Resources/Collections for the Future Team (2005)

Members

Lisa Palmer (Chair), Elaine Martin (Champion), Janet Dadoly, Mark Goldstein, Paul Julian, Jeff Long

Charge

The team is charged with developing a collection assessment plan that includes goals and objectives for selecting, providing, organizing and managing the best resources and collections that meet the needs of the LSL's primary clientele for research, education and patient care. Collections and resources include multiple formats, all print and nonprint collections/resources, data sets, computer files, and types of materials the library may or may not presently own. The perception and meaning of collections and resources will vary with time, place and may be in a constant state of change, e.g. vendor databases. The team may want to review past and present philosophy and methods applied to acquiring and managing the collections and resources in the LSL with a focus on the future and demonstrate the value of library collections and subject expertise to the research, education and patient care programmatic outcomes of the UMMS. An example of a goal: To ensure the value of the LSL collections to primary clientele. Objective: Measure value by conducting surveys or focus groups to assess collections and their role in accreditation or improved education and student learning. Another objective might be to develop subject expertise in priority areas of UMMS and UMMHC in order to link faculty, researchers and students to appropriate collections.

Changes within the library, the medical school, and/or the information industry may offer opportunities and create challenges with risks and benefits. e.g. Google databases. The plan should present goals and objectives that will enable the LSL to test assumptions, e.g. defining the future role of our print collections, defining the role of clientele vs. approval plan for making selection choices, and evaluating collection/resource use and relate the value to UMMS accreditation requirements or educational competencies. The report should include recommendations on the changing role of staff and the training needed to accomplish the goals.