Articles by Tag | Drexel University

Make it Yours: Transforming Drexel University Libraries event on Tuesday, October 25th Engages Audience in Conversation about the Libraries' Future

Submitted on October 28, 2011 - 6:19PM

On Tuesday, October 25th nearly 40 faculty, staff and students attended Make it Yours: Transforming Drexel University Libraries, to participate in a discussion about the future of the Libraries. After months of planning, and a July Future Search Conference, the Libraries presented a draft of the strategic initiatives that will help to shape its future. These initiatives were briefly presented by Dean of Libraries Danuta A. Nitecki, who then held an open discussion with attendees asking for suggestions and feedback. The passionate audience carried on a conversation for the remaining 45 minutes, asking for clarification on issues, agreeing with initiatives and presenting new ideas to be considered in the final draft. Among suggested distinctions faculty members made were that the Libraries provides access to ideas and authoritative information and that it guides students in use of technologies. For more information about the Make it Yours transformation, please visit www.library.drexel.edu/make-it-yours.

Insights about Libraries' Value Presented to International Audience

Submitted on September 1, 2011 - 2:05PM

[caption id='attachment_386' align='alignright' width='300' caption='Nitecki and Abels prepare for their presentation using the white board wall in Nitecki's Office.']

[/caption] Presenting results of research they conducted this year about factors which faculty perceive contribute to the Libraries' value, Eileen G. Abels, Associate Dean of the iSchool, and Danuta A. Nitecki, Dean of Libraries attended the 9th Northumbria Conference on Performance Measurement in Libraries and Information Services, held in York, UK August 22-25th. Their study involved interviews of ten faculty members, which began asking for an overall rating of the Libraries' value, and then solicited reasons why the faculty assigned the particular value rating. Although services offered by library staff were evaluated positively, the initial findings attribute library collections, or access to them as well as electronic resources, as critical to perceiving a library as contributing maximum value. A focus group interview confirmed that faculty value the Libraries' impact to increase faculty productivity, expand student learning skills, do one's job (e.g., teaching or research), save faculty money (i.e., no need to purchase material), and indulge intellectual curiosity; also mentioned as important in valuing the Libraries is its contributions to avoiding frustration, meeting accreditation standards, and changing the university. Over 150 librarians and information professionals from around the world attended the conference which included 70 keynote and plenary talks. A copy of the conference abstracts will be added to the Drexel University Libraries collection and published proceedings will be issued in coming months. Article by: Danuta A. Nitecki & Eileen Abels

Libraries Welcome Visitors from Japan

Submitted on August 22, 2011 - 2:51PM

On Tuesday, August 9, 2011 the staff of the Libraries attended a special presentation from Haruki Nagata, a specially appointed professor at Japan's Rikkyo University.

Conference to help shape future of Libraries

Submitted on July 14, 2011 - 3:26PM

Philadelphia, PA (July 14, 2011) -- Drexel University's Libraries will host a Future Search conference at the Queen Lane campus July 19 - 21, 2011. The conference will bring together around 60 individuals from the Libraries' multiple stakeholder groups. Results from the conference will help to build a vision and directions for the future of the Libraries. Drexel University students, faculty, staff, administrators and leaders, as well as librarians and community members were invited to attend the conference by Dean of Libraries, Danuta A. Nitecki. 'The Libraries have never undertaken anything like this before and the conference results will become an instrumental part of our planning for the future,' Dean Nitecki said. Two trained facilitators will host the three-day conference, Gerry Gorelick and Suzanne Noll a Manager of Training and Development with Drexel University's Human Resources department. Future Search is a large group planning meeting that has been used worldwide for over 30 years. The task-focused meeting engages people to take a holistic view on the conference theme, 'The Future of Drexel's Libraries: Advancing the University's Strategic Transformation.' These individuals are from different backgrounds, who share stories about their past, present and desired future to discover a common ground. This format will allow the Libraries to develop an inclusive vision and will provide Drexel University with key steps for advancing the future its Libraries. The University is also currently developing its Drexel University Strategic Plan: 2012 - 2017. The Plan will define initiatives, programs and specific goals that will help to propel the University already known for daring innovation and entrepreneurial spirit even further.

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For more information about the Drexel University Libraries please contact Jenny James Lee, Marketing & Events Associate at 215-571-4095. For more information about the Drexel University Strategic Plan: 2012 - 2017, please visit www.drexel.edu/strategicplan.

Libraries Unveil Learning Terrace to over 250 at Grand Opening

Submitted on June 7, 2011 - 2:44PM

Drexel's Library Learning Terrace opened on June 3, 2011.

The Chronicle: Tomorrow's Academic Libraries: Maybe Even Some Books

Submitted on May 9, 2011 - 3:06PM

Imagine a library that is not only bookless but is not necessarily tied to a building, one that takes its personnel and services to patrons rather than expecting them to come to it. Two projects--one now under way at the undergraduate level and one well established at a medical library--suggest where the untethered library is headed. One approach focuses on space; the other on librarians. Visit The Chronicle.com to read more. Howard, Jennifer. 'Tomorrow's Academic Libraries: Maybe Even Some Books.' The Chronicle. Washington, D.C. 8 May 2011. Web. 9 May 2011.