With these long-term problems clearly in mind, ARL can exploit varied tactics for moving forward the research library agenda. The outcomes designated in the 2010–2012 Strategic Plan provide a framework for ARL’s work and the strategies suggest areas where actions may bear results. The problems noted above are the ones we seek to address across ARL programs and in close cooperation with our partners, the Coalition for Networked Information (CNI) and the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition (SPARC), as well as with any other allied organization that shares with us common memberships or goals. The Roles of ARL’s Enabling Capabilities ARL’s budget and staff are organized around the plan’s Strategic Directions and Enabling Capabilities. The Strategic Directions are described fully in the plan that follows. Enabling Capabilities are categories of effort that provide support across the entire organization. They include Governance, Membership Meetings, Communications & Alliances, as well as two key areas that warrant a closer look to illustrate their contributions to ARL’s agenda: Statistics & Assessment and Diversity & Leadership. Statistics & Assessment The ARL Statistics & Assessment program focuses on describing and measuring the performance of research libraries and their contributions to research, scholarship, and community service. ARL serves a leadership role in the development, testing, and application of academic library performance measures, statistics, and management tools. The program provides analysis and reporting of quantitative and qualitative indicators of library collections, personnel, and services by using a variety of evidence-gathering mechanisms and tools. Library assessment has gained in prominence as institutional calls for greater accountability abound. The Library Assessment Conference (co-sponsored by the University of Virginia Library and the University of Washington Libraries) is a biennial event gathering a vibrant community of practitioners and researchers engaged with the critical mission of demonstrating the value of the library in today’s ever-changing environment. The recent strategic planning process reinforced the Statistics & Assessment program’s collaboration with the Transforming Research Libraries Strategic Direction. There is a need to articulate transformed library roles and to RLI 268 5 Themes within the ARL Strategic Plan 2010–2012 ( C O N T I N U E D ) FEBRUARY 2010 RESEARCH LIBRARY ISSUES: A BIMONTHLY REPORT FROM ARL, CNI, AND SPARC
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