Next Generation Service Evolution
MARY ANN MAVRINAC - Chief Librarian, University of Toronto Mississauga
After several years of focusing on the Hazel McCallion Academic Learning Centre building project and creating a positive learning environment in its aftermath, it was time for the University of Toronto Mississauga Library to refresh its strategic priorities; to build upon its successes and knowledge base; and to reenergize its commitment to exceptional service, innovation and responsiveness — all with a view to support and enhance the academic mission of the U of T Mississauga campus.
In developing the "Next Generation Service Evolution", we aspire to be at the forefront of library services and be the best in our class nationally and internationally. Driving this is our vision for the "Next Generation Service Evolution":
The Library will be indispensable to the teaching, learning and research mission of the University of Toronto Mississauga by providing, high–impact and expert content, tools, services, and spaces.
To realize this vision, the Library has moved from a service–driven model to an integrated, mandate–driven model. This includes three strategic mandates: Teaching, Learning and Research. Another mandate, Operations, supports these strategic mandates and the Library as a whole.
The Operations Mandate includes: business services, base operations (information & loans services, reserves, collections services, resource sharing), human resources, finance, building management, communications and information technology services. This mandate strives to flawlessly execute the Library’s base operations, which, in turn, increases user satisfaction, creates efficiencies and free resources, eliminates duplication and redundancy, and increases the value propositions for both staff and library users.
The overarching objective of the Teaching Mandate is to forge collaborative relationships with faculty in developing the curriculum. Other foci include:
The Library will continue to provide academic support for the Blackboard learning management system as well as provide leadership and expertise and conduct research into the pedagogical impact of using technology in the classroom.
The Learning Mandate supports physical, virtual and scholarly learning activities by providing expertise, content, tools, space and services. Through this mandate, the Library emphasizes collaboration and integration in its learning services, working with other campus contributors to provide a seamless approach to learning. Development of the "Learning Commons" is both a symbolic and practical expression of this collaboration. A new position of "Undergraduate Experience and Assessment Librarian" recognizes undergraduates as key stakeholders for Library learning services, and the new ‘Undergraduate Student Friends of the Library Advisory Group’ provides a forum for input, feedback, bi–directional communication and leadership development, as well as a way to engage with undergraduates as a strategic resource. The Library continues to develop insight into student research skills and library use through general and specific assessment, teaching and research to inform best practice.
The Library’s new website and the implementation of a digital signage program provide enticing, dynamic virtual learning spaces for access, discovery, communication and delivery of resources, tools and services. The state–of–the–art Li Koon Chun Finance Learning Centre will follow the lead of the AstraZeneca Centre for Information and Technological literacy to develop leading-edge, collaborative and experiential programming that builds strong community relationships in support of student learning and success.
The Library will prepare for the planned enrolment growth of graduate students by implementing a needs assessment and developing a strategic plan to address the research, teaching, learning and physical space needs of graduate students. And finally, the Library intends to build upon the success of the Hazel McCallion Academic Learning Centre by developing new learning spaces and maintaining existing ones to exceed student, faculty and donor expectations.
The Research Mandate — through expertise, content, resources and tools — develops partnerships with the research community to contribute to the U of T Mississauga’s research enterprise. The Library’s research mandate includes:
The Library aims to support the life–cycle of faculty research from creation to publication. As part of this mandate, we provide expertise on the variety of publishing options, with particular emphasis on open access, advice on author rights, copyright and assistance with mandatory open access policies for publicly–funded research.
The Library will develop a vibrant, primarily digital, special collections program that enables access to unique, rare and archival materials for education and research. The goal is to provide content for curricular and public research and education, and to strengthen external community partnerships.
We are very excited about the new vision, mandate and strategic priorities for the U of T Mississauga Library’s "Next Generation Service Evolution." More importantly, we look forward to working with you to achieve our aspiration of becoming indispensable to the teaching, learning and research mission of the U of T Mississauga.
