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SECTION B: Plan for 2006-2008
KEY AREA 3: Developing and promoting library collections
Monash University
Library collection
Monash University
Library has a strong contemporary collection based on sustained funding
throughout the University’s history. It has over 3 million items in its
collection and is particularly strong in electronic resource access (750
online databases, 21,709 e-journals, 240,000 e-books). The range of material
available would compare favourably internationally.
Special collections:
Asian studies research collection, Map collection, Music and multimedia
collection and a Rare Books Collection
3.1 Evaluating collections
The Library began
developing a methodology for measuring collections for their capacity to
support research in 2005, investigating two topics that involved more than
one faculty: ‘Terrorism’ and ‘Early Learning’. Librarians worked with
faculty and graduate students on this project. This will be extended to
other areas.
Monash University has
multiple campuses and is both a broad undergraduate university and a
research-intensive university. The impact of this on the ability to provide
collections for research needs to be understood.
Objective 3.1: To assess the collection’s
capacity to support research needs effectively.
|
Strategies |
Actions |
Measures/Targets/KPIs |
Timeline |
Responsibility |
|
Develop and apply an
evaluation methodology |
Identify research
strengths and needs |
A priority list of
areas to evaluate is created |
2007 |
Director, Client Services SH&E, Library Planning Executive |
|
|
Trial the
methodology |
Report and
recommendations on methodology trial are presented to Information
Resources Committee |
2006 |
Research Collection
Adequacy Working Group |
|
|
Extend the
evaluation across the research priorities |
The methodology is
applied in science/technology areas and is applicable or modified
accordingly.
More areas use the
methodology successfully |
2006
4-6 per
annum
(see also action
below) |
Research Collection
Adequacy Working Group, contact librarians in selected areas |
|
|
Evaluate an
interdisciplinary area eg biomedical engineering; megatronics |
Test the methodology
in one of the growing interdisciplinary areas. |
Dec 2006 |
Research Collection
Adequacy Working Group. |
|
Examine the impact
of multiple goals (research and teaching) and campuses on the collection |
Select a
research-intensive area with activity and undergraduate teaching on
multiple campuses and examine the impact |
A working group is
established.
The process is
developed and implemented.
The findings are
reported and recommendations made |
June 2006
June
2007
2007 |
Directors, Client
Services, Director, Information Resources |
3.2 Building collections
Collection budgets have
increased by 48.36% over the last five years, enabling significant purchases
of electronic journal back-sets, electronic books, and other research
materials eg Springer journals, Early English books online. The purchases
are made with advice from contact librarians who work closely with faculties
to select material.
Objective 3.2.1: To identify, select and preserve
resources for existing and new research areas.
|
Strategies |
Actions |
Measures/Targets/KPIs |
Timeline |
Responsibility |
|
Understand the
research priorities and the implications for collection development and
storage |
Examine the priority
list of research areas (see Objective 3.1) for growth patterns and
predictive data |
Priority areas are
identified and collections developed, by purchasing, weeding and storing |
2007 |
Directors, Client
Services, Director, Information Resources, faculty teams |
|
|
Establish selection
profiles in areas identified |
Selection profiles
are established for academics and postgraduate research students, and
used |
2007 |
Information
Resources teams, contact librarians |
|
|
Develop policy and
procedures to minimise collection relocations |
The policy is
developed and articulated to academic and Library staff |
2007 |
Directors, Client
Services, Director, Information Resources |
|
|
Contact new staff
and postgraduate research students to establish their information need
(see also Objective 2.2) |
New staff and
postgraduate students are contacted |
Monthly |
Contact librarians |
|
Develop a
preservation plan for high-value research collections |
Engage a consultant |
A preservation and
disaster plan is developed |
2007-2008 |
Directors |
Objective 3.2.2: To strengthen the collection
following evaluation.
|
Strategies |
Actions |
Measures/Targets/KPIs |
Timeline |
Responsibility |
|
Support the
evaluation processes and recommendations |
Add to the
collection in areas identified by evaluation |
Gaps and areas of
weakness are filled |
Ongoing |
Contact librarians,
faculty staff |
|
|
|
Ongoing selection
processes are revised |
Ongoing |
Contact librarians,
faculty staff |
Objective 3.2.3: To develop a depository store
and rapid retrieval services for high-value low-use books and journals.
|
Strategies |
Actions |
Measures/Targets/KPIs |
Timeline |
Responsibility |
|
House efficiently
and effectively and provide rapid access to all Library collections |
Examine depository
storage and retrieval options |
Options are
recommendations are presented to Library management |
2006 |
Director, Corporate
Services, Director, Information Resources |
|
|
Establish a
preferred model |
Model and budget
proposal are agreed |
2006 |
Library Management
Committee |
|
|
Obtain funding |
Funding is achieved |
2007 |
University
Librarian, Director, Corporate Services |
|
|
Implement |
Depository store is
established |
2008 |
University
Librarian, Directors |
Objective 3.2.4: To explore in collaboration with
other libraries how to ensure long-term access to electronic resources.
|
Strategies |
Actions |
Measures/Targets/KPIs |
Timeline |
Responsibility |
|
Manage the risk in
critical electronic resources not being owned or stored/preserved by
Monash University |
Make contact with
other libraries in a similar situation, initially in Australia |
Others identified.
Contacts are made |
2006 |
Director,
Information Resources |
|
|
Establish a group to
examine the issues and possible solutions, make recommendations |
Group is
established. Recommendations are made |
2007 |
Director,
Information Resources |
|
|
Monash University
Library develops systems and infrastructure to manage the risk |
Infrastructure is in
place ie hardware, storage, access arrangements, disaster back-up |
2008 |
Director,
Information Systems |
3.3 Promoting collections
The library is a
repository for and provider of resources to enable research. The Rare Books
Collection of over 100,000 catalogued items has significant strengths in 17th
and 18th century material and good 19th and 20th
century holdings. It includes Australiana, literature, art, history
politics, travel, science and popular culture and strengths in medical and
children’s books, comics and science fiction. The Asian Studies Research
Collection holds significant and rare material in Asian and colonial
languages. Special collections include the Southeast Asia pamphlet
collection, a large collection of Indonesian newspapers, and archival
collections on Pol Pot-era Cambodia and the Burma Democracy
Movement. The Dutch East Indies collection is the largest in Australia and
compares well with the best internationally. These and other significant collection
strengths can be profiled as university assets to attract researchers and
research graduate students.
Objective 3.3 To maximise the use of the research
collections held by the library to attract researchers and support research
output.
|
Strategies |
Actions |
Measures/Targets/KPIs |
Timeline |
Responsibility |
|
Promote the research
strengths of the library to existing and prospective researchers |
Identify and
describe the existing research strengths |
Research strengths
are encapsulated in a form that can be used for web or print to open
dialog with relevant university departments and the research office |
November 2006 |
Rare Books
Librarian, Senior Asian Studies Librarian, Senior Librarians, Marketing
and Communications Manager |
|
|
Negotiate with the
research office to profile the library collections in its communication
strategies to attract researchers and postgraduate research students |
The collection is
included in research office promotion of the university |
January 2007 |
Director Client Services |
|
|
The library website
profiles the research strengths of the collection |
Research pages and
special collection pages are easily accessible and include information
and description to assist prospective researchers |
July 2007 |
Director Client Services
Director Information Systems |
|
|
Investigate the
benefits and costs of offering a short-term fellowship to a scholar to
work with the Library’s special collections. |
Briefing paper
produced. |
January 2008 |
Director Client Services,
Rare Books Librarian, Senior Asian Studies Librarian |
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