Continuous Improvement

The Library has improved in many ways since 1988. Library services are strong, and there is greater electronic access for patrons both within and outside of the Library. Planning for wireless infrared networking capability in the Library began in Summer 1997; this will allow users with laptops to log onto the network. Improvements in the network backbone of the library building will greatly increase the speed of electronic library transactions and facilitate the work of library staff.

Goals in the 2000 capital campaign include library renovation, a $2.5 million book/periodical endowment, a $2.5 million technology endowment, and a $347,000 interactive classroom [2.1D3]. Success here would address inadequacies in collections, space, and instructional needs identified above.

Space is perhaps the most critical issue for the continuation of University purposes. Planned building improvements are listed in the MTU Facilities Special Maintenance and Renewal 6-Year Plan 1996 [4.6C4] and in the Facilities Management Self-Study [2.6H7] and include installing emergency lights and a generator, replacing the Library’s chiller and cooling tower, and library renovation and interior renewal. The Long-Range Capital Planning Committee recommended renovation of the current library building as well as additional space for compact shelving of library materials in a new Science and Information Resource Center adjacent to the current library building. This would release space in the current building for storage and study space. When the State authorizes its next capital outlay appropriation, this Center will receive highest priority by the University.

Integrity

The University demonstrates integrity in its practices and relationships related to the operation of the Library. Procedures are in place to deal with employment issues, and they are followed. References to the Library in University documents are generally accurate, although the description of the size of the collection is somewhat misleading since, as noted above, fewer than half of the stated 780,000 volumes are in the general collection, and this collection constitutes only 154,000 unique titles. Statements regarding progress toward addressing problems recognized with the library buildings and collections since at least 1988 have been somewhat optimistic, however, given the slow progress to date.

Given the clearly expressed need for improved library collections since at least the last NCA visit, the process for approving new PhD programs raises a concern. Request forms for each of the 7 new PhD programs approved since 1988 indicate that no additional library resources would be necessary to implement those programs. This omission appears to be factually incorrect, and has not been addressed in the planning process.

SWOT Analysis

In evaluating how well the Library has met the purposes expressed in its vision, the Goal 6 Committee judged that the library performs well on meeting the service needs of the MTU community and has made progress in becoming "a center of advancing information-management initiatives, technology and resources." However, the growing MTU research and scholarly community continues to be concerned about the available materials collection. The Committee recommended that the campus needs to be engaged in a dialogue over the relative effectiveness and costs of building the Library’s local collection versus accessing information for use through electronic means or document delivery.

In summary, the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats with regard to the Library are as follows:

Internal Assessment of the Organization
Strengths Highly competent staff Automated management system and other technological upgrades Instructional program that emphasizes electronic resources Successful faculty-liaison program for book purchases Nationally recognized Archives and Historical Collection Active Friends of the Library Expanded advancement initiatives	Weaknesses Collection size and composition Space for the collection and study Difficult access to 70,000 volumes stored off-site No interactive electronic classroom Building infrastructure (heating/cooling, lighting, furniture)
Opportunities Growing availabilty of materials in electronic format National recognition of crisis in serials cost escalation	Threats Rapid inflation of serial-publications costs Volatile rates for electronic materials Costly purchase and maintenance of computers Changing formats of electronic media
External Assessment of the Environment

Action Plan

To take advantage of opportunities and remedy concerns with regard to the Library, the following action plan is recommended. Responsible parties for implementing the recommendations are identified.

This Action Plan will be integrated into the strategic planning process for 1998/99.

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