VALE: A Ten-Year Start Into The Future

1. VALE: A Ten-Year Start Into The Future VALE Users’ Conference January 9, 2009 Marianne Gaunt VP for Information Services & University Librarian

2. VALE: The First Year • 1998: • VALE officially established • 42 presidents endorse consortium • Budget includes $500K from Higher Ed Tech Infrastructure Bond and $100K from the NJ State Library • Four OCLC SiteSearch databases offered and workstations and server purchased • Six committees formed • 220,000 FTE served

3. VALE Through 2008 • NJLA Library Champion Award to VALE Exec. Cte. • NJKI brings 10 databases • Added part-time coordinator and tech support • Held annual Users Conference with no fees • Receive high marks in Assessment Survey • Upgraded and expanded website

4. VALE Through 2008…Cont’d • Two partnerships receive grants: • NJVID ($971,512 – IMLS); OSILS Planning ($24,417 – IMLS) • Implemented collaborative video purchasing • Established NJ NACO • Undergraduates now in reciprocal borrowing • Introduced academic queue for Q&A NJ

5. VALE Through 2008… Cont’d • Developed database for shared information literacy materials • Created VALE Members Council • Expanded committees from 6 to 12 • Added regional library directors to Exec. Cte. • Increased databases purchased from 4 to 59 • Grow budget from $600K to $3M • Increase patrons served by 50,000 FTE

6. Unprecedented Challenges • Economic pressures • Competition for resources • Rapidly changing information landscape • Web 2.0 and virtual communities • Cost of maintaining IT infrastructure • Physical facilities/space needs • Assessment and accountability • Managing change/professional development • Library impact/VALE not fully understood

7. Implications/Expectations • Do more with less • Generate revenue/reduce costs • Demonstrate impact on institutional goals: research, learning, service • Demonstrate value to the state • Influence national information environment positively

8. Potential VALE Responses • Reframe the concept of the local library • Rethink VALE sector roles • Examine relationships with other organizations/entities for strategic focus/leveraging • Expand collaboration beyond academic library borders

9. Potential VALE Responses… cont’d • Invest in state-wide open source IT development and implementation • Elevate collaboration/resource sharing/resource creation • Reduce/eliminate local redundant operations • Seize opportunities for collaborative grants /external funding

10. Facilitators of Cross-Institutional Collaboration • Understanding of value and impact (Vision) • Agreement on reciprocity and balance • Shared technology infrastructure • Authentication and authorization system • Potential 501C3 status for VALE

11. Examples of Future VALE Collaborations • Shared open-source integrated library system • Universal user-initiated ILL • Broader Collaboration in collection development • Shared technical services operations • Last copy/digital preservation

12. Examples………cont’d • VALE repository for digital resources • Joint development of digital resources – tutorials, learning objects, collections, tools • Joint remote storage facility • Shared information services

13. Factors in VALE’s Success • Vision of collaboration and innovation • Committed executive leadership • Engaged librarians and staff • Talented administrative and technical support • William Paterson University’s support as fiduciary agent and Anne Ciliberti’s investment in VALE • Focus on assessing progress and needs

14. VALE’s Future • Compelling vision for transformation • Clear articulation of VALE’s value and impact • Strong and committed leadership • Engaged members • Institutional support