5.1Libraries and Other Learning Resources

5-1

Chapter5

EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES

5.1LIBRARIES AND OTHER LEARNING RESOURCES

5.1.1 Purpose and Scope

5.1.1.1Because adequate library and other learning resources and services are essential to teaching and learning, each institution must ensure that they are available to all faculty members and enrolled students wherever the programs or courses are located and however they are delivered.

The Troy State University Library is located on the second and third floors of Lurleen B. Wallace Hall. The Library with its print, non-print, and electronic resources serves as the primary learning resource for the students, faculty, and staff of Troy State University. Print and non-print resources are available to those users located at the Troy campus. The resources are also available in a variety of ways to students, faculty, and staff located at sites that are distant from the main campus in Troy. The Institution has recognized the necessity and importance of library resources for all of the employees and students of Troy State University.

All Troy State University students, faculty, and staff have 24-hour access to the on-line library resources through the main Library webpage and through regional webpages. Regional sites offer web links to the Troy campus Library as well as other guides and aids for students specific to the region. At some sites, agreements have been made with other appropriate libraries to provide auxiliary support for Troy State University students, or libraries have been designated from which students may obtain library cards for which Troy State University reimburses the student.

Documentation of the regional library agreements is available for review in the Self-Study Resource Room.

5.1.1.2Each institution must develop a purpose statement for its library and other learning resource services.

The Library staff has developed a purpose statement that relates to the University’s mission of providing programs to meet the needs of constituencies, essential support services for creative activities and research, a variety of public services to enhance the well-being of the University and its community, and leadership and planning for future development (Graduate Bulletin, 2001-2003, p.7). The purpose statement is available in the Library’s Collection Development and Assessment Manual. The purpose statement follows:

1.The Library will provide a variety of Information Services.

1. The Library will seek to identify and interpret information needs.
2. The Collections and Services of the Library will facilitate faculty and staff research and curriculum development.
3. The Library will assist in teaching students life-long learning skills through classroom library instruction and individual assistance with assignments, research strategy problems, and experience in using computer-based systems to access information locally and remotely.
4. The Library will provide in-house use of resources and services for members of the community.
5. The Library will provide materials and access to services for students wherever they are located.

2.The Library will provide an organized plan for Collection Development.

1. The Library will select and acquire materials to support University academic and research programs.
2. The Library will provide services for organizing, accessing, retrieving, and distributing information.
3. The Library will maintain a continuous program of collection evaluation.

3.The Library will provide a leadership role in the provision of campus information.

1. The Library will provide leadership in focusing the attention of University administrators, faculty, and students on current and changing technologies in information access and utilization and their demonstration and teaching.
2. The Library will seek regular faculty participation in selection of and access to materials and in consultation on the creation of library and information assignments.

(Source: Collection Development and Assessment Manual, Troy State University Library. Regional Library purpose statements are based on that of the main library and are available for review in the Self-Study Resource Room.)

5.1.1.3The library and other learning resources must be evaluated regularly and systematically to ensure that they are meeting the needs of their users and are supporting the programs and purpose of the Institution.

The University Library’s services are evaluated annually through a survey of users who enter the building. The survey form is available for review at the reference desk and in the Dean’s office. Remote users may evaluate the Library with a survey form on the Library’s webpage. Additionally, the Office of Institutional Research, Planning, and Effectiveness evaluates library services annually through the undergraduate and graduate surveys which the Office conducts. The general results of the various surveys indicate that the Library is satisfying 75% of the users at the good or excellent level. Library results from the OIRPE survey are available in the Compendium of Survey Tests and Results for any given year (Compendium of Survey Tests and Results for 2000-2001).The survey results in Table 5.1.1.3 provide evidence that the Library and other learning resources are evaluated regularly and that these resources are meeting the needs of the users and supporting the programs and purpose (mission) of Troy State University. Additional survey results are available in Chapter 4.

Table 5.1.1.3

Students’ Ratings of Library/Learning Resources 2000-2001

Survey / Item / % Rating Good, Excellent
Graduating Student Survey (N=766) / Students’ education in using the Library / 76%
Library Services / 75%
Library Facilities / 75%
Writing skills improvement services of the Writing Center / 82%
Science and math skills improvement in the Natural Science Center / 79%
Graduate Student Survey (N=166) / Library / 78%
Quality of library holdings in students’ programs / 76%
Quality of library holdings for students’ research / 75%
Undergraduate Survey (N=584) / Natural Science Center / 81%
Writing Center / 79%

A survey of Troy State University faculty members was conducted in the spring semester of 2001. The range of ratings on the various questions of those very satisfied or satisfied was from 44% to 91% with about 10% expressing no opinion, on average. Faculty members were least satisfied with microform equipment and most satisfied with the library staff.

The “LibQual+ Survey” of the Association for Research Libraries (ARL) will be administered in the spring of 2003. The date is set by ARL and has not yet been set (as of 12-2-02). If available at the time of the April visit, the results will be provided to the SACS-COC Visiting Committee.

The Library has been evaluated in the course of several subject specific evaluations during the last six years and has passed each of those evaluations with the one by the Athletic Training and Sports Medicine (1998) group noting that the Library was excellent. The National Association of Schools of Music (2000) noted that the Library holdings of Compact Discs (CDs) were weak. The Library set aside $1,000 in the budget for 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 specifically for the purchase of music CDs recommended by the music faculty.

Library services in the regions are evaluated regularly through surveys administered in different ways in the classrooms at various sites and through student exit surveys. Faculty members are asked to assist in the evaluation of the collection of resources available for faculty and student use. Changes are made whenever possible and feasible. (Survey results are available for review in the Self-Study Resource Room.)

5.1.1.4Learning resources and services must be adequate to support the needs of users. The size of collections and the amount of money spent on resources and services do not ensure adequacy. Of more importance are the quality, relevance, accessibility, availability and delivery of resources and services, and their actual use by students, regardless of location.

5.1.1.5These considerations must be taken into account in evaluating effectiveness of library and learning resource support.

The Library has a collection of nearly 300,000 bound volumes, 50,000 media items, 200,000 government documents and over one million items in microform. All Library materials are selected based on the curriculum that the Library supports at the Troy campus and at regional sites. Faculty members, librarians, and students may request the purchase of course-related material, and the materials will be acquired if possible. In addition, the Library subscribes individually and through a variety of consortium arrangements to more than 70 electronic databases, many of which provide full-text articles that cover the spectrum of curricular subjects that are taught at the University. To demonstrate the breadth of subject coverage, a list of the databases and the broad subject areas that they cover follows in Table 5.1.1.4 (Library’s Annual Statistics and NAAL Statistics).

Table 5.1.1.4

DATABASES SUBSCRIBED TO BY TROY STATE UNIVERSITY

12/02/02

Infotrac
Health Reference Center / Nursing, Biology
Expanded Academic ASAP / Social Sciences, Science, Humanities, Current Events
General Business File ASAP / Business
Books in Print w reviews / All subject areas
One File / All subject areas
Associations Unlimited / All subject areas
Computer Database / Computer Science, MIS
General Reference Center Gold / All subject areas
Informe / Business
Business Company Resources Center / Business
LegalTrac / Law
MLA International Bibliography / English
Encyclopedia Britannica / All subject areas
Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary / All subject areas
LexisNexis
Academic Universe / News, business, legal
Statistical Universe / All subject areas
Disclosure / Business
Hoover’s Company Profiles / Business
ProQuest Direct
CINAHL / Nursing
ABI Inform Global / Business
CJPI (Criminal Justice Periodical Index) / Criminal Justice, Education
ProQuest Nursing Journals / Nursing
ProQuest Psychology Journals / Psychology
ProQuest Newspapers / Current Events, Political
Research Library Complete / All subject areas
EBSCOHost
Academic Search Elite / Humanities, Social Sciences, Sciences
ERIC (connects to EDRS for full text) / Education
Business Source Elite / Business
MasterFILE Premier / Most subject areas (popular material)
Newspaper Source / Most subject areas
Professional Development Collection / Education
Mas Full TEXT Ultra / General interest, current events
Vocational Search / Vocational
Health Source—Consumer Edition / Nursing, consumers
Health Source—Nursing/Academic Edition / Nursing
USP DI Volume II / Nursing, consumers
Alternate Health Watch / Nursing, consumers
Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia / All subject areas
Searchasaurus / Primary Education
Ethnic News Watch / Social Sciences, Humanities
EBSCO On-line Citations / All subject areas
Psychinfo 1887-Current / Psychology
Psychology & Behavioral Sciences Collection / Psychology
Sport Discus / Sports Fitness
Business Wire News / Business
Dun & Bradstreet / Business
World History full text / History
NetLibrary (25,407 electronic titles as of 12/02/02)
SIRS
SIRS Knowledge Source / All subject areas
SIRS Discoverer / All subject areas
SIRS Renaissance-Humanities
LitFinder
Essay Finder / All subject areas
Poem Finder / All subject areas
Story Finder / All subject areas
Facts on File—African Amer. History & Culture / All subject areas
Columbia Granger’s World of Poetry / All subject areas
CollegeSource On-line / All subject areas
Galenet
Contemporary Authors / English
Scribner Writer’s Series / English
Twayne Author’s Series / English
Biography and Genealogy Master Index / All subject areas
North American Women Letters & Diaries / History, Literature
Bio-one / Biology, Environmental
MathSciNet / Mathematics
Wiley Interscience / General Science
Emerald (business titles) / Business
Standard and Pools Net-Advantage / Business
ACS Web (American Chemical Society) / Chemistry
AccessScience / General
AccuNet/Ap Multimedia Archives / All subject areas
GOP Access / All subject areas
Thomas / All subject areas
ABC-Clio
America: History & Life / History
Historical Abstract / History
ASKERIC / Education
OCLC’s First Search (selected databases are available remotely; all are available in Library via password / All subject areas
Pub Med / Nursing, general
Grateful Med / Nursing, general

(Source: Library’s Webpage State Universitylib.troyst.edu)

Statistics regarding the use of the databases are examined annually to determine the usefulness of the databases for the programs offered by the University. Databases that are no longer useful are dropped, and new databases are acquired. Over the years only a few databases have been dropped, but many have been added. The statistics regarding use reflect on-campus use as well as access to the databases from remote locations. These statistics are provided monthly to the Dean of Library Services. Because the statistics report is voluminous, an Applications Support Specialist in Information Technology Management and the Dean of the Library maintain copies on disk. The Dean provides a six-month report of usage to the librarians or as needed for review. The Library Webmaster also maintains a copy of the usage statistics.

User materials are selected in a variety of ways: input from the faculty, student requests, interlibrary loan requests, and input from the subject specialist librarians on current materials in the various disciplines taught. The librarians use a variety of bibliographical aids including Choice cards, Library Journal, Publisher’s Weekly, and other sources to select materials for addition to the collection. Standard bibliographies and standard bibliographical lists of “best” materials are utilized in the evaluation of the collection and in the selection of additional resources for acquisition.

5.1.1.6Priorities for acquiring materials and establishing services must be determined with the needs of the users in mind.

The Collection Development and Assessment Manual (to be revised in 2003) is utilized to assist in determining the priorities for acquisition of materials and the assignment of dollars for acquisition of materials each year. The Manual allows the librarians to prioritize acquisitions of materials within various subject areas. New programs or courses of study are assigned extra funds during early stages of the programs, and collection building for new programs starts before the programs begin but after the University has been approved to offer the program. In helping to determine the needs of the Library users, the librarians annually examine the interlibrary requests in their assigned subject areas to determine where collection weaknesses exist. Whenever possible, extra funds are assigned to subject areas based upon noted demand (Collection Development and Assessment Manual, Library).

The Collection Development and Assessment Manual of the Troy campus library is the basis for the collection development policy utilized by the University College Regional Librarians. Whether students are on the Troy campus or at a remote location, the students’ needs determine the materials acquired and the services established.

5.1.2 Services

5.1.2.1Each institution must ensure that all students and faculty members have access to a broad range of learning resources to support its purpose and programs at both primary and distance learning sites.

The Troy State University Library provides students and faculty access to a wide array of learning resources that are acquired to support the purpose and scope of the University curriculum. There are resources available in the general and reference collections, media (videos, CDs, phonodiscs, kits, textbook collection and children’s books), bound journals, microfiche and microfilm, the United States government documents collection, over 70 electronic databases (most with full-text), and the electronic book collection. These resources support students and faculty on the main campus and those involved in distance learning whether the students are studying at remote physical sites, via the Internet, or through other delivery systems.

Students at remote sites have electronic access to the main Library collection to determine the resources available, and students may obtain resources through interlibrary loan if needed. The Regional Librarians have made arrangements for access to Library materials through a variety of agreements with local libraries. Students and faculty have access to base/post military libraries and/or libraries for nearby academic institutions (Documentation of Library resource agreements is available for review in the Self-Study Resource Room).

5.1.2.2Basic library services must include an orientation program designed to teach new users how to access bibliographic information and other learning resources.

The University requires TSU 1101, an orientation course. A section of the course is devoted to the Library, and all students in this course attend a library orientation session. In addition library orientations are available for faculty members who wish to schedule a session for their courses. Orientations are frequently offered for courses in English, business, and education. These orientations for Troy State University 1101 and others are offered in the Library Instruction classroom located in 320 Wallace Hall. Thirty-two workstations are available for students, and one workstation for an instructor is equipped with a Communications Web (COMWEB) system that allows the instructor to project from the computer to all or some workstations. The instructor can show a video that appears on every workstation. In addition, the instructor can relinquish control and allow the students to practice what they have been taught. Students in TSU 1101 take a librarian-created test as part of the course. All library orientation sessions are taught by reference librarians.

The Library also offers point-of-use instruction and library guides. Instruction is available by telephone for distance students on a case-by-case basis. Students in distance learning courses receive library information in a variety of ways in addition to a handout. Basic help is also available on the Remote Services Help page. Live Assistance, a software program that allows distance users to converse with a librarian in an Internet chat mode, became available to all students August 1, 2002. Librarians also work with the faculty to impart the necessary research techniques and learning skills that will be useful to students throughout their lives. Booklets and videos are available to help students learn more about library services and how to access those services.