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July/August 2005 Table of ContentsNew and Reviewed  Library leaders lead very busy lives, and don't have the time to peruse the hundreds of journals that pass through the library. In recognition of this, the LLN Commons will from time to time send you a few "nuggets" that have been discovered by our research staff. We hope you will find some of these worth pursuing. And please let us know what topics you would like us to scan on your behalf. Developing a Copyright Policy for Academic Institutions The TEACH Act Shift - The Academic Library's Role by Lee Ann Torrans published: August 8, 2005 If there is one word which has had more than its fair share of visibility lately, it is the word “copyright.” Ever wary of the inherent landmines, The LLN Commons intends to publish information and opinion about copyright in the weeks and months ahead. In this first article, Lee Ann Torrans, author of Librarians and the Law, discusses the TEACH (Technology, Education and Copyright Harmonization) Act of 2002, pointing out the obligations and opportunities presented to academic institutions by the Act, and suggesting a variety of roles that the library can play. For illustration, Lee Ann points to some model efforts at a few of our Universities Reference: Dead, Alive or on Vacation? by Buff Hirko published: July 29, 2005 In “Reference: Alive, Dead or on Vacation?” Buff Hirko notes the rapid fall-off of in-library reference activity experienced in recent years by most libraries, and what a few are doing about it. It turns out, according to Ms. Hirko, that libraries who are “meeting” their users at the time and point of need are experiencing an increase, not a decrease, in traffic. The discussion also points to the possibility of using services like virtual reference as the entry point for all other library services. This is must reading for the marketing-minded library leader. Frankly Speaking: Take a SWOT at it! by Frank Hermes published July 15, 2005 To many, the mere mention of a SWOT analysis causes one’s eyes to glaze over. Normally done as part of a more exhaustive (and exhausting!) strategic planning exercise, SWOT (a look at the organization’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) can be a brain-numbing waste of time, especially if its primary purpose is to fill up a document whose destiny is to support a planter in the corner of your office. On the other hand, when done for the right reasons, taking a look at the library’s SWOT can be a valuable exercise, especially in today’s world of rapid change and continuous challenge. Indeed, if you haven’t done it lately, it might well be high time to do it: today, more than ever, libraries need to understand their position in the world of information exchange and, most importantly, what unique values they can bring to this world. In this article, I will offer some pointers on the who, what, why, and how of SWOT analysis (cont’d) |
