The following outline identifies broad themes that were extracted from brainstorming sessions conducted by the Strategic Planning Steering Committee in late June/early July. For ease of reading, they are organized by the theme with the fewest comments to the theme with the most comments. (Compiled by Parker Ladwig.)
A. Improve communication with the University
and within the Libraries
1.
Improve communication between departments
2.
Better communication between Hesburgh and
branches and units
3.
Need better interdepartmental communication
4.
Need better interlibrary communication
5.
Need better communication with students and
public and faculty--more imaginative--Web, newsletters, etc.
6.
Better communication out to the University
faculty, rest of the University
7.
More communication among depts. about
changes--often find out after
8.
Do not know about procedures that have
changed
9.
Ensure that all library areas receive the
same communications/information
10. Find more ways to have direct communication rather than
all-electronic communication
11. Figure out ways to increase communication channels between library
and our primary clientele
12. Make staff more aware of internal communication by the Director
and ADs, e.g., library-wide information session--staff provide personal goals
but are not aware of other depts./units goals
13. Responses from LibQual, focus groups, etc. show that many
misperceptions exist among faculty regarding ease of access, availability of
electronic resources, ILL services, etc. Feedback from Faculty Workshops
conducted this summer was generally positive and indicated a need to continue
this strategy.
14. Better communication, especially from the top down, to foster
trust
15. Explore communication with users
B.
Enhance the collections
1.
Do not neglect books!
2.
Seek cooperative collection sharing with
other universities based on their strengths and our strengths--virtual or
regional
3.
Maintain and continue to build our print
collections
4.
Improve communication with the professors of
departments across campus to bring in collections that more meet the needs of
the students
5.
Develop a balanced, comprehensive plan that
includes collecting, acquiring, cataloging, and preserving for premiere
programs in partnership with the corresponding
department/institute/college/unit
6.
Collections need to keep up with the
changing research
7.
ND should contribute more than Special
Collections to online collection--digitize--free on the Web
8.
Take more advantage of physical historical
or rare books--maybe an actual credit course; have available for future
generations
9.
Look at gifts program--"books"
10. More attention to streamlining print vs. digital
11. Stacks need to be weeded, very old books
12. Thorough review and weeding of the collection; for example, in
areas like technology where it looks like much was moved from Engineering to
HESB GEN in the past without collection development or bibliographic review
13. Provision of a formal and funded collection of unabridged audio
books (books on tape, CD) in a wide range of subjects and literatures,
including foreign language fiction and non-fiction. These are not just for
entertainment or leisure use, they are an important way to acquire information
conveniently
14. Focus collections in collaboration with other campus units that
demonstrate the use and need for the library
15. Provide top resources on "supporting the Catholic
mission": manuscripts, antiquarian
books, Catholic resources, social justice, education, etc.
16. Think about quality of collections rather than quantity--spend
money wisely; focus on collections we do have
17. Identify core collections and preserve them
18. Stop buying useless books
19. Develop plan to add electronic resources
20. Develop methods and consortial arrangements with which to cut,
preserve, make good decisions regarding serials
1.
Major, major endowment for renovation
2.
Framework allowing budget to be used as
planning tool
3.
Do not cut the budget
4.
Seek endowment funding for new library
positions
5.
Increase budget for books, serials, and databases
6.
Need more funding for electronic resources
7.
Be able to purchase more serials materials,
staff, serials training for staff
8.
Committee that ACTIVELY pursues fund raising
for just library
9.
See us get several million dollars of
unrestricted endowments
10. Library should encourage College of Arts and Letters to capitalize
its faculty in same way Engineering and Science colleges do--administration
puts up funding for laboratories for new hires--administration should do this
across the board--part of hiring package should include capital for library
11. Better budgeting process (proactive vs. reactive, e.g., building
renovation)
12. Make priorities with funding
13. Balance acquisitions funding with space needs--tell faculty they
can't buy more books unless we have the space
14. More funding, but how will it be raised?
15. Increase collections budgets equitably based on dept. size, for
example
16. Increase funding so that requests can be accommodated, e.g., for
carpeting
17. Provide clearer financial picture of libraries, what was budgeted,
what was spent
18. Make plan to spend money for depts.
19. Move funds to opportunities
20. Substantially increase funding for preservation of paper materials
21. Increase funding for re-formatting--such as photoduplication
22. More projects driven by donations--is this a good idea?
23. Funding for core materials, i.e., book, Catholic baseline
University budgets
D.
Provide more bibliographic instruction/information literacy programs
1.
Educate undergraduates about library
resources and services
2.
Educate foreign students
3.
Require faculty to make library assignments
4.
Instruction for graduate students (e.g.,
EndNote), dissertation support
5.
Basic instruction for graduate students on
how to use catalog, maybe small groups
6.
Offer instruction on digital resources and
tools for staff and faculty in cooperation with OIT, e.g., the CEP program
7.
Develop our pedagogical role both external
and internal to the library
8.
Bibliographic instruction for large research
areas
9.
More formal credit courses on finding
information anywhere
10. Offer more specialized/reference collection development,
instruction focused on academic departments, classroom teaching, help work on
projects
11. Become leaders in teaching information literacy
1.
High school students should be encouraged to
come to the library for research--with some instruction
12. Teaching and learning center library; students learn to make Web
pages and use multimedia in projects
13. Do more with multimedia, e.g., video, Photoshop, to be used in
class/teaching
14. Use library materials in multimedia environment and get
Art/Marketing Depts. involved
15. Add more instructional support staff
16. Coordinator of instruction to be dept. head level position; create
an Instruction Dept.
17. Provide "who to contact" information at branches
18. More instruction librarians
19. Provide more instructional sessions to staff about how to use our
resources
20. Add library research component to majors
21. Increase resources available to continue expansion of Library
Instruction Program
22. Tremendous growth in Freshman Instruction sessions needs to be
sustained to maintain credibility with First Year Composition Department.
23. There is need to focus on other levels; e.g.,first year graduate
students, sophomore CORE students, subject specialties, but current classroom
and instructor availability limit growth.
24. More resources (physical, human) dedicated to library instruction
25. Compulsory bibliographic instruction
E.
Ask the University to do more for the Libraries
1.
Need campus copyright expert, including for
faculty
2.
Gain control of whole Hesburgh Library building
3.
Take stand on parking lot or provide shuttle
4.
Seek cooperative funding between University
centers and the library to provide for new areas of research
5.
Form a student advisory committee for
libraries
6.
More classroom support at all levels, not
just freshman
7.
Inform library staff of University's vision
of the library's future
8.
Ask University what the plans are for the
libraries
9.
Improved parking--IN FRONT
10. Library should be main focus of University vs. sports
11. Library should be center of any learning institution
12. See University Libraries be able to better communicate with
administration that the library is a capital investment rather than a capital
expense
13. University faculty should know us, and we should know them
14. Working more closely with Kaneb or OIT about Hesburgh computer
cluster
15. Get University administration to know library employees
16. Library is most important for students, but constantly underfunded
(does not attract students); should be the center of the University because of
its knowledge, resources, etc.
17. Centralized person to handle copyright problems
18. Hire paralegal to help with copyright issues
19. Copyright consultant for the campus, not just the library
20. Encourage faculty not to put things off to the last minute for
reserves
21. Better communication with registrar's office to open rooms
22. More public campus phones
23. University should build relationship with outside community, high
school students
24. University Libraries reclaim 14th Floor
25. Allow students to visit 14th Floor
26. ND Security should let library security know of situations like
looking for someone in the building, etc.
27. Would like University administration to rank library higher in
priority
28. On game days, stagger bus drop-off in front of the library
29. More collaboration with Kaneb, OIT, Office of Institutional
Research
30. Integrate Law Library catalog with University Libraries
31. Coordinate with campus tour groups so that accurate information is
conveyed to tourists
32. Raise our ranking among research libraries
33. Budgetary relationship with University administration--assure
maintenance of existing serials collection
34. Better management of road construction on Juniper
35. More recognition of library renovation by University
administration
36. Reserve parking for staff and faculty
37. Improve parking on football Saturdays
F.
Improve efforts to market the Libraries’ services and collections
1.
Convey importance of library to Notre Dame
community
2.
Libraries more integrated into campus life,
less of a warehouse
3.
Attract campus visitors to library
4.
Increase awareness of Special Collections
5.
Let public and users know who and what we
are, what we offer, advertise on football weekends, sell name plates, alumni
weekends, some kind of advertising package
6.
Subliminal messages "use the
library," "the library is good"
7.
Need to get patrons in the doors
8.
Increase use of physical library
9.
Better donor recognition
10. Promotional/instructional packet during registration/beginning of
semester (e.g., like Papa John's); tour of library on CD-ROM, Web (but every
floor's the same); send it to freshman before they get here; reference
librarians greet them, like Wal-Mart or casino
11. Attract new donors through recognition of current donors
12. Improve libraries' image via committees
13. Bring students back to library
14. Connecting more with user community
15. Articulate, develop, implement program to bring people back to the
library (overemphasis on desktop delivery)
16. More instruction/marketing/outreach for electronic resources to
teaching faculty
17. Other depts. on campus know of the library, but don't know the
people running it
18. Get parents to look at library before they let their children come
to ND
19. Look for big donors
20. Define what our services are and then market them--"we're
afraid that we won't be able to keep up"; give the Business School
marketing students one of these projects
21. Provide Fall open house for new faculty each year
22. Provide new faculty tours every year
23. Strengthen relationships between library faculty and depts. on
campus
24. Increase public relations with University
25. Create one glossy brochure for all libraries
26. Identify ways to emphasize Catholic nature of libraries
27. Be more prominent on campus as a whole--not just to University
administration
28. Better marketing of resources
29. More advertisement of library services and resources
30. Active role on campus; active partner with OIT; perhaps other
university libraries for computer networking and facilities
31. Ongoing library awareness program to improve our marketing outside
the library
32. Look at the library in a competitive/commercial environment, think
of ourselves in business terms, find ways to compete with these services
33. Spearhead/take leadership role in collaborative efforts with the
campus as a whole--library can benefit every dept. on campus
34. Do more events to market/attract folks outside the library--series
of events on popular topics, could be preservation of books, book
making/binding, answer questions, have hands-on materials
35. Discover and implement program for establishing trust between
ourselves and our primary clientele
36. Tables, chairs, etc. in library courtyard to encourage people to
come in
37. Provide a place to look at popular, less-expensive periodicals
while enjoying your coffee
38. Have book signings, speakers, etc.
39. Publicize distinguished collections using Web page
40. Advertise preservation awareness to students
41. Bring Your Child to the Library day
G.
Improve access to the Libraries’ resources
1.
More needs assessment, usability testing
2.
Systems should be more responsive to
cataloging needs, higher in priorities
3.
Streamline electronic resources and access to
it
4.
Conduct usability studies--review existing
library material documentation for ease of use for patrons
5.
Build science and technology library, human
and material resources in one library--eliminate never-ending shift of
collections to Hesburgh from branches
6.
Consolidate e-resources gateway and virtual
reference, and reorganize the new page
7.
Table of contents in Aleph; Integrate Aleph
and Gateway
8.
More focus on the Gateway, more user
friendly, sometimes confusing
9.
Mirror site for online content
10. Creating or purchasing one search engine for all resources
11. Aleph GUI via the Web
12. All libraries wireless, platform independent
13. Centrally located science or history of science library for
journals, etc.; older material/storage and public service and current service
14. Put microfilm to computer [sic]
15. Selected resources available to reprint, put in digital form
16. Digital reformatting
17. Master database of all materials (reserve), drawings, articles,
symposium, accessible to professors--could be part of Aleph
18. Catalog all rare books
19. Put into practice principles of user-centered design in everything
we do
20. Keep the system more user friendly: catalog
21. Better equipment in microtext
22. System brought up to date to download records for other vendors
via EDI
23. Catalog needs enhancing particularly records--some subjects are
inaccessible; *microfilm--better analytics in collections
24. Learn how to make information on Internet available to students in
an easy-to-use format
25. New courses of study should be categorized and catalogued--books be
made available to the public--non-Roman [sic]
26. Catalog: serials with
online access, URL should be imbedded in the bibliographic record
27. Keep catalog system updated and current
28. Attack back-log in cataloging (hire someone?/more assistance)
29. Work on back-log for electronic resources--(reciprocal notes)
impacted by physical back-log
30. Rare Book room should be open on weekends
31. Encourage electronic providers to have stable access--here today,
gone tomorrow, not linked to ultimate resources
32. A/V collection digitized so patrons can access it via the Internet
33. More ports throughout the library for patron and staff to connect
to the Internet (more wireless)
34. All access services should be available via Aleph
35. Archive/catalog microformat collection
36. Desensitize books from other branch libraries--problem for
security
37. Make swipe cards available for late hours access
38. Digitize microformats
39. Implement wireless in all libraries
40. Improve Internet service
41. Make all public services areas hours uniform
42. Expand delivery of materials to the desktop
43. Adopt "MyLibrary" concept for Gateway
44. 24 hour home delivery of library materials on campus
45. Make Reference area computers faster
46. Provide more computers
47. Provide laptop with Aleph client so the holdings work in stacks is
easier
48. Continue to up-grade quality control in technical service
processes and products so that standard procedures are clearly understood and
followed uniformly
49. Enhance usability of digital library services
50. Enhance access to ND's and other institutions' collections and
services (e.g., document delivery/desktop delivery, page service to find books,
self-initiated ILL, librarians who have offices throughout campus)
51. Improve modes of resource discovery
52. Set up usability lab to make testing/studies easier
53. Catalog and make accessible collections in backlog (including
microfilm) before purchasing more
55. Purchase collections if and only if they can be accessible in a
short time
H.
Provide additional services to patrons
1.
Complement commercial services such as
Google, Barnes and Noble
2.
Self-checkout
3.
Web access for patrons to renew, etc., their
books
4.
Implement document delivery for all faculty
and students of books
5.
Improve communication between ILL and
branches and patrons
6.
Allow patrons to make direct requests
through ILL
7.
Allow public to use and check out materials
8.
Invest in or explore international document
delivery beyond traditional ILL to assist research
9.
Self-renewal of checked-out material
10. Self-ILL/bypass library ILL
11. Improve and quicken ILL services with tracking of status
12. Information friendly, always open to staff and patrons--always
ready to answer questions--service oriented
13. Extend concept of chat reference
14. Change machine that has more than just quarters
15. Self-checkout of books/materials
16. Improve quality of printing images
17. Online reserves--the photocopied materials online, can be reused,
easily accessible
18. Need: have to be able to
deliver physical material to user faster--particularly ILL and acquisitions
19. Print on demand
20. Ask students what we are lacking, what they would like, library
should be center of University
21. Survey students
22. Literature searches for faculty/staff
23. Making clients/patrons/users more efficient
24. Open restrooms on main floor, especially for football weekends
25. More services that allow patrons to do things for themselves
26. More seamless time between time something is wanted, and it is
delivered
27. Help students know about subject librarian; provides relationship
to help students; night reference staff better trained for this
28. Service should be available for public service
needs--staff--patron needs
29. More patron-empowerment, e.g., self-checkout, e-mail notices going
out, automated reserve
30. Special Collections areas should have more of a public service
attitude
31. Self-checkout/empowerment for patrons (e.g., University of
Chicago--lights turn off when areas is not in use)
32. Increase number of computers for staff and patrons
33. Self-checkout/patron empowerment
34. Library staff need identification tags--no names, but identity as
staff
35. Staff the computer lab more hours
36. More user-initiated services developed
37. Provide color printing capabilities
38. More computers for patrons and student workers in Reference Area
39. Systematize services for distance students
40. Patron-initiated requesting of books through Aleph
41. Adopt customer service pledge/program
42. Staff should wear identification badges--"May I help
you?"
43. Improve outreach to undergraduates and graduate students
44. More reliance on commercial document delivery as opposed to ILL
reliance
45. Improve outreach services to faculty
46. Targeted effort at rapport building with faculty to increase
awareness of current collections and services and enable University Libraries
to better understand and respond to changing faculty needs.
47. If research funding is negatively affected by continued economic
challenges, there may be greater need to rely on reference librarians for
assistance with research
48. Faculty perception of University Libraries’ services influences
the entire Notre Dame user community, positively or negatively
49. The Workshop atmosphere provides a safe arena for overcoming and
correcting negative impressions of University Libraries’ services and fosters a
collaborative environment.
50. Institute a program where every library faculty member is a
subject librarian/liaison to increase communication between the library and
patrons
51. Customer service training for all staff to better interact with
patrons, community, wealth of services and resources
52. Offer reference services, for example, to assist with research;
find ways to contribute uniquely
53. Provide document delivery service to all University faculty,
students, and staff
54. Institute current awareness service for the campus
55. Consider going back to paging service
56. Balance* time/efforts on collections vs. time/efforts on services
for those collections
57. Discover more ways to package our resources into services like
commercial institutions
58. Provide librarian liaison for all the Universities dormitories
59. Develop and activate reserve module in Aleph
60. Survey of patrons regarding preference of print vs. electronic
serials
I.
Get the Libraries Administration involved in library-wide efforts
1.
Establish quality standards and
accountability: follow through what is
started
2.
Reduce meetings and committees!
3.
Educate staff on library procedures
4.
Group departments together
5.
Less paperwork, especially staff evaluations
6.
Set attainable goals and time frame
7.
Reward those who support the vision
8.
Aleph reports--statistics in a manageable or
manipulative database
9.
Update and "maintained" printed
library policies and procedures manual
10. Join Digital Library Federation
11. Clear expectations
12. Statistics for use of Web site including branches
13. Communicate to staff a synopsis of results of strategic planning
process
14. Library should have a living plan, both strategic and tactical
15. Nice to know that the library knows what its position is on
campus; should be working together
16. Prioritize--can' do everything; do what we do well; have a plan
17. Rarely articulate explicitly what we can't do; plan should add
something and take away something even if it steps on people's dream projects;
we can't do more with what we have
18. Administrators/ADs help smooth the process, improve workflow, make
the library more efficient
19. Administrators/ADs bring depts. together to help us work
better/more efficiently; cross-unit work
20. Administrators/ADs actively helping to "unglue things";
make projects more clear--can't hope that people will work together
21. Depts./staff may need to be more flexible about their areas of
work
22. Reverse trend of creating more and more small management
units--should be broader, less focused groups; created situation with "too
many chiefs, not enough Indians."; sucked into too may administrative
responsibilities
23. Less productive except as administrators
24. Overspecialized, territorial, boredom, cliques
25. Parallel to problems of big organizations, e.g., Johnson &
Johnson which was improved by breaking down into smaller companies
26. Need a mission plan
27. Need to prioritize, help with marketing
28. Identify/recognize/reposition staff based on strengths; good, hard
look at what we're all good at; what part do we play in the whole?
29. Be able to provide good, hard management data to improve decision
making (both external and internal data)
30. Understand each others roles for getting things done; being able
to refer people to other places within the library
31. What is the big picture?--but needs to be articulated in a way
that everyone can relate to; lack data to provide it
32. Management held accountable for decisions made (have data to make
decisions; make decisions based on data) "that's what Harvard does"
33. Repositioning people for positions of the future; but have to
worry about how it affects people; slow to react to obvious trends--what until
people are desperate; lack of understanding of how long things take
34. Afraid to hire because it's difficult to take the position away
35. Tend to be cautious which may be a good thing (e.g., do not want
an eight-track player expert); difficult to predict, but can base jobs on skill
sets
36. Focus is on patrons of today, but not those of 5, 10, 15 years
from now--need to focus more on the future
37. Hire or consult with a professional futurist; consult the Futurist
magazine
38. Aleph support expanded to get more done in a timely manner--Aleph
has much to offer, but needs setting up
39. Must have staff accountability--is staff used efficiently?
40. Let people know what is expected of them
41. Consistent policy for all libraries regarding holidays, football
weekends, etc.
42. Pick up lost and found articles once a week
43. Decide what the monitor's job is--job is located with an
information desk, control of the door, or stop for security?
44. Have rules and policing of patrons who are not students--at night,
early morning, unsavory people
45. Change use of library during football weekends; change hours
46. Reevaluate committees' purposes--if none, then disband
47. Establish written policy for when feds arrive
48. Revive LPPs
49. Enforce food and drink policy
50. Allow food and drink in library
51. Will lose users if the no food and drink policy is enforced
52. Training to improve committee effectiveness
53. Higher security for library staff--making fuller use of IDs
54. Require that committees produce final reports
55. Limit committee members' terms to one year
56. Have a library-wide set of priorities
57. Adopt a decision-making style that we are willing to follow
58. Seek input from stakeholders when groups make decisions
59. Make libraries more conducive to study, e.g., by enforcing quiet
60. Improve relationships with areas libraries, e.g., schools, public,
college
61. Establish policy about cell phones, pagers, other noisemaking
devices
62. Provide more annual goals to committees that remain after the
number of committees has been reduced
63. Create a culture of assessment
64. Provide regular round of visits by library administration to
depts.
65. Establish less corporate atmosphere
66. Compare ourselves/visit the best academic libraries in the world
(the best in whatever we think our deficiencies are)
67. Create and foster more collaborative projects between fellow
libraries
68. Work as a library, not as depts. in a library
69. Make steps to avoid becoming café
70. Move towards process to minimize paper use
71. Preservation--move from threat to opportunity
72. Develop infrastructure for digitization
73. Evaluate core level of public services
74. Increase size of library faculty for instruction
75. Rethink binding of currently received periodicals
76. Prioritize obligations of the public service personnel to the
campus vs. the non-campus communities
77. Hire more people in Serials
78. Recognize new projects need more resources
79. More structure, appropriate timing for technology hardware
deployment--staff, faculty, public
80. Plan Aleph changes to optimize public rollout
81. Develop disaster preparedness
82. Increase Systems staff
83. Employ archivist
84. Resources for preservation of Special Collections
J.
Focus on improving working conditions, training, etc.
1.
Monthly event for staff to meet each other
2.
Periodic extra hour paid lunch break
3.
Fewer staff classification levels, but
higher levels
4.
Improve library staff/faculty training
5.
Scholarship for staff to pursue library
science degree
6.
Fund and recruit more technical support
staff and more training
7.
Funding for non-exempt staff to attend
conference, workshops, continuing education
8.
Cross-training staff to understand rest of
library
9.
Do not lose human touch
10.
Improve morale
11.
More flex-time, even work at home
12.
More staff recognition and incentives for
development
13.
Increase in-house education
14.
Library gather input from staff on where
library is going, i.e., automation, procurement, innovations, pilot projects;
include staff in vision planning
15.
Develop career path interest at staffing
level, training, some jobs require localized training preferably through a
class
16.
Encourage through incentives, development of
skills, salary, days off
17.
Develop a hiring plan, anticipating
retirees, set priorities, look at skill sets, certification requirements for
faculty, upgrading current staff to fill those positions--recognize and develop
current staff
18.
More classes offered for staff, different
classes, more variety
19.
Human resources for the libraries alone, a
generalist
20.
More current awareness of other branches and
training/training for frontline staff for more integration of all
libraries/branches
21.
Build incentive plan to have goals,
friendlier atmosphere, new programs to prevent being stagnate--bring new ideas,
techniques to jobs, better work flow; see how other colleges approach things
22.
Find a way to utilize current
staff/students/graduate students' untapped abilities
23.
Could be using students to help (makes their
work more valuable/relevant)
24.
If we are going to develop something
dynamic, we will need more resources, staff, rewards
25.
Do we need more people and resources to
improve services (otherwise, we’re "stuck")
26.
All staff (not just supervisors) have
opportunities to grow besides in technology--additional to human resources
27.
If building is open 24 hours, need staff and
librarians for periodicals, A/V, reference, reserves, public services areas
Cross-training between areas so you know what other units do--a better
understanding
28.
Daycare for staff that work in the evening
29.
Parking for those who must work on game days
30.
Place for staff and patrons in the library
for lunch, e.g., Decio, De Grasta--hard to fight crowds in LaFortune
31.
Increase library staffing--increase things
to do to get work done in timely and accurate ways
32.
Higher classification for library staff;
higher entry-level because you need more knowledge to start
33.
Staff meetings and communication between
supervisors and staff--need time arranged to meet
34.
Encourage staff to attend communication
meetings--maybe they do not feel they know enough or can contribute
35.
Staff may feel they cannot advance--HR says
must change position to advance
36.
Tap into strengths of staff beyond job
description
37.
HR does not understand library functions and
all that is involved with library work
38.
Public services areas are a lower level
classification than other units
39.
Monitor parking in the Library Lot to keep
unauthorized people out
40.
Bring spouse/date to recognition and award
events
41.
Sit-down picnic, but not in August, stuffy
in the Joyce
42.
More get-togethers to meet folks (hard to
meet everyone in the library)
43.
Another library shirt (e.g., bar-coding
shirt and recent shirt)
44.
More specific job training (getting general
training now)--focus on individual's niches, more training for frontline staff
("ants")
45.
Address football weekends and their staffing
problems--might be best to close the library; cannot get students, number of
patrons low, parking problems for staff; helpful to see justification besides
bathroom space
46.
Designate parking for staff on football
weekends
47.
Improve parking arrangement in the library
circle
48.
Separate position classification for library
staff--no level 3s, because of knowledge required
49.
Orientation for new University faculty, done
in groups, especially for things like the A/V Center
50.
Picnic bench close to the library
51.
New file cabinets--mismatched sets make work
difficult
52.
More exciting, new, different, tour for new
employees; timing is poor--better during intersessions; could be shortened, too
much; no surveys of supervisors; not enough time for some units; might include
campus tour
53.
Upgrade in salary for library
employees--review of classifications
54.
New equipment, furniture, shelving
carts--more carts, and more space to keep them
55.
Better restroom facilities--more, cleaner,
brighter--filthy now
56.
Review of levels to match importance of work
57.
Place for staff during all of building's
hours--open the lounge at night
58.
More training for employees, especially
Internet
59.
Nice employee lounge/café out of main part
of building
60.
Provide recreation room for staff
61.
Better hours/shorter shifts for staff
62.
Better benefits/sick pay/compensation for
holidays
63.
Free child care center
64.
Computer lab for staff and ND employees to
use on non-work time
65.
Switch pay periods to every other week
instead of monthly
66.
Provide training and development
opportunities to staff
67.
Reevaluate staff positions in the library
68.
Increase staff salaries to improve morale
69.
Provide shuttle transportation for staff
from parking lots
70.
Add move diverse librarians and staff, e.g.,
African-American Studies librarian
71.
Eliminate merit increases and find more fair
way to increase staff salaries
72.
Add base salary increases yearly to reflect
cost of living to staff salaries plus merit on top
73.
Hire more library faculty, and more diverse,
too
74.
Fewer committees and committee meetings
75.
Evaluate staffing need of depts.
76.
Involve staff in more committees wherever
possible
77.
Inform staff when committees are being
formed so staff know how to be involved
78.
Expand new employee campus orientation to
include campus tour
79.
Establish fund to send staff for MLS (also,
time off)
80.
More parties, e.g., picnics
81.
Create a "buddy" program for new
employees so information is given immediately
82.
Include symbols of Hesburgh library building
in library tours
83.
Take in-depth look at insurance benefits
that continue to cost more than the raise in salaries
84.
One-on-one staff-to-staff cross-training
between units that are related
85.
Improve technology to support staff's true
needs
86.
Give birthday off to staff without using
vacation time
87.
Bring in masseuse
88.
Add ice machine in the lounge
89.
Clearer guidelines for library faculty
promotion
90.
Communicate positive activities that happen
in depts., etc. (recognition)
91.
Staff recognition once a month
92.
Seriously reconsider having a performance
driven culture
93.
Bring back University staff newsletter in
print
94.
Create a program or plan for staff so that
everybody understands how what they do affects the University community we
serve
95.
Form committee that helps keep up morale
96.
Follow through on salary expectations in
order to keep morale high while continuing to provide excellent service. Matrix did not raise all to market value,
and current increases fall behind cost of living and market value. HR and Libraries administration say one
thing, but do not do it. Salary
increases are not in line with Bureau of Labor Statistics figures
97.
Adequate staffing to support expanded
services
98.
Encourage and support staff to attend
conferences other than ALA
99.
Support library faculty with professional
development efforts; provide position description for guidance, protection
100.
Provide personnel management
training/assistance for faculty--no direct line from HR to help with this area
and local issues
101.
Would like to see upward evaluation/formal
feedback of managers from staff
102.
Switch job days--familiar on other jobs
103.
Rethink workflow/business in general
104.
Gear the staff to accept continued change in
work processes
105.
More classes on Aleph
106.
All ADs talk about change with staff
time/flexibility
107.
Accurate up to date position descriptions
for faculty and staff
108.
Develop unrestricted funds for staff
development, rewards, etc.
109.
More training on Aleph
110.
Staff salaries up to market
111.
Better opportunities for job growth
112.
Library picnic days for meeting each other
113.
Promote job sharing specifically on special
projects
114.
Feel for projects that are good and not so
good
115.
Programs to improve staff morale
116.
New furniture for staff
117.
Encourage staff to participate in grant
writing
118.
Training--new technologies that are coming
up
119.
Incentive program for staff to participate
in development
1.
Change library's look and feel
2.
Wood panels on ends of stacks
3.
Provide a place to relate to our co-workers
4.
Improve working conditions! (light, air,
furniture)
5.
Venetian blinds in 208! Windows everywhere
6.
Rare Books/Special Collections need separate
and proper climate control
7.
Cleaning stacks of dust (the books and
shelves)
8.
Plan for, implement off-site storage,
consortium with other institutions
9.
Improve appearance and décor of 221
10.
Improve signage
11.
New HVAC for whole library, can be
individually controlled
12.
Better meeting rooms just for staff and
faculty
13.
No orange partitions--up-to-date color
scheme; newer dividers
14.
E-conference facilities
15.
More quiet places to study
16.
Enlarge circulation desk
17.
Install shower
18.
Furnishings and cleaning products that are
people friendly (non-allergenic)
19.
More space for science and a separate
library
20.
Remove card catalog
21.
More attractive new book display on first
floor
22.
Information commons
23.
Special Collections on 14th floor
24.
Nice art in library to attract visitors
25.
Ensure that all of our resources are
accessible for people with handicaps including visual--requires cooperation with
outside vendors to make sure their products are accessible--local vendors, too
26.
Off-site pageable storage (i.e., easily
accessible)
27.
Get next phase of renovation focused on
staff needs, comfortable, with facilities conducive to ongoing training and
learning, adequate/dedicated space for collaborative work
28.
Invest large scale spending in renovation
beyond current renovation, create more comfortable and inviting areas for
public/patrons/staff
29.
Make library more beautiful, improved,
enhanced
30.
Provide good study areas
31.
Collaborative work spaces in library for
patrons
32.
Chemistry/Physics library remodeled,
renovated, and enlarged
33.
Engineering and Life Sciences libraries,
remodeled, renovated, and enlarged
34.
Enclosed passageway between libraries so
patrons are not exposed to elements
35.
Preservation friendly HVAC for all libraries
36.
Make libraries a destination for users, make
more comfortable through better physical design
37.
Build centralized science and engineering
library
38.
Renovation completed--clean building; easy
access, bathrooms, 1st Floor
39.
Better equipment throughout library to bring
in more students
40.
Provide location that inspires scholarship
and encourages student/faculty interaction
41.
Build music library
42.
As part of renovation, reconfigure and
update HVAC for enhancement to protect collection and for comfort of staff
43.
Improving signage
44.
Information commons (meeting
place)/collaborative teaching projects
45.
Improve building's
atmosphere/feel--"all angular"
46.
More windows (lack of natural light)
47.
Have something that draws the students to
the physical space--should be inviting; this would help funding
efforts--"looks the same as 20 years ago"
48.
Working on improving the work space/physical
proximity to make thing more cohesive for working units
49.
Library as place to meet other
colleagues/other people/research assistance; must be inviting, have plenty of
meeting rooms, etc, e.g., Border's
50.
Paint the books because the books look old
and shabby
51.
Off-site retrievable storage
52.
Branch libraries need more space
53.
Centralized science library
54.
Seldom used books to go to off-site storage
55.
Take downs flags/banners in the Hesburgh
concourse
56.
Get rid of outdated signs, etc.
57.
More comfortable library, comfortable
seating--currently is signals, don't stay very long
58.
Update staff furniture, all furniture
59.
Update circulation work station and window
coverings
60.
Library looks tacky, dirty--freshen up!
61.
Ugly/inefficient book bins at return area
62.
Holes in carpet for electrical work; patch
to cover
63.
More welcoming environment
64.
Better restrooms, cleaner
65.
Displays in the concourse should be library
related
66.
Heat the building uniformly
67.
Windows cleaned on all floors (especially
12th) for picture taking
68.
Remove old stuff in the concourse, UNLOC
banners, employee of the year, etc.
69.
Put something in the big display cases that
have nothing in them
70.
Look for something, e.g., café, to help make
this library attractive, make it the center of the campus, especially with
functions on the 14th floor
71.
Remote, accessible storage for older,
non-circulating items--make available in microformat, digitize to improve
preservation; out of space for new materials
72.
More welcoming environment, especially
concourse, does not look like you are in library
73.
More room for books
74.
Music should have its own library
75.
Privacy booths in A/V for viewing
76.
Carpet in A/V to reduce noise, increase
safety
77.
Create an Information Desk--where to get
change, bathrooms, etc.
78.
Carpet to reduce noise throughout the
library, by elevators to mask the noise from the shelving carts
79.
More inviting space, more friendly--too
sanitized
80.
Provide handicapped access to all bathrooms
81.
Bathroom better located on 1st Floor--open
to public
82.
Building open more, especially in public
service areas; staffed by staff and librarians, not students
83.
Private study rooms nicer
84.
Re-do plumbing and painting--new tile in
bathroom
85.
Sliding doors need methods so they do not
jam in winter--cover or canopy outside would help
86.
Doors to library proper need to be
open--patrons don’t find reference area/desk
87.
Remove dead plants/get more live ones
88.
Unnecessary for library to be open 24 hours
89.
Do not use carpet or padded chairs in food
service areas in the library
90.
Access to water supply on 1st Floor
91.
More water fountains
92.
Get rid of ancient turn-stiles
93.
14th Floor renovation should look nice
94.
Make view available from 13th Floor so
people can see the campus (wall of windows)
95.
Improve parking situation
96.
Provide better handicapped parking
97.
More accessible reference and circulation
areas
98.
Improve location of computer lab--used often
99.
Increase cleaning staff on football weekends
100.
Clean windows in the tower
101.
Clean library--do workers need more
supervision?; should be supervised more because of high use in library
102.
Computer desks and chairs are too low for
adults in the 2nd Floor computer lab
103.
Cafeteria--separate place for staff and
students to eat
104.
Picnic area outside library
105.
People don’t feel welcome with gates--not
comfortable going through turnstile and security watching them
106.
More undergraduate study space with ResNet
or wireless connections
107.
24 hour access to building
108.
Provide an off-campus storage
(air-conditioned) to store books
109.
Provide dedicated classroom space in library
110.
More modern look for Hesburgh library,
including café or coffee shop
111.
Offer more group study space for
collaboration in research
112.
Emphasize preservation of physical
collection
113.
Keep cleaner library space--too dusty
114.
Add moveable shelving to Tower
115.
Spend more funding on making library more
inviting, e.g., plants, art work
116.
Add lockers for students
117.
Expand Life Science library
118.
Make Government Documents work area bigger
and more ergonomically correct
119.
Update library décor to be cozier and more
inviting
120.
Be resourceful in creating more inviting
physical environment in Hesburgh Library
121.
Current partitions are forbidding and give
the impression, especially to neophytes, that access is only for “authorized
persons”.
122.
Dispose of some of the tables piling up
around Hesburgh. Can user space be defined in terms of dedicated square feet
rather than the number of tables available? With increasing use of laptops,
there is little need for these clunky pieces and they take up room and make the
area seem very crowded
123.
If funds permitted, it would be nice to
build a new state of the art patron service area, perhaps adjacent to and
connected to Hesburgh Library. This area could house user services and provide
user-friendly study space and a generally attractive environment
124.
Up-grade quality and uniformity of signage
and visual environment, in Hesburgh library at least. Someone needs to go
through on a regular basis with a critical eye, or we need to have an on-line
suggestion box for these little details. Lots of little homemade signs get put
up and stay up without review or renewal. The knotted plastic tape closing off
the stairway to the basement is unsightly, particularly since the barrier is
going to be up for a long time. The fake flowers and angel under the sculpture
in the Hesburgh foyer are incongruous. The placement of the book-sale now in
the Reference area of Hesburgh is inappropriate, as it looks tacky and is the
first thing you see as you come into that area; it takes up a valuable
location. (How about against the south wall by the approval room door?) The
sanitary disposal cans in the Hesburgh tower ladies' rooms are rusty, battered
and broken. Etc., etc.
125.
Keep the renovation going--do not stop with
the basement
126.
Library is uninviting, restrictive, appears
closed to ideas, stale, old, and it affects the work we do (same as 10 years
ago)
127.
Take the old turn stiles away
128.
More color, texture, contrast,
plants--library is visually monotonous, not cozy, not inviting
129.
Build cyber cafe for laptops, coffee, and
access to the library
130.
Put in a coffee shop
131.
Use whole tower for books
132.
Small, state of the art place that is
separate, cozy, etc., for primary public service areas
133.
Improve HVAC
134.
Restrooms on 1st Floor
135.
Better cleaning system
136.
Get rid of new photocopiers
137.
More risks to weed collection
138.
Create comfortable and appealing library
environment
139.
Move more material off site--one day
retrieval
140.
Improve environment for storage of
collections
141.
Improve Hesburgh HVAC
142.
Commercial or approved off site storage
143.
Quality of patron study space be improved
144.
More art work on walls--ND students
145.
Finish renovation as quickly as possible
146.
Café in library
147.
Plan for science facility to ease
overcrowding
148.
Improve exhibit space for Special
Collections
149.
Renovation:
segregate user and collection spaces
150.
Build new library
151.
Renovation space plan needs re-examination,
specifically serials space inadequate
152.
Renovation:
restore all office space
153.
Open 14th Floor
154.
Ice machine for staff kitchen