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The Monash University Library Annual Report 2002 is the first
such report I have had the pleasure of presenting since taking
up my appointment on 4 March 2002. The contents reflect the wide
range of innovative activities and accomplishments of Monash University
Library staff throughout the year, and demonstrate that the university's
commitment to, and support of, the library is well justified.
During the year a number of key initiatives were introduced to
underpin the future operations of the library, including major
changes to the composition and reporting lines of the senior management
team, the appointment of five directors to manage the newly introduced
divisional structure, and the consequent simplification of the
library's committee structure to align with the new divisions.
Members of the Library Management Committee as at December 2002:
- Cathrine Harboe-Ree, University Librarian
- Janette Burke, Director, Information Systems (appointed July
2002)
- Janice Droogleever, Director, Client Services - Humanities
and Social Sciences
- Chooi Hon Ho, Director, Corporate Services and International
Development
- Barbara Jacoby, Director, Client Services - Science, Health,
Engineering
- Jill Wilson, Director, Information Resources (appointed July
2002).
New managers appointed during the year were:
- Peter Morris, Manager, Human Resources;
- Robet Hornett, Manager, Caulfield Library;
- Kerin Bryant, Manager, Marketing and Communications;
- Maxine Cuskelly, Manager, Pharmacy Library.
2002 highlights included:
- Completion of the Library Strategic Plan 2003-2005 that describes
the library's mission, values, vision, key strategic issues and
initiatives, goals and objectives. All staff were given the opportunity
to contribute their input.
www.lib.monash.edu.au/plans/2003/StrategicPlan03.html [unlinked
01/04/2008]
- Directors subsequently prepared divisional plans aligned with
the initiatives of the overarching plan.
- Completion of the library's Service Statements and Summary
of Services documents as part of the university's Strategic Cost
Management project. www.lib.monash.edu.au/about/ServiceCatalogue.html
[unlinked 01/04/2008]
- The Service Statements provide details of services currently
provided to faculties with key performance indicators and measures
to track progress and achievement. Services were grouped according
to cost drivers identified in a separate activity based costing
process.
- Formation of a library Quality Management Group to oversee
and coordinate the Quality Review of the library which is part
of a university-wide review in preparation for an audit by the
Australian Universities Quality Agency. Planning has commenced
for the library's self review and external panel review during
2003.
- Completion of a development plan by an external consultant
for the creation of an electronic press for Monash University.
The report has been accepted by the university and the project
will commence in early 2003.
- Finalisation of details for the trial in 2003 of an e-print
repository to be managed by the library.
- Provision of direct access to 17,909 electronic journals linked
individually in the Voyager catalogue, as well as direct linking
to 6062 electronic books. Within databases, there is access to
36,662 journals and 130,000 electronic books. As well, staff
and students from eight faculties can now access electronic journals
relevant to their faculty using the discipline-specific lists
created by library systems staff www.lib.monash.edu.au/ejournals/
- The sharp rise in a number of key indicators of library use
over 2001 figures: 8.4 per cent increase in library visits (2,790,780);
22.1 per cent increase in loans and renewals (1,550,140); 64
per cent increase in pages digitised for student readings (9103);
5.6 per cent increase in use of databases (1,870,626).
- The visit by the University Librarian and Director, Corporate
Services and Development to Malaysia, which focused on the planning
of new library facilities for Monash University Malaysia.
- The visit to libraries at Clayton campus by the South Africa
Campus Librarian for two weeks in November to ensure alignment
of policies with Monash Australia and to further progress electronic
services provided by the library in Roodepoort and two staff
from Malaysia.
- Awarding of a 2002 Vice-Chancellor's Award for Exceptional
Performance by General Staff to twelve staff responsible for
the development of the new electronic reserve service, which
focuses on production of online reading course lists accessible
through Voyager catalogue.
- Collection of data for a facilities master plan, involving
an examination of facilities at all sites by a group of consultants
as well as input from staff focus groups. The consultants' report
is expected early in 2003. This document will inform planning
to ensure a consistent and integrated approach to new and modernised
facilities.
- Completion of the extension to the Hargrave-Andrew Library
and the transfer of the collections housed in the former Biomedical
Library annex to Hargrave-Andrew Library.
- The progress made in upgrading and refurbishing a section
of the Caulfield Library, as well as the Matheson Library Postgraduate
Room, for completion in 2003.
- Successful sharing of print resources through the intercampus
loans trial for postgraduate students and faculty staff between
the University of Melbourne's Parkville campus libraries and
the Clayton campus libraries at Monash.
- Installation of wireless network access points in the Matheson
and Caulfield libraries as part of a trial strategy to increase
options for students to utilise resources within the libraries
and to provide flexible delivery options.
- Completion of a trial library portal and subsequent decision
to proceed as a participant of Australian Academic and Research
Library Network portal project rather than seeking a stand-alone
solution.
- Retirement of two senior managers after many years of service
and fine contribution to the Monash University Library: Marta
Chiba, formerly Hargrave-Andrew Librarian, and Janice Droogleever,
Matheson Librarian.
Many outstanding achievements are recorded in the body of this
report. I wish to record my thanks to staff for their fine efforts
in ensuring so many successful outcomes of work undertaken in 2002.
I would also like to record my appreciation of the welcome given
to me by university staff, library staff and colleagues from other
university libraries. I look forward to a challenging year ahead
and hope for a highly satisfactory response from our key stakeholders
in the customer survey to be undertaken in 2003.
Cathrine Harboe-Ree
University Librarian |
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University Librarian, Cathrine Harboe-Ree |
