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Task Force Members

Tess Hartwell, Tacoma Community College
Dale Burke, CLAMS representative
Pier David, Clover Park Technical College
Marjorie Havist, Skagit Valley College
Leonoor Ingraham-Swets, Clark College
Wai-Fong Lee, Seattle Central Community College
Christie Nelson, CLAMS representative (added 5/6/97)
Russell Rose, South Puget Sound Community College
Marie Zimmerman, Highline Community College

Purpose

The Library Media Directors Council (LMDC) of the Washington State Community and Technical Colleges proposes to improve student learning by acquiring and implementing state-of-the-art library technologies. Specifically, the 33 Washington State Community and Technical College Libraries propose to seek funding: (a) to develop and implement interfaced/integrated library system(s) that would allow them to link to each other and to share each others' catalogs, (b) to develop each college library's core and digital collection at a minimum level to ensure that students' basic needs are met at the college where they are registered, (c) to expand information access for distance education students, and (d) to provide adequate training for library media staff as well as staff support for the implementation of the new applications.

The purpose of this proposal is, therefore, to request $ 5.0 million from the legislature as a supplemental allocation for the 33 community and technical college libraries in 1998-99. The specially designated funds will be used for the improvement of technologies and information resources at these libraries.

Rationale

The mission of higher education is shifting its focus from teaching to the "learning paradigm" which empowers students to attain their educational goals and to become independent life-long learners, competent in critical thinking, and skillful in solving problems. In order to support such a mission, each educational institution has the responsibility to provide environments and experiences that assist students to discover and construct knowledge for themselves. As an integral part of these environments, the college library must be equipped with adequate technologies, current information resources and efficient services that are accessible by all students and faculty regardless of locations so that students are able to learn anywhere, at home and on campus.

At present, the level of technologies and resources available at the community and technical college libraries in the State is significantly below that of the libraries at the four-year institutions and most of the community colleges in other states. The majority of the community and technical college libraries use out-of-date library systems, lack efficient library network infrastructure, and seriously need on-line information resources such as on-line library catalogs and web-based full-text resources that are accessible to students and faculty on campus and at remote sites.

For many years, the community and technical college libraries have enjoyed collaboration in universal borrowing among themselves. However, to achieve further collaboration in remote access and resource sharing, the libraries must have compatible technologies that would facilitate network interface and seamless access among themselves, especially in light of the growth of distance education. In comparison, many of these libraries have fewer technologies and resources available to students than their local public libraries. If quality learning and instruction are highly valued, there must be quality libraries. The proposed request of supplemental funds is to bring these college libraries closer in line with the current development in library technologies and resources.

Objectives

• To improve student learning by providing students with seamless access to all learning resources in the Community and Technical College Libraries of Washington via interfaced, integrated library network(s).
• To improve student learning by enabling students to access the network(s) of information resources electronically on campus or at remote locations.
• To improve student learning by making accessible to students a variety of shared databases to support the information needs of transfer, vocational, and professional programs.
• To improve student learning by having a core and digital collection in each library which supports its instructional mission.
• To improve student learning by providing students with universal borrowing of library materials among the Community and Technical College Libraries.

Underlying Principles

• The proposal recognizes that the different colleges are at variance in their stages of development in terms of integrating information technologies.
• Common standards will be adhered to, to ensure requited levels of system interface among and between systems selected by the colleges.
• Following the standards, the colleges will have the autonomy and the ability to determine the configuration options that best meet their local requirements.

Options

The colleges may choose from the following options for their specific development and direction. The Colleges will meet option (1) prior to proceeding with the other options:

1. New integrated Library System and Network Interface. (e.g., Client server architecture; PC's with graphical user interface; Local area networks linking PC's; Access to the Internet including TCP/IP; Standard interfaces to search for information such as Telnet and the Web; Protocols specific to libraries such as MARC and Z39.50) Libraries that do not already have an integrated library system will be able to purchase a system meeting the current connectivity standards. This could include infrastructure to support the integrated library system and network interface such as wiring, connections, equipment (hardware and software) and connections to campus infrastructure.
2. Information Commons and/or Library Information Competency Classroom.  Libraries that advocate an Information Commons and/or Information Competency Classroom within the Library, which integrate a computer lab concept with the function of the Learning Resources will be able to upgrade infrastructure and purchase equipment for such a facility and function.
3. Acquisition for Core and Digital Collection. Libraries will be able to improve collections of information resources.
4. Shared Databases. Libraries will be able to cooperatively and economically purchase multiple site licenses for databases.
5. Staff training. Libraries will be able to provide full training of library/media staff on the new applications.

Standards

State-of-the-art library/technology-related standards will be used to ensure interoperability of systems and networks such as:

• Protocols specific to libraries and to GUI, such as MARC, Z39.50 and HTTP
• Multipurpose "intelligent workstations" with GUI multimedia displays
• High Speed LANs
• Digital WANs
• Internet links
• Multipurpose, host-driven Java
• Remote access
• WWW-HTML access

Impacts and Outcomes

* Expanded access: remote and on site. Supported by efficient library network infrastructure and systems at each college, students and faculty will be able to seamlessly access library resources that are available locally, through the world-wide web, or through interface with other college libraries at multiple locations on campus and at home. Remote access of information resources also is critical for the success of distance learning programs.

* Diversity of core resources and services. Each college library will strive to provide a core level of diverse information resources and services to support instructional programs.

* Enhancement of information competency effort. Students' competency in accessing, evaluating and applying information from a variety of sources is one of the identified assessment outcomes of all the colleges. The addition of new technology, systems and information resources in libraries will greatly improve the librarians teaching of information competency to students through formal and informal instruction.

* Improvement of connectivity and operational efficiency. Upgraded library infrastructure and systems which are connected to the campus network and the K-20 network will not only make the library resources accessible from other locations on campus, but will also allow other college systems (e.g. student information) to be available in the library. The new technologies will provide more efficient services to students as well as improve operational efficiency for the library (e.g., better response time and more accurate information).

* Value-added quality services to students and faculty. A library outfitted with new technology and current resources is a necessity for any college because it is vital for the teaching and learning process. A quality library will attract students, strengthen their success in learning, increase their satisfaction with the college learning environment, enhance the teaching-learning effort, and generally increase student retention rate.

Budget Request and Distribution of Funds

The LMDC endorses a request for a supplemental allocation of $5.0 million to support the activities identified in the original proposal ("Proposal to Acquire and Implement Technologies for an Integrated Library Network" dated 1996) and as clarified in this document. The original proposal was strongly endorsed by the Instruction Commission and the Presidents.

Any funds appropriated by the legislature will be distributed as determined by the Presidents acting as a body. The LMDC recommends that distribution be based on a formula that combines equity and institutional size as such as half of the funds being distributed equally to each college and half allocated based on student FTE.

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This page last modified: October 30, 2001