INFORMATION RESOURCES MODEL: Final Approved Model

date: March 9, 2001

Simply stated, Information Resources provides intellectual content to support the instructional and research needs of the university community. This unit also provides protection and maintenance for the physical collection.

The Information Content Group consists of 4 librarians supported by 2 FTE para-professional staff members; one staff member will assist in collection management tasks and one library assistant performs conservation activities.

Characteristic Duties:

· analyze University curriculum and areas of research to ensure resources are available to meet needs;

· identify and select resources for purchase, linking/access or leasing

· assess existing resources (digital, print, audio-visual) for effectiveness in meeting future demands. Replace physical items with digital versions;

· work with subject specialists to analyze and create web resources that pull subject matter together for users;

· determine what material is no longer needed and the appropriate location for physical items (on campus, off-site storage, withdrawal) and if maintenance of artifact is appropriate;

· determine the budget priorities and allocate funds to meet those priorities;

· use quantitative and qualitative measures to determine utility of collection, and to compare with benchmark institutions;

· establish, monitor and refine approval programs to receive 60% of new monographs by this means;

· determine appropriate techniques for conservation of physical items;

· provide disaster recovery services;

The Acquisitions & Physical Processing Unit is composed of 1 professional librarian who supervises and manages 9 staff engaged in procurement activities for all formats, fast cataloging of specified materials, commercial binding and new materials processing.

Characteristic Duties:

· order, receive, (or setup service in the case of digital resources) new titles acquired or selected;

· process all invoices adhering to state purchasing regulations;

· check-in periodicals and serials and maintain holdings information in opac;

· claim missing items, resolve shipping and billing problems;

· pull, prepare current periodicals from 3 libraries and ship to the commercial bindery; send theses & dissertations for microfilming;

· receive, update holdings, check and expend binding invoices;

· route (non-periodicals) new materials for binding or other treatment; prepare items for shelves, i.e. labels, security strip, etc.);

Cross-functional (Subject-Oriented) Teams

In order for Information Resources to carry out its goals effectively, there will be heavy reliance upon staff who interface directly with user communities. There must be a constant exchange of information with IR, IS, IL and others as appropriate. Subject-based teams were envisioned as a means to facilitate this collaboration. Examples of groups might be science, engineering, humanities/social sciences and business. These teams would meet periodically to share information from academic departments, on program changes and instructional needs, to set priorities for IR programs/projects and budgeting, and to give feedback on digital resources under consideration. This model cannot work successfully without a high level of commitment across the organization.