Accomplishments in 2008 and Goals for 2009
Beth Sandore
Associate University Librarian for Information Technology Planning & Policy
Associate Dean of Libraries
Information Technology Planning & Policy:
1. Establish Library IT commitments to service and support of key Library resources. (http://www.library.uiuc.edu/it/helpdesk/service/index.html)
A key component of IT service is the level of commitment to the technology supporting critical programs in an organization. This is essential to establishing trust in the technologies that support an organization. The top priority for 2008 was the articulation of those service commitments. This was particularly critical in light of the need to sort out how IT managed support of numerous systems with several unfilled staff vacancies. “Service level agreements” are standard fare for IT units, but can often read like legal documents. Together with the IT unit heads, I worked to define a template and to set in place clear service commitments for key systems and services that Library IT supports. These are posted prominently on the Library Help Desk web page. Each Service Commitment includes information about a service and its function in the Library, the hours when it is normally available, the priority level for resolving problems or outages for each service, and specific instructions for reporting problems with the service. Through this work we were able to develop a common understanding of what support is available for systems and services given the current staff level. The IT Advisory committee has been engaged with Library IT in the development and review of service commitments.
2. Initiated RTG extended digital library facilitation with 35 IT/Library staff
I initiated the RTG facilitation in order to set in motion the changes that need to occur for the Library’s technology work to become integrated into Library services and programs. Over the next five years, the functions of Library IT will become increasingly blurred with those in other areas of the Library as technology becomes ubiquitous, easier to implement and as librarians become more technology-savvy. Libraries, and the technologies they utilize, will continue to focus on discovery and access to content, and on the services built over and around that content. The information landscape, however will continue to change radically—libraries’ primary focus will shift from a combination of access to print and digital to access primarily to digital content. Library IT professionals of the future will be closely engaged in managing and building content services side by side with librarians, in task-focused groups and with staff and faculty across campus units. The RTG facilitation brings together all of the staff and faculty in Library IT, and a significant group of 18 IT stakeholders from across the Library. Together this group will articulate a Library IT vision and action plan with tangible results that are agreed upon by all the stakeholders. The development of these working relationships is essential to the success of many New Service Model programs like the Scholarly Commons, the mass digitization program, digital preservation and curation programs, etc. The first RTG retreat occurred in late November, with follow-ups in March and April of 2009.
3. Acquired or supported development of systems to support Library services: In 2008 Library IT committed to sharing the cost and partnering in the development of the IMCollaborator virtual reference software with creators David Ward and Kathleen Kern, and CITES. The software was introduced in pilot mode in the late fall of 2008. The Library has for years come up short on reliable and reasonable methods for gathering public use statistics. I was committed to identifying a solution this year—DeskTracker (a hosted software solution), which was licensed and implemented in partnership with the Office of Services. David Ward and Kathleen Kern again took the lead on implementation.
4. Next Generation Catalog: The implementation of a next gen. catalog system has been a top access priority of the Library for at least two years running. A working group charged by CAPT has invested hundreds of hours in getting to the point where the Library is now evaluating not one, but two next generation catalog software systems in pilot mode: OCLC WorldCat Local, and the CARLI VUFind catalog. I have worked closely with this group. In addition to this, I initiated the Library’s participation in the Mellon Foundation’s OLE (Open Library Environment) program to design a new, open source, academic library software search, discovery, and service environment.
New Service Models
I was actively engaged in shaping the NSM through membership in the Budget Plus Group. I was directly involved in the work of Digital Content Life Cycle Management Team—worked closely with the team and Michael Norman on shaping and writing the group report and recommendations, and am responsible for the follow-up implementation.
Research Administration and Support
I am responsible for coordinating the encouraging the growth of the Library’s sponsored research program--one of the five strategic goal areas the Library has identified in the campus strategic metrics. The most important ingredients in this success story are the creative individuals who shape research questions and prepare funding proposals to support their work. During FY08, 22 Library faculty members submitted research proposals to external funding sources (a 38% increase in participation over FY07). Of 25 proposals submitted, 18 were funded for a success rate of 72%. Grants from external funding sources enable individual research as well as institutional initiatives, including research using primary resources, collections preservation and acquisition, and the development of software, systems, and information protocols that enable rich access to content, e.g., Illinois newspapers and agricultural weeklies. In addition, research led by Library faculty on the development of the ARCHON system for providing access to archival and manuscript collections was recognized in Fall 2008 with a $100,000 Mellon Award for Technology Collaboration <http://matc.mellon.org/press-release >.
Entrepreneurial Services
In 2008 I led a team of Library and campus colleagues who negotiated with a major vendor over a period of 6 months on the development of a new technology service. Although the University and the vendor parted ways, the experience provided valuable information that the Library will be able to incorporate into future development.
Goals for 2009:
1. Through the RTG extended digital library facilitation, it is my intention that we will develop a vision for IT in the Library, a set of priorities for supporting that vision Library-wide, and action plans with commitments from Library faculty and staff to carry out critical activities.
2. Through the RTG facilitation, develop a participatory process for prioritizing and continuous assessment of priorities for IT activities across the units within IT, that involves Library IT staff and other Library staff/units where the work impacts them.
3. Provide vision and support for user-focused technologies and services throughout the Library, including mobile web software applications, support for usability analysis, support and effective use of social networking tools in support of information discovery and use.
4. Integrate Main Library and Grainger Library IT services into a robust and diverse complement of services that can be leveraged by staff and faculty Library-wide.
5. Develop and implement a Technology Services group approach to digital library development.
6. Take a lead in shaping the technology vision of the Scholarly Commons programs, working collaboratively with iCHASS and I3 as well as Library programs.
7. Working with creators, identify and test potential sustainable support models for three Library open source software products: EasySearch, Archon, IMCollaborator.
8. Develop a cohesive digital preservation technology plan for Library digital assets, working with Library, campus, state, regional and national partnerships.
9. Identify and work with Library faculty to pursue new opportunity areas for external research funding and support, keeping the diverse mix of funding, and leveraging the current environment.
10. Facilitate change through New Service Models activities.
11. Be involved in shaping the outcomes of IT@Illinois with the aim of achieving more effective technology support for Library services and programs.