Polk Library

Enhancing Access, Discovery and the Learning Environment

During 2009 -2010, Polk Library focused on the question “How can Polk Library help students and faculty succeed?” Based on comprehensive campus surveys, smaller surveys on specific topics, focus groups and current literature on academic libraries, Polk Library concentrated on two main goals

Enhance access to and discovery of research and instructional resources.

During the past year, the library continued a planned transition of the journal collection from print to electronic. Important new online resources were added, such as Science Direct. This migration allows the library to increase the number of high-quality research materials available to campus and to make them accessible 24/7. The library fully implemented the course page project, which creates individual library pages of resources for each course on campus automatically. It allows faculty to easily edit these pages, and is accessible from D2L. In addition, the library implemented a unique service, a Related Items Bookshelf (RIB). When you find a book in the catalog, the RIB gives you a visual representation of the books on the same shelf and allows a user to scroll indefinitely in either direction to find related books.

Next year, the library will . . .

Design and implement a new library web presence based on best academic library practices, industry standards and university guidelines.
Work to increase funding for collections to provide the electronic information needed by students and faculty of a vibrant and growing university.
Work with UW System libraries to plan the next generation of online systems that will allow “one search” capability for the vast majority of our resources – journals, books, videos and digital objects.
Work with students and faculty to create applications (apps) that will help them study, learn, teach and research.

Improve the library as a learning environment.

In 2008, the library completed a major renovation of the 14,000-square-foot reference room. It allows students to work in groups, use wireless technology, access information, enjoy comfortable seating and get help from a reference librarian. In 2009-2010, the library successfully remodeled another area of the first floor for the benefit of students.

Next year, the library will . . .

Develop a plan to remodel the remainder of First Floor North and work to identify funding for the project. If successful, the entire public area of the first floor of the library will be completely renovated in four years.

Click here to read last year's report.