NYSHEI News

Four NYSHEI member libraries have been selected to participate in the Value, Outcomes, and Return on Investment study (“Lib-Value”), conducted under sponsorship of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).

• Baruch College (CUNY)
• Brooklyn College (CUNY)
• SUNY University at Buffalo
• SUNY Buffalo State College

Participation in this national study is being coordinated through NYSHEI, in partnership with Nylink, and Bruce Kingma of Syracuse University.

The Lib-Value study is headed by Principal Investigator Carol Tenopir and New York state coordinator Bruce Kingma.  Lib-Value is the third phase of two previous studies which considered the return on investment (ROI) of academic library electronic collections in terms of grants income (Luther 2008; Tenopir et al. 2010).  Lib-Value extends this line of research by looking not only at ROI, but also more broadly at the library’s value, particularly as evident in three functional areas: research, teaching and learning, and professional and social outcomes.

“The results of this study should greatly enhance the advocacy efforts of NYSHEI,” said Executive Director Jason Kramer.  “As we work to gain new funds for academic and research libraries, and defend against the worst effects of a continuing budget crisis, empirical evidence of the value of information services to research, scholarly, and the state economy will be a boon.  It will help clarify the issues for state policy makers.”

NYSHEI congratulates the four institutions for their selection and applauds their willingness to participate.

This is your chance to help.  New York now has an innovation wiki.  NYSHEI has long argued that innovation is reliant on access to the “information infrastructure” that is the academic and research libraries.  I encourage you to use this wiki to make sure our partners in industry and across higher education are aware of the critical information resources available at your library.

Governor Paterson’s Task Force on Industry-Higher Education Partnerships was commissioned to explore how the State can better integrate its university-based research and development resources into the economy. That Task Force constantly heard of the need for a centralized information source that provides information about “what’s out there in terms of assets.” To that end, we are launching the New York State Innovation Asset Inventory, an open-forum, wiki-based website which includes brief profiles and contact information of many of the state’s most important investment, research and development and business startup assets. The website is www.KnowledgeNY.org/wiki.

ADDING/EDITING ENTRIES

In order to create a new entry, follow the directions on the home page.

In order to edit your individual asset’s page click on the link that will take you to your asset’s page off of the main page.  On the top of the page, just above your asset’s name, is a tab reading “Edit”.  Clicking on this tab will bring you to a screen from which you can edit your asset’s information as it appears on our site.  You may, but need not, create an account (in the event you do not, your computer’s IP address will be logged along with your edits). Formatting tools are available for you to use at the top of this editing screen.

The Rakow Research Library of the Corning Museum of Glass has joined NYSHEI.

“We are thrilled to welcome our newest member.  The Corning Museum of Glass is a renowned institution that helps NYSHEI maintain its diverse membership and bolsters our commitment to New York State innovation in all its many forms,” said Jason Kramer, NYSHEI Executive Director.

Library Director Diane Dolbashian made the decision to stand with NYSHEI after learning out NYSHEI’s efforts to raise the profile of all academic and research libraries.  Ms. Dolbashian believes – as does NYSHEI – that a robust information infrastructure is at the heart of all efforts to improve innovation, entrepreneurialism and opportunity for all New Yorkers.

The Juliette K. and Leonard S. Rakow Research Library of The Corning Museum of Glass is the world’s foremost library on the art and history of glass and glassmaking. Its mission is to acquire everything published on the subject of glass, in every format and in every language.

Scope of the Collection

The Library’s collection includes publications in more than 40 languages, and half of its books and periodicals are in languages other than English. These holdings range in date from a 12th-century manuscript to the latest biographies of contemporary glass artists. The collection contains approximately:

• 55,000 monographs
• 850 active periodical subscriptions
• 27,000 auction sale and trade catalogs
• 21,000 titles in microform
• 230,000 slides
• 2,600 video and DVD titles
• 3,500 linear feet of archival collections
• 3,000 miscellaneous ephemera files
• 100,000 digital files, including more than 100 virtual books
• Publications in more than 40 languages
• Several thousand drawings, prints, photographs, posters, and designs

The Library’s holdings also include personal and corporate archives and manuscripts, as well as sound recordings, postage stamps, calendars, and other glass-related resources.

Take the time to peruse these 21 essays on the future of academic librarianship – especially the ones written by NYSHEI member institution leaders.

Compiled by Neal-Schuman Publishers, these essays explore many aspects of academic librarianship in changing times.

SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher is conducting one of the most expansive strategic planning processes in higher education. SUNY’s statewide collaborative planning process includes gathering observations, suggestions, ideas and comments, and engaging many stakeholders through campus visits, town hall meetings, social media, and other outreach.

A draft of the strategic plan is available online.  Learn more about the plan and the process at the SUNY website.