K-State Libraries

KSU Libraries Strategic Plan 2002 - 2005

Summary

Introduction

by , former Dean

Table of Contents

Executive Summary
General Overview
Libraries Mission Statement
Reengineering Outcomes
Libraries Working Environment
Library Culture and Management Philosophy
What Sets KSU Apart
K-State Libraries
Life in Manhattan, Kansas

Executive Summary:

Since the mid 1990's K-State Libraries has made significant changes directed toward becoming the academic library of the future. With a major construction project, the university's commitment provides adequate funding and a strong program of planning for the future; K-State Libraries is a forward looking and open organization. "Enhancing the Libraries' Infrastructure" is one of the nine central University Strategic Planning themes.

Additionally, three K-State Libraries Strategic Goals that are currently the focus are:

User assessment
Development of Unique Collections
Development of the University's Digital Library.

These strategic planning themes and goals are being institutionalized to provide a sound infrastructure for the libraries to build on for the future.

Year university founded: 1863

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General Overview

Kansas State University was the first university in the nation created under the Morrill Act of 1862. It retains a "land-grant" flavor. Thus, there is a proud tradition based on Agriculture, Engineering, Arts, Sciences, and Human Studies “providing the practical arts for the children of the working class.” K-State became a comprehensive university in 1960 and now offers the Bachelors degree in 128 fields, the Masters degree in 58 areas, and PhD programs are provided in 40 disciplines as defined by IPEDS.

Professional programs are available in Veterinary Medicine, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Interior Architecture, Interior Design, and Community / Regional Planning. K-State has the most comprehensive programs in Engineering and Engineering Technology in Kansas. The College of Education has the largest teacher-training program in Kansas.
Unique program areas include degree programs (BS through PhD) in Grain Science, Milling, and Baking; a Center for Basic Cancer Research; and a world-renowned program in Atomic Physics. The tau neutrino, one of the missing links in sub-atomic structure, was recently discovered at K-State.
K-State has a nationally competitive intercollegiate football team. K-State competes in the Big-Twelve Conference, covering the major Division I Universities in Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma, and Texas.
Total number of students: 18,500 undergraduate and 2,500 graduate students
Total number of full-time faculty: 1,218 (855 are Instruction Full-Time Equivalents)
Location: Manhattan, Kansas
Location of other campuses: Salina, Kansas

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Libraries Mission Statement

The Vision: Service
- Helping with your information needs
- Linking you to global information resources
The Mission
- K-State Libraries assist students, faculty, state, community, and cooperating library users with their information needs through the acquisition, organization, and interpretation of text, electronic, and multi-media information resources. K-State Libraries support the instructional, research, extension, service, and international program missions of Kansas State University by providing collections, access systems, consulting services, and access instruction. K-State Libraries provide easy access to collections, electronic data systems, study facilities, and consulting services through quality facilities.
The Tradition: K-State Libraries will continue to:
- Acquire and organize information in multiple text, media, and electronic forms
- Maintain and preserve collections
- Provide access systems for local and cooperating collections
- Assist and instruct users who have information needs
- Acquire resources necessary to operate the libraries at a competitive level
The Values
- Explicit: consult, link patrons to global resources, cooperate and collaborate, provide leadership in creating a virtual mega-library
The New Functions: K-State Libraries is providing new systems and services
- Providing access gateways to local and global networks of information about information and full text sources of information
- Hosting electronic information systems
- Building new supporting and consulting relationships with faculty and students
The planning process and rapid response to change of intellectual thought and technology
- Revitalize programs through review and evaluation
- Examine the environment for opportunities
- Identify key issues that reflect a changing environment
- Develop program proposals that respond to the issues and opportunities
The Key Issues
- Collections: enhancing collection evaluation / cooperative collection development / rapid single document acquisition and delivery
- Cooperation / partnerships: developing and enhancing cooperative funding and collegial consulting relationships with faculty, students, departments, and colleges
- Training: enhancing user and staff training, education, and development
- Technology: developing electronic technology for access and delivery of information. Single multi-media workstation access to local and external information resources

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Reengineering Outcomes…

Paradigm Shift
- Old: critical information care
- New: managed information care
Core Issues
- Information sources
- User interfaces
- Partnerships
- Support systems
Blank Page Concepts
- Integrate intellectual and information resources into the university's learning environment
- Acquire information for users on demand, regardless of sources
- Advocate and market expertise, owned resources, and acquiring services to University learning and research endeavors
- Guarantee that libraries will assist the user to define an information need and obtain a result
Priority Processes for Redesign Consideration
- Information source management: implement a demand-based information source management system
- Information source management: create the processes for internal management of collections and information resources
- User access to information: staff mediation of user needs
- User access to information: non-mediated processes for attending to user needs inside and outside the library
- Librarian / Faculty partnerships: librarian / faculty collaboration on learning and research
- Academic / Professional opportunities for Librarians and staff: training systems for staff and users
Processes Redesigned and Implemented
- Information source management: implement a demand-based information management system
- Partnerships: develop partnerships between Library and academic departments
- Library staff development and user training

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Libraries' Working Environment

Efficient use of resources made available
Access to tools / information
Emphasis on technology; good computer / technical support
Fine building
Informal, fluid departmental, and library structure
Multi-tasking
Flexible and changing
Strategic planning orientation
Avenues available for dissenting opinions

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Library Culture and Management Philosophy

Team oriented
Collaborative / participative
Adaptive / flexible to changes
Welcomes diversity
Risk takers
Attempts are made to empower staff
Open
Informal
Supportive
University Administration supports K-State Libraries
Reliant upon technology
Mentoring

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What Sets KSU Apart

K-State is listed as one of the top 50 “most wired” universities
Since 1987, K-State students have won 83 Rhodes, Goldwater, Marshall, Truman, and Udall scholarships. In second place among public universities is Michigan with 49. The University of North Carolina is in third place with 43. K-State is a student-friendly university where students maximize their potential under the guidance of a caring faculty.
K-State was listed in 2000 as one of the top ten “trendiest” universities in the United States by Kaplan Enterprises. K-State replaced Stanford on the list.

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Medium-sized library with five branch libraries
Print volumes exceed 1.5 million
The annual budget exceeds $8 million
A newly renovated and expanded 400,000 sq ft central library was opened in 1997. Hale Library, an award-winning design in the Romanesque style, is flexible and adaptable to changing needs over the next generation.
A new Engineering Library was opened in the Fall of 2000. Fiedler Library is developing as an electronic library. There are opportunities to create new models in Library services for Engineers.
A renovated and relocated Architecture Library will be completed in 2002. Weigel Library has the most notable Architecture collection between St. Louis and San Francisco.
The Veterinary Medical Library supports one of 27 veterinary medical colleges in the United States.
A College of Technology Library in Salina provides support for Engineering Technology and Aviation programs.
K-State Libraries have used comprehensive, collaborative planning for the past twenty years. Strategic planning and re-engineering form the basis for the current 2000 - 2003 Strategic Plan, “Path to Excellence.” Strategic planning is codified in budget planning, staff expectations, and evaluations. K-State Libraries actually implements its strategic plans. There are three central strategic goals: user assessment, development of unique collections, and integrated information systems.
The current University Strategic Plan 2000 - 2005 includes the Libraries in one of nine central themes, “Enhance the Libraries' Infrastructure.”
The Libraries have outstanding funding support from faculty and the University Administration. Acquisitions budgets are increasing at an annual rate of 10 to 15 percent, based on a University Task Force Plan to enhance the Libraries acquisitions budget. New funding sources include an annual supplementary allocation equivalent to 1 percent of the university's operating budget, a percentage of total research overhead received, a student fee for Library acquisitions, and income from a growing endowment.
K-State Libraries are building a permanent endowment to support acquisitions. The current goal of $10 million has commitments of $8 million. Until they reach the $10 million mark, a supplementary income plan is in place, based on allocation of a portion of marginal Foundation income from all permanent endowments. A second $10 million goal will be set for the next comprehensive Foundation campaign in 2002. K-State Libraries completed a $1 million NEH Challenge Grant in 1997. This is separate from the general $10 million endowment under development.
K-State's 15 year-old Friends of the Libraries was a winner of the 1998 Baker and Taylor award for outstanding collegiate friends group.
KSU Librarians have faculty status and rank. Tenure is granted no later than the end of the sixth year, based on standards approved by the library faculty. Standards focus on outstanding performance of professional librarian duties. There is no minimum number of years specified before Librarians may come forward for tenure. Librarians may request sabbatical leave every seventh year.
K-State Libraries have a commitment to diversity and multi-culturalism. Diversity is University Policy, governed by the President's Commission on Multicultural Affairs. Units set goals, which are reviewed annually.
K-State Libraries have the responsibility for developing the university's Digital Library. Definitions, standards, and technical issues are being resolved under the Libraries' leadership and a prototype is expected in mid-2001.
An information commons opened in Hale Library in January of 2001. A collaborative project of the Libraries and Computing and Network Services, the “InfoCommons” provides a common interface and access to University / Library computing and electronic information assets.

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Life in Manhattan, Kansas

Manhattan has a great “college town” atmosphere. The local community is very supportive of the University. There is no “town and gown” separation.
Manhattan is a good place for families with outstanding schools, parks, and organized recreational programs.
The climate of Northeast Kansas is ideal. Summers and winters are moderate. It's a nice place to live where seasonal changes are pronounced.
There are numerous cultural opportunities, with university and community theatre. Manhattan is a heavily “organized” city of 50,000 with something of interest for everyone.
The “rush hour” lasts ten minutes. There are no hassles with traffic, crime, and other big city issues.
Manhattan is located in the beautiful Flint Hills with spectacular sunsets. It is not flat, being located at the confluence of five rivers, which form the Kansas River at Manhattan. There are many trees with two of the largest lakes in Kansas within five and twenty minutes drive.

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