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It’s a new academic year and with it comes a makeover for 3 Things! Don’t worry though, each issue will continue to bring you brief, useful, and insightful stories about your Western Libraries. This new look issue contains Dean Greenberg’s piece introducing a Senate Library Committee task force, some useful tips for both students and faculty about what the expanded Research-Writing Studio has to offer, and some reflections on what was learned from last year’s Resources Use and Needs surveys.
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Library Resources Budget & New Task Force
By Mark Greenberg
Dean of Western Libraries
A new Senate Library Committee task force, made up of members appointed by the Faculty Senate, is forming this quarter to tackle the library resources budget deficits facing Western. A representative group from across the University will serve on the task force, charged with identifying strategies for balancing the resources budget over the next five years.
Like many colleges and universities across the country, Western faces a serious situation. Western Libraries lacks the funds necessary to address the many years of price increases on its current journal and database subscriptions and cannot adequately accommodate faculty and student requests for new resources.
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Catch the Studio Buzz!
By Roberta Kjesrud & Gabe Gossett
Research-Writing Studio
Western Libraries and the Learning Commons new Research-Writing Studio has been buzzing since the first day of classes. Located just behind the STC service desk in Haggard Hall’s second floor, the space has been consistently busy with students attracted to the exciting new environment. We love that!
For those students and faculty unsure of what the Research-Writing Studio offers, here are some key ways to integrate the Studio into your teaching and learning.
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A Quick Look: 2015 Resource Use Surveys
By Frank Haulgren | Facilities & Assessment
Data gathered through the Resource Use and Needs surveys helps the Libraries identify needs and emerging trends, and informs the development of both short and long-term goals. Let’s look at some of what’s already being done based on survey responses.
OneSearch: Over the summer, the OneSearch Management Team rolled out a major OneSearch update improving not only the user interface, but also search results relevancy. Many students and faculty critiqued OneSearch in survey results and comments but be assured that Western Libraries are committed to ongoing improvement. Over the next year we will be gathering user feedback through a series of usability testing sessions.
Services: While services are looked upon favorably by the students that use them, responses indicate a broader lack of awareness about important student support and research services, as well as collection resources. Work is underway to identify more effective ways of communicating with all user groups.
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