Components of a Technical Plan:

Service mandate

External environment

Current operations / service gaps

Service / leadership objectives

Decision structures and strategies

Supporting Strategies

Technological trends

Components of a Technical Plan:

Assume that data security/redundancy, evergreen, disruption management, funding, asset management, training, expertise are covered

Assume the mission is in line with VIU objectives

Assume that current gaps in service can or will be met

Signposts Snapshot

The Vancouver Island University Library supports the mission of Vancouver Island University to assist students in developing their full potential by providing lifelong learning opportunities. It facilitates this objective by being proactive in providing appropriate learning resources and services which assist users in developing specific information retrieval and analytical thinking skills to meet the changes and challenges of a rapidly evolving society.

Library Services and the library space will be key strategies employed by Vancouver Island University to attract and retain students and faculty, and to ensure their success at Vancouver Island University.

Our Vision for the next three years:

The Vancouver Island University Library environment will continue to undergo fundamental change over the next three years. The library staff participating in various collaborations will continue to develop and design services in response to rapidly changing teaching and learning styles, the extremely volatile publishing environment, the development and delivery of electronic library content, higher expectations by all users and a renewed mission to provide an enriched information environment for teaching and learning. The library has become the undisputed heart of the university without regard to physical location, and it will continue to develop collections and services to take its place at the centre of all teaching, learning, and research activities at Vancouver Island University

Planning Context

Local prioritization / decision structures

Campus standards (financial, infrastructure, technology)

Consortium standards (content, carrier , contracts)

Regional and national initiatives (content and carrier)

Information marketplace (content)

Information technology (carrier, controls, authentication)

Information ecology, rationalization between partners, Govt.

Shifts in information policy – privacy, copyright, FOIPOP

Media and cross platform shifts (news)

The Shift Books/paper to electronic

Controlled environment to unconfined environment

Ownership to access

From doctrine of first purchase to terms and conditions

Managing objects to management contracts

Expectations of “anytime, anywhere”

From information scarcity to abundance

Real competition

The Shift Move from a transaction business to an access and

authentication business

The gatekeeper recedes from view…

A manager of experiences emerges

Integration with all learning environments

Flexible learning

Finding our users where they are, not where we are…and providing the service

Mobile Platform Trajectory

Social Networking Impact

Current Technical Backdrop Integrated Library Management System (SIRSI)

Purchasing/Finance

Cataloguing

Circulation and Services

Public Catalogue

Print and media database

Web Interface

Video Booking

Equipment Loans

Current Technical Backdrop ReLAIS – interlibrary lending management

ARIEL – networked document delivery

Handle Server – for stable web addresses

EZProxy – authentication server

DSpace – open source web base digital resources presentation and preservation system

GODOT – open source link resolver

CUFTS – electronic resources knowledge base

Researcher – open source broadcast searching

RefWorks – integrated citation manager

Bibliofile/Bookwhere – automated cataloguing utility and database

Ebsconet – serials management

LibGuides – Instructional publishing and linking

Desktracker – reference management system

FAQ – frequently asked questions knowledge management

Several web authoring packages and utilities

Core360, Summon – knowledgebaseERM/Discovery tool

Current Technical BackdropHardware

6 Macintosh video/audio editing suites

35 instruction computers

10 laptops for instruction and loans

54 commons computers (Nan), 35(COW in 2010), 8 (POW)

8 scanning stations

18 public catalogue stations

3 authoring stations

35 staff computers

Several servers in IT and IS

IP phone system – soon mobile integration

4 analogue and one digital microform reader/printers

12 networked printers (including pay per print system)

7 photocopiers

3M security system

Sound masking system

High-end scanner/authoring station

Objectives Support flexible learning online and on-site

Better discovery of resources

Better linking of resources

Better assistance and expert support alternatives

Quality information alternatives

Un-tether staff assistance from physical locations

Move resources from managing objects to managing user experiences

Create physical and virtual spaces to support social and independent learning with appropriate tools

Objectives contd. Building collections and resources for flexible learning

Develop collections that are relevant to study and research available to the greatest number of learners irrespective of location and schedule

Develop data resources and tools for analysis, visualization and presentation

Develop information resources unique to the learning experience of VIU and develop tools to access and preserve this information

Develop access agreements and technical passports to access world-wide information and collections

Objectives contd. Present tools for learners, instructors and researchers to

find, develop, enrich and present knowledge

Video capture, editing and streaming

Digital photography

High-end scanning

Software for editing, authoring and publishing

Software for data access, visualization, analysis and preservation

Productivity tools, and learning tools

Specific Strategies Re-skill and renew library workforce for non-print support

Develop and deliver a response to mobile platforms and other new devices

Communications strategy

Content configuration

New services, SMS reference

New architecture for navigation

Simplify access while masking background sophistication and complexity

Specific Strategies Prepare for new content formats

Digital collection building for research

Data, GIS

Discovery Tools

Electronic Resource Manager

More inter-sector content purchase

Specific Strategies Reconfigure physical spaces, create virtual spaces

Group study workrooms with digital tools

Skype zones, video conferencing

Virtual learning spaces

IssuesLocal information policy (records, archives, copyright,

intellectual property)

Input into regional and national networking (Canarie etc.)

National input into research library initiatives (open source publishing suites (PKP), Scholarly Communication Policy, digitization funding)

Last mile initiatives in networking

On-line learning policy and strategy

Hybrid environment and collections

Issues contd. Cost containment

Integration with VIU systems and services