Strengths and Weaknesses Highlighted in the

University Libraries of Notre Dame Self-Study (Version 1.0)

The following outline highlights strengths and weakness that were extracted from a SWOT (Strengths/Weaknesses/Opportunities/Threats) analysis of the University Libraries’ self-study dated October 11, 2001. (Compiled by Parker Ladwig.)

Strengths:

1. Beta-site for Aleph/Library maintaining Aleph for MALC (7.2; 8.2)

2. E-products' licenses (7.6; 7.9)

3. Excellent staff/faculty (4.1-13)

4. Involvement in SPARC (6.3)

5. Library's relationship with various campus units, e.g., OIT (7.11)

6. Library's catalog (7.4-5)

7. New preservation facility (8.3)

8. Outstanding service attitude, e.g. modification of collections and services to meet specific user needs (6.1)

9. Post-Colloquy funding (6.1)

10. Selection and provision of content for research programs (5.2)

11. Serials Solutions (7.3)

Weaknesses:

1. Budget structure (9.1)

2. Implementing bandwidth (7.12)

3. Inadequate IT (OIT) support, both help desk and infrastructure (7.11)

4. Lack of character-based online system (7.10)

5. Lack of consortium among Catholic universities (5.2)

6. Lack of strategic plan (8.4)

7. Library's relationship/communication with various campus units, e.g., OIT, and information providers (6.1; 7.11)

8. Limitations of bandwidth and hardware (7.12)

9. No Law Library bibliographic records in catalog (7.7)

10. Overhead to maintain Gateway access (7.3)

11. Report generating from Aleph (n/a)

12. Tens of thousands of microtext titles without cataloging (7.4)

13. Too many manual (non-automated) services/procedures (n/a)

14. Too many priorities (which are not ranked) (n/a)