Strategic planning faculty retreat 
November 20, 2013

Strengths

• We are the most service oriented unit in the entire university.
• ILL/Doc.Del. is amazing.  We are great at getting “stuff” for users.
• We are a leader in cooperative cataloging nationally.
• We are one library geographically dispersed.  We have lots of different kinds of libraries.
• We have an extremely highly accomplished staff in the libraries.
• It is nice to see that library events are attended by lots of people.  ex. Lyn Ward presentation
• We have rich digitized collections, especially in the sciences.
• We are good at getting freshman into the libraries.
• We are good at engaging areas across campus.
• We have individuals who work in the library that are nationally recognized.  ex. Courtney Young – We have lots of faculty who are involved nationally and are highly visible in strong leadership positions.
• We are excellent in teaching and instruction.  We take the steps to train new librarians to improve instruction.
• We are innovative in our teaching across the state.
• We are the host for the PA Center for the Book.
• We are leaders in presenting at conferences.
• Our service ethic is a key strength and we take ownership of problems. We help users solve problems.
• LFO as a governing body is a mechanism to get things done.
• We have strong connections.
• Scholar Sphere is a strength.
• Our collections are a strength in that they are special and unique, putting us in the top of the game with many original collections.
• We have done a great job in making the library a place where the students will come.
• We have strong collaborations in daily activities and in instruction.
• We have connectivity with the community as a resource – outreach, known on campus and in the community as a hub for activity.
• Students depend on the library as a place.
• We have specialized collections that we need to continue to build.
• There is strength in out developing partnerships.
• We have an emphasis as problem solvers, as a highly valued resource, as community mindedness, as innovative, as creative, our willingness to participate and build partnerships.  These are ALL things to build on.
• We have specific initiatives that we can build on.
• We are a PSU emerging leader in digitization and preservation.
• The growth in our online collections is a strength.  We need to continue to build on existing collection access and the continuity between platforms and improve discoverability.
• Our ability to provide professional development across all the libraries.
• We built a state of the art Knowledge Commons and Media Commons.
• Our mobile technology.  We need to keep it fresh.
• Our Sanborn map collection (digitized) is a strength.
• We have support to digitize PA newspaper collections.
• The libraries are good generally and this is a plus.  On the negative side we need to determine areas to create depth as we look forward to retirements.
• The Library has made strides in student scholarship over the last five years.  We continue to promote scholarship and have poster collections publicly available.
• There are LOTS of things we do that are not public knowledge.  We need to let people know the library is responsible for a number of things.  We should continually be answering the Library Development Office’s question of “Who Knew?”
• With a move to education being all online, we need to engage this from a service perspective and become imbedded in online learning environments.  We need to integrate into online learning.
• Fellowship, digitization, accessibility, facilities and instruction are strengths.
• Global engagement is a library strength.  NOTE: Barbara Ford is going to be coming to the library to share her thoughts on global engagement.

Ideal Library – large discussion

• There will be no old books.  The warehouse look will be gone.
• Facilities will be better overall and will be flexible.
• We need to create a welcoming, safe place that will be open more hours and have better security.
• It will be a place with one stop shopping with an outpost technology support, supporting academic advising, registrars.
• We will be broadening the services we offer, helping create content.
• It will be a center for creation to build partnerships and offer peer to peer counseling.
• It will be more integrated into the academic colleges.
• Spaces will be created within the colleges.
• We will have technology available to provide more services to support online learning.
• We should be enhancing services not necessarily collections.
• We should help students study abroad.
• Our group study rooms are heavily used.  Need to keep this in mind moving forward.
• External relationships with recruiters could inform the creation of interview spaces for professional services.  We could also create gaming areas with this in mind.
• Knowledge would be shared across the libraries.
• It would have a knowledge creation space with standardized hours.
• Create un-warehouse look
• Define services as well as collections
• Build relationships

Ideal Library – table reportout

• An improved staffing model that focuses on customer service, training/recruitment of people with the right attitude, the right approach and the willingness to try again.
• Need to rethink ways to promote staff especially innovative staff who are comfortable enough to take risks.  Need to reward and encourage risk.
• Need to let users define their ideal library and realize there are multiple definitions.
• We need to be flexible within a defined scope.
• We need to be aware of what we can answer.
• We need to be thinking beyond being solution oriented and provide space and opportunity for other efforts.  Having a safe space for experimentation and not penalizing for trying something new.
• BYOD – Bring your own devices and perhaps provide devices as needed.
• We need to be present and approachable.
• We need to be the connective tissue.
• We need to meet the needs of the users whoever and wherever they are.
• We need to be flexible, agile, electronics efficient and balance between generalist and specialist.
• We need more faculty and staff and have more funding for data sets.
• We need to have an emphasis on collecting data to help us make our case to demonstrate our value.
• Local connections with global reach
• Heart of the campus à Hub of the campus
• We need to be flexible to meet multiple demands.
• We need to allow innovation with risk.
• Be present.  Be engaged.
• Be welcoming and safe.
• Generalize and Specialize.

Challenges

• Not all partnerships are equally engaged
• Campus administration – “We didn’t know you did that!”
• Need to rebrand the library – remarket the library
• Need to have people with the skillsets
• Professional development
• Need to get out of our comfort zone
• Dynamic Profession – a lot of change has occurred in librarianship
• Fitting into the online learning environment
• Online book versus “real” book
• Getting library users open and comfortable with using online materials
• Using online materials can be challenging
• How to provide service to users without technology experience
• Dummying down of curriculum – not necessarily high level of research expectations
• Provide high level of online service @ all hours
• Access to content – good content versus not good content
• Things not covered in high school education
• Technology – how to embrace – how to balance
• Preservation / Access
• Future of discovery systems
• Access and fair use
• Balance how much time we spend on certain efforts
• Funding
• Stop spending money on give away content
• Overcoming fear
• Increase understanding of library peers
• Developing a proper delivery mechanism
• Loss of professional identities
• Retirements
• Loss of space
• Loss of tenure
• Corporate mentality
• Break down silos of discovery
• Need to make sure barriers are broken down, need to move more quickly in creating systems
• 1940s library à2020 world
• Need to think strategically as people are replaced
• Need to be nimble for housing collections
• A lack of storage space – need to be national leader in this area
• Calcified structures – centralized but distributed
• Need to be able to fail spectacularly
• Managing expectations
• Recognize embedded resources like administrators
• How to keep up with the university and all the changes the new provost will be putting in place as well as a new president

Most Important Thing (two)

• Staffing of a high quality service to non-resident students
• Level the playing field – equitable facilities and technology
• Rebrand and publicize – be more visible and take credit
• Explore and develop partnerships
• Be more innovative in using skills of staff and librarians
• Revisit staffing models
• Getting buy in as we look at redefining services and reallocating space