SPEC Kit 339: Innovation and R&D · 109
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
Strategic Plan, FY 2012–14 (excerpts)
https://www.library.northwestern.edu/sites/www.library.northwestern.edu/files/pdfs/NULStratPlan2012.pdf
UNIVERSITY LIBRARY STRATEGIC PLAN, FY2012-14 4
B. Innovative Technologies: The impact of global technological developments such as cloud
computing, mass storage options, mobile platforms and new architectures on NU’s technology
infrastructure challenges us to develop and acquire information systems that are interoperable
and federated, customizable to individuals and disciplines, and aligned with campus and national
consortial directions. We will enhance existing information systems to reflect emerging trends,
developing reliable hardware and software architectures that offer anytime-anywhere access to
the information services and resources needed by the NU community, and ensuring that tools
under development are seamlessly connected to other external and campus-based systems. We
will continue to participate in collaborative technology development initiatives with campus and
consortial partners, extending the horizons of access and delivery and supporting new
approaches to research and pedagogy.
The library will develop and utilize flexible and reliable information technologies that are
accessible independent of time, place, and platform, to support the NU community’s learning,
teaching and research needs, delivering high-quality services and academic resources.
C. Customized Services: Capitalizing on the opportunities afforded by multiple formats and
methods of delivering services, we will offer “niche” services to conform to the particular needs
of faculty, students and staff at varying levels and in diverse fields. Developments in
communication technologies such as social networking and mobile devices have changed the
way students and scholars learn, discuss and research information. Changes in information
technologies and the digital development of the scholarly record require that these new forms of
research and investigation be articulated by those individuals working most directly with the
applications. We will seek to apply librarians’ expertise in information discovery and
management to the organization and preservation of campus digital assets external to the
library’s immediate collections, and will build on and promote librarians’ abilities to assist with
information management for scholarly resources and data in faculty and administrative settings.
The library will develop and promote services that support specific educational and scholarly
research needs of the NU community, tailoring services to differing disciplines, educational
levels and communication preferences, and contributing to the stewardship of campus
information assets beyond those held solely by the library.
D. Transformed space: The Library’s Master Space Plan completed in 2010 envisions the
renovation of Deering Library into a state-of the art special collections space showcasing
priceless and renowned digital and print collections the transformation of Main Library into a
combination of interactive spaces for core print collections, and for the use and creation of new
forms of research communication by students and faculty in all disciplines and the updating of
the branches (Mudd and Schaffner Libraries) as vital, location-specific, subject-neutral satellites
that support technology-rich research and consultation for point-of-service needs. The
infrastructure systems of both Deering and Main Library are far past their functional lives. Even
in the absence of major renovations, we will press for significant replacement of failing systems
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