a framework FOR change

Vision and Goals for the Library –Newark

Developed by Dr. Consuella Askew and Dana Library Faculty and Staff John Cotton Dana Library

The John Cotton Dana Library building and acquires approximately 50% of the named after former publications issued by the United States director, John Cotton Dana opened in Government Printing Office. It features 1967 and is the main library at Rutgers public art displays and is home to the University–Newark, supporting all of the Institute of Jazz Studies, the world’s institution’s undergraduate and graduate foremost jazz archive and research programs except for law. Dana Library facility. The institute houses over 300 houses Rutgers University Libraries’ archival collections, along with over research collections in business, nursing, 106,000 audiovisual items and more than and neuroscience and contains over 6,600 volumes. 600,000 volumes, 600,000 pieces of For more information, visit microform, and 15,000 audiovisual items. libraries.rutgers.edu/dana. The library has been a federal depository since its opening and currently selects

Photo credit: Ed Berger Design: Jessica Pellien Introduction

The John Cotton Dana Library is at the Additionally, we seek to keep pace with center of a dynamic higher education the transformation that is occurring institution situated in vibrant urban around us at Rutgers University–Newark. area. Our library is poised to move into We embrace the need for change and are its next iteration, seeking to become a excited about the possibilities that come user-centered library that responds to with being an anchor institution in a large, our users’ changing needs in innovative vibrant, urban environment. ways. Our transformative process is Looking beyond our implementation of anchored by three strategic focus areas: change, our continued success hinges services, collections, and space. on our ability to collect, compile, analyze, While we have always considered and synthesize data from our users to ourselves focused on our users, we inform every aspect of our operations. recognize that the call for accountability This capability will also be vital to in higher education today demands that demonstrating our ongoing value to the we invest our efforts in responding to our communities and the constituencies we users’ needs and demonstrating impact. serve.

VISION

The John Cotton Dana Library at Rutgers University–Newark envisions itself as a user-focused intellectual hub providing access to, as well as, participating in the production of knowledge. We will achieve this through the infusion of our services, unique collections, expertise, and state-of-the-art technologies into our user community. We will develop a culture of assessment to ensure that we are always responsive to our users’ needs.

A Framework for Change | 1 Goals

Overarching Goals • Innovate to support 21st-century library use. • Increase community engagement. • Increase operational excellence, efficiency, and fiscal sustainability.

Short Term Objectives Services Collections • Restructure our current services (in • Align our local and shared collections with person and virtual) to align with the the programs of study offered by Rutgers priorities and needs of our academic University–Newark. community. • Reduce the footprint of our general • Develop new services that respond to our collections to enlarge existing student local users’ needs and the ways in which study spaces and to open new student they use library resources. study spaces that are conducive to individual and collaborative study. • Adjust existing services to respond to our users’ desired level of expectation. • Formalize the Dana Archives collections for the ongoing preservation of select • Create a sustainable technology loan Rutgers University–Newark materials. service for our students. Space • Develop discrete library spaces in ways that reflect how students use these spaces for study and socializing. • Organize departmental spaces to facilitate faculty/staff work and workflows.

2 | A Framework for Change Long Term Objectives Services Space • Identify, develop, and implement local • Maximize the use of available space to library services (in-person and virtual) enhance the learning processes that that directly respond to the needs of our occur in the library. specific community of users (faculty, • Accommodate new services and the students, staff, and the broader Newark expansion of current services in an community) and a cycle of assessment to effective way that facilitates working ensure ongoing service quality. efficiently. • Provide access to a variety of new and • Provide an attractive, functional, and safe emerging educational technologies used environment throughout the library that to enhance the university’s teaching and establishes Dana Library as a university learning activities and processes for our focal point, facilitating the intersection of faculty and students. faculty, students, and staff. Collections • Develop a strong university archives that documents the history and growth of Rutgers University–Newark and its impact as a Newark anchor institution. • Advocate for and collaborate with colleagues across Rutgers University Libraries to increase the availability of born-digital government documents and electronic books to enhance access and reduce shelf space needs so that we can maximize use of floor space for student study needs. • Closely align our acquisition and collection development efforts with the Rutgers University–Newark curriculum.

A Framework for Change | 3 FOCUS AREAS and Actions

Priorities Actions Timeframe Responsibility Identify Dana user Conduct an March 2016–May 2016 Roberta Tipton demographics. environmental scan to understand the demographics of user groups on campus and across the city of Newark. Understand the service Compile and analyze March 2016–July 2016 Natalie Borisovets needs of Dana users. existing service data such as usage statistics, Bonnie Fong survey data, and user Vincent Pelote feedback to make recommendations for Minglu Wang and/or changes to local Krista White services. Media services Service point closed on Krista White department was August 1, 2016. sunsetted as a result Mark Papianni of applying the above Bonnie Paz methodology. Rutgers University Libraries Media Services Team Rutgers University Libraries Technical and Automated Services

4 | A Framework for Change Priorities Actions Timeframe Responsibility Understand how the Create an inventory list March 2016–July 2016 Elsa Alves Dana collections of of collections, identify resources are used and collections strengths Ka-Neng Au respond appropriately. and weaknesses, Iliana Bernal and review usage statistics. Analyze and Adriana Cuervo synthesize this data Angela Lawrence to make collections recommendations. Robert Nahory Elizabeth Surles Wen-Hua Ren Ann Watkins Observe and react to Compile and synthesize March 2016–July 2016 Elsa Alves how Dana Library users information regarding occupy and use our Dana space plans Alejandro Arencibia spaces. and our student Adriana Cuervo space usage study. These data will inform Janet Giorgio recommendations for Susan Tel space programming to best fit our user needs. Roberta Tipton Upgrade the furniture in January 2017 Consuella Askew our silent study area. Draft A Framework for Compile all of the February 2017 Consuella Askew Change. recommendations provided by the aforementioned groups and create a roadmap for a transformative process. Create a culture of Collect, compile, and Ongoing Stephanie Mikitish, assessment at Dana analyze user data to user engagement/ that includes listening inform library services, assessment librarian; to users to ensure that collections, space Dana Library faculty operations and services programming, and and staff; Rutgers continue to align with overall operations. University–Newark their needs. Office of Institutional Research

A Framework for Change | 5 Contact: Consuella Askew [email protected]