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The 2000sThe Digital Revolution in Research Libraries

Report to Senate

Mark HaslettUniversity Librarian

January 18, 2010

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Outline

• Provide a high level overview of transformations in the 21st century library

• Highlights:– Our 6th Decade Plan focus– Radical transformation from print to e-journals– Emerging eBooks environment– The physical library has never been busier– The power of partnerships & collaboration

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The 6th Decade Plan

A strong and vibrant library is a vital component of an excellent teaching and research intensive university. The UW Library will continue to foster and be a model of collaboration, connectedness and partnerships.

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The Library’s 6th Decade FocusThe UW Library will focus on:• quality and strength of information resources to support

research, learning and teaching • impact of the Library’s educational programmes • high faculty, staff and student satisfaction with

information resources, services and facilities • innovative and effective use of technology to support

delivery of services and information resources

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The 21st Century Research Library• Digital and print scholarly information resources both continue to grow

• Increasing numbers of digital (e)resources

• Integrated access to scholarly information

• The physical library & the digital library are both heavily used

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Effects of shift to electronic resources

• As the graph shows, we were able to increase journal holdings in the early 2000s

• Managed with relatively small increases in the Library acquisitions budget

• Increased and enhanced access from your desktop on and off campus: access anytime, from anywhere

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In 2004, I noted the...Shift to electronic access

• Virtually all subject areas are covered by electronic indexes to the literature

• At UW, we now have access to more than 7500 electronic journals

• CARL quote:– The University of Waterloo led the charge,

for the first time spending more on electronic journals than print ones

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The Power of Collaboration

• The shift has been accomplished in part through participation in regional and national partnerships

• Consortia: OCUL and CRKN• The majority of purchases of e-resources are made

through consortial arrangements with other libraries• Libraries collaborate often & we collaborate well

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CRKN (Canadian Research Knowledge Network)

http://researchknowledge.ca/en/

• A collaborative initiative of 73 universities• Goal: Increase quantity, breadth & depth of

scholarly information• A world "success story"• One of the largest CFI awards for a national

project

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Connecting, Enhancing, Integrating

• The UW Library has a significant and proud past of involvement in IT initiatives

• We are able and innovative users of IT

• We know our “business”; and we know where to use the technology

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My vision of an excellent library is one that ...• Keeps its eye on its core business: facilitating

effective access to scholarly information• Embraces evolving trends in scholarly

communications and technology• Seeds new initiatives & promotes partnerships• Is at its best when working together with

others• Inspires bright minds