December 4, 2019

Last month, the Drexel University Libraries held the first Library Advisory Group (LAG) meeting of the 2019/2020 academic year.

Established in 2010, LAG has grown and changed over the years, but its fundamental mission has remained the same: to provide feedback, guidance, and support to the Drexel University Libraries’ dean and strategic leadership. Members represent each academic college and school at Drexel, as well as a few key partnering departments that help strengthen the Libraries’ position on campus.

This year, Danuta A. Nitecki, Dean of Libraries and LAG convener, welcomed the 13 new members and six returning members and emphasized their proactive role in strengthening two-way communication channels between their colleges and departments and the Libraries.  Beginning this year, campus deans and directors appointed each LAG member to serve as their representative to the Libraries. Over the next academic year (and beyond), LAG members will play a pivotal role in identifying campus teaching and research activities; identifying opportunities for the Libraries to enhance Drexel faculty, student and staff engagement with scholarly publications and data resources; as well as promoting information about Libraries services, resources and initiatives to support these.  

For example, librarians welcome strengthening partnerships with faculty and staff so they can update instructional services and resources in support of Drexel learning outcomes around emerging information and data literacies. LAG help will be invaluable to access course syllabi and understand accreditation expectations across the undergraduate curriculum. LAG members are also well-positioned to engage with the Libraries’ Open Access efforts to help reduce student expenses through faculty selection of assigned course readings. LAG members, as the voices of their colleges, can gather and share unique insight into these areas.

During the first meeting of the year, Dean Nitecki also challenged advisory group members to answer the question, “If you were faced with a group of funders, what would you say to encourage investment in libraries?” The exercise intended to encourage LAG members to think about the ways in which the Libraries contributes to strengthening Drexel as competitive research institution that is connected to scholarship and that prepares professionals and life-long learners. It was met with enthusiasm generated many great examples of the “value proposition” academic libraries offer.

Statements like “Libraries provide connections to learning and to other students;” “Libraries allow us to be competitive and improve our university’s reputation;” and the age-old adage “Libraries are the heart of the university,” made it clear this group is already embracing its mission head-on.

For more information about the Drexel Libraries’ Library Advisory Group, visit our website.