Chapter VII: Quality Management for Libraries



A. General Policy on Libraries

Adequate library resources are essential to the delivery of educational programs. Each La Verne student and faculty member at every location must have access to them. La Verne believes that such resources include not only books and periodicals on the shelves in the campus libraries, but also electronic and telecommunications links to larger collections and databases in the appropriate fields. Access to information is the key.

To accomplish this ideal, La Verne must maintain an appropriate collection of books and journals that can be made available to all of its students. Since many ULV students pursue their studies at locations distant from campus, the University must make Wilson Library resources available to them and their faculty on an equal basis with central campus students. To do this, the Library uses telephone, modems, fax, mail services, online databases, and full-text online journal and reference collections.

Access to ULV libraries is the heart of La Verne's strategy for providing library resources, and the campus library seeks to be the primary supplier of bibliographic instruction, books, computer searches, articles, and other materials for ULV students. Only after utilizing the resources of the University is the student directed to use the resources of other libraries. In such cases, La Verne encourages the use of interlibrary loan through OCLC, connection to the Internet through the education centers, and connection to resources near the student's home and place of work. Since libraries buy within the scope of a program's offerings, the University realizes that not only is there an obligation to provide materials that support the programs of the University but also that libraries near the student may not contain materials that are suitable for students in a particular program.

While it it important for students to find resources in ULV's libraries and additional resources through searches originating in these libraries, it is equally important for students to learn how to use the libraries available to them where they live and work. Central campus students as well as SCE students must be able to continue to use library resources after they have completed their university education.

Faculty in particular need library resources greater than the requirements of classroom teaching. They must have access to research collections both at La Verne and elsewhere. Since research is part of every University's mission, ULV works to provide this access through electronic and other means.

In addition to access to an adequate literature search capability and an adequate collection of books and periodicals, students and faculty must be trained in the use of the library and its information search systems. Such training must be provided at all levels and in every location where ULV programs are delivered.

The University works within the guidelines of national and international associations of librarians to create an effective state of the art program to deliver library services and materials to students off campus. Since the effectiveness of any such program is measured by the use made of it, the University must constantly survey students and faculty, and keep directly related measurements to monitor use, satisfaction, and the fulfillment of educational goals with the services and materials that are provided.

B. Quality Management for Wilson Library

Policy on Quality Management of Wilson Library (and other campus libraries and reading rooms):

Wilson Library is the main library of the University of La Verne. The two Law Libraries serve the same function for the campuses of the College of Law. The University aims at providing students and faculty through Wilson a constantly improving collection of books and periodicals for research and general study as judged by the regular contracted faculty. This requires the cooperation of faculty and the library staff.

At the same time, ULV recognizes that neither Wilson nor any other campus library can any longer be adequate to house all the information sources needed for contemporary research. This is especially true for degree programs that are applied in nature such as La Verne's master's degree and doctoral programs. With the introduction of new technological advances, the University has seized the opportunity to enhance its collection through the use of OCLC, the Internet, Dialog, and other resources to make accessible virtually any material located anywhere in the world.

Procedures for Quality Management of Wilson Library:

1. It is the responsibility of the Head Librarian, working with the library staff and other ULV faculty, to plan and maintain adequate facilities, collections, and technologies for the University libraries.

2. It is the responsibility of the Vice President for Academic Affairs, working with the Head Librarian, the Vice President of Administration and Finance, and the President, to see that adequate facilities, collections, and technologies are obtained and funded for the University libraries.

3. It is the responsibility of the University faculty, particularly the regular contracted faculty, to assist in the development of the collections. Among other things this includes:

C. Quality Management of Library Resources for Off-Campus Centers and Educational Sites

Policy on Quality Management of Library Resources for Off-Campus Centers and Sites:

Without doubt, the greatest challenge for the University of La Verne in the area of libraries is providing adequate library resources to its students and faculty at centers and sites away from campus. This is as true of campus-based programs (e.g., Ed.D.; Ecumenical Center for Black Church Studies) as it is for SCE programs.

Two options are open to La Verne and other institutions with programs being delivered away from the central campus. Either they can make the home campus resources available to students and faculty at off-campus sites, or they can provide comparable resources to off-campus students and faculty from other sources. Option two has traditionally included bringing books from the home campus to the site, making arrangements with a local library to house support materials in addition to those they have in stock, and providing students with information about various libraries in their vicinity and obtaining access for them to these libraries.

ULV follows the first option as its primary vehicle of delivery.   It  brings the home campus library to students and faculty at a variety of off-campus centers and educational sites by using a mix of technologies.  At the present time, the student or faculty member calls the 800 number for the Wilson Library and is asked what is needed.  A librarian negotiates with the student for appropriate material—a computer search, pages of index, books, articles, etc.  If necessary, the librarian helps the student to narrow the search and explains the pertinent indices in the field.  If a student has received a search and is requesting articles, the librarian may explain how to read a citation.  Information is tailored to the needs of the student.  The librarian does not choose articles for the student, nor tells the student if the articles are owned at ULV.  The student must either receive the information on a database or research the periodicals holdings list provided.  If the student wants an article that is not available, the librarian can identify exactly where the journal is owned so that it can be copied by the student or obtained through interlibrary loan.  Many of the most important journals needed by ULV students are now available in full text online through the Wilson Library webpage.

The University of La Verne is committed to continually improving the technologies (to provide better and quicker access) and to expanding the collections in each center's library as appropriate to the programs it offers.

Procedures on Quality Management of Library Resources for Off-Campus Centers and Sites:

1. It is the collective responsibility of the SCE Coordinator of Library Services, the Head Librarian, the Dean of SCE, and the Vice President for Academic Affairs to see that SCE students and faculty have access to a university-level-quality collection of library materials and database search capabilities. 2. It is the collective responsibility of the program chairs of central-campus-based programs, the appropriate deans, the Head Librarian, and the Vice President for Academic Affairs working with the Coordinator of Off-Campus Library Services to oversee the appropriateness of center program collections.

3. It is the responsibility of the Vice President for Academic Affairs, working in cooperation with the deans and faculty, to plan and budget for technologies capable for improving access to materials and search capabilities. Among the technologies being utilized in 1999 are the following:

D. Quality Management of Training in Library Use

Policy on Quality Management of Training in Library Use:

ULV students and faculty must know how the use ULV's libraries, libraries near their homes and offices, and the latest technologies available for accessing these libraries and other resources. ULV must provide training in these areas to its faculty and students no matter where they teach and study.

Procedures for Quality Management of Training in Library Use:

1. It is the responsibility of the Head Librarian, in consultation with the library staff and the ULV faculty, to plan and execute appropriate training activities for ULV students and faculty . Among other things, these activities include the following: 2. It is the responsibility of the SCE Coordinator of Library Services, in consultation with the Dean of SCE and the directors, to plan and deliver training on the use of libraries, databases, technologies, and services offered through off-campus Library Services to students and faculty off campus. Among other things this training includes the following:
QMS Home Page | ULV Welcome Page | Last Modified December 20, 1999 by Al Clark