S W O T

 

The group went through an exercise to identify our Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. After identifying these factors the Library should:

 

Build on Strengths

Correct Weaknesses (if strategic and/or user centered)

Begin to invest in Opportunities

 

 

Strengths:

 

 

-     Excellent public services – we love it!

 

-     New(ish) facilities

 

-     Helpful staff

 

-     Special Collections

 

-     Undergrad instruction program

 

-     Collaborative UC infrastructure:  shared collections, services, licensing

 

-     Special Collections

 

-     *Staff ready for change:  great, innovative ideas

 

-     Consortial relationships:  allows us to provide richer services

 

-     Staff:  highly motivated and willing to innovate for the benefit of our patrons

 

-     Focus on education/instruction

 

-     *Specialized, local collections

 

-     Customer service reputation

 

-     Safe (overall purpose/reputation non-threatening and welcoming)

 

-     Services:  ILL, Reserves, etc., Media

 

-     Internal:  Excellent technical skill sets in staff; motivated

 

 

 

Weaknesses:

 

 

-     What can you do for me? 

-  You do that?

 

-     Why not Google? 

-  seamless IT experience

 

-     Who do I talk to to do this?

            -  too many referrals

            -  inwardly focused service infrastructure

 

-     Lack of stated goals/direction

            -  deters from holistic view of library services

            -  ineffective use of resources (including staff)

 

-     Lack of marketing/outreach

            -  diminishes impact of services

            -  we’re missing opportunities

 

-     Inaccessibility

            -  to both buildings

            -  for community and on-campus patrons

 

-     Library website

 

-     Rule-bound

 

-     Intimidating (place, business, desk set-ups)

 

-     Network infrastructure (cell, wireless, e-plugs)

 

-     Library information is not integrated into campus (LMS, portal, etc.)

 

-     ADA accessibility – big issue

 

-     IT infrastructure

            -  slow to change

            - “ reverse of one-stop shopping”

 

-     Inwardly focused service infrastructure 

-  too many desks, etc.

 

 

 

Opportunities:

 

 

-     New McHenry Building (new spaces including S&E)

            -  collaborate with other on-campus services

            -  collaborative environment for students, staff

 

-     Partnerships with other campus groups that benefit students

            -  consistent experience for users

 

-     We’re the “learning center on campus”

 

-     Integration of both libraries

            -  services, policies

 

-     New building

            - be cutting edge

            -  agility, flexibility

 

-     (Collaboration for) one-stop shopping

            -  ITS, CTE

 

-     (Collaboration with) campus programs/services:  find collaborations that recognize and capitalize on higher enrollments of transfer and re-entry students.

            -  STARS

 

-     Partnerships

            -  access to new resources

 

-     New building – group study

            -  design of service desks

 

-     PR connections with users

            -  emphasize community membership/of all

 

-     Partner with IT for LMS and other tech collaborations

 

-     Undergrad Affairs, Student Affairs

 

-     Space for study and gathering

 

-     Cultivating parents

 

-     Work with colleges

 

-     Connecting with users where they are

 

-     Learning Management System

Threats:

 

 

-     Perception that Library is not needed (branding/search engines)

 

-     ID crisis – who are we ?  (consistent message)

 

-     Campus priorities

-  campus IT (threat to library’s ability to provide certain user needs)

-  alignment of goals and planning

 

-     Local recruitment and retention issues; plus national pending retirement of professionals crisis

 

-     Future enrollment