From the Library Dean

During the summer of 2006, the Weinberg Library completed a major move and renovation. In consultation with the Library Advisory Committee, the Library moved a selection of bound journals to basement storage. This move freed up space on the Library's First Floor to build an addition to the former Media Resources Center to house all of the Library's Technical Services departments. The Acquisitions, Cataloging, and Serials departments moved to the first floor of the Library, and the Media Resources Center and Ed Lab Collection moved to the third floor. In the space formerly occupied by the Serials department, there are now two new group study rooms. During the summer of 2007, a new loading dock will be constructed on the Campus Center side of the Library building.

 

My thanks to the University community members who took the time to participate this past spring in the LibQual+ TM Survey. A web site (http://www.scranton.edu/academics/wml/about/assessment/index.shtml) has been created to present the survey results and to discuss various initiatives the Library is undertaking in response to the survey feedback.

 

The work of the University's Records Management Advisory Board got underway this past spring. The Board's charge is to develop a plan for the implementation of a comprehensive (print and electronic) Records Management/Retention program, to draft policies and set priorities for the records most in danger of loss, to recommend for approval a comprehensive records (print and electronic) retention and disposal schedule, and to develop a website detailing University-wide policy regarding records retention in individual offices, on- or off-site storage, disposal, or removal to archival storage.

 

The Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) recently endorsed the Federal Research Public Access Act of 2006, which has been introduced into the U.S. Senate. This legislation would require that federally funded research appearing in peer-reviewed journals be made openly accessible in digital repositories within six months of publication.

 

This legislation would mean enhanced access to federally-funded research articles for researchers and students at our institution. Availability of federally funded research in open archives also will expand the worldwide visibility of the research conducted at our institution. The Federal Research Public Access Act would not affect copyright laws. It also would not apply to classified research or to works not submitted or accepted for publication. The legislation exempts laboratory notes, preliminary data analysis, author notes, phone logs and other information used to produce the final manuscript.

 

ACRL is working with SPARC (The Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition) and the Alliance for Taxpayer Access to support adoption of the Federal Research Public Access Act by Congress.