FLITE continutes to assess different aspects of its services, collections, and resources in support of the University community. During Fall 2010, 100% of the full-time FLITE staff and several part-time staff participated in an intensive review of these services, collections, and resources under the direction of a 6-member Steering Committee representing all groups of FLITE employees.
This followed work done with Spring 2010 student focus groups and Fall 2007 faculty and staff focus groups, initiated by data provided by the FLITE 2007 Library Survey (March 2007). In February 2012, the FLITE Assessment Team conducted the latest evaluation of progress on a number of initiatives.
This document reflects progress made on many of the concerns and suggestions voiced by student focus groups, faculty and staff groups, and initiatives developed in-house. The document is organized into topics, and each of the topic
categories deals with accomplishments, works in process, and items still to address. The document also addresses continued work in assessment and improvement
initiated by the committee itself.
ACCESS TO RESOURCES
Accomplishments
2011-2012
Replaced library catalog server and upgraded to newest version of Encore (library catalog software).
Reduced size of non-circulating collection and repurposed space.
Improved process to provide barcodes for off-campus students.
Revised wording in the information sent to online and off-campus students having database access issues to clarify the process.
Developed process to create persistent URLs for specific article retrieval to improve use by faculty in Blackboard 9.1.
Upgrade of Dspace software and server in order to provide better access to the Ferris Institutional Repository.
Implementation of ResourceSpace digital asset management system on a new server to provide storage and increased access for University digital photo collection.
2010-2011
Purchased new SFX (link resolver) server to maintain quality linking to full-text materials.
Unveiled new mobile platform for delivery of the patron catalog.
2009-2010
Increased access to 110,000 electronic titles now available through the online catalog.
Developed online form for staff to report database access problems.
2008-2009
Launched "FLITE on the Go"
electronic delivery of articles and book chapters to faculty on campus using Interlibrary Loan (ILL) software.
2007-2008
Promoted FLITE on the Go and e-reserves services to on-campus and off-campus faculty.
Extended due dates for materials for graduate students.
Implemented single login for database and other library resource access using MyFSU user name and password.
Moved to ILLiad software for easier Interlibrary Loans.
Provided longer window of availability for ILL articles.
Work in Process
Making significant changes to physical collection by moving more heavily used materials to more accessible areas, moving some non-circulating items to circulating collections, and moving like collections together.
Continuing to review e-reserves program in light of upcoming changes in the Ferris LMS (Learning Management System).
Monitoring exponential increase in Interlibrary Loan usage and increased cost to FLITE - some reductions in cost seen during both 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 school years.
COLLECTION
Accomplishments
2011-2012
Increased electronic resource collection to over 130,000 items with 110,000 ebooks and 20,000 e-documents.
Developed a policy for donating withdrawn materials to non-profit organizations.
2010-2011
Moved less frequently circulated titles of Media Booking Collection into the Main Collection for more general use.
Purchased a Datalogger for Archives which records and tracks environmental conditions.
2009-2010
Moved Media Booking (formerly Media Distribution) videos to the FLITE 140 Suite for easier access.
Added thesis binding form to FLITE website to allow student access and downloading.
Continued to improved search and retrieval of student theses and research projects by updating information in the theses
research guide about the availability of representative theses and research projects in reserves.
Held special instruction sessions on ASHRAE standards for HVACR juniors.
Added Credo Reference and Oxford Reference Online to improve student access to reference sources.
2008-2009
Improved search and retrieval of student theses and research projects by placing a representative sample collection
on long-term reserve.
Held special instruction sessions on ASHRAE standards for HVACR juniors.
2007-2008
Decreased level of confusion about media resources located in two places on campus with the move of Media
Distribution, (now called Media Booking), materials into the FLITE collection.
Standards
Added Resource Guide for Finding Standards to the FLITE web site.
Improved access to standards for the College of Engineering Technology through targeted efforts by the library liaison.
Designed specific Standards Resource Guide available two clicks from the main FLITE web page.
Purchased three targeted standards (ASHRAE standards for HVACR, ASME, and Drawing Tools for Mechanical
Design) and the International Building Code for College of Engineering Technology programs (Architecture, Construction, and HVACR).
Purchased a set of standards for Welding.
Eliminated the General Standards package; now responding to email and phone requests from faculty for
specific standard titles as needed.
Worked with faculty and staff to promote the new standards in the appropriate courses.
Conducted two In-FLITE staff training sessions to acquaint reference librarians and staff with the new standards
and the availability of the Standards Resource Guide.
Instructed Senior Product Design class in use of standards, with plans to offer this instruction annually.
Aided individual students with questions about the instructions when asked.
Work in Process
Expanding resource-to-resource access using a new tool called Pathfinder Pro which searches through library-owned electronics resources using the library catalog.
Exploring feasibility of storing digital thesis collection in institutional repository with College of Business.
Continuing to develop ways to access standards needed by the College of Engineering Technology.
Still to Address
Change more popular Media Booking VHS titles to DVD format.
WEBSITE, DATABASES AND LIBRARY CATALOG
Accomplishments
2011-2012
Continued to create original tutorials; Newest tutorial: Simple vs. Advanced Search
2010-2011
Added material type icons to individual records in the patron catalog.
Created original tutorial: Types of Periodicals: Popular, Trade, and Scholarly.
Reviewed and revised website database descriptions as needed.
2009-2010
Enhanced access to library catalog with new upgrades in service.
Created original tutorials on the following topics:
Topics
Finding and Reading EBooks
FLITE Website Tour
Focusing Your Research Topic
How to Find the Databases
How to Limit Your Search by Place in Access World News
How to Use Ulrich's Periodicals Directory
RefBase (three tutorials)
The Research Process
Save that Citation!
Using Citation Linker to Track Down an Article
Using Find-It (SFX) Links.
Using Google to Learn Whether It's Peer-Reviewed
Using the FLITE Library Catalog
2008-2009
Implemented new website design.
Reduced the number of clicks needed to reach useful information.
Organized material as program specific rather than merely subject specific.
Addressed non-intuitive names of links; (for example: "Find - Articles" and "Journals" tab now used
instead of "Find A Periodical").
Work in Process
Continuing to creating FLITE-specific tutorials to address point-of-need help about library resources and
services; useful to place in FerrisConnect, on library class help pages, and, potentially, via quick link from the FLITE
homepage.
Continuing the refinement of the "Search FLITE" box on the homepage by expanding the use of the FLITE "Smart Search"
technology.
Migrating to new platform for library catalog, expected by September 2012
FACILITIES
Accomplishments
2011-2012
Completed major clean-up of all storage areas for repurposing of available space.
Enhanced FLITE security by upgrading security camera system in consultation with DPS.
Integrated Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning into new location on FLITE Fourth Floor.
InterLibrary Loan and Document Delivery staff relocated to Second Floor.
Evaluated FLITE Review Team Report suggestions for adding more study rooms and meeting spaces to FLITE.
2010-2011
Vacated 446 (Digital Media Work room) and Media Production Dark Room to allow for more efficient room use.
Improved loudspeaker system, adding capability of broadcasting into Media Production and all of the study rooms.
2009-2010
Identified new seminar presentation area in Second Floor Reading Room (FLITE 240) and put into use for events.
Improved facility lighting in FLITE 110 and FLITE 112 instruction studios.
Added five new study rooms, all available for checkout, to replace those repurposed in the 159 area.
Integrated the Office of Multicultural Student Services into the 159 Suite adjacent to the Extended Hours Area.
Promoted healthy environment by providing hand sanitizers and keyboard wipes throughout the building.
2008-2009
Made available one instruction studio for group use in the evenings on first-come, first-served basis to offer more
group meeting space.
Replaced flooring in three FLITE stairways.
Integrated International Center and Study Away programs into new location on FLITE Fourth Floor.
Improved facility lighting in FLITE 108 and FLITE 114.
Repaired and reopened Extended Hours Area following flooding emergency which occurred February 2008.
Adopted a new relaxed food and drink policy in response to student and staff requests.
Work in Process
Participating in transitional planning team for new Jim Crow Museum integration into Lower Level.
Exploring possibilities of digital signage use in building in partnership with other groups in FLITE.
Improving handicapped accessibility by system changes to double doors in the elevator corridor areas.
Continuing to study how to provide additional space for students in evenings; (seminar rooms now at full
capacity).
Still to Address
Solve problems with heating and cooling issues.
INFORMATION AND SERVICE ISSUES
Accomplishments
2011-2012
Revised job responsibilities for administrative and clerical staff in Public Services to provide a more consistent administrative presence in the evening and to realign staff duties to high-demand areas.
Piloted Personal Librarian project for international students with International Center.
Updated print maps and directories in the elevator corridors.
2010-2011
Rewrote room reservation software and to make service more user-friendly.
Implemented Unaccompanied Minors policy to increase student access to computers and to address noise issues on Second and Third Floors.
Redeployed staff from Second Floor Service Desk to busy First Floor Checkout Desk.
2009-2010
Added signs to address noise problem in study rooms.
Updated online floor maps on the website to more accurately reflect room usage and collection layout.
Posted floor layout map for Third Floor, visible immediately when entering the area and displaying book locations and
contact information for help and assistance.
2008-2009
Added time and news crawls to monitors in the building.
Moved to single-staffing for Reference and Instruction Unit at the Oval Information Desk to better mirror
Reference Desk usage patterns.
Created new signage on Second Floor Help Desk, identifying when staff have stepped away or are in another location.
Worked with Computer Technology Services to implement the new Mac (Apple) Design Center on Second Floor.
2007-2008
Posted new building maps on the web site.
Completed Point of Contact survey at Oval Information Desk for both Computer Tech Help and Reference staff to assess
usage patterns.
Merged Computer Tech Help and Reference staff at single Oval Information Desk.
2006-2007
Increased signage in the quiet zones.
Provided program-specific software in Extended Hours Area.
Work in Process
Enforcing noise policy in quiet zones.
INSTRUCTION
Accomplishments
2011-2012
Completed development of new PILOT 2.0 Information Literacy tutorial and implemented at beginning of school year.
Created new library modules for required faculty Blackboard 9.1 training.
Purchased new instruction laptop for travel and presentations.
FSUS
Instructed 94 sections of FSUS 100 classes for 66 instructors during Fall Semester 2011, reaching 96% of available sections.
Assumed that one other FSUS 100 instructor (one section) introduced students to FLITE on his own as he had done in the past.
Concluded 97% of FSUS 100 students received a "Using FLITE" session in Fall 2011.
Two of these classes were the pilot FSUS Transfer Student courses, assisting students with assimilation and retention.
2010-2011
Offered 491 instructions in 2010-2011, an increase of 63 sessions (14.7%) over previous year.
Established PILOT 2.0 Team to revise PILOT information literacy tutorial.
Developed FLITE Training Day for high school visits in tandem with Ferris Admissions Office.
Embedded a third librarian, the Education liaison, into FerrisConnect, offering webinars and posted web links.
Produced Citation Guides for Images and Other Audiovisual Media for both MLA and APA styles.
FSUS
Instructed 87 sections of FSUS 100 classes for 65 instructors during Fall Semester 2010, reaching 92% of available sections.
Discovered 3 other FSUS 100 instructors (5 sections) brought students to FLITE on their
own.
Concluded 97% of FSUS 100 students received a "Using FLITE" session in Fall 2010.
Information Literacy Assessment
Moved forward into third year of the FLITE Information Literacy Assessment project.
Implemented first program assessment project, with pre-instruction and post-instruction assessments conducted during starting and ending courses of the MBA program
2009-2010
Offered 428 instructions in 2009-2010, an increase of 43 sessions (11%) over previous year.
Formed Visual Images Citation Team including Elise Brown from Kendall College of Art and Design.
Promoted instruction to faculty with handout detailing library instruction services delivered to all faculty and staff.
Embedded a second librarian, the Criminal Justice liaison, into FerrisConnect, working with specific classes through
an online library discussion board.
FSUS
Instructed 97 sections of FSUS 100 classes for 71 instructors during Fall Semester 2009, reaching 89% of available sections.
Discovered 4 other FSUS 100 instructors (7 sections) brought students to FLITE on their
own.
Concluded 95% of FSUS 100 students received a "Using FLITE" session in Fall 2009.
Information Literacy Assessment
Presented results of Information Literacy assessment project start-up at Michigan Library Association Conference in
November, 2009.
Moved forward into second year of the FLITE Information Literacy Assessment project.
Evaluated data from two year's worth of assessments.
Posted results into University assessment tracking software (TracDat).
Convened working group of four librarians and public services department head to revise assessments.
Developed and refined new questions, based on Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher
Education, and placed them into a universal "Question Bank" for selection.
Purchased Survey Monkey tool to deliver assessments in an online environment.
Worked again with cohort of three faculty, delivering customized pre-instruction assessments in
ENGL 150 and READ 176 courses.
Continued to utilize pre- and post-instruction information literacy assessments in College of Business courses for MISM and MBA programs.
2008-2009
Offered 385 instructions in 2008-2009, a decrease of 49 sessions (11%) due to vacancies in
Reference and Instruction Unit.
Continued to implement "FLITE in FerrisConnect" to add library information and embed library instruction into online
and blended courses.
Health Sciences Librarian became embedded into an online library discussion board for a
completely-online class.
Worked to improve communication with program departments.
Two FLITE instruction librarians addressed Chairs Council about new FLITE
services for faculty.
Visits were made by several liaison librarians (Health Sciences, COEHS, COT) to department and
college meetings.
FLITE Public Services Department Head and two library liaisons addressed Deans' Council about FLITE
services.
FSUS
Instructed 98 sections of FSUS 100 classes for 69 instructors during Fall Semester 2008, reaching 90% of available sections.
Discovered three other FSUS 100 instructors (six sections) brought students to FLITE on their
own.
Concluded 96% of FSUS 100 students received a "Using FLITE" session in Fall 2008.
Information Literacy Assessment
Piloted the FLITE Information Literacy Assessment project.
Conducted pre-instruction and post-instruction assessments in three different courses
(thirteen sections).
Pre and post-instruction information literacy assessments utilized in College of Business courses for MISM
and MBA programs and for College of Education ESPN 505 course.
Worked with a cohort of three instructors from University College and The College of Arts and Sciences
to develop and administer instruments.
Used results to improve instruction and increase student learning and information literacy
practice.
2007-2008
Offered 434 instructions in 2007-2008, an increase of 17%.
Instructed 103 sections of FSUS 100 classes for 77 instructors during Fall Semester 2007, reaching 95% of available sections.
Implemented "FLITE in FerrisConnect" to embed library instruction into online and blended courses.
Provided first set of focused program-specific instruction and class help guides.
Recreated research guides using LibData software to create dynamic guides linked to webpages.
Created class help-specific web pages for nearly all courses instructed by FLITE librarians.
Created similar class-specific web pages for online courses with library components in FerrisConnect.
Work in Process
Working with data from information literacy assessments to direct instruction and planning.
Continuing to administer pre-instruction and post-instruction assessments using online tools.
Conducting ongoing evaluation of assessment questions and procedures, placing data into TracDat.
Continuing to develop focused program-specific instruction and help guides.
Still noting some subject research guides not yet completed in LibData and the pdf versions are out-of-date.
Still to Address
Review how to provide scaled instruction to solve the problem of repeated information for students;
(some have no instruction and some receive similar instruction several times).
INSTRUCTION STUDIOS AND TECHNOLOGY
Accomplishments
2011-2012
Purchased low-impact book scanner for InterLibrary Loan.
Acquired fifteen more laptops for student in-house checkout.
Purchased an iPad for FLITE testing purposes.
2010-2011
Provided instructions for downloading printer drivers to student wireless computers via a FLITE web page.
Added password protection to PC machines on Second and Third Floors to increase access for FSU students and address noise issues of
non-university users.
Implemented process for password protecting the new Mac computers on Second Floor.
Purchased new Apple computers for Second Floor Mac Center.
Completed replacement of all PCs in instruction studios and information commons areas.
Upgraded printing and photocopying services.
2009-2010
Upgraded technology in all FLITE instruction studios and seminar rooms, changing to smart classroom model.
Added quick print station to First Floor printing area.
Added color copier to First Floor printing area.
2008-2009
Rolled out new library web site.
Added new InterLibrary loan scanner for microforms, allowing user to scan and digitize directly from film or fiche.
Settled (through the work of the IT department) the process for downloading necessary software in studios at
instructor request.
Repurposed FLITE 114 into Smart Classroom Instruction Studio to seat 30 students.
Installed second projector and screen at rear of FLT 114 to improve studio's usability for instruction.
Authorized Checkout Desk staff to open instuction studios and make more computers available when
Information Commons is at capacity.
Clarified notification procedure for software or hardware problems within instruction studios or seminar rooms.
Determined with technology staff how to install software updates in instruction studios more than once per semester by
reghosting more frequently.
Improved reghosting procedures by blocking room use during semester breaks to avoid interference with the onset of
classes.
Scheduled technology support staff to backup library instruction and instruction studio use on the Saturday before
semester by arranging for back-up help by cell phone.
Work in Process
Developing a FLITE Technology Plan.
Planning to move print stations on First Floor.
Continuing to investigate new chat software options for reference services.
Continuing to update library web site.
Replacing workstations in FLITE 114 instruction studio and the Adaptive Technologies Lab, allowing updates to Adaptive Technologies software.
Still to Address
Consolidate signage in printing areas.
MARKETING AND PROMOTION
Accomplishments
2011-2012
Provided FLITE QR code temporary tattoos for incoming student orientation packets.
Developed several trivia mini-contests for students using FLITE social media tools.
Participated in first Online Courses Fair for Faculty.
Launched informational blog to update University community about FLITE changes following strategic review process.
Increased use of FLITE QR codes in building.
Held third successful Disc Golf Tournament at FLITE the Friday afternoon before Labor Day with 56 participants.
Rewrote Marketing and Promotion Team charge.
Staffed tables for Founders Day on the Quad.
Assisted library liaison with table for University College Academic Success Fair.
2010-2011
Created and conducted three-week library reference activity to promote library resources with approximately 100 students taking part.
Organized second successful Disc Golf Tournament at FLITE in tandem with the Disc Sports RSO; held the Friday afternoon
before Labor Day with approximately 50 people involved.
Promoted and celebrated FLITE's 10th Anniversary during National Library Week on April 12, 2011 with a 3-D cake shaped like the FLITE building, special displays, and other activities of celebration.
Piloted use of FLITE QR codes in building.
Staffed tables for Founders Day inside FLITE (rain) and OMSS Welcome Back event on the Quad.
Assisted library liaison with table for University College Academic Success Fair.
2009-2010
Set up Facebook and Twitter accounts for FLITE.
Held Author Day with Mardi Link as part of Michigan Notable Books Author Tour for campus and community; partnered with public library and local bookstore.
Co-sponsored Spring Learning Institute by offering a Copyright Workshop with the Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning.
Created READ posters for students, staff, and four classes during National Library Week Patron Appreciation Day 2010.
Organized successful Disc Golf Tournament at FLITE in tandem with the Disc Sports RSO; held the Friday afternoon
before Labor Day with over 70 people involved.
Placed a geocache on the FLITE grounds as part of the 125th Anniversary celebration.
Accepted 8000 free headphones from AirTran Airways to use in welcoming students
at events and information desks and labeled them with FLITE information.
Staffed tables for Founders Day and OMSS Welcome Back event on the Quad.
Assisted library liaison with table for University College Academic Success Fair.
Set up ongoing displays.
2008-2009
Produced READ posters for students and staff during National Library Week Patron Appreciation Day 2009.
Continued periodic production of FLITE Logs.
Helped supply and/or staff tables for Founders Day, OMSS Welcome Back Night, University College Academic Success Fair,
Visiting Honors Students Weekend, and Non-traditional/Transfer Students Fair.
2007-2008
Developed archived newsletter to announce new materials.
