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Understanding the many constituencies that make up an academic library’s patrons is a formidable task. Scientists utilize resources quite differently than artists, and even scholars within a specific discipline like the humanities may have divergent practices and expectations depending on their academic niche and experience of library services at previous institutions. The authors of this study wanted to examine the research practices of faculty in a particular field, namely language and literatures, to identify what resources and services scholars currently use and wish they had access to at Rutgers. This study of the research practices of language and literature faculty was coordinated through Ithaka S+R, a not-for-profit research and consulting organization, working in conjunction with the Modern Language Association (MLA).

As libraries experience changes in their environment, communicating to stakeholders about the changes as well as the library's mission, strategies and responses to the changes is critical. Such communication serves well to inform how the change management integrates with the mission of the library so that stakeholders have a shared understanding of the changes taking place, as well as to build and develop their support and confidence in the organization. This study discusses findings of an exploratory analysis in which one hundred and eleven Association of Research Libraries (ARL) Web sites were surveyed to gain insights into academic library���s current practices of communicating the library mission.

Presentation at the NJLA CUS ACRL NJ Chapter Program “All Together How? Collaboration in Research and Publication.”

At Rutgers University Libraries, the Outpost Services Team was created by the New Brunswick Libraries’ Information Services Steering Group to study the demand for services at locations outside of the physical library buildings. Upon the recommendation of the group, the team planned an exploratory pilot study to investigate the need for library services at campus centers - places where students and faculty members regularly gather for eating, socializing and using other available services. A part of the main information desk of Rutgers University’s Busch Campus Center was used to set up the outpost. Traditional reference desk type of service was offered using networked digital resources. Reference statistics and feedback surveys were collected that provided data for evaluation. The pilot study was a unique endeavor to reach out to less frequent users of libraries, learn about the expectations of students and faculty, and communicate to them about how they can benefit from using library resources and services. This article presents the details of planning the pilot study, a summary of findings and conclusions.

Recommendations of the Learning Framework Study Group, Rutgers University Libraries