The University Library Strategic Plan

MISSION AND VISION

Mission

The Georgia State University Library, as a partner in Georgia State University's mission of teaching, research, and service, provides leadership in accessing and using information for Georgia's urban research university. Additionally, the Library is part of a wide network of information providers that serves the citizens of Atlanta, the state of Georgia, and the scholarly community worldwide.

The Library collaborates in the pursuit of the University's initiatives, as expressed in the University's Strategic Plan, of excellence and distinctiveness by

• ensuring high quality service, consultation, and comprehensive reference services to students, faculty and other clients
• providing enhanced access to information and contributing to global, networked information resources
• acquiring, managing, and preserving information resources in a broad range of formats
• creating an environment conducive to learning and research
• recognizing the importance of the library as a place on a university campus with inviting, comfortable, secure and networked spaces for learning and research
• teaching information retrieval and evaluation using current and emerging technologies
• building an organization that fosters cultural diversity
• providing leadership in a variety of cooperative and reciprocal programs.

Vision

The vision of the Georgia State University Library is to be the heart of Georgia State University's academic and research culture, and to substantially contribute to the intellectual activities of the University. In carrying out this vision, the Library will acquire, manage, and link information resources, both physical and virtual, and will provide quality instruction to empower users to benefit from the full potential of the universe of knowledge. As more than a physical place, the Library will use state-of-the-art technology to provide information to users beyond its walls.

In addition to serving our students and faculty, the Library will assist the University in achieving its commitment to urban relevance by serving the diverse Atlanta metropolitan area community. It will contribute to the intellectual, cultural, and social development of regional, national, and international communities.

Uniquely positioned to fulfill this vision, the Library's information professionals will ensure that Georgia State University meets the complex information challenges of the 21^st century.

ORGANIZATIONAL VALUES

In pursuit of its mission and vision, the University Library is equally committed to each of the following six core values.

Change as Opportunity. The Library values innovation, flexibility and creativity, balanced with respect for traditions and accomplishments.

Collaboration. The Library values collaboration and open communication in all of its activities.

Diversity. The Library values the diversity of its collections, staff and clients, and strives to create a climate of openness, respect, and appreciation.

Integrity. The Library acts with consistency, honesty, fairness and professionalism in its actions both within and outside of, the library.

Learning. As a learning organization, the Library values the life long pursuit of knowledge and wisdom for both the individual and organization.

Service. The Library offers service to our clients in a receptive and courteous manner to support their learning.

THE LIBRARIES TODAY

The university libraries house more than 1.3 million volumes and have 12,000 periodical and newspaper titles, many available full-text via on-line and CD ROM resources. Most of the materials are housed in the Georgia State University Library complex, consisting of Library North, completed in 1968, and Library South, completed in 1988. Other downtown campus libraries include the Law Library and the Instructional Technology Center in the College of Education. An electronic library is planned for the North Metro Campus.

Information is provided at several public service points in the The University Library, including an Information Desk and Reference Desk on the first floor of Library North, and a Periodicals Service Center on the third floor of Library North. Online reference services include: GIL, the on-line library catalog; GALILEO, a statewide system providing access to a wide variety of indexes and full-text resources; the CD-ROM LAN and free standing workstations providing specialized indexes and full-text databases; and access to the World Wide Web. The Documents Department is a 70% selective depository for U.S. government publications. The Periodicals Service Center houses periodicals, reports, and newspapers in hard copy and microform. The Media Center contains approximately 11,000 audio, video, and multimedia materials with on-site viewing and listening equipment. The Special Collections Department houses a number of unique collections, among them the Johnny Mercer Collection, University Archives, Southern Labor Archives, and the rare book collection. The library collections and service points are designed to serve the varied needs of faculty, graduate and undergraduate students, researchers, and the general public. Interlibrary Loan service is available to assist library users in obtaining materials that are not owned by the university libraries.

STRATEGIC INITIATIVES

I. Select, acquire, purchase access to, manage, and preserve materials in all formats that support the University's programs and mission.

1. Emphasize the acquisition of library materials and the purchase of access to electronic resources for targeted academic programs and undergraduate study.

The Library will partner with faculty, academic departments and interdisciplinary programs, consortia members, and students to budget for, develop and preserve a collection in all formats that support Ph.D. programs, programs of excellence and distinction, and a quality core collection for undergraduate study. The development and implementation of an expanded automated approval plan and of the liaison librarian model are key components in achieving this initiative.

2. Provide information resources for new Academic Program Reviews and initiatives.

   The Library will partner with the Provost and Deans, appropriate Senate committees, and faculty to identify new initiatives and programs and to participate in planning for budgeting and support for library resources for these programs.

3. Provide information resources for individual faculty research and the University’s international and research initiatives.

   The Library will collaborate with faculty, the Research office and the Provost’s office and appropriate Senate committees to identify needed resources and funding for information resources to support faculty and university research and international initiatives.

4. Acquire electronic resources and necessary hardware to provide appropriate access to these resources.

   The Library will partner with faculty and local consortia to evaluate and acquire electronic resources and to provide appropriate licensing, and with Information Systems & Technology (IS&T) to provide the system infrastructure necessary to ensure access to these resources.

5. Provide information resources and access for offsite University users.

   The Library will collaborate with University administration, faculty, and IS&T to plan for and develop information resources needed for distance learning, branch campuses, residence centers, virtual classrooms, and web courses.

6. Provide information resources for University staff and administration.

   The Library will collaborate with the University administration and staff to identify and provide information resources that encourage employee development and enhance work productivity.

7. Provide information resources to meet the needs of secondary user groups.

   The Library will support the University’s urban commitment by providing access to the Library’s resources for alumni, government employees, consortia members, and the Atlanta urban community. The Library also will acquire, manage and preserve archival and special collections to meet the needs of external scholars and researchers.

II. Provide high quality service to students, faculty and other clients, and enhance access to information resources.

1. Provide enhanced access to library resources by indexing, interpreting, cataloging, and providing links to information resources, and by maintaining the integrity of the physical collection.

The Library will facilitate enhanced access to materials by cataloging resources in the online system, creating web based finding aids, effective collection maintenance, electronic document delivery, and interlibrary loan. In addition, the Library will pursue cooperative agreements to make other libraries' materials available to Georgia State University clients

2. Teach critical analysis of information resources and use of research tools.

   Liaisons and other librarians will teach students how to distinguish between different types of information, to evaluate information reliability, and to establish the credibility of resources, and the strategies and techniques of searching.

3. Provide research, consultation, and information services both virtually and in multiple physical locations.

   Library staff will offer thorough, flexible reference services and consultations to meet the information needs of its diverse clientele. The Library will respond to the changing needs of its clients for expanded hours and information services beyond the Library.

4. Examine Library service policies.

The Library will systematically examine and modify its policies, considering the capabilities of online library systems and university library trends. Through a commitment to consistently applied service policies that are responsive to clients' changing needs, the Library will ensure equity in access to students and faculty, and high quality service to all library clients.

5. Ensure high quality service to clients by providing comprehensive training for Library staff and promoting an attitude of respect.

The Library will provide ongoing opportunities for training and education to ensure that all library staff keep current with available library resources and services, understand and consistently apply and modify its policies, considering the capabilities of online library systems and university library trends. Through a commitment to consistently applied service policies that are responsive to clients' changing needs, the Library will ensure equity in access to students and faculty, and high quality service to all library clients.

6. Provide appropriate levels of service to all library clients.

Serving a broad client population, including students, faculty, staff, alumni, scholars from other colleges and universities, local business, government, community members, and unaffiliated individuals, the Library will provide tiered levels of service based on the Library's degree of responsibility to various types of clients. The Library will accommodate the research and study needs of these diverse groups while maintaining excellent service at appropriate levels.

7. Develop innovative programs and services through partnerships and collaboration.

The Library will build connections with other campus units to continually improve information delivery and access. The Library will form working relationships with faculty, students and student organizations, other units on campus, and with the larger community, including other libraries and consortia.

8. Integrate library services into the teaching, learning, and research process.

   Librarians will consult with faculty to help them achieve their teaching, research, and academic programs goals within the context of the University mission.

9. Support faculty and students in their urban initiatives.

The Library will support the applied research efforts of faculty and students in the wider community. Additionally, the Library will assist the University in its initiatives that contribute to the intellectual, cultural, and social well being of the Atlanta urban area.

III. Promote and market the Library's resources and services to current and potential constituencies.

1. Define constituencies and determine their information needs.

   The Library will strive to reach more clients within its primary constituencies, Georgia State University students, faculty, and staff, to identify their needs and respond accordingly. In addition, the Library will determine the information needs of external constituencies and identify appropriate levels of service for each constituency.

2. Market and promote the Library’s services and resources.

   The Library will promote its resources and services through use of standard and creative public relations mechanisms and particularly by exploiting current and evolving technology. Although liaison librarians will have major responsibility for this activity, outreach will permeate the entire library organization.

IV. Create a humane learning organization that fosters an environment conducive to teaching, research, study and work.

1. Foster respect for all individuals, both library staff and clients.

   The Library will strive to develop and foster appreciation of diversity and to give each individual courteous attention. The Library will identify and use the skills and talents of its staff and encourage and reward initiative, creativity and flexibility.

2. Strengthen Library security.

The Library will partner with students, library staff, University security and administration in order to provide a safe and secure environment for study, research and work.

3. Emphasize library staff recruitment, retention and development.

   The Library will strive to recruit and retain the best possible staff. It will emphasize continual training, cross training and professional development for all library staff in order to maintain an environment conducive to teaching, research, study and work.

4. Renovate Library buildings as needed to provide and maintain a healthy, safe, adequately-equipped and comfortable environment.

   The Library will provide adequate space for patrons and Library staff to work, study, meet, conduct research, and read and reflect. Library facilities will be functional, will meet the standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act and of environmental health, and will be aesthetically pleasing and secure. Library equipment will be up-to-date, ergonomic, and well maintained.

5. Ensure that the library organization remains flexible and responsive to change.

   The Library will examine and refine its internal communications and governance structures so that it can successfully respond to change.

    

Source: December 1998 Strategic Plan and Strategic Plan Action Plans Updated March 2003