Summary of Senate Document 98-102 for FSUC&ECC

The “Special Report of the University Research Library Council concerning
Preliminary Discussion of 1st Three Library White Papers on Restructuring”
(Sen. Doc. No. 98-012) contains three major papers plus some introductory
material.  These three white papers are titled Collections and Resources,
Diversity and Multiculturalism, and Information Access and Delivery.
Collectively the papers show the University Libraries awareness of many of
the opportunities and challenges resulting from the increased
pervasiveness
of electronic information access.  Some of the major initiatives discussed
which involve electronic communications and/or rely upon the campus
computing infrastructure are:

- Enhanced online catalog access
  - Provide Web-based access
  - Expand coverage to include special collections, maps, etc.
  - Improve accessibility through better help, multiple language support,
    and support for people special needs

-  Explore full-text electronic document delivery
   - Facilitate rapid delivery of materials not owned by the University
     through a commercial document delivery service.
   - Consider as an alternative to subscription to low use journal
     subscriptions
   - Locally consider a scan and FAX on demand service

- Expanded scope and depth of electronic resources available for remote
   access
   - Increased access for campus members to externally provided
     resources
   - Increased sharing of our resources to others

-  “Ask a Librarian” – an electronic reference service
   - CU-See-me sessions for distance reference service
   - On-line requests for interlibrary loans
   - On-line course materials management service.

Specific challenges noted in these reports include the observance of
copyright
restrictions when electronically disseminating information, the long-term
preservation of materials acquired or converted to electronic media, and,
of
course, staffing and funding needs.

Prepared by Art Gaylord, Coordinating Director, OIT
March 13, 1997