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Environmental Scan - Engineering Technology: Support

Introduction

The details on this page delineate the support efforts that have been succesful so far and those that should be pursued in the future.

Key initiatives include:

  • Develop familiarity with and prepare to support 3D printer ahead of widespread use.
  • Communicate more regularly with faculty members, including attendance of meetings when possible.
  • Promote use of FADS, GRADS, and ILL services.
  • Explore ways to expand Instructional Services reach.
  • Continue to survey faculty members and graduate students and assess library collections.

Ongoing and New Initiatives

(Planned initiatives in bold)

  • Explore possibility of subject-specific citation manager training (Refworks and Endnote). Graduate student survey responses suggest both tools are used.
  • Develop familiarity with 3D printer and begin to plan for research support.
  • Expand and improve Research Guides for relevant subject areas. Graduate students are not aware of this service.
  • Present hybrid online tools (Browzine and Curriculum Builder) to faculty members.
  • Promote Research Consultations and Ask a Librarian services.

While faculty members seem to be aware of Library Instructional Services, only one instructor regulars requests instruction sessions. (Planned initiatives in bold)

  • Explore more outreach to the introductory Construction Science and Management course, CSM 1260. The syllabus for this course includes a research project on the construction of a notable building. A student in the class reports that they are encouraged to use the library but not advised to meet with a librarian.
  • Reach out to faculty members teaching Writing Intensive courses.
  • Expand and improve Research Guides in relevant subject areas.
  • Continue to schedule and teach instruction sessions for Senior Concrete Lab, CIM 4310.
  • Host workshops on subject-specific database usage.

Based on survey responses from faculty members and graduate students, the library seems to be meeting collection development needs for the department. (Planned initiatives in bold)

  • Work with faculty to build Reserves. Many faculty members place importance on having textbooks on reserve, but the collection budget does not support purchasing multiple copies.
  • Develop a greater understanding of the subjects taught. In particular, explore the faculty members' research areas to ensure proper coverage.
  • Inform faculty members and graduate students about FADS and GRADS services and further promote Interlibrary Loan. According to the survey, graduate students visit the library at most once a week, so this will help them get the resources they need faster.
  • Incorporate Concrete Industry Management needs into Engineering Technology fund purchases. As CIM funds are spent, work with faculty members to ensure needs are still met with regular purchases.
  • Reach out to new faculty members and encourage them to apply for New Faculty Startup Funds.
  • Encourage faculty members and graduate students to make regular purchase requests through ORS.
  • Regularly review course list to ensure collection supports areas of instruction.
  • Benchmark collection against peer libraries' holdings.
  • Review new releases from vendors and publishers.

(Planned initiatives in bold)

  • Communicate with faculty members and Copyright Librarian about intellectual property issues.
  • Stay aware of trends in scholarly communications, particularly in the areas of engineering and science.
  • Invite faculty members and graduate students to Scholarly Communications events and programs.
  • Work with IR team and faculty members to build the institutional repository.

Best Practices

Best Practices--A Roadmap to Rich Engagement

  • Meet and/or communicate regularly with faculty.
  • Actively engage with faculty students and staff in assigned departments or institutes in order to develop strong working relationships.
  • Promote library services and collections.
  • Speak knowledgeably about issues such as scholarly communication, open access, institutional repositories, digital collections, and information literacy.
  • Assess user needs, design and implement user studies, share information about users with library staff and with departments or institutes.
  • Analyze trends in assigned discipline or area’s research and teaching; be aware of department or institute’s current and future programs; use information to respond to user needs.
  • Seek opportunities for collaboration with departments or institutes in the areas of collections (e.g. creating digital collections; contributing to institutional repository), teaching, and research.
  • Engaging with subject librarians from other universities.
  • Participating in department meetings, activities, and events such as seminars, colloquia, and conferences.
  • Seeking professional development opportunities in subject areas (e.g. participating in scholarly organizations).
  • Developing studies to assess faculty and student research tools and methodologies and using the results to shape collections and services.
  • Conducting (and attending) workshops on specific database or technological innovations thatcan be used in teaching or research.
  • Regularly reading literature, such as Chronicle of Higher Education, about trends in higher education, subjects, and disciplines, and sharing information with colleagues.
  • Engaging with subject librarians from other universities to share information about disciplinary trends and department/institute activities.