library-it synergies and consolidation opportunities

Library-IT Synergies and Library-IT Synergies and Consolidation Consolidation OpportunitiesOpportunitiesPat burns, Interim DeanCSU Libraries

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OutlineOutlineAccepted models for Library-IT

consolidationUser support and servicesUser trainingIT servers and systemsMiddlewareFutures

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Accepted Models for Library-Accepted Models for Library-IT ConsolidationIT ConsolidationIT and Libraries are commonly

consolidated at many small schools/ community colleges

Very rare at large, research universities, with the following exceptions (Burns conversations)◦Columbia◦Michigan State University

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ColumbiaColumbiaConsolidated all of IT several years agoMistake, subsequently split out

◦Administrative computing◦Networking◦Academic computing (email, web, file

storage)Effect

◦“Consolidating the central IT help desk with the Libraries’ reference desk has worked exceptionally well.” – Jim Neal, VP for Information Services & University Librarian

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Michigan State UniversityMichigan State UniversityConsolidated central IT help desk

in the Library◦“Absolutely a ‘no brainer’ and has

worked better then we expected. Users are very happy with this arrangement.” – David Gift, VP for Libraries, Computing and Technology

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Lessons LearnedLessons Learned‘In the new millennium, lessons

learned should actually be learned’ – The Dalai Lama

Consolidate only where there are synergies◦Can ‘overreach’

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RECOMMENDATIONS RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CSUFOR CSU

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User Support & Services - User Support & Services - ConsolidateConsolidateConsolidate user support in Morgan

◦Reference/info. desk – ~4 FTE + students◦IT help desk – 1.5 FTE + students◦Computer maintenance and repair – 1

FTE◦Large format plotting (cost recovery)

Why◦Improved services from a single source◦Information access is almost entirely

digital◦It’s where many students are anyway◦Synergies, cross training, cost savings

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User Training - User Training - ConsolidateConsolidateTraining should be consolidated with

the help desk to take advantage of shared knowledge base

Ergo, also, move Fran Campana into Morgan

Use the computer classrooms in Morgan and C142 Clark as training facilities

Space exists and has been identified

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IT Servers and SystemsIT Servers and SystemsCollaborate

◦Elevate level of quality of operations and management of Library servers to the same level of quality as central IT Server class hardware, redundancy,

monitoring and statistics, alarming, upgrades

◦Take advantage of newest hardware and technologies in the Libraries E.g. ACNS blade servers in main data center

Consolidate file back-up and archival

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Middleware - CollaborateMiddleware - CollaborateEvolve to use of eID to access Library

services◦ ‘Single sign on’ for users◦More secure◦New technologies (federated

authentication, already a joint project; digital signatures)

Joint development efforts◦Self-service web pages for

reserving/accessing ETD submission Group study rooms Video conferencing facilities Digital materials, etc.

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FuturesFuturesStrategy

◦Central IT be responsible for the back-end IT infrastructure in the Libraries (invisible)

◦Library IT be responsible for front-end instructional technology and services (visible)

Jointly cooperate/collaborate on futures◦Digital repository◦Learning-IT Commons◦Etc.

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QuestionsQuestionsAre most welcome

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