RMIT University Library – Annual Report 2013
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RMIT University Library Annual Report 2013 www.rmit.edu.au/library University Librarian’s Report The year was notable for the Library’s extended reach and the high degree of user satisfaction. As detailed in the following report, our staff are now located in with their academic colleagues as well as working closely with the Study and Learning Centre. There has been an increased focus on working with RMIT Vietnam as well as our partner institutions outside Australia. Within Australia, use of the Research Repository has doubled and we have had a significant growth in the size of the Learning Repository. Student satisfaction with our services is high with improved scores, both in the University-wide Student Experience Survey and in the Library-specific Insync survey. These high levels of satisfaction are a credit to all Library staff and they reflect a great and sincere desire to provide students and staff with the best possible service. I’d like to thank the Library staff as well as our many colleagues around the University for their contributions to improving learning, teaching and University Librarian, Craig Anderson research across RMIT. Craig Anderson Contents Vale Jack Ward Supporting learning and teaching 04 The University held a memorial service in November to pay tribute to Jack’s enormous contribution to RMIT and the library community. Jack retired from RMIT as the Chief Librarian in 1980 after 28 years of service. Supporting research 08 Improving the student experience 10 Developing people 12 Improving infrastructure 14 Jack Ward, 1920–2013 Appendices 15 RMIT University Library 04 Annual Report 2013 Supporting Learning and Teaching e-textbooks: why aren’t all Vietnam campus Library research the textbooks electronic? textbook facility skills training The publishing environment for The Vietnam Library took over the In 2013, 24,396 students at Melbourne textbooks is rapidly changing, but management of the campus textbook campuses attended training sessions, still presents a confusing situation loan facility in 2013. In collaboration an increase of 17% over 2012 figures. in which less than half of the print with IT Services, software to manage Most Library staff time is invested textbooks in use at RMIT University the distribution process was tested but in advanced and subject based are available as e-textbooks. no adequate solution was found. We research skills which are integrated are watching developments around into students’ coursework. Current models offered by textbook e-textbooks with keen anticipation! publishers add to the confusion, as they have different access models for libraries (e-books that can be lent to library users under limited conditions) and students (e-textbooks are sold to students but cannot be purchased by libraries). In 2013 the Library took the lead in investigating an e-textbook solution for the University that will deliver e-textbooks to students in a way that is integrated with their Blackboard courses. The Library has been working in partnership with academic staff, the Office of the Dean, Learning and Teaching, IT Services, and the Campus Store to achieve this. With this focus on coursework integration, our ongoing presence in programs can be targeted, well timed, relevant to needs and reviewed periodically. It also allows for sessions to build research ability and skills across the years. 05 A 2012 University of Wollongong study1 demonstrated a strong correlation between student success and use of information resources provided by the Library. Global Learning: by Design Introductory sessions are still provided face-to-face but more time is being The inclusion of the Library in the invested in developing short informational videos that can be made available ‘Global Learning: by Design’ strategy, from the Library website, embedded in Blackboard, and accessible on RMIT’s and particularly in the proposed YouTube channel. Curriculum Design Teams, represents a significant opportunity for the Library to partner with academics in program development and online learning. Learning Repository Alternatively formatted resources have been added to the Learning Repository. The Library provides documents in alternative formats at the request of the Disability Liaison Unit for use by RMIT students. The Learning Repository gives ‘Sincere thanks for your enlightening contribution students online access to these materials. to the TNE (Transnational Education) class yesterday. Electronic workflow improvements The Library is a critical resource… and your insights streamlined the processing of requests and the applications you shared will enhance the between the Disability Liaison Unit and professional progress of the students…’ the Library achieving shorter fulfillment times and improved tracking of requests. To find out what else is in the Repository, Dr Margaret Heffernan, O.A.M., academic, see our webpage: School of Management, RMIT University. www.rmit.edu.au/library/ learningrepository Over 4480 records and over 6500 objects were added to the Learning Repository in 2013, resulting in an 1 Brian Cox and Margie Jantii, “Discovering the impact of Library use and student performance,” EDUCause review online, increase of 22% in the size of the Wed 18 July 2012, http://www.educause.edu/ero/article/discovering-impact-library-use-and-student-performance (accessed 4 March 2014). collection (see the Statistical Appendix for more details). RMIT University Library 06 Annual Report 2013 Grant partnerships Liaison staff at the Melbourne and Vietnam Orientation videos for campuses are planning to develop teaching staff in international cross-campus team relationships in 2014. The Library was invited to partner in two partner institutions significant grant applications in 2013: A new position of reference librarian was created at the Library at Saigon South. » An LTIF (Learning and Teaching The Library has developed a series of It will strengthen the reference expertise Investment Fund) grant involving short videos introducing staff at RMIT of Library staff. Nguyen Trong Thi (Thi) the School of Management and partner institutions to the electronic was appointed to this role. Wendy Frerichs, the Liaison Librarian resources and services available to RMIT for Management. students wherever they are located. » An OLT (national higher education) Watch the videos: grant involving the School of Electrical www.rmit.edu.au/library/offshore and Computer Engineering and Wendy Hazsler, the Liaison Librarian Professional development for the School. programs for sessional staff Liaison and reference services at the The Liaison teams were invited to Vietnam campus contribute to the new professional development programs for sessional teaching staff. Nguyen Huu Loc (Loc) has Each College developed their programs recently taken on the new role Nguyen Huu Loc, Liaison Librarian, Vietnam differently. In Design and Social Context, of Liaison Librarian at the Saigon campus, Saigon South there was a session each semester with South campus. Loc is working on over 100 participants in each workshop. organising tailored workshops, University presences Library staff presented and spoke to a building up the professional outside Australia new guide on ‘Sessional Staff Resources.’ communication collection, and Science, Engineering and Health held establishing contacts with the cafe-style sessions, presenting to each program’s lecturers. The Library contributed to the University- group and answering questions. There wide review of how RMIT students To assist the liaison function, the Vietnam were about 90 staff at sessions across studying outside Australia are supported. Library has assigned the role of subject the City and Bundoora campuses. The A checklist of minimum expectations Business Liaison Manager participated in librarian to eight Library staff based at of library service for RMIT students was a World Cafe run by the College for all Saigon South and four in Hanoi. developed and will be used to ensure sessional staff, and individual liaison this is available at all locations where librarians delivered presentations to we deliver programs. School-based sessions. 07 Book Fair at the Collection Vietnam campus News The 2013 RMIT Vietnam Library Book Every year we review our physical Fair (28 – 30 August) welcomed more collections to remove duplicates that than 3,000 RMIT Vietnam staff and are no longer needed and to ensure students, who came to buy books and latest editions are available. suggest new titles for the Library. There Major activity in 2013 included: were 6,000 books and DVDs for sale by most of the major book vendors in » In Vietnam, the floor load capacity in Ho Chi Minh City. The Book Fair is an the Hanoi Library prevents expansion annual event organised by the Library to of the collection. More than 2,600 encourage reading among students as volumes were withdrawn from the well as developing the collections collection so they could be replaced through orders by lecturers. with new books for new programs. In Australia, the Library purchased Book fair, Vietnam campus, Saigon South » a substantial collection of traditional Chinese medicine texts and have started to integrate into the collection at Bundoora. As the Library purchases material in electronic format over print whenever possible, purchasing of e-books and streaming videos continues to outstrip the acquisition of physical materials. e-Resources are generally available to RMIT students in all locations where RMIT programs are offered. Students browsing at the Book Fair