SUNYLA Executive Council Meeting – March 11, 2011
President’s Report
NYSHEI Summit Meeting – December, 2010:
I attended NYSHEI’s Second Summit of the Academic and Research Library Community on December 9, 2010 at the New York State Library in Albany. The Summit was attended by representatives of virtually all library organizations in New York state. Each representative was given time on the agenda to discuss their goals, projects, and questions and concerns for 2011. Concerns centered around the difficulty working with the state procurement system, and the amount of money that could be saved if the system was streamlined to allow more flexibility and creativity. Also, concern was expressed about the New York State Regents Advisory Council on Libraries, which in the past has barely mentioned academic libraries in its report.
In response, Jason Kramer sent a letter to the New York State Regents Advisory Council on Libraries on February 8, 2011 on behalf of all summit attendee organizations, asking that the Regents Advisory Council (RAC) recognize and act on the importance of academic and research libraries. The letter is available at
http://www.nyshei.org/2011/02/08/nyshei-leads-coalition-lobbies-regents/.
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society donation:
In January, an e-mail request from Loretta Ebert of the New York State Library was circulated regarding her intention to run in a marathon to raise money for the Disney Marathon Team Leukemia fund raiser in the name of New York State Librarian Bernie Margolis, who is undergoing treatment for leukemia. SUNYLA subsequently sent a donation of $250 to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in Mr. Margolis’ name. In response, SUNYA received a letter of thanks from Loretta Ebert, and also from the State Library (Paula Paolucci, Assistant to Mr. Margolis).
ARIA:
A letter of support for the ARIA initiative from SUNYLA was drafted at the request of NYSHEI director Jason Kramer on and sent on February 25, 2011. “An ARIA-empowered New York can level the playing field for research libraries, both public and private. … Purchasing information resources through a New York state agent will markedly reduce costs while increasing access.” [see entire text of letter, Appendix A].
SUNY Libraries Strategic Plan – Final Draft:
The SUNY Libraries Strategic Plan received some very minor revisions in January, and is now ready to be presented at the SCLD Spring Meeting, April 13 – 15 in Cooperstown, NY [Appendix B].
LAND update:
According to Kathy Gundrum: “Nylink is working with OLIS, NYSHEI and the New York State Library to transition LAND billing and support to other entities. An update will be distributed by Nylink in mid-March. The existing LAND contract has been extended until June 2012, and a steering group is working on an RFP to continue statewide library delivery beyond this date.”
OCLC update:
OCLC will begin billing SUNY libraries directly beginning with the April invoices, which will arrive in early May. There will be no membership charges involved.
Respectfully submitted,
Angela Weiler, President
SUNY Librarians Association
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Appendix A:
February 23, 2011
To the New York State Legislature:
I am writing today, as president of the State University of New York Librarians Association, to strongly support the enactment of ARIA, the Academic Research Information Access Act (bill number A.5181).
SUNY librarians have been painfully aware of the dire economic situation in New York for some time now. We have been forced to make tough decisions regarding resources which affect not only student access and scholarship, but professional research and business as well. This in turn affects not only the future of New York students, but the very economic foundation that the New York state legislature is trying to repair.
Access to scholarly research and resources is crucial to the progress of this state and its citizens. New business is built on new ideas, and those ideas are built on the research and study of those who came before. The end result of more limited access to scholarly information resources is less research, less scholarship, and, eventually, a less vibrant economy.
ARIA, enacted, will gather all those engaged in research and scholarship in New York together and leverage that power into real savings and improved access. No longer will each research facility have to deal with outrageous cost increases (as high as 50% in the past five years) and to do without crucial information resources. An ARIA-empowered New York will level the playing field for all research libraries, both public and private, giving them true bargaining power and relieving budgets that are currently stressed beyond the breaking point.
Purchasing information resources through a New York state agent will markedly reduce costs while increasing access. Currently many larger New York universities such as Columbia have turned to out-of-state consortia for price relief. ARIA will bring the power of these primary centers of scholarship and research back to work for better pricing for all research institutions, right here in New York state, creating a ratio of savings to our beleaguered state budget estimated at 10:1. Access to ARIA resources will also be extended to companies in qualified emerging technologies.
In similar state programs across the country, great cost savings are being realized through collective buying power, a single-point contract holder, and state involvement. It’s time for New York to adopt a similar business model, and allow its colleges, universities, and businesses to do what they do best: educate, innovate, and build a stronger, healthier economy for New York, through the enactment of ARIA.
Sincerely,
Angela Weiler, President
SUNY Librarians Association
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Appendix B:
Revised Draft of Strategic Plan
January 7, 2011
The Power of SUNY Libraries - A Strategic Plan for 2011- 2013
Big Ideas:
ONE VISION — SUNY libraries will work together to provide quality services and access to emerging and recorded knowledge in support of teaching, learning, research and public service
ONE VOICE – SUNY libraries will communicate and collaborate to articulate the pivotal role of libraries and information in the knowledge economy that is transforming the State of New York, its colleges, universities and communities
SHARED EXPERTISE – SUNY libraries will collaborate to maximize the impact of talent, specialized training and depth of knowledge for the creation of a robust information network for the people of the State of New York
SHARED RESOURCES – SUNY libraries will continually implement and objectively evaluate innovative strategies, policies and procedures that will optimize mutual access to the information resources of all SUNY libraries
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ONE VISION — SUNY libraries will work together to provide quality services and access to emerging and recorded knowledge in support of teaching, learning, research and public service
• SUNY libraries will develop and promote SUNYConnect in order to expand access to resources
• SUNY libraries will develop and nurture inspirational leaders who create an entrepreneurial and versatile workforce that identifies and responds to emerging trends in the knowledge economy
• SUNY libraries will ensure that all students are information literate
ONE VOICE – SUNY libraries will communicate and collaborate to articulate the pivotal role of libraries and information in the knowledge economy that is transforming the State of New York, its colleges, universities, and communities
• SUNY libraries will work actively with public and private sectors of higher education, New York State Higher Education Initiative (NYSHEI), the New York State Library, public libraries and other state agencies to influence public policy on information and information access
• SUNY libraries will lead in the use of current technologies to enhance statewide and regional communication
• SUNY library leadership groups will promote agile decision making in support of SUNY strategic planning and institutional change
• SUNY libraries will develop centralized, shareable communication to brand and market our resources
• SUNY libraries will work with SUNY Chief Academic Officers, SUNY Business Officers, SUNY Chief Information Officers, and other constituent groups to identify and resolve issues of mutual concern
SHARED EXPERTISE – SUNY libraries will collaborate to maximize the impact of talent, specialized training and depth of knowledge for the creation of a robust information network for the people of the State of New York
• SUNY libraries will leverage their talents to lead and share innovations in support of teaching and learning and to foster economic development and lifelong learning
• SUNY libraries will encourage affinity-based groups to develop initiatives of mutual interest that support multiple campuses
• SUNY libraries will capitalize on both existing and potential partnerships
• SUNY libraries will support the expanding roles of librarians
• SUNY libraries will collaborate more effectively with CUNY and the New York State Library
SHARED RESOURCES – SUNY libraries will continually implement and objectively evaluate innovative strategies, policies and procedures that will optimize mutual access to the information resources of all SUNY libraries
• SUNY libraries will acquire and provide access to resources in support of excellence in SUNY teaching, learning, research and public service
• SUNY libraries will take an active role in scholarly communication to facilitate research at state, national, and global levels
• SUNY libraries will model innovation in 21st century information management and access
• SUNY libraries will pursue strategies that lead to an efficient information infrastructure that facilitates access to the diversity of SUNY resources
• SUNY libraries will pursue strategic partnerships to enhance services and collections
