Recommendations

Vision Statement

from the March 2009 Recommendations of the International and Area Studies New Service Model Team

The vision of the unit is to be University's gateway to the world of information and scholarship about international, global, and area studies which are distinct and complementary scholarly projects. The gateway will connect the knowledge that is crucial to developing global competencies through the study of global concerns and transnational issues as well as the study of distinct nations and regions.

We envision this new service point as one that builds upon and develops the excellence of each of the component units, while enhancing opportunities for collaboration and coordination among the Library's area and international studies units, and providing a single physical service point and web presence for library users whose needs may draw upon various library collections and the distinct expertise of area and international studies librarians.

The success of the unit will depend upon a continuing commitment to strong collections and specialized staff.

Characteristics of the International and Area Studies unit

• Focus on outreach activities, including a liaison librarian for each of the University's international programs
• A designated subject expert for each component of the new unit
• Strong instructional programs that support global competencies and research in international and area studies
• Collections that meet the needs of faculty, scholars, and students
• Use of technology to support and maintain a strong virtual library and to provide access to unique language-related software