CHEMISTRY LIBRARY
ANNUAL REPORT, July 1, 2003– June 30, 2004
Prepared by: Tina E. Chrzastowski
I.
Narrative Summary of the Year’s Activities
I.A.
Core Processes
I.A.1. Services and Access
A strong commitment to service continues to drive activities and outreach at the UIUC
Chemistry Library. During the past year chemistry faculty encouraged the library to conduct
a user survey of our clientele to determine satisfaction levels with services and collections as
well as directions for the future. As this idea progressed, and thanks to the support of Library
Administration and the Library’s Services Committee, it grew into a plan for a library-wide
series of web-based user surveys. The first survey, of graduate and professional students,
was conducted in spring 2004 and results were tabulated and posted on the web. Because
each participant was asked to report their department affiliation and the library they used
most and second-most frequently, data were captured to gauge users’ opinions about
individual departmental libraries and collections. The responses from Chemistry Library
users reflect their strong preference for electronic journal access, validating this library’s
emphasis on collecting that material. One user summed up the sentiments of many saying,
“The online subscriptions to the chemistry journals are such a valuable resource to me. It
really saves me a lot of time being able to print out articles from my lab.”
Due to a dramatic drop in our student wage budget this year, fewer students were hired in the
Chemistry Library. Hours were reduced during evenings, weekends and holidays.
Responses from the Graduate and Professional Student Survey indicate that satisfaction with
library hours decreases as hours are decreased and Chemistry Library users followed this
trend by reporting less satisfaction with reduced hours. However, the majority of our users
(over 60%) indicate that the chemistry library is open when they need access. Any further
reduction in student wage budgets will continue to affect user satisfaction.
I.A.2. Collection Development
Focus again this year was placed on the purchase of electronic journal backfiles. In addition
to publisher packages of many-titled backfiles, such as the Royal Society of Chemistry
archive and the Physical and Analytical Chemistry package from Elsevier, individual
backfiles were purchased for the titles Synlett and Synthesis.
Chemistry Library staff spent considerable time and effort this year processing donated book
collections. In 2004, a few chemistry faculty retirements resulted in an abundance of
collection development work. For example, the donated book collection of one chemistry
faculty numbered over 1000 volumes. Chemistry Library staff checked local holdings and
added many new books to our collection. When donated books are in better condition than
present holdings, the better copy is kept, greatly extending the life of our collection.
I.B.
Training and Staff Development
As in the past, all Chemistry Library staff were encouraged to attend library-sponsored
training sessions. PSE Division support staff meetings are held regularly and staff attendance
is a critical part of our successful Division. Graduate Assistants attended library-training
sessions in the fall, and follow-up Voyager circulation training was conducted for all student
workers. Training on Voyager’s Acquisitions Module was held in early fall and Blackwell’s
Collection Manager training was conducted in spring.
Also this year the Chemistry Library hosted Beth Heinz, a Chemical Abstracts representative,
who trained library faculty and staff and chemistry faculty and students in the use of
SciFinder Scholar, focusing particularly on the new features in SciFinder Scholar 2004
(September 25, 2004).
I.C.
Innovative Ideas, New Initiatives
Despite a very busy year that included a use study, graduate student survey, planning for
remodeling and an emphasis on collection development, the chemistry library staff were
involved in the library-wide preparation for Oak Street. Staff job sharing included not only
Oak Street contributions, but LTA Mike Soule also contributed many hours towards the
Acquisitions Department’s migration to the Voyager Acquisitions Module. We plan to
continue to support and encourage staff job sharing as a way to extend our services and
stretch our resources.
II.
Measurement, Evaluation, and Assessment Activities
Two important assessment activities took place in fiscal year 2004. First, and as previously
mentioned, the Graduate and Professional Student User Survey took place in spring 2004,
with results available by summer. Second, the seventh journal use survey took place in the
Chemistry Library from January-March 2004. Both print use and electronic use of chemistry
journals were measured. Results found a 68% decrease in the use of print journals and a
108% increase in the use of online journals (between 2002 and 2004). This information
proved especially useful when combined with the comments from the Graduate and
Professional Student User Survey. The measurement of actual use validated and quantified
the statements from graduate students from the survey who reported their preferences for
electronic resources, remote access and for the purchase of electronic journal backfiles. This
validation is especially important as we arrange to move thousands of print journal volumes
to Oak Street in preparation for the move to the new, remodeled Chemistry Library.
According to use data and the survey of our users, this dramatic change in the use of physical
space will serve them well and pose few problems for them.
III.
Public Relations and Promotional Activities
The Chemistry Library connects with our patrons in a number of ways. We actively pursue
feedback from our patrons concerning cancellation lists, remodeling plans, and the direction
of the library. We accomplish this with email, surveys, lists of proposed cancellations, and
by taking the time to talk to faculty and students who visit the library. We will continue to
monitor use in all formats to gauge user needs.
One of the most popular library services is document delivery which acts as an incredible
public relations tool. This activity accomplishes a number of goals. First, the patron connects
to the library by inquiring about the availability of a journal article that is hard to locate. By
providing fast and efficient web-based article delivery to the patron, an excellent service
transaction takes place that impresses the patron, makes the library look good, and creates a
positive service culture.
IV.
Involvement with other Units in the Library and on Campus or Beyond
Involvement with the School of Chemical Sciences (SCS), the Departments of Chemistry and
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, and the adjunct Biochemistry Department
continued in FY 04. Topics most frequently discussed were serial cancellations and
remodeling plans. As in previous years, faculty and students continue to express their desires
for electronic resources. And again, as in the past, decisions were made to move boldly into
electronic access and cancel print journals, maintaining electronic access, when pushed to do
so by budget constraints. Interactions with other library units increased this year with staff
job sharing at both Stacks (for Oak Street work) and Undergraduate (electronic reserves
work).
Planning for library remodeling has involved numerous campus units including Operations
and Maintenance and CITES as well as beyond-campus units such as our architectural firm,
Harley Ellis. These relationships will continue and intensify in the coming year as we move
closer to implementation of the plan.
In addition, this year saw a new version of the electronic journals web site, now called
“Online Research Resources” (ORR). This new site was not immediately embraced by
chemists and resulted in feedback and consultation with Library Systems and the ORR
design team.
V.
Additional Topics Deemed Unique to the Unit in Question
Chemistry Library staff have an incredible year ahead of us. For the first time in nearly 100
years we are planning a new facility. And, because of electronic access to many, many of
our journals, the potential of Oak Street, and the encouragement of chemists and chemistry
administration to think about access in a different way, we have planned a library for the
future. This is an exciting and anxious time as we plan for a future we are still imagining.
VI.
Goals and Planning
VI.A. Last Year’s Plans and Goals
Last year’s plans were completely achieved. They included:
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Purchase access to the Royal Society of Chemistry’s electronic journal backfile.
Purchase the Elsevier physical and analytical electronic journal backfile.
Purchase electronic backfiles to Synlett and Synthesis.
Permanently fund CA on CD, previously purchased on soft money.
Finalize and begin to implement remodeling plans in conjunction with the School of
Chemical Sciences.
Upgrade client to SciFinder Scholar 2004.
Facilitate SciFinder Scholar training session for all SciFinder users on campus.
Conduct the seventh Chemistry Library journal use study (print and electronic) from
January – March 2004.
Survey users to determine satisfaction levels, concerns, and needs. Begin with graduate
students, working with Library Services Committee to implement survey more broadly.
Weed Chemistry Library monograph section by sending to Oak Street or Stacks all books
that have not circulated within the past 10 years. Sampling has determined this 10-year
cut off will reduce on-site monograph collection size by over 10%. The weeding is
needed in order to fit the collection into remodeled space with reduced shelving.
VI.B. Next Year’s Plans and Goals
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Purchase second Wiley electronic-journal backfile in chemistry.
Host SciFinder Scholar training sessions for students and faculty.
Move 3,000 monographs to Oak Street the second week of January, 2005.
Prepare and move tens of thousands of monographs and print journal volumes to Oak
Street in preparation for our move to the remodeled and redesigned new Chemistry
Library. Early estimate of the size of the collection to move is approximately 30,000
volumes.
Survey undergraduate students and faculty in surveys similar to last year’s Graduate and
Professional Student survey. Respond to their comments and suggestions.
Work with PSED and LSD to implement our Divisions’ joint Task Force.
Continue to contribute staff time to Oak Street and to other units when they need
additional, temporary help (such as electronic reserves or computer data migration
projects).
Purchase a suite of electronic books in response to a number of requests received last
year. Follow-up with a review of use statistics for these e-books.
Conduct a focus group of graduate students to gauge their response to the proposed new
library plan. Also present the plan to chemistry faculty at Department meetings to gather
feedback. Create outreach via our web homepage to allow for other user feedback to the
remodeling plan.
Finalize and begin to implement the Chemistry Library remodeling plan.