of Library Services also evaluates library faculty in the manner proscribed by the CBA for all Deans and Directors.
Library faculty members have faculty status which is equivalent in all respects to classroom faculty. Library faculty are paid at the same rates and have the same CBA-determined rules for promotion and tenure as other faculty. Library faculty have nine-month contracts, and they do not have assigned vacation days, but work only when classes are in session and during examination periods.
Just as classroom faculty must be offered special contracts to work in the summer, library faculty must be offered summer contracts. The University allows the Library to divide the summer into two week periods instead of five week sessions. The Library tries to have at least five librarians at work when classes are in session during the summer. The division into two week periods maximizes the
willingness of library faculty to work during the summer. Temporary librarians must be hired to fill vacant positions in the summer if regular library faculty members are not willing to work when needed.
Library staff members have twelve-month contracts and thus staff in areas such as Access Services, IMC, and the Music Library, must often operate without the supervision of a library faculty member. Operational problems are then referred to the Library Director or Associate Director as appropriate.
The Director and Associate Director of Library Services meet with the Department of Library Services at least two times a semester to discuss faculty issues.
1.3 Public Services
The majority of library faculty and staff work in Public Services. These are the people who deal directly with library users. Library users are remarkably satisfied with the services they receive. The 2003 and 2006 LibQual+ surveys indicate that West Chester University students and faculty are more satisfied with the services they receive and the way they are treated than are the faculty and students at most other institutions of higher learning which have administered the LibQual+ survey. The 2006 LibQual survey also shows improvement over the 2003 LibQual survey in all areas of Affect of Service except “giving users individual attention.” This latter is not surprising, since the analysis by the West Chester Statistical Institute showed that the Library is understaffed when compared to its peers, and it is 12th out of 14 among PASSHE libraries in librarians per FTE student. (See section 6 Assessment.)
1.3.1 Reference & Instruction
2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 Reference Transactions in a Typical Week 397 465 424 426 417 368 Library Instruction ADP (Summer) 8 8 8 0 0 0 EN 121 or WRT 66 83 97 109 86 99 Other Undergraduate 68 103 88 83 103 108 Graduate 18 12 15 14 24 Faculty 1 8 3 4 4 Other 1 4 12 5 0 Total Classes 162 177 217 222 212 235 Students in classes 3,393 4,050 4,774 5,370 5,200 5,454 First year Orientation Students
(estimated) n/a n/a 1,500 1,500 1,500 1,500
Total Students 3,393 4,050 6,274 6,870 6,700 6,954 The Reference Desk is open 8:30 AM to 10:00 PM Monday-Thursday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM Friday, noon to 5:00 PM on Saturday, and noon to 10:00 PM on Sunday. According to the Collective Bargaining Agreement, only library faculty may work at the Reference Desk, and the Reference Desk is double-staffed during busy hours. All library faculty work least two and one-half hours a week at the Reference Desk. The Reference Librarians work an average of 12 hours a week at the Reference Desk. The Reference Librarians also work an average of four four-hour weekend shifts during each semester. The number of reference questions has fluctuated during the past six years. The total number of questions is seems to be decreasing, but the number of research-type questions, especially those involving electronic resources, is increasing.
Library instruction is increasing significantly. The number of sessions has more than doubled since 2000-01. Although all the Reference Librarians have cooperated to help cover this increase, the load has fallen most heavily on the Information Literacy Librarian (who is also the Humanities Librarian and handles the majority of the required writing classes) and the Access Services Librarian (who is the library selector for Communications and who handles the majority of the General Education speech classes).
The Reference Area is in the midst of a major renovation. An entirely new shelving arrangement, replacing a failed experiment with mobile shelving, was completed in summer 2007. New furniture and carpeting will be added in spring 2008.
1.3.2 Collection Development
Collection Development is coordinated by Mame Purce, the Collection Development Reference Librarian. She was hired in fall 2006 and has spent the last year learning her responsibilities and working on the reorganization of the Reference Collection and the upgrading of the Children’s Literature Collection. Upcoming projects include the integration of electronic tools, such as WorldCat Collection Analysis and the
University of Pennsylvania Data Farm, into collection analysis and development. M. Purce has also formed a Collection Development Policy committee, consisting of herself, Christina McCawley, the Acquisitions and Serials Librarian, and Jane Hutton, the Electronic Resources Librarian, to begin the revision of our Collection
Development Policy.
1.3.3 Electronic Resources – including Web Pages, RefWorks, WebFeat, etc.
Jane Hutton, the Electronic Resources Librarian, has been extremely productive since she joined the library faculty in 2005. She has managed the selection of more than $1,000,000 worth of electronic resources and the presentation of those resources on the Library’s Web pages. She has also handled the setup for RefWorks, which became available to users at the start of the fall semester in 2007.
West Chester and other KLN libraries purchased Endeavor’s OpenURL resolver and federated search engine in 2003. These products never worked satisfactorily, and Endeavor eventually discontinued them and the entire company was purchased by Ex Libris in January 2007. Jane managed the set up of the new Serials Solutions
OpenURL resolver in fall 2006, and she has set up and managed our instance of WebFeat, which was launched in November 2007.
Jane has also been working with staff in the WCU Academic Computing Department to completely revise the Library web pages and present library services and resources on a new and separate tab in the Blackboard CMS. Both the new Library web pages and new Library presence in Blackboard are essentially complete and will be available to library users at the beginning of the spring semester in January 2008. Particularly significant is the generation of Library web page content from a database. This allows the Electronic Resource Librarian to update one occurrence of the information for a
database and thereby update all appearances of the title on multiple pages throughout the Library’s web site.
The introduction of the new web pages and Blackboard presence has been consciously postponed until the start of a new semester in order to not to confuse students and complicate library instruction.
1.3.4 Government Documents and Maps
West Chester University is a selective depository library for Federal documents and for Commonwealth of Pennsylvania documents. Both the Federal and the
Commonwealth documents have their own classification systems, and many paper and microform documents are shelved in the Government Documents areas according to these numbers. The Library classifies important documents in the Dewey Decimal system and shelves them with the regular circulating collection.
The number of paper Federal documents published each year has been declining, and the Superintendent of Documents plans to eliminate the vast majority of paper depository documents in the near future. The paper documents are being replaced by documents on the Web. West Chester purchases the MARCIVE records for all Federal depository documents it selects, and these records are added to the online catalog, so that library users may find them more easily. The paper Federal Documents have been weeded, but a further and more radical weeding of the collection is planned.
There is a large map collection, and in 2004 the Library received a generous endowment to rename the map room as the Sandra F. Pritchard Mather and John Russell Mather Cartographic Resource Center. The Cartographic Resource Center includes a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) workstation. Awilda Reyes, the Government Documents and Map Librarian, and Walter Cressler, the Science Reference Librarian handle the GIS inquiries.
1.3.5 Instructional Materials Center (IMC)
The Instructional Materials Center contains the Library’s collection of elementary and secondary textbooks and other instructional materials. It also houses the majority of the Library’s collection of videos, DVDs, and films. The IMC includes a large and heavily used collection of Ellison dies, and it loans out equipment such digital cameras, video cameras and sound recording devices. It maintains and circulates wireless laptop computers for use in the FHG Library, and the IMC also offers services such as laminating and poster printing.
Patricia Lenkowski, the IMC Librarian, has undertaken a major weeding of the IMC Collections. She also manages the Children’s Literature Collection, and she has been heavily involved in weeding the Collection and rearranging it onto additional shelving which was moved from the old Music Library. There are two Library Technicians. Amanda Brooks works during the day Monday through Friday and handles
Sunday through Thursday and manages the IMC equipment and the circulating wireless laptops.
The wireless laptops are circulated to students for in-house use from the IMC Service Desk. This is an extremely popular service, and the laptops are heavily used. The Library is now on its second generation of wireless laptops. The dip in 2006-07 was the result of the failure of many of the original laptops all of which have now been replaced.
Laptop Circulation 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 n/a 5,695 8,233 9,212 6,875 10,700 1.3.6 Music Library
The new Presser Music Library opened in January 2007. The former Music Library housed only scores and recordings, but the new library now includes music books and periodicals. These collections were moved to the new Presser Library from the FHG Library. Technology Fee money was used to purchase new listening and viewing equipment and several major electronic collections including the all the Naxos and Alexander Street streaming audio collections and the Alexander Street collection of electronic scores. The Presser Music Library also circulates three wireless laptops to students for in-house use. The Presser Music Library manages its own circulating and reserve collections. Paul Emmons, the Music Librarian, does the music cataloging as well as supervising the Music Library staff. There are now two Library Technicians in the Music Library, Lucille Stroud and Guillermo Gomez. Lucille Stroud was
transferred from Serials to the Music Library in fall 2006. Two Library Technicians are needed to handle the increase in Music Library collections and services.
A major gift of over 16,000 audio CDs is scheduled to be added in December 2007, and a large number of bound periodicals and LPs were moved to commercial off site storage to accommodate the gift. This gift will increase the Library’s collection of audio CDs more by more than five times.
1.3.7 Special Collections
Special Collections contains rare books and materials related to the history of West Chester University and the region. In 2005, Mark Mixner, WCU Vice President for Finance and Administration, arranged for Bart Auerbach, a consultant to Sotheby’s, to appraise the Philips Autographed Collection, and R. Swain asked that the appraisal be expanded to include a small number of items from the FHG Library Special
Collections. The Philips Autographed Collection of about 2,500 inscribed books was appraised at $816,860. Twenty-seven items from Special Collections, including the five Shakespeare folios, the Signers to the Declaration of Independence, and the correspondence of revolutionary war General Anthony Wayne, were appraised at $2,894,250. The Shakespeare First Folio alone was appraised at $1,000,000. These materials are now insured, and the university will be installing a separate HVAC system for Special Collections as part of the geothermal upgrade in the next year.
New storage and shelves were installed in the Special Collections workroom in summer 2006, but Special Collections is still very short of space. If possible, compact shelving will be installed in the vault in conjunction with the installation of the new HVAC system.
The Library spent $18,000 to purchase important materials from the estate of local historian Paul A. Rodebaugh in 2006.
Special Collections Librarian R. Gerald Schoelkopf has been working with Jane Hutton, the Electronic Resources Librarian, to put finding aids on the Library web pages. He completed an index to the Centennial History of West Chester University, Dr. Russell L. Sturzebecker. Digitized page images of the entire book with the index by R. Gerald Schoelkopf were made available on the Library web pages in fall 2007. Library Assistant N. Kenney divides his time between Special Collections and ILL. He has been working on organizing and indexing newspapers and manuscripts.
1.3.8 Access Services
As a result of an analysis of Library needs and a discussion at the Library Retreat in 2003, Clayton Garthwait was hired as the first Access Services Librarian in fall 2004. Before that time the Associate Director of Libraries had served as the manager for Circulation and Reserves. Access Services was then reorganized to include Interlibrary Loan and management of all public computers workstations in the FHG Library along with Circulation and Reserves.
1.3.8.1 Circulation Circulation 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 Charges 41,754 40,033 42,517 41,278 31,507 35,021 Renewals 3,845 4,647 5,199 5,382 3,823 3,981 Music Charges 4,652 4,282 3,750 6,734 4,128 5,269 Music Renewals 486 486 539 739 857 2998 Total Circulation 50,737 49,448 52,005 54,133 40,315 47,269 Figures for the circulation of library materials have fluctuated wildly in the last three years, declining 25% from their high point of 54,133 in 2004-05 to their lowest point in 2005-06, and then going up 17% to 47,269 2006-07. The overall trend seems downward, which is in accord with national academic library circulation trends. Circulation staff includes: D. McDonnell, the Library Technician who manages day time operations and supervises; K. DeFuso, the Stacks Assistant; and N. Garg the evening Circulation Technician, who supervises circulation operations Sunday through Thursday when the FHG Library is usually open until midnight.
1.3.8.2 Reserves
Reserves 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07
Traditional Reserve Charges 7,246 4,267 3,271 2,075 2,357 2,736 Music Reserve Items Used 3,035 4,870 6,019 11,329 10,637 11,747 E-Reserves Hits 5,280 24,071 23,079 32,554 34,222 37,916
Total Reserve Use 15,561 33,208 32,369 45,958 47,216 52,399
Circulation of print materials is decreasing, and the use of print reserves is also decreasing in the FHG Library. However the use print reserves has gone up over 370% in the Music Library. Cindy Williams, the Reserves Assistant in the FHG Library, has managed an enormous growth in electronic reserves. While the number of physical items circulated from the FHG Library Reserves Desk has dropped, the use of the Docutek E-Reserves system has grown by 43%.
1.3.8.3 Interlibrary Loan
2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 Document Delivery
(ILL + E-Zborrow + U-Borrow)
Document Delivery Provided:
Returnable 2,732 2,750 2,833 4,621 4,295 3,681 Document Delivery Provided:
Non-Returnable 2,968 3,171 2,621 4,616 4,096 2,592
Document Delivery Total
Provided 5,700 5,921 5,454 9,237 8,391 6,273
Document Delivery Received:
Returnable 2,333 2,577 3,570 3,503 3,210 3,314 Document Delivery Received:
Non-Returnable 2,493 2,664 2,621 4,008 3,976 2,934
Document Delivery Total
Received 4,826 5,241 6,191 7,511 7,186 6,248
The Library added the ILLiad Interlibrary Loan System in conjunction with ARIEL electronic document delivery in 2003. In addition, the Library has added PALCI EZ-Borrow service which provides access to the book collections of over 60 libraries, including all major academic libraries in Pennsylvania. The U-Borrow system within the Voyager online catalog allows students from any PASSHE institution to search the catalog of any other PASSHE institution and request books through the Voyager catalog. U-Borrow also allows any PASSHE student or faculty member to use his or her ID to check out books at any other PASSHE institution.
The staff of Interlibrary Loan (ILL) has been in flux for the past year, and only Neal Kenney who works for both ILL and Special Collections is left from the staff of fall 2006. The appointment of Tracie Meloy as ILL Technician and Lauren Kurz as ILL Assistant should bring needed stability and ensure continued good service.
The Library is looking toward adding the Rapid ILL in the near future. PALCI E-ZBorrow provides books to WCU Library users within about three days of request. The Rapid ILL system would provide 24 hour turn around for the electronic
delivery of articles.
1.3.8.4 Public Workstations
In the 2003 LibQual Survey students complained that the Library did not have up-to-date technology. We have updated our computers two times since then. In 2005 QVC pledged a gift of $100,000 over a four year period for the construction of an Information Commons. The QVC Information Commons opened in April 2007 with 10 computers, and 10 more computers were added in the summer of 2007. When the current Coffee Café closes at the end of fall semester 2007, the room it currently occupies will be renovated and added to the QVC Commons as a group study/collaboration area. At least 6 tables with computers designed for collaboration of 3-6 people will be added.
Shelly Litchko, was hired in 2007 to handle the over 90 public computer workstations now in the Library. She has been very effective in working with Academic Computing to keep the computers updated and running and to reduce down-time and complaints about the public laser printers.
1.4 Technical Services
Technical Services include the operations which acquire, process, and catalog library materials. The Director of Library Services, is the manager of Technical Services.
1.4.1 Acquisitions and Serials
In 2004 Dr. Christina McCawley was the first library faculty member to be promoted to full Professor. As Acquisitions and Serials Librarian, Prof. McCawley manages both operations and does the serials cataloging. The majority of library materials are ordered by Acquisitions and Serials. Typically Acquisitions staff enters the first information about a new item into the Voyager Integrated Library System (ILS).
As of January 2008 staffing in the Acquisitions and Serials areas will have been reduced from a high of five staff members in 2000 to one full-time Library Technician in Acquisitions and one Library Assistant whose time will be divided between Serials and Cataloging. This has not been an easy transition, but Prof. McCawley has been extremely cooperative and willing to work toward appropriate staffing levels.
1.4.1.1 Acquisitions
Acquisitions does the majority of the ordering of library books, including standing orders and audio visual materials. In 2003 Acquisitions had three staff members in addition to Dr. McCawley: a Library Technician and two Library Assistants - one to assist with standing orders and the other to receive materials at the loading dock and handle gifts. The increase in electronic ordering and the installation of a swipe card and telephone at the Loading Dock has allowed a reduction to a single Library Technician, Nancy Mortenson. Nancy has recently moved her desk from the first
floor to the Cataloging area on the second floor. This is a better location for her since the acquisitions record serves as the initial record for cataloging, and now materials do not have to be stored in two successive locations (Acquisitions and Cataloging) during processing, but they can come directly into the Cataloging area until they are ready to go the shelves. One of these Serials positions was transferred to the Library Administrative Office for full-time new Clerk Typist. The other was transferred to Access Services for the new Computer Specialist.
1.4.1.2 Serials
Serials orders periodicals, journals, and newspapers, and receives and checks-in the physical editions. Prof. Christina McCawley has added records for all electronic serials into the Voyager catalog. In 2003 the Library maintained printed lists of serials by title and subject, beginning in 2005 began using Serials Solutions to maintains an online list of all current WCU periodicals. Library print holdings were added to the Serials Solutions database through a special project in which Library Assistant Walter Campbell was paid as an outside contractor. The Library now purchases Serials Solutions MARC cataloging records which are uploaded to the Voyager online catalog, thus keeping our catalog up to date for all electronic journal subscriptions and for all journals in which full-text appears in an aggregator’s database (e.g. full-text titles in EBSCOhost databases).
In 2003 the Serials Department had two staff members, a Library Technician and a Library Assistant, in addition to Dr. McCawley. As a result of the move from paper and microform to electronic serials, the work load in Serials has been decreasing. In 2006 the Serials Library Technician position was transferred to the Music Library to support the additional collections and services attendant on the opening of the new Presser Music Library. Serials staffing was thus reduced to a single Library Assistant to handle check-in, mail and other tasks. The last person to hold the position of Serials Assistant left in November 2007, and, after review of the workload, a new position, divided between Serials and Cataloging, was developed. The position has been advertised, and a new person will be hired to fill this position early in 2008. In the meantime, an emergency part-time Library Assistant, Bo Wang, is handling serials check-in, mail, and other tasks.
1.4.2 Cataloging
The Cataloging Department has two operational areas, Print Cataloging and Special Materials Cataloging. Patricia Newland supervises Print Cataloging, and Jean Piper Burton supervises Special Materials Cataloging. Serials cataloging is done by C. McCawley, the Acquisitions and Serials Librarian, and Music Cataloging is done by P. Emmons, the Music Librarian.
1.4.2.1 Print Cataloging
Print Cataloging handles the cataloging and processing of most books and maps. Three Library Assistants, Walter Campbell, Glenna Flemming, and Susan
McDonnell, are supervised by the Print Cataloging Librarian, library faculty member P. Newland. The library assistants do processing and copy cataloging and handle
withdrawals, binding of theses, and similar tasks. P. Newland does original
cataloging and is the lead for all authority work. In spring 2007 the KLN, through the State Library of Pennsylvania, arranged to have some PASSHE catalogers trained by the Library of Congress to do name authority work. P. Newland is now among the select group of librarians authorized by NACO (the Name Authority Cooperative of the Library of Congress Program for Cooperative Cataloging) to add name authority heading to the OCLC database.
1.4.2.2 Special Materials Cataloging
Special Materials Cataloging handles the processing and cataloging of archival and print materials for Special Collection and for non-print materials such as DVDs, CDs, films, and videos. Special Materials Cataloger J. Burton supervises the work of Library Technician L. Hardy and does original cataloging. Recent projects have included cataloging the Peter J. Adler Comic Book Collection, the Visionary Leadership Collection (which includes WCU student interviews of notable local African-American elders), and the Rodebaugh Collection of over 300 titles on local history. J. Burton is also working on creating and publishing metadata for WCU digital collections. She has recently created records on ContentDM for the General Anthony Wayne letters. These can be seen at
http://klndigital.passhe.edu/cdm4/browse.php?CISOROOT=%2Fdiaries.
R. Swain arranged to have the title pages and inscriptions of all materials in the Philips Autographed Collection digitized in August 2007. Images are now available on a CD and Prof. Burton will creating metadata and ContentDM records for 50 to 100 of the most important of these books during her sabbatical in spring semester 2008.
1.5 Library Administration
The Library Director, Associate Director and Systems Manager are all professional librarians who are classified as managers and are not members of the library faculty.
1.5.1 Library Administrative Team
The Director of Library Services, Richard Swain, the Associate Director, Adele Bane, the Library Administrative Assistant, Teresa Dero, and the Library Office Assistant, Barbara Tierno, form the Library Administrative Team. The Director is responsible for planning and administering the overall Library budget and
operations. The Director is also the manager for Technical Services and the Building Administrator. The Director of Library Services attends the meetings of the Academic Affairs Council (formerly the Dean’s Council) which is chaired by Dr. L. Lamwers, WCU Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. This ensures that the Library can participate in discussions regarding academic
procedures and policy and can also remain up-to-date on the plans of the Provost and College Deans. The Director also attends every other meeting of the
Information Services Directors, which is chaired by Dr. F. Gage, WCU Vice President for Information Services.
The Associate Director is the manager for Public Services and handles the
administration of most of the day-to-day operations. This is particularly important given the large amount of time R. Swain has devoted to serving as a board member and officer of key regional library organizations including PALINET, PACLI (the Pennsylvania Academic Library Consortium), and the Keystone Library Network. A. Bane has leads the Library Marketing Committee, promotes good customer service from library faculty and staff, and handles personnel issues as they arise.
The Administrative Assistant helps manage the Library budget, and manages personnel records, including payroll, for all library faculty and staff. Payroll has become a much more onerous task under the new SAP Financial System. The SAP System was designed for factory shift work, and it is especially labor intensive to input correct records for library faculty and staff that typically who must change their schedules according to changing hours of the Library through the academic year. The work required to properly do the Library payroll has increased by at least 30% since the introduction of SAP.
The Library Office Assistant, does general secretarial work, handles the student payroll, and serves as the Assistant Building Administrator. This latter means that she handles the day-to-day problems related to custodial services, building
renovation and repair, security, etc. This is a significant job since the Library is open longer hours than almost any other building on campus and is also open and attractive to many people in the wider community. A position was moved from the Acquisitions complement in 2005 to create this position. Given the increased work caused by the SAP Financial System and the demands of building administration, this position was a necessary addition to the Administrative Team.
1.5.2 Library Systems Manager
K. Marvin was transferred to the Library 2004. She had worked as Library systems manager in Information Services since 1985. During the period of 1998-2001, the KLN maintained three separate Hubs (West Chester, Shippensburg, and Indiana University of PA) to run the 16 KLN instances of Voyager. After the consolidation of the three Hubs into a single Hub at Shippensburg, K. Marvin has continued to serve as systems librarian for the Library’s Voyager ILS (integrated library system). She works with Information Services staff to manage the software and servers for the Library’s Docutek E-Reserves system, ILLiad interlibrary loan system, Blogs, and the streaming audio.
Her expertise and hard work were of the greatest importance during the WCU network crisis of 2005 when there was a shutdown of more than two-weeks in the connection between the campus LAN and the Internet.. She worked tirelessly for weeks to identify the problems caused by the shut-down and by the university’s new security measures. Even after connectivity was restored between the campus LAN and the Internet, it took K. Marvin many additional weeks of overtime work to restore all library systems to full operation.
The Library needs a full-time systems librarian/manager and the transfer of this position ensures that essential library work will not be delayed because of other IT projects which might have priority for Information Services but are not related to Library operations.
2. Uniqueness/Strengths
I have grouped these according to the five transformations of the WCU Plan for Excellence (http://www.wcupa.edu/selfstudy/).
2.1 Student Success
2.1.1 Satisfaction with Library Services
According to the 2003 and 2006 LibQual+ surveys, WCU Students and faculty show a consistently a higher rate of satisfaction with WCU Library Services than do students and faculty at other PASSHE libraries, peer libraries, and Association of Research Libraries. (See section 6.1 Assessment.)
2.1.2 Library Instruction
The Library has greatly increased its instruction efforts to meet new Middle States Accreditation requirements. (See also 1.3.1 above.) The LibQual+ surveys also show that students and faculty are satisfied with the instruction they receive. (See 6.1 below.)
Library Instruction 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07
Classes 162 177 217 222 212 235
Students in classes 3,393 4,050 6,274 6,870 6,700 6,954
2.1.3 Bibliographic Database / Library Catalog
The Library is committed to the principle that access to library resources is dependent on having accurate and easily accessible records for all appropriate library materials in its catalog. Library Technical Services and the Systems Librarian have worked extremely hard to create and maintain a database of the highest quality. The Library has spent significant sums to ensure that all possible library holdings, regardless of format (print, microform, AV, electronic, etc.), have good bibliographic records in the database.
2.1.3.1 MARCIVE Authority Cleanup
In 2003 the entire database was sent to MARCIVE to bring its authority work up to the latest standards. Authority work is a high priority, and P. Newland has been authorized by NACO (the Name Authority Cooperative of the Library of Congress Program for Cooperative Cataloging) to add name authority heading to the OCLC database.
2.1.3.2 Purchase of MARC Records for Microform Sets
The library purchased all available OCLC MARC records for its major
microform holdings, including the Early American Imprints and the Library of American Civilization. The Serials Cataloger added records for all electronic
serials subscriptions. Serial records are now being updated by Serials
Solutions. Records 18,978 for serials titles have been added including links to all electronic serials subscriptions and to journals providing the full-text of articles from databases such as those from EBSCO, OVID, ProQuest, and Readex.
2.1.3.3 Purchase of MARC Records for Sets of Electronic Books
MARC records have been purchased for over 116,000 electronic books from sets such as Early English Books, the 18th century literature collection from ECCO (Eighteenth Century Collection Online), Early American Imprints, Credo reference books, Blackwell Reference, Safari Tech Books Online, NetLibrary, etc..
2.1.4 Library Collections 2.1.4.1 Special Collections
Special Collections includes some unique holdings including the Chester County Collection of Scientific and Historical Books, the Normal Collection (publications by faculty and alumni), and the Stanley Weintraub Center for the Study of Arts and Humanities. The most valuable rare books were donated by William Pyle Philips, son of George Morris Philips, Principal of the West Chester Normal School from 1880 to 1920. These include The Biographies of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence by John Sanderson and five Shakespeare folios. Twenty-seven books and manuscripts from Special Collections have been appraised at over $2,890,000.
William Pyle Philips also donated his father’s collection of autographed books. The Philips Autographed Collection in Philips Memorial Building includes over 2,500 books inscribed by major authors and cultural figures. Inscriptions by authors such as Joseph Conrad include responses to critics of the day. Inscriptions by inspirational figures such as Frederick Douglass and Helen Keller contain unique and important advice for the ages. The entire Autographed Collection was appraised at over at $800,000. The Library is beginning a project to digitize and make available bibliographic records of all the Philips Autographed Collection books and images of all inscriptions via ContentDM.
2.1.4.2 Electronic Collections
As a result of increased funding (see 2.2 below) the Library has added a remarkable number of new resources in the past three years.
Web Resources
Electronic Books 116,517 Electronic Journals
Subscriptions 6,609 Serials Solution MARC Records 18,077
Aggregated Full Text Titles 162,394 Electronic Files within Databases
Art Images 545,250 Electronic Scores 800 Streaming Audio Tracks 325,000 Web/Electronic Databases
Citation Databases 41 Reference Databases 57 Electronic Services 7 Cataloged Websites
Web Sites / Online Pubs 120 Gov Doc Websites 19,523
Total Web Resources 1,194,395
These include:
- Electronic book collections such as Early American Imprints, Early English Books, Early American Fiction 1789-1875, Safari Technical Library, and the literature section of the Eighteenth Century Collection ECCO.
- High quality images of art works from ArtSTOR
- Streaming audio collections from Naxos and Alexander Street such as Classical.com, Smithsonian/Folkways Collection, African American Song, and others.)
- Collections of serials such as JSTOR, Project Muse, Early American Newspapers series 1-6, and American Periodicals Series Online 1740-1900
- Reference databases including Research Insight/Compustat, Grove Art Online, and Grove Music Online
- Specialized collections of resources such as the Oxford African American Studies Center and the Gerritsen Collection - Women & the World.
2.2 Resourcefulness / Advancement
2.2.1 West Chester University has responded wonderfully to the Library’s need for increased library funding to accommodate the inexorable increases the cost of subscriptions and the purchase of electronic resources.
- In spring 2006, R. Swain wrote a New Funding Proposal which was supported by the Provost L. Lamwers and VP for Administration and
Finance M. Mixner. The proposal was approved and added $250,000 to the Library’s base budget over a two year period to cover
inflationary increases in the cost of serial subscriptions.
- In fall 2005 R. Swain wrote a proposal to increase the Library’s share of the Educational Services Fee from 17.5% to 20%. The proposal was approved by the Administrative Budget Committee and has added an additional $120,000 to the Library’s materials budget each year.
2.2.2 Beginning in FY 2006 the Chancellor of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education has directed that 25% of all performance funding assigned to each university be used for library materials and equipment to increase access to library resources.
2.2.3 Each student is charged a Technology Fee. The library secured applied for and secured monies for the purchase of electronic databases and
equipment. Tech Fee money was used to fund the purchase of new
listening equipment for the Presser Music Library, and in December 2007 additional Tech Fee money was approved to purchase new public
computer workstations and establish a regular replacement cycle.
2.2.4 Library Advancement
2.2.4.1 Librarian S. Marvin was appointed Advancement Fellow in fall 2005. He secured a gift of $150,000 over five years from QVC for the construction of an Information Commons
2.2.4.2 Working with Richard Pryzwara, Executive Director of the West Chester University Foundation, and Norma Clayton, Director of Planned Giving, R. Swain has secured a number of gifts including: - A Caleco endowment to purchase laptops
- Acquiring gifts in kind including:
· A Server from Compaq Corporation valued at $10,000 · Gift of periodicals from Aventis Pharmaceuticals valued at
$200,000
· The Perrone Night Before Christmas Collection valued at $10,000
2.2.5 Friends of the West Chester University Library
- Raised over $2,000 by book sales
2.3 Human Capital
2.3.1 High Quality Faculty and Staff
Library faculty and staff have excellent qualifications and experience. As shown by the 2003 and 2006 LibQual+ surveys, they have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to customer satisfaction. WCU Students and faculty show a
consistently higher rate of satisfaction with WCU Library Services than do students and faculty at other PASSHE libraries, at peer libraries, and at Association of Research Libraries. (See section 6.1.) This includes especially high scores on the questions asking if the Library has
- Employees who are consistently courteous
- Employees who have the knowledge to answer user questions - Employees who deal with library users in a caring fashion.
2.3.1.1 Notable WCU Library Faculty
- Amanda Cain, Information Literacy and Reference Librarian, has published important articles on library instruction and been asked to speak at regional and national meetings.
- Dr Walter Cressler, Science Reference Librarian, worked as a school librarian before earning his PhD in geology. He began his career at West Chester University working teaching in the Geology Department. His scientific specialty is Paleobotany, and his PhD dissertation was on the first known forest fires. He has continued to do scientific research and to publish on his specialty. He also edits the
Bibliography of American Paleobotany for thePaleobotanical Section of the Botanical Society of America. His scientific credentials,
continuing research, and experience in the classroom make him an ideal subject coordinator for the sciences.
- Stephen Marvin, Business and Social Sciences Reference Librarian, has secured grant funding to co-sponsor a Copyright Conference in Beijing. He has spoken on fair use in Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangxi Normal University, and other places in China. He has been invited to speak at the VALA Conference in Melbourne, Australia in spring 2008. He has also presented at many other local, regional, and national conferences, as well as conferences in Prague and South Africa. He has numerous publications and has been awarded several grants. He has also secured a gift of $100,000 from QVC for the construction of the QVC Information Commons. 2.3.1.2Professional and Staff Development and Training
The Library has provided strong support for faculty and staff training and professional development, spending more than $15,000 each year to support faculty and staff.
- The Library sponsors special programs for faculty and staff development. For example, in spring 2003 Barbara Schneller, Assistant Director of the WCU Office of Social Equity presented a program to all library staff entitled “Meeting the Needs of Diverse Library Patrons.”
- The Library Seminar Committee arranges one or two special events every year. For example, in December 2007 Prof. Tim Lutz spoke on Looking Beyond Carbon and Climate: Educating Toward Sustainability.
2.3.2 Library Retreats
TheLibrary has held two retreats for Library Faculty and Staff to discuss important issues
2.3.2.1 Fall 2003 Retreat facilitated by WCU Professor of Communications Jack Orr.
- R. Swain presented the results of the 2003 LibQual+ Survey for discussion - Joe Lucia Director of Libraries, Villanova University, Evelyn Minick,
Director of Libraries, St. Joseph's University, and Arlene Smith, Director of Library Services, GlaxoSmithKline, spoke about their libraries and how they work to improve services and accommodate technological change.
- These presentations were followed by a general discussion of how the library might improve its services.
- One particular item was how the Library should use the new faculty position assigned to it. Jack Orr led an excellent brainstorming session on how the Library might make use of the position. The consensus was to recommend hiring an Access Service Librarian. This position was advertized and Clayton Garthwait was hired and began working in fall 2004.
2.3.2.2 Fall 2006 Retreat facilitated by PALINET Executive Director Catherine Wilt
- Discussion of how the library should respond to new generation of students and new technology. C. Wilt presented the 2005 OCLC study on
Perceptions of Library and Information Resources
- Speaker, J. Lucia, Villanova University Librarian, presented his new library organization.
- Library began discussions on a new strategic plan.
2.4 Responsiveness
2.4.1 The Director of Library Services is a strong presence in the most important regional bodies
2.4.1.1 R. Swain immediate past chair of the Keystone Library Network Council
2.4.1.2 R. Swain member of PALINET Board
2.4.1.3 R. Swain member and Secretary of the PALCI Board
2.4.1.4 R. Swain member of the TCLC Board
2.4.2 Friends of the West Chester University Library have sponsored a number of programs
- Nowell Sing We Clear performances in 2003, 2004, and 2005 - A lecture by Prof. Stanley Weintraub in 2006
- A presentation by local artist Karl J. Kuerner III will occur in December 2007
2.5 Diversity
2.5.1.1 The Library maintains a special fund to purchase materials related to diversity. This fund is in addition to the funds for the academic programs for African American Studies, Ethnic Studies, Holocaust Studies, and Women’s Studies. In 2006-7 the Library spent over $31,000 on materials supporting multicultural studies and diversity.
2.5.1.2 . The Library donates funds to support diversity programming. The Library has averaged over $5,000 a year in support to events sponsored by Social Equity, the Frederick Douglass Society, Women’s Studies,
2.5.2 Frederick Douglass Academic Librarian
In 2006 the Library advertised for and hired the first Frederick Douglass Librarian in the State System. R. Swain modeled this position on the Frederick Douglass Scholars program pioneered by West Chester
University, and it was meant to provide academic library experience to a minority librarian who had received his or her MLS within the past year. The position of Collection Development Librarian was held open for a year to create the opportunity to appoint a Frederick Douglass Librarian. The Library was successful in giving experience to a promising minority librarian.
3. Response to Previous Program Review Recommendations 3.1 Narrative
The last Library Program Review was conducted in 1990-91. R. Swain, the current Director of Library Services, was hired as a faculty member in 1993, and he became Director of Library Services in 2002. In the period from 1993-2002, various
strategic planning discussions were held, but no plans or documents were produced. Since becoming Director, R. Swain has initiated two retreats for all Library faculty and staff, one in 2003 and one in 2006. The 2003 Library Retreat was facilitated by Dr. Jack Orr, Professor in the WCU Department of Communications. The University had just allocated two new positions to the Library, and the retreat was focused on a discussion of the nature of those positions. 2006 Library Retreat focused on changes in library technology and changes in faculty and student expectation. The 2006 retreat was facilitated by PALINET Executive Director Catherine Wilt. (See 2.3.2).
The chart below summarizes the action items from the 1990-91 Program Review, the Library Retreats of 2003 and 2006, and the LibQual+ Surveys of 2003 and 2006.
3.2 Progress Since Last Review - Chart:
Action Item Steps Taken/Progress Reported Date
I. Increase Library Staffing (1990-91) (2003)
Position of Electronic Resources Librarian Added
1999
Position of Library Security Guard added
2000
Position of Access Services Librarian added
2004
Library Systems Manager Moved from Information Services to Library
2005
Library Administrative Office Clerk position changed from part-time to full- time
2005
II. Increase funding to improve Library Collections
(1990-91, 2003, 2006)
Library Percentage of Educational Services Fee increased from 17.5% to 20%
2005
$250,000 in new funding added to Library base budget for serials
2005
Chancellor has mandated that 25% of WCU Performance Funding go to the Library, Library has received over $200,000
2005-6
Technology Fee Added Library has received $295,180 over the past 3 years.
2003-2006
III. Upgrade Library facilities and equipment. (1990-91, 2003, 2006, LibQual 2003, LibQual 2006)
New Library Furniture Purchased 1996
1. Library Coffee Shop Java City Coffee Café Opens 2004 Starbucks/Extended Study Hours Café
Constructed – July 2007-November 2007
2007
Java City Coffee Café closes.
Starbucks/Extended Study Hours Café to Open for Public – Jan 2008
2008
2. Reclaim Library space allocated to non-library operations
(1990-91, 2003, 2006)
Academic Computing Labs and Offices moved to renovated Anderson Hall
1995
Library has begun to work with the Dean of Undergraduate studies to convince the University to construct adequate space for LARC and OSSD operations.
3. Renovate Reference Area (2006)
Shelving rearranged and replaced Summer 2007 4. Improve Library Entrance (2003,
2006)
New Checkpoint Security Sensors Installed
2005
Checkpoint Security sensors upgraded 2007 Old turnstile guard desk and turnstiles
removed.
Fall 2007 New carpet installed Fall
2007 5. Improve Library security (2003) 1. Rekey FHG Library, begun January
2002.
April 2007. 2. Connect Library to campus security
system. Add swipe card access to FHG Library Loading Dock and Children’s Room handicapped entrance/exit.
May 2007
3. Upgrade fire alarm system to campus network New system tested Dec 5, 2007 IV. Improve the perception Library
collections and services on campus. (1990-91)
Library Newsletter “Off the Shelf” inaugurated. R Swain writes first four issues.
1997
Library Blogs Initiated - S. Marvin, J. Hutton, and K. Marvin
2006
Library Marketing Committee formed by A. Bane
2006
V. Improve Library Technology (not mentioned in 1990-91
(2003, 2006)
2003
1. Integrated Library System Endeavor Voyager Installed as new Library ILS. West Chester serves as one of three regional Hubs.
1998
Hubs to one at Shippensburg 2000
2. Wireless Network
West Chester Voyager Hub closed. All SSHE instances of Voyager migrate to the Shippensburg Hub.
2002
Wireless network introduced 2004 3. Library Website Wireless network upgraded 1996 Library Website created 2000
Major Website redesign 2004
3. Federated Search Engine EnCompass Installed Fall 2005 WebFeat Installed and operating Fall
2007 4. Citation Manager RefWorks Introduced Fall
2007
5. Laptop Computers Wireless laptops purchased to circulate to students in the FHG Library.
2003
Wireless laptops replaced with new machines
2006
6. Information Commons $100,000 grant from QVC was awarded in 2005. QVC Information Commons was opened with 10 computers in Spring 2007. 10 more computers were added in summer 2007.
Spring & Summer 2007
Group study tables with computers to be installed in current Coffee Café when it is closed.
Spring 2008
3 laptops purchased for Presser Music Library
Spring 2007 7. Blackboard CMS Library services integrated into
Blackboard as a separate tab.
January 2008 VI. Information Literacy (not
mentioned in 1990-91, Now a requirement of Middle States Accreditation. (2003, 2006) 1. WCU adopts its own official definition of information literacy.
R. Swain proposed definition of Information Literacy which is adopted by Dean’s Council, CAPC
(Curriculum and Academic Programs Committee), and General Education.
2005
2. Library information literacy instruction
Library increases information literacy instruction sessions 45% from 2000-01 to 2006-07.
4. Budget
Program review coordinator supplies chart on budgets for dept/program. Comment on this, if relevant.
Library Expenditures FY FY FY FY FY FY
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 Information Resources
Books, Serial Backfiles, and other Print
Materials (one-time purchases) Paper $255,121 $369,179 $369,179 $445,487 $668,427 $324,791 Books $235,957 $352,419 $313,867 $285,599 $653,503 $281,261 Electronic $6,820 $688 $1,424 $143,148 0 $23,135 E-Books Audiovisual materials $12,344 $16,072 $53,888 $16,740 $14,924 $20,395 Current serials subscriptions $658,509 $915,103 $1,795,094 $1,017,194 $1,194,817 $1,183,451 Current Serials (paper
and microform) $479,020 $712,220 $1,514,564 $725,690 $820,166 $670,471 Current Serials and
Search Services (Electronic) $179,489 $202,883 $280,530 $291,504 $374,651 $512,980 Total Materials $913,630 $1,284,282 $2,164,273 $1,462,681 $1,863,244 $1,508,242 Other Operating Document Delivery / Interlibrary Loan $14,555 $10,090 $8,216 $7,789 $22,406 $22,163 Preservation/Binding $42,686 $48,278 $42,119 $42,020 $45,550 $60,805 Other $20,940 $0 $17,392 Computer Hardware and Software $17,619 $61,277 $10,551 $18,006 $11,573 $21,163 Bibliographic Utilities, Networks, and Consortia $60,073 $53,501 $101,474 $57,931 $65,541 $133,752 All Other Operating
Expenses $745,233 $138,687 $95,050 $276,025 $293,611 $384,882
Total Other Operating $901,106 $311,833 $257,410 $401,771 $438,681 $640,157
Total Operating
Expenditures $1,814,736 $1,596,115 $2,421,683 $1,864,452 $2,301,925 $2,148,399 Total Library
Additions to WCU Library Services Budget (not appearing in E&G or ES lines)
KLN (CUO & Other)
2002 Estimated EBSCO Package $27,316 $27,862 $28,929 $30,118 $33,117 $33,117 Core $42,322 $43,169 $45,845 $46,046 $61,607 $62,780 Other $12,884 $8,333 $7,784 $6,927 Total KLN DBs $69,638 $71,031 $87,658 $84,496 $102,507 $102,824 Technology Fee New Na $50,838 $79,742 $108,535.00 $56,064.86 Renewal
Total Tech Fee $50,838 $79,742 $108,535 $56,065
Total Additions to
Library Services Budget $69,638 $71,031 $138,496 $164,238 $211,042 $158,889
Total WCU Expenditures on
Library $3,951,273 $4,113,729 $5,113,039 $4,415,297 $4,830,936 $5,061,215
As indicated above in 2.2.1, the University and the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education have been particularly generous in their support of library operations.
5. Assessment
The basic assessment plan is to administer the LibQual+ Survey at least once every three years and to track the results by comparing the results from Survey to Survey and by comparing WCU Library Services to benchmark peers.
5.1 LibQual+ Surveys
Library Services has administered the LibQual+ Survey in 2003 and 2006. The complete surveys are available in the Library Administrative Office. A question-by- question comparison of survey results appears in this report as Appendix II.
The LibQUAL+(TM) is … a rigorously tested Web-based survey bundled with training that helps libraries assess and improve library services, change organizational culture, and market the library.… More than 500 libraries have participated in LibQUAL+(TM)…. (http://www.libqual.org/About/Information/index.cfm) The Spring 2003 LibQual+ Survey showed the following:
1. Undergraduate students were generally satisfied with the Library’s resources and services.
2. Graduate Students and Faculty were generally satisfied with Library’s
services, but they found the Library below expectations (seriously lacking) in the following areas
Groups 2003 Areas
Below Expectations
2006 Change
Graduate Students & Faculty
Print and/or electronic journals (IC-8)
Improvement at the highest level of significance
(P-value at 0.001 level) Graduate Students Modern Equipment
allowing easy access to needed information (IC-5)
Improvement but not at a significant level
Faculty Printed library materials (IC-3)
Improvement at a high level (P-value at 0.01 level)
Faculty Easy to use tools allowing me to find things on my own (IC-6) Improvement at the highest level of significance (P-value at 0.001 level)
Since 2003 the Library has addressed these weaknesses shown by LibQual+ as follows:
- The Library Director applied for and received a New Funding Initiative addition of $250,000 to the Library’s base budget for periodical
subscriptions. Without this increase in funding, the Library would have had to cancel many journal titles.
