Luther College 2 | LIS ANNUAL REPORT

L IBRARY AND I NFORMATION S ERVICE S ANN U A L RE P ORT 2013 - 2014 Luther College 2 | LIS ANNUAL REPORT Vision The environment in which we operate is changing. Together with ongoing/accelerating changes in technology, these forces influence our decision making. Technology mediates much of what we do and this increases our dependence on systems and infrastructure leading to a focus on IT risk management. There is also a strong focus on manage- teaching and learning for faculty and of higher education choices. Parents have ment of costs. The dynamic nature of students. Our success is a reflection of the extraordinary concern about jobs and ideas for technology application suggest successful transformational journey our next steps after college (e.g. graduate experimentation, analysis, and careful students experience at Luther College. school acceptance) and this is exacer- collaboration to evaluate and seize bated by concerns regarding anticipated opportunities with special consideration One indicator is when we contribute to debt service. Changing demographics in for timing of adoption. student retention, improved graduation prospective student populations will also rates and students transition to their first influence decision making on services Consider five guiding principles that LIS “next step” after they graduate. We do this and investments. It is essential that the can use to think about how we creates when we are providing information and experience we offer is differentiated and value for Luther College. These principles technology literacy throughout the year valued by parents and students to the can help us think about the resources and but especially during the summer faculty degree they will choose to come to Luther skills for which we provide thoughtful workshop. We do this when we collaborate College. Within LIS we need to evaluate stewardship. These principles can help with groups leveraging services within our each new service, process improvement, us with investment decision making as facilities such as the new Digital Media or new project with an eye towards how well as with thinking about processes and Center. We do this when we facilitate it increases the likelihood that students projects and the services that ultimately the creation and nurturing of learning and parents will select Luther College are provided. They can inform decision communities. We do this when we provide when our stories are told by Admissions, making as we work through design and teaching and learning experiences for other students, faculty and also directly implementation. faculty and students around skills they by us. This happens when our services need for other classroom work. We do are seen as mitigating/addressing the 1) Improves Teaching and Learning this when we contribute to student life- concerns of prospective students and Outcomes for Faculty and Students skill building. their parents. We do this when we meet and exceed expectations in service This is our wheelhouse. With each discussion 2) Provides Differentiation for levels in essential services compared of a new service, process improvement, Prospective Students and Parents with their alternatives. We do this when or a new project we need to think about we show that LIS provides and enables how it enables and supports improved Parents and students have a growing set the development of “know how” that LIS ANNUAL REPORT | 3 transcends “know about”. We do this when we share stories of enable our alums to contribute to the success of our students how learning we have facilitated has had a positive impact on both on and off-campus and both during their time at Luther graduates’ successes. College and after their graduation. Our students would benefit from these interactions, our alums’ richer connections will lead 3) Improves Prospect of Differentiation for Graduates to further encouragement for prospective students of which on Their Next Steps (service, job, vocation, graduate they are aware and provide further connections that lead to school, etc.) opportunities for our graduates. One of the repercussions of the protracted economic recovery 5) Provide effective and efficient information technology is a heightened level of concern about students’ success in infrastructure for Luther College achieving their next step. For many that means getting a job. For others it means getting into a service program. For others it We are charged with providing essential information technology means getting into graduate school. When we think about what infrastructure on which we can support and enable the processes will help make our graduates differentiated and successful in of delivering higher education at Luther College. Our systems achieving their desired next step we are serving a key interest mediate much of what we do at Luther College. Leveraging of theirs (and their parents). We do this when we have facili- systems also leads to dependencies and dependencies require tated teaching and learning that leads to additional resume a focus on IT related risks including security, availability, and entries or achieving essential skills and experiences that make performance. New and alternative architectures in networks and a difference in their pursuit of “next steps.” An anchor value for systems and services provide us choices and also complicate our students is captured in the phrase “lifelong learning.” The decision making leading to our need to make investments in environment we live in and the rate of change has led some skill building, experimentation and analysis. Over time these researchers to say one of the most important things we can do changes will suggest the need to revisit how we organize. This is teach our students to learn to learn. This heightened level guideline captures an essential and resource intensive role LIS of metacognition happens when students learn new skills performs and a set of technology related services LIS provides such as information and technology literacy skills that can be and supports. leverged and built upon as graduates move on to service in the broader world. 4) Improves Relationships to Alumni/ae, Friends of the College Our alumni/ae (alums) and other friends of Luther College have distinguished themselves by their high level of affection for Luther College. We can build on this by working to create a reinforcing positive growth cycle providing opportunities for them to continue their learning by our interactions and by leveraging their skills and experiences and their desire to manifest their affections through their stewardship of their time and talent. The power of communication and information technologies has broken historic barriers associated with time and distance. Our physical location need not inhibit collaborations that are of mutual benefit. Collaboration technologies can be leveraged to transcend distance. This happens when we support streaming of interesting events that enable a level of participation beyond the campus. We do this when we curate communities of interest around topics of substance that include graduates and other friends. We do this when we enable others to contribute to the mission in ways that leverage their gifts. We have an opportunity to become more intentional about facilitating what could become much more symbiotic relationships that enhance teaching and learning, enhance relationships and connections of value to students and alums and 4 | LIS ANNUAL REPORT Our Mission Library and Information Services supports the work and mission of the Luther College community by providing: • access to appropriate communication and information resources, • expertise and training in the effective and efficient use of information and technology, and • a place to explore and express ideas, ourselves, and our community. Results and Accomplishments for Goals and Objectives for 2013-14 1. Improves teaching and learning outcomes for faculty and students Participate in campus-wide conversation about connections between assessment and student learning, in collaboration Information & Technology Literacy: Assist Faculty, Staff, with the Academic Planning Committee and the Assessment And Students To Become More Efficient With Technology Committee. And Research Skills And Tools. [Library, User Services] Accomplished: This item did not appear on the Academic Continue to re-evaluate current training and instruction Planning Committee agenda for 2013-14. methods in order to increase reach across campus and involve more members of LIS in the development and facilitation of Going Forward: We will continue to be in conversation with the sessions. the Academic Planning Committee about the importance of research assessment in the curriculum. Accomplished: Several sessions were held with faculty and students on classroom tools including iTalc, AirServer, and digital classroom technology. Increased reach to students Continue to expand the framework for information literacy/ via participation in the Beyond the Bubble program with fluency by identifying and cultivating strategic collaborations. LIS representation on the leadership team and also serving Work with the Diversity Center, SASC, SSS, the Norse Writing as instructors in seminars on: Microsoft Publisher, Microsoft Center, and the Speech & Debate Center will continue. We Excel, computer maintenance and repair, LinkedIn, and power will explore possibilities with the Career Center and engage searching. The LIS Summer Faculty Workshop was offered with the Paideia program as we

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