RMIT University Library exists to link RMIT staff and students with recorded knowledge in an appropriate time, place and way, enabling them to achieve excellence in teaching, learning and research.
Vision
To develop a world-class Library and information service as a vital component of a University at the forefront of technical and professional education and real world research.
Goals
To be recognised by the University’s stakeholders and other knowledgeable organisations as a leader in giving access to recorded knowledge in support of the University’s core activities, RMIT University Library will:
provide to our customers on campus, off campus and offshore relevant sources of information for learning and research, in a timely manner, a convenient location, by a suitable mode of delivery, by links to global sources and from our own collections
work in close partnership with academic staff and researchers to integrate library services and resources with the teaching and research program
enable students, staff and researchers to retrieve relevant information effectively to support current programs and develop their capacity to manage the information requirements of life-long learning
commit to continuous improvement and quality management processes
build and sustain a reputation for the development of new information products, services and processes by embracing and implementing the opportunities new technologies offer
support an informed, motivated, flexible and innovative staff, responsive to changes and initiatives in the university and the external environment
manage our resources to maximum effect and actively seek additional sources of income
1998 – a year of change
A number of significant changes occurred in RMIT Libraries during 1998. The Organisational Review was carried out with wide participation from Library staff — resulting in an organisational restructure. The title of RMIT Libraries was changed to ‘RMIT University Library’, to reflect the unity and cohesiveness of the Library and the equitable level of access to resources and services that could be expected at all sites.
A major Library achievement was a Commonwealth Equipment Grant for Learning Centre Facilities at Carlton Library. It is hoped that the resulting Learning Centre of computers and other IT equipment for student use will serve as a model for other sites. Customer feedback resulted in system-wide holds being introduced so students and staff could place holds from remote locations. A significant improvement for the Libraries was Information Systems’ improvements in network speed and reliability. In addition, the new, improved website was made live towards the end of the year, after a period of restructure.
During 1998 the Library underwent an Organisational Review, which resulted in a new organisational structure. This was launched on 14 December 1998. The objective of the new structure was to develop a customer-centred model that would be more responsive to the needs of students and staff, with the Library acting as a partner and colleague to the other players in RMIT’s Teaching and Learning Strategy.
The organisational name was changed from RMIT Libraries to RMIT University Library to reflect that the Library was a cohesive unit, though comprised of a number of sites. A Library customer could expect to receive a consistent and equitable level of service from the six sites.
Consultants were asked to prepare a report on the Library’s network infrastructure with recommendations for upgrading, which were implemented during the year.
A marketing officer was appointed in July in recognition of the need to better promote the Library’ resources and facilities, as well as to focus greater attention on feedback received and to feed this into a quality improvement cycle. The first issue of a Library-wide newsletter, Library News, was produced in November.
The customer-centred Library model
New Library organisational structure
The Business Development Unit acts as:
the enabling arm of the Library, providing essential infrastructure to support and enable the Units to function effectively.
the development arm, taking the Library forward in its business, marketing and planning activities.
The Customer Services Unit is responsible for:
the provision of library services that make a direct contributionto teaching, learning and research outcomes.
co-ordination of the delivery of library services at all Library service points (physical and digital ), paying special attention to compliance with Library policy and maintenance of consistent standards.
The Information Resources Unit is responsible for:
the provision of essential technical services across the Library. These services include selection (shared with other appropriate Library staff), acquisitions and cataloguing of information resources in all formats, including print,audiovisual and digital.
The development of information resources in accordance with principles defined in the collection development policy, which further the teaching, learning and research goals of the university.
The Information Strategy Unit is responsible for:
developing strategies and products to achieve the Library’s information technology objectives in the provision of education and training. Many of these objectives relate to the Library’s participation in the Teaching and Learning Strategy and research objectives.
positioning the Library as a core participant in the University’s teaching and learning processes.
The Library set itself seven goals for 1998. The following lists some of those achievements.
Goal 1: Provide to our customers on campus, off campus and offshore relevant sources of information for learning and research, in a timely manner, a convenient location, by a suitable mode of delivery, by links to global sources and from our own collections.
Information staff trialled a wide variety of electronic.
Some collection development highlights:
Work continued on integrating the Coburg and Bundoora collections. The integration allowed for a faster turnaround time on storage and hold requests.
At Carlton Library a major weed of collections was undertaken to make space for new Learning Centre Facilities. 2200 items were withdrawn and periodical and folio collections were relocated.
With the addition of further electronic resources, recommendations were made to cancel subscriptions to print reference material.
Departmental moves or changes require appropriate responses from the Library
The Department of Languages and International Studies moved to the City campus so approximately 1500 texts were moved to the Central Library. To support the migration of the Social Sciences students to the city, the Library sent in approximately 500 texts.
Around 400 texts were also moved from Bundoora to the city to support students in the postgraduate stream of Education.
Approximately 890 ‘Marine’ titles were transferred from Carlton to ARC following the closure of the Marine department at the city campus and the demand for resources for a new course in Transport Engineering at ARC.
Transfer of Mechanical Engineering resources to Bundoora East Library was completed.
Medical Radiation Science resources were identified and prepared for removal to the Bundoora East Library by the beginning of the 1999 academic year.
A Disability Interest Group (DIG) was formed. Revised information was put up on the Library webpage. A TTY (teletypewriter) was installed in the Carlton Library workroom for hearing-impaired customers to use for outgoing and incoming calls.
A Library web team was established to revise the home page for access to information worldwide and information about Library services.
Goal 2: Work in close partnership with academic staff and researchers to integrate Library services and resources with the teaching and research program.
Information Literacyclasses assist in the development of life-long skills for students/users who have a requirement for information. Through the work of the Liaison Librarians, academic staff provide time for their students to attend sessions conducted by Library staff.
An interactive web-based tutorial on a heavily used Education database called ERIC was developed and supported by the department in response to a need to teach large numbers of Education students quickly. It has been used extensively to teach basic principles of database searching.
Staff contributed to the development of Entrée at RMIT, the CD ROM for new students.
Staff in the Faculties of Applied Science, and Biomedical, Health Sciences and Nursing, and Engineering on the City Campus were targeted through publication of a Library newsletter in print and web form.
The first general Library customer newsletter for all sites and Faculties, Library News, was produced.
LINC meetings provided reports on Library activities to Faculties.
Library staff were involved with the course team for the development of the new Graduate Certificate in Tertiary Teaching and oversaw the addition of an information skills component in the curriculum.
Goal 3: Enable students, staff and researchers to retrieve relevant information effectively to support current programs and develop their capacity to manage the information requirements of life-long learning.
Dramatic changes in the Library’s IT infrastructure to improve network speed and reliability were implemented.
Revised Library web pages were established through the Web Steering Committee.
Web access to electronic databases was made available through a single web interface.
Over 90 staff and public desktop workstations have been upgraded to run Windows 95. By the end of 1998 the Library had a base level of Pentium. Most Apple MAC network work-stations were replaced.
Testing of public network printing commenced. The project was completed through the installation of public network printers in Central, Bundoora and Carlton libraries and in the Business Information Centre
LibLink went live in March. A graphical user interface was provided to the Library’s catalogue via the Internet. The patron facilities were made available in October.
Goal 4: Commit to continuous improvement and quality management processes.
The Library developed its own IT Strategic Plan 1999–2001 as part of the University process. The Plan enabled all IT expenditure to be mapped to the Library and University strategic plans.
The Library participated in the University’s Y2K software and hardware audits.
At ARC a second photocopier was provided.
Feedback processes
Feedback from students completing the higher level Information Literacy sessions at Central Library was collated.
Focus group interviews on service provision were conducted with undergraduate students and results were circulated to Central Library Information Desk staff.
Library staff conducted a Materials Availability Survey that assessed the likelihood of a user finding a desired item.
Several ‘focus group’ interviews were conducted with Carlton Library customers (students and staff) in order to inform the Library Restructure Process.
Suggestion boxes were utilised throughout the year by customers providing feedback on library services, collections and facilities.
At ARC returning students were surveyed about service provision.
System-wide Holds for books were introduced partly in response to customer feedback requesting improved access to remote collections.This was extremely popular with staff and students and holds increased by about 20%. Turnaround time improved over the year to an average of three working days.
Recommendations of a shelving and materials processing quality review were implemented, resulting in significant advances in turnaround time for items to be available from the shelves.
Staff attended RMIT workshops on student complaints and customer services.
A new fine system was introduced across all sites to encourage students to return items promptly. The ‘grace period’ was abolished, and an EFTPOS option for payment of fines was introduced to improve flexibility of payment options for customers.
Goal 5: Build and sustain a reputation for the development of new information products, services and processes by embracing and implementing the opportunities new technologies offer.
New cabling in Central Library, Kay House and Bundoora Library was installed to achieve 10/100 Mbits/sec. High-speed LAN switches were also installed to increase workstation response and lighten load on other LAN segments.
New maps of Central Library were provided from a CAD facility (in conjunction with the Assets Management Group) and also made available via the web.
The web version of Central Library’s Library News made the information accessible more widely.
Openline(v.6 (4), June-July 1998 page 15) featured an article with the title 'Books on line' giving the library web site URL and commenting that ‘it includes tips for completing assignments, such as how to cite web sites in your bibliography, and making the most of your university library’.
Bundoora purchased a multimedia PC exclusively for the use of the many CD ROM products on the market which are designed to enhance the teaching programs of the University. Over $5000 was spent on establishing an appropriate collection. Usage of the products has been high and justified the purchase.
High quality presentation equipment was purchased by Carlton Library and fully utilised with significant increases in the use of projected media, especially films.
The Carlton Library PC Laboratory facilities were improved by the upgrade of six PCs to Pentium capability with Office 97 and Netscape 4.0 software and the introduction of network printing.
Significant planning for the development of further Learning Centre facilities in Carlton Library was undertaken, to be introduced early 1999. An additional 30 PCs and 10 Macs plus a 20 PC training facility and Laptop Access Room will see the Carlton Library further enhancing its emphasis on operating as an integrated Learning Centre in support of flexible learning and course delivery.
Network printing was implemented thanks to a generous grant from the Hewlett-Packard Philanthropic Fund.
A web-based version of the Library catalogue (Geoweb) was launched).
Goal 6: Support an informed, motivated, flexible and innovative staff, responsive to changes and initiatives in the University and the external environment.
Professional meetings and vendor workshops were attended and some were organised by Library staff. These included:
Libraries of the Future ALIA-ACLIS
CRIG Forum: Focus Group Methodology
Library Services in and to Asia ALIA-UCRLS
Internal RMIT committees the Library attends include:
Membership of the Human Resources Classification Committee
Board of Applied Science, Board of Biomedical and Health Science and Nursing, Board of Engineering
Staff development opportunities included:
Regular in-service training sessions for Information Desk staff
Science Direct demonstration (Elsevier and DA)
Awards and on-going training
Leonie Overell awarded M. Bus. (IT)
Cheryl Lewis-Fitzgerald completed five of the six modules of the Workplace Training Certificate (the final module was completed in early 1999)
Margaret Jesson continued her studies towards a Masters Degree in Business Information Management and Library Studies.
Josephine Mifsud, Rebecca Lupton and Clive Skelchy pursued studies in Librarianship
Mara Medenieks continued her studies in the Library Technician Course.
Goal 7: Manage our resources to maximum effect and actively seek additional sources of income.
Higher level Information Literacy sessions continued to be charged for (participants were provided with a resource book).
Carlton Library’s Training and Marketing Unit generated earnings of $45 302 through provision of fee-earning Information Literacy training, customised Internet training and Web publishing and expert consultancy and project management services to VET clients both internal and external to RMIT.
The Training and Marketing Unit conducted 73 hours of fee-earning Internet training.
Library staff were involved in an ANTA project that investigated the development of Online (People) Networks in VET. The project involved using a case study approach to determine the most effective strategies to establish and maintain online (people) networks in the VET Sector in Australia. The Project team provided training, advice, software guidance and equipment. The project worked with seven groups around Australia, including TAFE Library personnel.
Carlton Library was successful in obtaining a Commonwealth Equipment grant for
$200 000 targeted at developing further Learning Centre facilities within the Library.
The proportion of the information resources budget expended on electronic resources increased from 10 to 14 per cent.
