Assessment of Library Resources and Services
DEFINITION:
The USC Salkehatchie library serves the scholarly reading, reference, and research needs of the students, faculty, and staff of the campus, as well as the general public. To fulfill this responsibility, the library supports all areas of the curriculum offered at the Allendale campus, through the Allendale Learning Resources Center, and at the Walterboro campus, through the Peden McLeod Library. These two facilities hereafter are referred to as library or libraries. The libraries supply books, journals, audio/visual and other non-print materials and equipment, as well as access to the Internet and other electronic databases as appropriate. The library offers instruction in basic library skills and research methods to patrons through class orientation and one-on-one instruction in a library setting. Library staff provides basic information literacy instruction, enabling the student to become a lifelong learner, contributing to society as a whole.
INDICATORS:
ASSESSMENT METHODS:
ASSESSMENT RESULTS:
The Salkehatchie Campus has been offering library services to its patrons since 1965. The library established itself as a Learning Resources Center when it began operating in a new facility in 1991. Library services in Walterboro have been ongoing since the mid-eighties, and a remodeled facility was named in honor of Peden McLeod in April 1998. The library collections contain over 65,000 items in print and non-print format between the two campuses. Some 12,300 volumes are located in Walterboro with over 37,000 volumes in the Allendale collection. According to standards for colleges enrolling under 1,000 FTE students, these holdings exceed basic standards. An inventory of audiovisual equipment is available in classrooms, as well as in the libraries, to meet instructional needs. The library is responsible for maintenance of the equipment, and has funds budgeted to support that effort. The library in Allendale has two microfilm/microfiche reader/ printers, and Walterboro has a reader for microfilm use. The microfilm collection is housed in Allendale. Both sites have photocopying services, and educational materials may be electronically or physically delivered to and from both sites. Digital transmission of periodical articles and book materials through the Ariel electronic delivery system is also available. In fall 2000, electronic request/delivery to patrons at home or in their offices will be available. The system allows for 24 hour, 7-day per-week material requests.
Through a T-1 computer line, the campuses provide high-speed access to the Internet. Allendale and Walterboro students can gain access to USCAN, the University online catalog, Infotrac Searchbank databases offered through the DISCUS project, and other electronic subscription databases available through the USC Salkehatchie homepage http://www.sc.edu/salk/lrc.html and additional resources through the Columbia campus at http://www.sc.edu. Each library has dedicated computers for online catalog searching as well as Internet connectivity.
Two MLS degree librarians staff the Allendale library. A full-time Library Technical Assistant, who has been on staff for over four years, works evenings. Staff members are assisted by a varying number of student assistants. The USC Walterboro librarian has a MLS degree and has a part-time library assistant and a number of student assistants. The library staff rotates working Sunday evening hours during the academic year. Please note that the American Library Association considers the MLS the terminal degree for the field, as noted on their web page (see http://www.ala.org/acrl/guides/termdegr.html). The non-professional staff at both library sites possess the BA degree and are currently planning to pursue the MLS degree through the Columbia campus.
The library ensures that it is available to all faculty members and enrolled students by operating over 52 hours per week at the Allendale campus. The Walterboro facility operates 49 hours per week. The student workers have been trained by the librarians to check out books, make photocopies from reference materials, and to search the various electronic databases, which include the USCAN online catalog and Infotrac periodical databases. An 800-telephone number is available for out-of-town students to contact the library staff, and electronic mail addresses are posted on the web page for contact through the Internet.
The learning resources housed in the libraries are adequate to the purpose of the institution. The ACRL standards recommend that for an FTE student population of 1,000 to 2,999, a minimum collection of 40,000 volumes is required. The USC Salkehatchie libraries house over 62,000 items in a variety of formats to include books, microforms, audio and video tape, records, CD-ROMS, laser disk, computer disk, microforms, and model and other diorama.
Analysis of library holdings in specific areas, indicates considerable strength in the liberal arts, in art, literature, history, psychology, sociology, basic sciences, and in foreign languages. There are weaknesses in the hard sciences, computer science, business, and in certain areas of education. These are disciplines that especially require currency of information. For instance, random samples of library holdings indicate that many holdings are dated. Library staff in conjunction with faculty are continuing to strengthen these areas with materials that relate closely to course offerings and peripheral interests.
USC Salkehatchie provides access to a collection of basic reference resources both in Allendale and Walterboro that are considered standard works. These collections primarily serve an undergraduate program offering the first two years of baccalaureate course work. Subject coverage is augmented by evaluation of use based on compiled statistics, interlibrary loan requests, and faculty input. The library also provides access to more specialized resources on the main campus and beyond via electronic mail reference requests and interlibrary loan.
The interlibrary loan service is available for students, faculty, staff, and alumni to obtain materials that are not available on campus, and students are taught in the library orientation sessions how to expand the online catalog to locate additional material if they cannot find enough information locally. Generally, if an item is located within USC, it can arrive within a few days; if it must be obtained outside USC, it can take a few weeks. The use of electronic document delivery capabilities aids in speedy delivery to the patron.
The library also meets the ACRL standards in the provision of basic LRC services and activities. USC Salkehatchie provides a number of services, including acquisition and processing of print, non-print, and microform materials; audiovisual equipment services; audiovisual equipment distribution, maintenance, and repair; an automated online catalog with public access; bibliographic instruction; circulation of print and non-print materials; interlibrary borrowing and lending; inventory of audiovisual equipment; listening services; microcomputers for student use; microform print service; reference services; reserve book service; sound cassette duplication; and video and audio production. The Allendale library houses a VTEL telecommunications system enabling videoconferencing.
In terms of provision of additional services, the library is open to the general public on a regular basis, is a main source in the county for state and federal tax forms, select newspapers, and offers a variety of services to the community to including research, photocopying, reference, typing and Internet service.
The USC Salkehatchie libraries provide ongoing orientation programs at both sites. These programs include live lectures and demonstrations, bibliographies, handouts, and library tours to include local elementary, middle, and high school students. In the University 101 class, an exercise introduces students to the library by "walking" them through searching for information on a timely or popular topic. Brief instructions on library use as well as brochures, topical handouts, guides, and other materials are handed out during orientation sessions. More complete library information pamphlets have been devised for students, which include basic information about the types of materials available, how to access this information via USCAN or Infotrac, in the library or from home, and how to obtain information via the Internet or interlibrary loan. USCAN guides and interlibrary loan forms and pamphlets are available next to the public computers. Introduction to subject-specific materials, and more in-depth USCAN and Infotrac searching is made available upon request of the professor. The libraries maintain a rack of "handouts" covering such diverse areas as copyright, bibliographic form (APA, MLA, Turabian, and others) as well as publications covering search strategy and specific web site searching skills and comparisons.
Collection development responsibilities are shared by the librarian, and faculty. All teaching faculty recommend materials in their area, and these requests are honored to the extent of available funding. The librarian is responsible for developing the reference collection, as well as for covering gaps in the collection not covered by the resident faculty. Trade publications, book reviews in journals, titles available in the University System, and faculty resources are utilized for the collection development process. A collection development policy is in place, and can be found in the library’s Policy and Procedures Manual. The library has recently initiated CHOICEOnline, an electronic book review advising system to aid faculty in the selection/review process. This service can be custom designed by the faculty member in order to review materials that are directly curriculum/subject related and serves as a current awareness resource.
Accepted standards suggest that at least 6% of the campus budget be used for the library. This figure has varied over the last ten years, with an average increase occurring nearly ever year. The 1999-2000 fiscal year showed an increase of over $13,000, which is significant for a campus of our size and budget. The increase in allocation has allowed for inclusion of new electronic databases, which provide comparable resources to students at both campus sites, augmented by the electronic document delivery capability we offer. Due to the electronic availability, there has been a significant reduction in hard copy periodical titles, which are duplicated in online databases.
A variety of surveys are periodically administered to students, alumni, faculty, and staff, and data collected from 1991 to 2000 were considered for this report. Responses to individual items and in written comments taken from the surveys indicate that patrons are making a successful transition from print media to electronic sources of information. Students are using books, magazines, and newspapers less often, resulting in a reduction in off campus interlibrary loan activities. Electronic availability has added significantly to the library’s reference collection, and student satisfaction is relatively strong. Recent responses through surveys and direct questioning indicate that there is a high measure of in-house use of library materials.
Patrons generally find the library staff to be helpful and courteous, and this perception has been consistent over the past ten years. Finally, the library is regarded as a comfortable place to study with an exceptional complaint regarding too much noise (a result of having an open computer area in the middle of the library). There are a number of quiet study rooms and isolated study carrels available for use.
Students and faculty do not find major weaknesses in the print collections, and are making many more assignments based upon electronic access. Library staff continues to encourage faculty input into the selection of library resources. Admittedly, faculty does not take full advantage of the opportunities for input. Finally, faculty and students recognize the quality of the reference collection and appreciate the organization of the library and the services provided. Overall survey results reflect a general satisfaction with the staff at both libraries and the reference and other services that are offered by them. Exit questionnaires, conducted annually, show an overall satisfaction rate for library services by those surveyed
USE OF ASSESSMENT FINDINGS:
The size of the library is adequate for the current enrollment numbers and anticipated growth for the next five years. Significant growth beyond current projection will result in the need to rearrange shelving and general space utilization, but not necessarily in requiring a larger library at either site. The University’s Strategic Plan considers the need for an upgrade to computer equipment, a concerted effort towards improving electronic services off-campus; for investigating the possibility of new construction of a Technology Building, and providing input towards improving library services and support to that effort.
A review of existing library computer systems indicates dated technology that in many cases barely maintains connectivity to the Internet due to the speed of the processors. At one time, the library could boast of "state of the art" computers, and being the first building on campus with a measure of Internet connectivity. At the present time, that computer equipment needs to be replaced. Although still providing Internet connectivity, it is at a slow and, in many cases, inadequate speed. The bulk of the library’s computers are 486 and 75 MHz Pentium machines. There are two 166 MHz computers in use in the library, and all the word processing computer systems are incapable of operating Windows 95 based software. It is anticipates that replacement of these computers will begin this year, and over the next five years, all computer systems in the library will be replaced.
The USC libraries will implement during summer 2000 a web-based interlibrary loan system, to be called "ILL Express," which will replace the CMS mainframe-based version. Interlibrary loans will be handled electronically, and full text articles will be distributed via the Web. The librarian is in the process of learning to work with html and Microsoft's Front-Page web page development software to redesign the library web page for patron information and access to databases. Customized links will enable tracking and generate usage reports for these databases, enabling the librarian to evaluate the effectiveness of database choices made.
Students have access to over 1,500 periodicals, half of which are full-text, via the Internet through the Infotrac online database, made available statewide through the DISCUS project. All of the USC campus libraries participate in this statewide consortium. Salkehatchie has recently added a backfile database knows as Jstore (Collection 1) a comprehensive collection of 117 academic journal titles in full-text. The library also subscribed to PsycInfo Lite, an electronic version of the Psychology Abstracts that replaces the print publication, and includes full-text and citation based entries. Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe is a series of purchased commercial databases that provide newspaper, legal, medical, and reference information, spanning some 5,300 titles, the majority of which are offered in full-text
Databases included in the DISCUS project for public libraries and college/university libraries:
Databases included in the DISCUS project for elementary and secondary schools: Kid’s Edition (Infotrac), Junior Edition (Infotrac), New Book of Knowledge Online (Grolier), SIRS Discoverer, and Student Edition (Infotrac)
The USC Libraries have jointly purchased Britannica Online, the electronic version of the encyclopedia. The USC Provost's Office announced that it will soon provide to the Regional Campuses a scholarly citation database called "The Web of Science" made up of the ISI (Institute for Scientific Information) Arts and Humanities, Science, and Social Science citation indices. The Regional Campuses librarians have also formed a consortium and have begun discussions of ways to obtain access to more specialized electronic databases, such as MLA and PsycInfo.
Although the USC Salkehatchie library does participate in the USCAN library network, and students do have relatively easy access to the state-wide library resources described above, it is realized that the local library’s holdings still are smaller and older than ideally they should be. These holdings must be strengthened, including books, periodicals, and CD ROM sources. The library has worked to strengthen the reference collection over the past few years. Many of the works that have been added are Gale publications, one of the most noted reference publishers.
The library has added criticism and interpretive reference books giving analysis, context and criticism on the most studied works of literature. Each volume includes an overview of the work, biography of the author, analysis of themes, a glossary of terms, and other pertinent information. Subject, theme, and nationality indexes are included. Such works are purchase in consultation with our faculty teaching literature and related courses.
Assessment results indicate that more USC Salkehatchie faculty are incorporating an Internet searching element into student assignments, and that library staff has spent time working with web sites, search strategies and engines in anticipation of student questions and concerns. Orientation sessions concerning electronic mail are included as a part of the regular orientation schedule. Students are also instructed how to access materials and online databases in their homes via remote access through the Internet.
The librarian is a non-voting member of the campus Library Committee and helps to facilitate faculty interest in library services, operations, and offerings. The librarian reserves the right to ensure that the collection is developed in a balanced way among the subject disciplines. The librarian also works with the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and the professor concerned, when new courses are added to the curriculum, in order to measure the impact on the materials budget.
Achievement of Students Transferring from Two to Four-Year Institutions
Transfer reports for the USC Regional Campuses can be found at
http://kudzu.ipr.sc.edu/IEReports/transfers/tran2000.htm