2.9 Learning Resources and Services

The institution, through ownership of formal arrangements or agreements, provides and supports student and faculty access and user privileges to adequate library collections as well as other learning and information resources consistent with the degrees offered. Collections, resources, and services are sufficient to support all educational, research, and public service programs.

Judgment of Compliance:

Compliance

Narrative:

The University Library and Learning Resources, Levi Watkins Learning Center, the university's permanent library, is a five-story building with a connecting archives and special collections facility located on the Alabama State University campus. Occupied in 1977, the University Library covers 100,000 square feet and has the capacity to seat 600 persons. This facility is currently closed for major renovatlon and expansion that will  take approximately eighteen months to complete and will provide approximately fifty percent of additional space for library purposes.  During the renovation period, library services are being provided through a temporary facility on the university campus [1].

The first floor of the permanent library houses reference [2], circulation [3], and Technical Services, as well as archives/ special collections [4] and offices for the business reference librarian, education doctorate librarian, science reference librarian and the security officer. The second floor houses the curriculum materials center [5], computer lab [6], and administration offices for the Library and the National Center for the Study of Civil Rights and African American Culture [7] (annex on Carter Hill Road). The main stacks cover both the third (one half circulating books/one half serials) and fourth floors (all circulating books) which are accompanied by the serials / periodicals [8] area on third floor and health reference and an electronic resources center on the fourth floor. Finally, the fifth floor houses two computer labs (College of Education), a distance learning laboratory, the media center [9], as well as the offices and media rooms for the Department of Communications.

A 20 million dollar renovation and expansion [10] consisting of 46,000 square feet began in August 2009. The addition will add more space for the stacks in various collections. The renovation and expansion of the University Library will house information literacy classrooms; computer labs; copy centers; a courtyard; new elevators; compact storage in archives and special collections, and on the third floor; a new archives facility; individual and group study rooms; an internet café; new office spaces for the administration and public services staff; exhibit display areas; and additional media and technology areas.

Collections and Electronic Access

The University Library has continued to increase its print and electronic holdings. The library collection consists of three format groups: print (books, journals, microforms), electronic (databases, electronic books), and audiovisual (videocassettes, DVD’s, and other forms of media) materials. At the beginning of FY2009, the print holdings collections consisted of approximately 298,768 book volumes and 127,368 bound serial volumes for a grand total of 426,136 volumes. A collection of over 57,905 electronic books (e-books) is available via NetLibrary [11], one of 158 electronic database resources [12] accessible to both on- and off-campus patrons. The periodicals collection consists of 1,586 print titles, 572 electronic titles, and 2,673,222 microforms. The library also holds 44,280 audiovisual items in various formats, primarily slides, audiocassettes, filmstrips, and videocassettes. We currently purchase DVD’s and CD’s as these are the most current audiovisual formats, but we continue to accept videocassettes as gifts if they are relevant and/or supportive of multiple disciplines. The bulk of the non-College of Education related videocassette and DVD collection is located in the media center (circulating audio/video room), an area behind the circulation desk which was created in summer 2006. The curriculum and educational-related audio-visual materials are shelved in the curriculum materials center. The library formulated a collection development policy [13] to provide criteria for evaluating and selecting new materials to be accessible. The policy considers important factors such as the library’s mission, clientele, budget allocations, and deselection. The types of materials evaluated include print, non-print, and electronic materials.

Table 2.9-1: Resources Supporting Various Curricular and Degree Programs

DIVISION

DEPARTMENT

ELECTRONIC DATABASE RESOURCES

(Selected)

PRINT RESOURCES

(Selected categories

by LC Classification)

College of Arts & Sciences

Biological Sciences

Annals of American History

Biography Reference Center

Black Studies Center

CQ Researcher

EBSCO Electronic Journal Service

Emerald

Ethnic Newswatch

Granger’s Online

History Reference Center

JSTOR

Lexis Nexis Academic Search

MathSciNet

Mental Measurements Yearbook

MLA Bibliography

NetLibrary (e-books)

Newsbank News File

Oxford African American Studies Ctr.

Oxford Journals Online

Science Direct

Vocational and Career Collection

Wiley Interscience

D – 2,654

E – 10,263

HM – 2,827

HQ – 4,560

HV – 6,121

JC – 1,391

JK – 1,947

PE – 2,390

PN – 5,996

PR – 6,113

PS – 6,923

PZ – 7,267

QA – 4,819

QD – 1,577

QH – 1,816

QL – 1,661

QP – 1,223

Communications

History & Political Science

Languages & Literature

Mathematics & Computer Sciences

Physical Sciences

Social Work

Sociology & Criminal Justice

Microbiology (Ph.D.)

College of

Education

Curriculum & Instruction

College Source Online

Digital Dissertations

ERIC (EBSCO)

Mental Measurements Yearbook

Sage Education Full-text

Vocational & Career Collection

WestLaw

Wilson Education Full-text

BF – 4,705

K - 238

KF – 3,955

L- 405

LA – 2,506

LB – 16,308

LC – 6,417

LD - 366

Foundations & Psychology

Health, Physical Education, & Recreation

Instructional Support

(incl. Ed.D. and LEM)

Educational Leadership, Policy, and Law (Ph.D.)

College of Business Administration

(COBA)

Accounting & Finance

ABI Inform

Business Newsbank

CCH Internet Tax Research

Mergent FIS

Morningstar

RIA Academic Advantage

Standard & Poor’s Net Advantage

Value Line Research Center

Wall Street Journal - Proquest Newspapers

HA – 452

HB – 2,435

HC – 3,260

HD – 9,217

HF – 7,989

HG – 4,038

HJ – 710

TS – 372

TX - 654

Business Administration

Computer Information Systems

Master’s of Accountancy

College of Visual & Performing Arts

School of Music

African American Music Reference

Classical Music Library

Digital Library Reserve (CamelliaNet)

Grove Dictionary of Music Online

International Index to Music Periodicals

Smithsonian Global Sound for Libraries

M – 1,020

ML – 4,593

MT – 1,360

N – 1,814

ND – 1,177

NX – 269

School of Art

School of Theatre

University College

University College

(inc. General Studies)

Academic Search Premier

America’s Newspapers

Curriculum Resource Center

Encyclopedia Britannica Online

Expanded Academic ASAP

Facts on File World News Digest

SIRS Knowledge Source

AC – 161

BJ – 490

DA – 1,586

F – 4,315

P – 1,130

T- 855

Z- 6,946

College of

Health Sciences

Health Information Management

Alt-Health Watch

Biomedical Reference Collection

CINAHL with Full Text

MedLine

OVID E-Journals

PsycINFO

PsycARTICLES

Psychology Journals

SPORTDiscus with Full Text

R – 847

RA – 2,064

RB - 403

RC – 4,437

RJ – 1,417

RM – 1,188

RT – 171

One method which enhances access to university library-owned materials is the online catalog, HORNetCat. The University Library has utilized a library automation system since 1993 when it replaced the print card catalog. In 1999, the library switched from NOTIS to Voyager and we are currently running Voyager 6.2.1. This web-based system provides on-line access to library collections and enables the library to charge and discharge materials. Access team members, who are all of the librarians as well as representatives of each department, work together to maintain the accuracy and currency of HORNetCat [14].

A second access method is the reserves service, including the relatively new electronic reserves (E-reserves). In addition to the traditional course reserve service conducted at the circulation desk, the library provides electronic reserves for faculty and students. This service enables journal articles and other materials reserved for courses to be available in electronic format via the Internet (Docutek ERes version 4.1 is currently in use). Patrons can search HORNetCat to find materials left behind the circulation desk by their instructors. Patrons can also access the electronic reserve materials by visiting the electronic reserves [15] web page. The E-reserves was widely promoted to Alabama State University in an effort to increase usage. Assessment outcomes revealed that e-reserves services have increased over 70% due to these promotional efforts. Approximately 35 faculty members currently use the e-reserves service.

Another access method is federated searching, or a single search across many electronic database resources, which is a very useful service for library patrons. The library subscribes to two products through Serials Solutions: E-Journal Finder and 360 Search. In fall 2002, the library began a subscription to Serials Solutions E-Journal Finder, which lists which electronic resources contain full-text articles (and dates covered) for a particular journal title. After an initial set-up, the vendor (Serials Solutions) provides maintenance for holdings updates and other changes. This product has assisted patrons’ research by reducing the search time for full-text availability of journals. This reduced search time has also assisted interlibrary loan requests. In spring 2008, the library began a subscription to another Serials Solutions product, 360 Search. The Serials Solutions 360 Search [16] is a federated search engine that accesses 63 electronic resources simultaneously through one vendor interface. Since February 2008, there have been 890 searches resulting in over 20,000 full-text documents retrieved. The 360 Search service allows for more precise search results by organizing results into groups or clusters.

The most far-reaching access to library collections is off-campus (also known as remote) access especially for our electronic materials. With the advancement of Internet and wireless technologies, the library has become more available to users who are inside and outside the walls of the library. On-campus access for the catalog and electronic resources does not require a password. Seamless remote access for the on-line catalog and all electronic resources has existed since fall 2003. Wireless access to the Internet and library resources within the library has been available since 2006.

Formal Arrangements and Agreements

The University Library enters into formal arrangements and agreements for electronic database resources, shared cataloging, and interlibrary loan services. These formal arrangements are with local, state, regional, and national library consortiums. The University Library acquires electronic database resources by participating in consortium agreements with Lyrasis [17] (which was formerly Southeastern Library Network [SOLINET] until April 2009) and the Network of Alabama Academic Libraries (NAAL) [18] whose members are academic libraries across Alabama. Due to NAAL consortium agreements, the Library, as of late 2008, has access to 27 resources including Black Studies Center and ABI Inform. While NAAL is statewide, Southeastern Library Network (SOLINET)’s members are in the southeastern United States and Puerto Rico. As of late 2008, the University Library has agreements with SOLINET for 13 resources, including NetLibrary (e-book collection) and Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe. While the preceding two arrangements concern electronic database resources, the third arrangement is for a shared ebook and audio book collection. In late 2007, Alabama State University joined CamelliaNet, a consortium with Cullman County Public Library, Gadsden Public Library, Orange Beach Public Library, and Thomas B. Norton Public Library to have access to an e-book collection called Digital Library Reserve (52 PDF e-books and 928 audio books are viewable as of February 2009). The final arrangement is the Alabama Virtual Library (AVL) [19], a State of Alabama Legislature-funded collection of 70 electronic resources for all citizens and students across Alabama. The University Library also provides general and individual-database access to these resources.

SOLINET (Southeastern Library Network) is the University Library’s contact with the Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) [20]. OCLC is where the University Library obtains its cataloging records along with access to First Search, an on-line bibliographic information resource with some full-text access. OCLC supports WorldCat, an electronic database resource where one can search amidst library catalogs worldwide. OCLC also supports the library’s Interlibrary Loan service [21]. Interlibrary Loan is staffed to ensure that faculty, students, and staff can acquire books and journal articles not located or accessed by the library. The Interlibrary Loan staff conducts the borrowing process as soon as a request is received. All requests are filled by those reciprocal libraries in a timely and reciprocal process. Document delivery is effectively serviced by the latest version of Ariel. The number of items loaned to other libraries increases on a yearly basis.

In early 2006, Alabama State University joined four other Montgomery-area universities to subscribe to the Montgomery Academic Libraries Consortium Catalog (MALCat) [22] through the offices of SOLINET. A subset of WorldCat, MALCat shows availability of titles within the five individual catalogs. MALCat is an invaluable resource for staff and patrons in locating items not held by Alabama State University, yet held by nearby institutions, thus allowing for direct patron charging and user privileges among participating libraries.

This consortium-wide initiative ties into the larger Montgomery Higher Education Consortium (MHEC) where patrons at five universities (Alabama State University, Auburn University –Montgomery, Faulkner University, Huntingdon College, Troy University Montgomery) and the Alabama Public Library Service can utilize the reciprocal borrowing arrangement among member libraries. The directors and deans of the Montgomery Higher Education Consortium participating libraries evaluate the Montgomery Higher Education Consortium (MHEC) cooperative agreement [23] on a periodic basis.

Additional Library Services

The University Library offers an array of library services including reference, circulation, reserves, interlibrary loan, information literacy, and media services. The library’s liaison program plays a vital part in promoting library services to students and faculty. A formal library liaison program was implemented in spring 2009. However, prior to this time, the collection development librarian and the Title VI program subject specialists (health sciences librarian, interim education doctoral librarian, and the business reference librarian) served as liaisons to respective departments. The library is currently in the process of hiring a science reference librarian who will serve as liaison for the Title VI funded-doctoral program in microbiology. The liaisons provide a broad range of services including collection development, information literacy, research consultation, and marketing of library resources. The liaison program has allowed the library to build and maintain excellent customer services for staff, faculty, and students. The library liaisons are as follows: information literacy librarian (Music/ Fine Arts Department), business librarian (College of Business), interim doctoral librarian (Educational Leadership, Policy, and Law), collection development librarian (Humanities Department), health sciences librarian (College of Health Sciences), head circulation librarian (Communications Department), archivist (History & Political Sciences Department), acquisitions librarian (Social Sciences Department), and cataloging librarian (Science & Mathematics Department).

The collection development librarian serves on the undergraduate curriculum committee as the University Library’s representative. The undergraduate curriculum committee consists of faculty members from various academic departments on campus. The goal of this committee is to review proposed change requests to the undergraduate curriculum whether it is the name, scope, or existence of a particular course. The undergraduate curriculum committee is very effective in two ways. First, the committee plans and implements various initiatives to improve the curriculum, services, and resources for students. Second, the committee provides a representative review from all academic departments regarding proposed changes to the curriculum and then delivers a centralized response.

The library’s web page is also an effective and resourceful tool for promoting library services. In addition to access to electronic resources and reference tools, as well as basic information regarding departments, patrons can utilize online forms to request library materials, information literacy sessions, interlibrary loan services, and media services. Another relatively new feature is virtual reference. Virtual reference is available through the “Ask a Librarian” link where patrons can e-mail their questions, concerns, suggestions, and feedback 24 hours a day. Patrons will receive a response to their e-mail requests within 48 hours from receipt of the question.

The University Library’s Information Literacy Program is active. New faculty at the beginning of each fall semester attend faculty workshops introducing them to the wealth of print, non-print, and electronic resources available at the University Library as well as various services. The University Library also provides formal information literacy program [24] presentations to individual classes upon request. The formal instruction consists of lectures, demonstrations, and hands-on information literacy presentations. Information Literacy Course Research Guides, online tutorials, and subject guides are provided on the library’s webpage. Informal library instruction is provided through individualized one-on-one dialogue and through individualized consultations with patrons at the reference service desks located on the first, third, and fourth floors of the library. Also, informal instruction in the form of consultation is provided to students and faculty by library staff members through a mechanism of personally scheduled office appointments.

The Educational Media Center (EMC), located on the fifth floor of the library, provides students and faculty with support services for development of instructional media materials and media equipment. The EMC also provides circulation of various types of media equipment, audio-tape and video-tape production, and photography services. In order to meet the media needs of the students and faculty, the University Library has established a media center on the first floor of the existing building. The media center houses all the items of the existing media collection that are not directly related to the items in the Curriculum Materials Center, which focuses on supporting the College of Education courses.

Services for Users at Off-campus Sites

Since 2000, the University Library has endeavored to provide standardized on-campus and remote access to electronic resources. The University Library supports off-campus sites at Miles College in Birmingham, Alabama; Bishop State Community College in Mobile; and Southern Normal Campus in Brewton, Alabama. The University Library serves these off-campus sites via interlibrary loan and remote access to electronic resources. Students at branch locations have seamless access to resources at a distance. The library staff works directly with administrators and faculty at off-campus sites to provide services. The University Library dean and four library staff members traveled to the Southern Normal Campus (SNC) on July 17, 2007. The main purpose of the trip was to make an assessment of the Southern Normal Campus [25] school library and to make some recommendations on how library services from the main campus could be provided to SNC for its graduate programs. The ASU University Library staff made the following recommendations for better library services: Interlibrary loan requests can be made via the local public library. Patrons can ask questions via “Ask-A-Librarian” link on the University Library’s homepage. The information literacy librarian can develop course instruction guides for classes taught at the Brewton campus and place them on the library web page.

To serve distance learners better, the University Library has also endeavored to provide multi-platform remote access to electronic database resources. These two criteria are considered when purchasing a new electronic resource. Remote access has enhanced usage of electronic database resources. The library has maintained electronic database usage statistics [26] on a monthly basis to track patron use of the resources. Most of the electronic databases have shown an increase in use by users each academic year. As a result, the number of renewals for CD-ROMs has decreased while web-based access for electronic database resources has greatly increased with remote access. The library currently provides access to over 158 electronic database resources. These electronic database resources cover a wide spectrum of disciplines and most provide access to full-text and full-image documents. Furthermore, most of the electronic database resources offer remote access with print and email delivery.

In addition to remote access to electronic database resources and support to off-site campuses, the University Library is in the process of implementing universal borrowing to provide interlibrary loan/ circulation services for patrons at off-campus sites. Universal borrowing is a cooperative service that allows patrons to request books directly through the Voyager Library Management System local catalog. Patrons can return the items borrowed to any one of the five regional libraries that offer universal borrowing services. The locations are the University of Alabama at Birmingham, the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa, Jacksonville State University, Auburn University, and Auburn University at Montgomery.

Other Information Resources Available to Students

In addition to print, non-print, and electronic resources, the University Library provides computers for patron use located on several floors. There are currently a total of 35 PCs available to the public for access to electronic resources: 12 in reference on the first floor, 3 in special collections on the first floor, 3 in the Curriculum Materials Center on the second floor, 5 in periodicals on the third floor, and 12 on the fourth floor. The computer area currently on each floor is called the Electronic Resource Center (ERC). Along with these computers, a computer lab is available on the second floor with 18 computers available for patron use during regular library hours. Two Information Commons and an Internet Café will be added to the library after the new wing construction is completed. At that time, more computers will be purchased.

In addition to computers, the University Library allows patrons resources for self-printing, media processing, and copying services. Every electronic resource center provides a printing solution service for patron use. The printing solution service is very easy and efficient to use for a minimum cost of ten cents per page. A print station machine is located next to each printing solution service which allows patrons to use their print cards which can be purchased at the cost of one dollar for ten prints. The patron can conduct their research at any electronic resource center and then print the research results using the printing solution service. The Educational Media Center (EMC) on the fifth floor provides circulation of various types of media equipment, audio-tape and video-tape production, and photography services. This equipment assists students who are completing audio and video-related projects. The University Library also provides patrons use of photocopying machines on the first floor, third floor, and fourth floor of the library. The cost for a photocopy is ten cents per page.

Survey Data – Adequacy of Collections and Services

The library collections, services, and resources are sufficient to support educational, research, and public service programs at Alabama State University. The University Library systematically reviews its resources and services through a strategic planning process spearheaded by the library dean and members of the planning team [27]. The planning team is also responsible for formulating and reviewing the mission [28], vision [29], and values [30] statements which serve as a foundation for each library department’s goals and objectives.

The adequacy of library collections, services, and resources is also measured by patron opinion instruments and library peer analysis. Patrons’ opinions of library services are measured by three chief methods. The most visible method consists of suggestion boxes located at every public service area which are checked by library management on a regular basis. The additional method consists of different types of surveys. In early 2003, the collection development department and team created a smaller survey [31] which was distributed twice a semester to measure usage and satisfaction. The survey was revised and distribution times reduced to once a term in 2005, but then returned to twice a semester in spring 2008. The surveys noted that most patrons are satisfied with the materials and services available. Their chief causes for satisfaction are that the resources helped complete their assignments, and they found all the information they needed. Their chief cause of concern was the timeliness of the materials which the library has addressed by ordering more current print materials.

A collection development survey was conducted in September 2008, November 2008, February 2009, and April 2009 with a further distribution planned for June 2009. The 290 surveys collected in FY 2008 indicated that patrons are very satisfied with the library materials especially 169 responses indicating satisfaction with electronic database resources. A library-wide survey was conducted by the Circulation Department during the spring semester of 2009. Almost 70% of the participants were satisfied or highly satisfied with the library’s attitude toward service. The survey will be a part of the University Library’s Master Plan for Assessment [32] which outlines the formal process for conducting evaluation and assessment of the library’s resources and services.

In fall 2007, a new survey method was introduced: LibQUAL+ [33]. It is an online survey form [34] which measures desired, expected, and received levels of satisfaction regarding different aspects of library service. 362 responses were collected from the total student, faculty, and staff population. LibQUAL+ survey comments indicated that patrons are satisfied overall with library materials and services. There were several LibQUAL+ survey comments [35] regarding environmental concerns which will be addressed when construction begins on the new library wing. There were also some comments regarding extension of library hours. The library is currently working with the ASU administration to secure additional funding for staff in order to extend the operating hours. In the meantime, the library has provided extended hours during mid-terms and final examinations each semester. The library also implemented a drink policy in spring semester of 2008 based on feedback from the LibQUAL+ survey. The LibQUAL+ Survey is scheduled to be conducted again in FY2010.

In addition to standard survey information, the library also maintains important pieces of data on a daily basis to evaluate the use of services and resources. Some of the data collected include reference statistics [36], circulation statistics [37], cataloging statistics [38], and floor counts [39] as well as others already mentioned.

Peer Library Comparison

Alabama State University’s Office of Institutional Research provided a list of twenty-four institutions identified as peer institutions. The University Library used the 2004 Integrated Post Secondary Data System (IPEDS) report to identify the following ten institutions from the list as peer library institutions: Alabama A&M University, Auburn University-Montgomery, Clark Atlanta University, Columbus State University, Florida A&M University, Jacksonville State University, Troy University, University of Alabama – Huntsville, University of North Alabama, and University of South Alabama. In January 2008, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) released the IPEDS report for 2006. The University Library completed a comprehensive peer library analysis of resources and services per the 2006 IPEDS data. The 2006 IPEDS comparison data found the following six of the ten institutions to be selected peers: Alabama A&M University, Auburn University Montgomery, Columbus State University, Jacksonville State University, University of Alabama – Huntsville, and University of North Alabama. This group of six is an accurate peer group as these universities are roughly the same size as well as possess one campus and one library. The remaining four libraries are much larger in size, budget and collections. Therefore, averages with their information will greatly skew the numbers.

The peer library comparison data are provided in three separate documents to include the Peer Analysis: NCES Peer Evaluation Survey [40], the Peer Analysis: ACRL Input Measures, Output Measures, and Outcomes [41], and the Peer Analysis: ACRL Points of Comparison Ratios [42]. Each comparison document shows very favorable results for the Alabama State University Library in relation to its peer institutions. For example, the ratio of book volumes per FTE is higher for Alabama State University (87) than the peer library (67) average and selected peer library (73) average. The peer comparison also revealed favorable results in holding for electronic database resources for Alabama State University (152) in comparison with peer library (174) average and selected peer library (156) average. Furthermore, comparison for the number of book volumes revealed very favorable results especially for Alabama State University (417,404) in comparison with selected peer libraries (429,407). The books are also relevant to the curriculum with strong holdings in education, business, health sciences, literature, and African-American history and culture. As a final example, microform holdings were very strong for Alabama State University (2,657,119) in comparison to peer libraries (1,166,005) and selected peer libraries (1,535,371).

Although the University Library has demonstrated efforts to achieve full compliance, plans are underway to enhance its hours of operation and sustain the quality of its collections during times of conservative budget allocation.

Supporting Documents: