Philosophy

Vision Carnegie Mellon University Libraries will provide creative, expert and technologically advanced information services designed to be responsive to the present and continually changing information needs of the university community. Mission To support and contribute to the teaching, research, artistic and other scholarly endeavors of the university. To acquire, organize, make accessible, maintain and preserve information resources for optimal use. To contribute to and disseminate knowledge about library services, resources and access to distributed information. Goals and Strategies Create the Digital Library Add to the funding for commercial digital resources ($100,000). In conjunction with School of Computer Science, develop these projects: Automated reference assistance (foundations, OCLC partnership). Global registry of works that have been digitized to avoid duplication. Selective digitization of out-of-copyright works that have been requested on interlibrary loan with successive OCR and correction. Mechanisms for delivery of digitized texts to requesters. More scanning of out-of-copyright books to build the Universal Library. Lobbying for new economic models and statutory changes to promote digital libraries. In conjunction with appropriate departments, facilitate access to large research databases (status quo funding). Encourage and support cutting edge access for remote users, as recommended by the Computing and Communications group. Encourage faculty to work in their scholarly societies to decouple certification of the value of work from print publication (no local funding). Target the Right Information Bring undergraduate paper collections in Modern Languages, History and Anthropology, and Environmental Studies to basic levels ($101-106,000 a year; foundations, appeal to alumni, university funding). Create a program approval process that will ensure that library resource needs are considered in decision making and funded as new programs are adopted (no immediate funding). Retool Library Facilities for the 21st Century Seek external funding for new buildings, renovations, and additions (foundations, alumni, friends). Manage the Libraries Effectively Evaluate services and make improvements based on the needs of the university community. Enhance the information literacy program to teach all aspects of information use, focusing on effective research skills, and to prepare students to apply research skills in diverse contexts and professional careers. For librarians, archivists, and other professionals: Develop a program of peer review, promotion and compensation that fosters and rewards intellectual growth and excellence. For support staff and paraprofessionals: Develop a program of job enrichment, regular reclassification review, and appropriate compensation. Develop and implement a plan to market all library services. Develop and implement fundraising activities to augment collections, facilities and staffing. Maintain a robust technology infrastructure. Recruit and retain a diverse staff that reflects the university's affirmative action policy goals. Provide formal and informal training and support so that staff have the skills to work to their full potential. Maintain a continuous strategic-planning cycle complementary to the libraries' quality improvement program.

	Current Projects

Libraries Projects focus on collections, software, and human factors research. Work is supported in part by partnerships, gifts, and grants.

Having achieved our "Millionth Book" milestone in 2002, 102 years after the Carnegie Tech was founded, we anticipate our next million in less than a decade, thanks to digital collection initiatives.

	The Future is Digital

Updates: Posner and Million Book Projects

Understanding and Assessing the Million Book Project

Libraries Projects

Million Book Project Today

A Study of Independent Access to Library Resources [PDF]

The Future is Digital Archive

	White Paper

How and Why Are Libraries Changing? Denise Troll Covey at the Digital Library Federation in January 2001.