S F U LIBRARIES
ANNUAL REPORT for FY 1995/96
W.A.C. Bennett Library
Samuel and Frances Belzberg Library
Simon Fraser University
Burnaby, British Columbia
CONTENTS
Library Computer Systems and Services
Library Strategic Plan 2nd Year Progress Report
Staff Training and Development
Reference Division -- W.A.C. Bennett Library
Samuel and Frances Belzberg Library
APPENDICES A (text, Word), B-G (text, Word), H
Appendix A: Recorded Usage of Library Collections by Fiscal Year
Appendix B: Growth of Collections
Appendix C: Interlibrary Loans Service Statistics
Appendix D: Telebook Service Use
Appendix E: Samuel and Francis Belzberg Library Statistics
Appendix F: Reference Service Statistics
Appendix G: Library Orientation Tours & Instructional Sessions
Appendix H: Library Materials Budget Expenditures 1989/90 to 1995/96
During 1995/96 the Library acquired 32,526 letterpress books and bound journal volumes. This continues the general upward trend although it is now clear that 1994/95 must be considered anomalous due to the use of fines money for the purchase of replacements and added copies. However, in 1995/96 the Library was once again able to avoid the spectre of journal cancellation and it was, in general, a year in which standards were maintained in all areas with no major changes in acquisitions patterns.
LETTERPRESS BOOK & BOUND JOURNAL VOLUME ACCESSIONS HISTORY
Fiscal Year Volumes 1984/85 30,089 1985/86 27,790 1986/87 23,475 1987/88 22,309 1988/89 25,175 1989/90 27,354 1990/91 27,447 1991/92 28,059 1992/93 27,837 1993/94 29,066 1994/95 35,526 1995/96 32,526Note: This count includes only letterpress books and bound journal volumes acquired in the years indicated. The count excludes unprocessed gifts, free ephemeral materials, microforms and electronic products. It provides a reliable measure of the Library's success at maintaining the primary collection, but as the Library moves to full text and better document delivery services, different measures will undoubtedly be required.
GIFTS PROGRAM
We have continued to rely on an active gifts programme to provide materials which we would be unable to purchase either because we lack funds or because the material itself is out of print and difficult or impossible to locate. The gifts program has proved a particularly fertile source of replacements or additional copies for material which is heavily used and the collection is now beginning to reflect this additional depth. During 1995/96, we received gifts from 103 donors valued at a total of $295,999. Among the most notable gifts were a collection of approximately 1,500 original Len Norris cartoons; a large collection of the papers of Canadian poet Frank Davey; and donations from retired faculty members Peter Buitenhuis, Jared Curtis, and Richard Shutler.
FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY
The Friends of the Library was established about three years ago with Mayling Stubbs as Chair and after an initial period of organizational development has accumulated an impressive list of achievements:
- Public Lectures
The Friends of the Library have sponsored two public lectures: the noted book artist Claire Van Vliet and British master bookbinder Philip Smith. Both were well attended and enthusiastically received.
- Library Openings
This has been a period of great change in the Library and the Friends have presided over three opening ceremonies to recognize some of the most significant of these changes. These include: the opening of the David See-Chai Lam Graduate Research Centre; the official opening of the newly renovated 7th floor of the Library; and the dedication of the Yosef Wosk Seminar Room in the Library's new Special Collections and Rare Books facility.
- New Collections
Under the aegis of the Friends, the Library received gifts of money and books valued at approximately $550,000 during 1995/96. With the assistance of generous donors, most notably the Morris Wosk family of Vancouver, the Library has acquired three major collections: the Mexican Mural Art Collection; the Thoreau MacDonald Collection; and the Wosk-McDonald Aldine Collection. The latter, which consists of 101 books published by the Renaissance publisher Aldus Manutius, is without doubt the most important collection the Library has acquired in 30 years.
COLLECTIONS
FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY (continued)
- Publications
The Friends of the Library published an exhibition catalog of a display mounted in the Library Special Collections and Rare Books area on the occasion of the opening of the 7th floor of the Library. In addition, publication of the speeches made at the dedication of the Yosef Wosk Seminar Room is in progress and should be available in the Fall of 1996.
- Annual Campaign
Alumni are ably represented on the Friends of the Library Board by Hugh Lindsay and they continue to provide significant support to the Library. The most recent Annual Campaign resulted in an increase of 131% in revenue donated to the Library Endowment and a 21% increase in the number of donors. A significant part of this has come from University alumni and we believe that alumni will continue to form the basis of our donor list. The Library Endowment Fund now stands at more than $1.6 million.
LIBRARY COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND SERVICES
Technological developments continued apace in 1995/96.
The new catalogue system, Innovative Interfaces, was quickly ruled a success. We were able to participate as beta testers in the development of the Innovative Web Catalogue Interface. With SFU's own 'Look and Feel' and Innovative's functionality, the Webbed catalogue has earned SFU many unsolicited compliments.
The Library again secured some funding through the B.C. government's Innovation Fund, to which the Library added an additional third. Again applying the money to equipment purchase, the Library was able to move significantly toward a Web environment for its Library computers. Currently a handful of trial Web computers are available in the Library and many students, faculty and others access the SFU Library KIOSK from elsewhere. Beginning September 1996, sixty-seven Library computers will present a Web interface, with a simplified home page but continuing the 'look and feel' of the earlier version.
LIBRARY COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND SERVICES
Where possible, access to Web versions of databases and catalogues is provided. For example, the UBC Library's Web catalogue is available, as is of course SFU's. For those more comfortable with the text-based catalogues, this choice is offered. With the Innovation fund money, we have been able to mount a number of databases and provide Web and Unix access from outside the Library; previously these databases were available only within the Library via the CD-ROM network. Work is continuing on developing the BRS Web interface, link to holdings and article requesting.
Daily maintenance and upkeep of databases and hardware has increased significantly; we are now maintaining eight different servers, two hundred computers, numerous printers, etc.; and forty networked CD's, seventeen BRS databases, and six ERL databases. Remote access is provided to a variety of databases. New remote databases of interest include Lexis/Nexis, MathSciNet, and Institute of Physics. SFU Library is a development partner, along with twelve other North American and 17 European libraries, in a project with B. H. Blackwell, to provide full text articles online through the Web, from a variety of academic journal publishers.
SFU Library continues to take advantage of opportunities for co-operation with other libraries, particularly in automation and electronic databases, where significant savings or service improvements can be achieved. We are a host site and developer for the Electronic Library Network of B.C. postsecondary libraries, as well as for the COPPUL consortium of Western Canadian University Libraries. Currently under discussion is a co-operative arrangement with the Libraries of the University of British Columbia and University of Victoria which will involve sharing a number of additional Silverplatter databases. Without such co-operative efforts and the supporting funding from a large number of members, SFU and the other University libraries who provide the database service host sites would not be able to provide the current level of electronic services and the large number of databases enjoyed by their respective students and faculties.
RESEARCH DATA LIBRARY
The SFU Library participated in a one-year COPPUL pilot project, providing network access to CANSIM via a Web interface developed at UBC. The WEB-based service used the SFU-developed rdl load and retrieval software as the search engine. Beginning in August, COPPUL will be providing access to the CANSIM database via the EPAS CANSIM service at the University of Toronto.
LIBRARY COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND SERVICES
RESEARCH DATA LIBRARY (continued)
Due to cost saving measures the Library will be discontinuing support of the rdl / cansim unix development. This was a difficult decision, as the software developed by Kobus Barnard, offers features not available in other time series data retrieval software. Access to CRSP, CITIBASE, COMPUSTAT and TSE data will be via the SAS / Datasource routines which come with SAS, a data analysis package maintained by Academic Computing Services.
The Data Liberation Initiative officially came into being in January 1995. The DLI will provide researchers and students with greater access to Canadian data resources. Library RDL staff have been active on the Statistics Canada Library Consultative Group and the DLI External Advisory Committee. COPPUL members just completed their third year in the ICPSR federation. A new three-year federation term begins in July 1996.
FOR 1994/95 - 1996/97
2nd Year Progress Report
This is a progress report for year two of the Library's current three year strategic plan. The Library Management Group will be conducting a formal review, evaluation and update of the 1994/95 - 1996/97 plan in September 1996.
Goal 1: Improve Customer Service
The University Training and Development Advisory Committee has recommended mounting a customer service training course and a course on dealing with anger and hostility on the front line during fall semester 1996. It is anticipated that a number of Library staff will attend both courses.
Goal 2: Provide Additional Innovative Services for Library Users
After a successful pilot project, the Library introduced an e-mail reference service in September 1995. See under Samuel and Frances Belzberg Library elsewhere in this report for details concerning implementation of this service. An online reference request form was developed for both telnet and WWW versions.
LIBRARY STRATEGIC PLAN
FOR 1994/95 - 1996/97
2nd Year Progress Report
Goal 2: Provide Additional Innovative Services for Library Users (continued)
Considerable progress was made in the establishment of the Library's WWW server, The Kiosk (http://www.lib.sfu.ca/). All library guides were translated into a "quick and dirty" html format. These guides are in the process of being edited into a more up-to-date format and content during fiscal year 1996/97. A number of web pages were created to suggest library resources available for each SFU academic discipline. A Kiosk Help facility was also developed. At the same time a Library Kiosk computer was developed and tested.
Additional services implemented in 1995/96, include a Web version of the Library's online catalogue, some online journals, UMI's Powerpages full text journal service linked to the business and economics abstract database, ABI/INFORM, and the CBCA Kiosk, a full-text service linked to the Canadian Business and Current Affairs Index.
Goal 3: Improve Training and Development
The Associate Librarian prepared a report for the Library Management Group on Training and Development, was asked and agreed to serve on the University Training and Development Advisory Committee, and also chairs a Library Staff Training and Development Committee (LSTAD) which was created in 1995/96. A Library staff survey of training and development needs was conducted in April 1996. The Library Staff Training and Development Committee is analyzing the results of the survey and will be making a number of recommendations to the Library Management Group in early 1996/97. Meanwhile, Library staff have taken advantage of a number training and development opportunities during 1995/96. For details see under Staff Training and Development in this report.
Goal 4: Improve the Physical Environment
Gordon Hlynsky and Associates completed the renovation plans for moving Reference services to the third floor. It is anticipated that the facility will be opened for the spring 1997 semester.
LIBRARY STRATEGIC PLAN
FOR 1994/95 - 1996/97
2nd Year Progress Report
Goal 4: Improve the Physical Environment (continued)
Renovation of the 4th floor and a massive book stacks shift and re-organization on the 4th and 5th floors were completed during 1995/96. The Library collection has been arranged in alphabetical order by Library of Congress classification number from floors 4-6, making it easier for students and faculty to locate library materials.
Goal 5: Expand and Improve Use of Appropriate Technology
The Loans Division completed its implementation of an automated payroll time recording system for its temporary staff, thanks to Luis Munoz. Loans notices via e-mail were also implemented during 1995/96. A Library user may request receiving e-mail notices from the Library by filling-out an online request form for the e-mail service.
The Library purchased the Innovative Interfaces Z39.50 Server and Inter-Library Loans module and began the evaluation and implementation planning process in 1995/96.
The Research Data Library PC Client was abandoned in favor of a Web client version developed by the University of Toronto.
Goal 6: Enrich the Collection and Improve Materials Availability
During 1995/96, most of the progress on strategic plan goals has been achieved in those areas relating to fundraising and gifts acquisitions. We hope to have $2,000,000 in the Library Endowment Fund by March 31, 1997 and we are well on our way with $1,600,000 in the account and considerable matching funds yet to come.
Goals which relate to serials acquisitions, resource allocation, and document delivery will be in the forefront during 1996/97 when we expect to work closely with the Senate Library Committee to develop techniques to deal with the anticipated budget restraints.
LIBRARY STRATEGIC PLAN
FOR 1994/95 - 1996/97
2nd Year Progress Report
Goal 7: Improve Resource Sharing with Other Libraries
SFU Library is an active participant in a number of groups whose goal is to share resources among libraries. These include the BC Electronic Library Network (ELN includes BC Post-Secondary Libraries); the Council of Prarie and Pacific University Libraries (COPPUL); and the BC Library Association's Multitype Library Committee (a committee attempting to provide joint electronic access to InterLINK libraries (public libraries in the Lower Mainland) and ELN member libraries.
The Library has worked successfully over the past year to reduce the cost per transaction of borrowing materials from other libraries, while meeting the increased demands of our SFU students and faculty.
The Library continues to co-operate with other libraries in leasing electronic databases, where significant savings or service improvements can be achieved. Currently under discussion is a co-operative arrangement with the University of British Columbia and the University of Victoria libraries which will involve sharing a number of additional SilverPlatter databases. Without such supporting host sites, the ELN and COPPUL would not be able to provide these services.
STAFF TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT
The Library continues to encourage its staff to take advantage of training and development opportunities. 1995/96 saw considerable activity in this area by a large number of library staff as the list below of library staff attending courses, conferences, etc. attests. The Library Management Group established the Library Staff Training and Development Committee during 1995/96 to advise it on improving staff orientation, training, and development in the Library. The LMG will deal with a report and a staff survey produced by the LSTAD Committee in early 1996/97. It is also anticipated that Human Resources will provide an enriched number of staff training and development courses during 1996/97, thanks to an infusion of funding by the University. The Associate Librarian chairs the LSTAD Committee and sits on the University Staff Training and Development Advisory Committee.
STAFF TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT
General Training Courses
Cash Handling
Andrew Boden, Mansura Chaudhry, Sherrie Fulton, Hazel Gale, Keith Gilbert, Mirfat Habib, Henry Jack, Grant Karpik, Ellen Kan, Florence Lai, Claude Lefrancois, Joanne Mein, Thyra Mulder, Jennifer Nordstrom, Jacqui Parker-Snedker, Rufus Polson, Gisele Pomerleau, Anna Raasveldt, Anvar Raasveldt, Anilma Ram, Tara Reed, Glenn Ross, Alnasir Thobani, Belinda Thompson, Marilyn Vassell, Mohamed Walji, Sue Wilson
Conflict Resolution ( for the SFU Grievance Conciliation Panel)
Karen Marotz
FASBE Training
Paul Baldwin, Moninder Bubber, Mary Harris, Serials Order Unit staff, Monographs Acquisitions Unit staff
Fire Warden Training
Keith Andretta, Brenda Anderson, Hilary Anderson, Paul Baldwin, Jeremy Bee, Scott Blessin, Andrew Boden, Peter Bojsa, Darin Book, Armando Bueneventura, Poh Chan, Mansura Chaudhry, Enrique Cruz, Lynnette Dookie, Luis Duran, Bev Everatt, Sherrie Fulton, Emilia Gaeta, Hazel Gale, Keith Gilbert, Carole Goldsmith, Doug Gordon, Mirfat Habib, Kim Hardy, Mary Harris, Harve Herzog, Henry Jack, Yasmin Jamal, Ellen Kan, Grant Karpik, Jeanne Kennaugh, Mike Kerr, Garth Lauer, Claude Lefrancois, Annette Leonard, Kathryn MacLeod, John Maxwell, Ian Mayall, Joanne Mein, Laura Melvin, Carrie Mitchell, Thyra Mulder, Stephen Ogden, Collette O'Reilly, J. Parker-Snedker, Lin Polson, Rufus Polson, Anna Raasveldt, Sail Ram, Marie Reinarz, Tara Reed, Glen Ross, Biff Savoie, Emily Sheldon, Alan Shopland, Wally Simmons, Lily Spence, Ilona Stec, Wayne Taylor, Alnasir Thobani, Belinda Thompson, Marilyn Vassell, Mohamed Walji, Sue Wilson, Pat Wright, Tarja Yrjola, Aleksandra Zielinski
Instructional Skills Workshop
Elaine Fairey, Marilynne Finlayson, Carole Goldsmith, Marjorie Nelles, Nina Smart, Cindy Swoveland
Library Services Across Cultures
Lynn Copeland, Todd Mundle, Christine McConnell, Ian Fell, Marjorie Nelles, Percilla Groves, Jack Corse, Elaine Fairey, Carole Goldsmith, Mary Harris, Cindy Swoveland, Janet Webb, Aleksandra Zielinski
STAFF TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT
General Training Courses (continued)
Management Development I
Mohamed Walji
Shelving Ergonomics
Andrew Boden, Keith Gilbert, Claude Lefrancois, Joanne Mein, Tara Reed, Mohamed Walji
Streetsmart
Jill Mandrake
Time Management
Hilary Anderson, Moninder Bubber, Yasmin Jamal
Computing and Electronic Information Courses:
Library Databases Class with Marilynne Finlayson
Hilary Anderson, Mansura Chaudhry, Lynette Dookie, Hazel Gale, Kim Hardy, Henry Jack, Yasmin Jamal, Ellen Kan, Grant Karpik, Florence Lai, Jennifer Nordstrom, Jacqui Parker-Snedker, Glenn Ross, Belinda Thompson, Marilyn Vassell, Tarja Yrjola
Elm for E-mail on Unix
Sherrie Fulton
Eudora for E-mail
Ellen Kan, Christine McConnell
Excel on Mac for Beginners
Florence Lai, Claude Lefrancois, Marilyn Vassell, Mohamed Walji
Excel for Windows for Beginners
Sherrie Fulton, Hazel Gale, Keith Gilbert, Christine Goodman, Ellen Kan, Claude Lefrancois, Joanne Mein, Lisa Phare-Millare, Jacqui Parker-Snedker, Anilma Ram, Anvar Rahemtula, Marilyn Vassell, Mohamed Walji
Excel on the Mac and for Windows (Advanced)
Sherrie Fulton, Hazel Gale, Ellen Kan, Florence Lai, Claude Lefrancois, Jacqui Parker-Snedker, Lisa Phare-Millard, Anvar Rahemtula
STAFF TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT
Computing and Electronic Information Courses: (continued)
Exploring the Internet
Andrew Boden, Nancy Blake
FoxPro for Windows
Christine McConnell
Introduction to Windows
Vivien Blackwell, Nancy Blake, Peter Bojsa, Margot Dykstra, Elaine Fairey, Ian Fell, Marilynne Finlayson, Carole Goldsmith, Marjorie Nelles, Emily Sheldon, Cindy Swoveland, Heather-Ann Tingley, Janet Webb, Aleksandra Zielinski
Microsoft Word Introduction
Ellen Kan
PowerPoint
Elaine Fairey
Publishing for the World Wide Web
Christine Goodman
Using NUD*ist Software for Qualitative Data Analysis
Walter Piovesan
Web Page Design
Moninder Bubber, Elaine Fairey, Marilynne Finlayson, Heather Ann Tingley, Janet Webb
World Wide Web
Jack Corse
World Wide Web (VOLUG Seminar)
Nina Smart
World Wide Web via Virtual U on the Internet
Jack Corse
Word for Windows
Jan Calder, Ian Fell, Carole Goldsmith, Florence Lai, Claude Lefrancois, Norma Marier, Lisa Phare-Millard, Anvar Rahemtula, Emily Sheldon, Mohamed Walji
STAFF TRAINING AND DEVLEOPMENT
Library Courses and Training
Document Delivery Round-up, BCLA Continuing Education Workshop
Vivien Blackwell, Nancy Blake, Margot Dykstra, Ian Fell, Karen Marotz, Todd Mundle, Christine McConnell, Mike McIntosh
ARL / GIS (Geographical Information Systems) Literacy Project Workshops
Poh Chan, Walter Piovesan.
OCLC Passport for Windows
Todd Mundle
Institute on Canadian Bibliography, National Library of Canada
Ralph Stanton
Conferences Attended:
ALPS (Academic Librarians in Public Service)
Jack Corse, Marjorie Nelles, Elaine Fairey, Carole Goldsmith, Janet Webb
ARLIS (Art Libraries Society) Northwest Chapter
Carole Goldsmith, Norma Marier
Association of Canadian Map Libraries and Archives / Western Association of Map Libraries
Poh Chan, Sonny Wong
American Society for Information Science
Dave Binkley
American Society for Information Science, Wescan Chapter
Poh Chan
Canadian Library Association
Elaine Fairey, Mary Harris, Mike McIntosh, Sue Digney, Margaret Murray.
British Columbia Library Association
Jack Corse, Percilla Groves, Karen Marotz, Gisele Pomerleau, Lynn Copeland
BRS Users' Group
Kristina Long
CAUT Librarians' Conference
Elaine Fairey
IASSIST Conference
Walter Piovesan
IFLA Conference on Interlending and Document Supply
Elaine Fairey
Innovative Users Group (Oakland, California)
Mary Harris
Internet World (Toronto)
Dave Binkley, Lynn Copeland
STAFF TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT
Conferences Attended: (continued)
Northwest Innovative Interfaces Users Group Workshop (Portland, Oregon)
Moninder Bubber, Lynn Copeland, Mary Harris, Gisele Pomerleau, Jack Rogers
Recovery of the Public Word:A Conference in Honour of the Poetry and Poetics of Robin Blaser
Gene Bridwell, Percilla Groves, Charles Watts
Special Libraries Association
Marjorie Nelles
W3 for Libraries (Fredericton)
Lynn Copeland, Walter Piovesan
Provincial, National and International Library Committees:
BC Library Foundation--Lynn Copeland, Chair
BCLA Director--Percilla Groves
BCLA Conference Programme Committee -Elaine Fairey
BCLA Continuing Education Committee --Karen Marotz
BCLA Information Policy Committee--Percilla Groves
BCLA Multitype Libraries - Lynn Copeland
COPPUL Systems Group--Lynn Copeland
COPPUL Collections Committee--Sharon Thomas
Data Liberation Initiative Advisory Committee -- Walter Piovesan
ELN (Electronic Library Network) Advisory Committee--Ted Dobb
ELN Host Sites Technical Committee - Lynn Copeland
ELN/Interlink Multitype Libraries' Committee - Lynn Copeland
ELN Reference Working Group--Percilla Groves
ELN Resource Sharing Implementation Task Group --Todd Mundle
ELN Strategic Planning Session -Ted Dobb, Todd Mundle, Lynn Copeland
ICPSR Representative for SFU--Walter Piovesan
Library Foundation of British Columbia--Lynn Copeland
Recovery of the Public Word: A Conference in Honour of the Poetry and Poetics of Robin Blaser Organizing Committee--Charles Watts
Shastri Library Committee-- Moninder Bubber
STAFF TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT
Presentations Given:
Lynn Copeland "Negotiating Electronic Database Licences with Vendors" , Internet World (Toronto) January 1996
Elaine Fairey, "Document Suppliers: Who's Using Them and Why?" Canadian Library Association Conference (Calgary) June 1995
Elaine Fairey, for Lynn Copeland "User Initiated Document Requesting" IFLA Conference on Interlending and Document Supply (Calgary) June 1995
Karen Marotz, "Electronic Reference Desk", BCLA Conference (Victoria) May 1995
Walter Piovesan, "Accessing CANSIM data over the World Wide Web", Canadian Library Association Conference (Calgary) June 1995
Walter Piovesan, "Net Culture", Canadian Library Association Conference (Calgary) June 1995
Walter Piovesan "Web-Based Access to Data", W3 for Libraries (University of New Brunswick) October 1995
Ralph Stanton, "Early History of the Printed Book", SFU Publishing 801 Guest Lecture
Staff Publications:
Lynn Copeland, "'Audrey Grosch. Library Information Technology and Networks.' Review", CJILS, v.20 no.3/4 Sept/Dec, 1995.
Ralph Stanton, Aldus Pius Manutius, publisher of Renaissance Venice, an exhibition to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Aldine Press. Burnaby: SFU Libraries, 1995.
REFERENCE DIVISION --- W.A.C. Bennett Library
The Reference Division provides research assistance to all members of the University community. In 1995/96, advances in the availability of information via the Internet and the World Wide Web continued to revolutionize the way faculty and staff conduct research. The Innovative Interfaces library computer system was well received by all researchers, who were able to use its key features with little instruction. Many students continued to require assistance from librarian intermediaries with the wide variety of interfaces to indexes, abstracts and other catalogues available in CD-ROM, online, and via the Internet. The number of queries recorded at the central service point on the Fifth Floor climbed by 9.4% this year. A study of "roving reference" service conducted in Spring 1996, indicated that students responded very positively to the reference librarians' offers of assistance at the computers.
REFERENCE DIVISION --- W.A.C. Bennett Library
Librarians continue, on request, to search databases offered via commercial vendors, but the demand for this service continues to fall as increasing numbers of users indicate a preference to perform their own searches in the proliferating selection of free-access databases. In 1991/92, over one thousand online searches were performed by librarians for students and faculty, compared to only twenty-six searches in 1995/1996. As a point of comparison, in the single month of March 1996, over 128,244 connections were made to catalogues and databases availablle through the SFU Libraries' computer services, including 24,146 connections to databases with the BRS interface, 10,723 connections to databases on the CD-ROM network, and 6,451 connections to databases accessible via ERL. A connection on average represents more than one search.
Providing information about and promotion of the library services available to students and faculty is also a function of the Reference Division. Two issues of SFULIB: Simon Fraser University Library Information Bulletin were produced. All signs in the W.A.C. Bennett Library were revised to incorporate standard names for areas of the library. Planning efforts during 1995/96, concentrated on preparations for the move of the Reference Division service desk and collection to the third floor at the end of the Fall Semester 1996. Detailed shelving arrangements were drawn, and the print reference collection was weeded to ensure that only current materials would be moved.
Each librarian in the Reference Division liaises with faculty in one or more academic departments, informing faculty of the collections and services offered by the library, and ensuring that faculty concerns are communicated to the appropriate division of the library. Some departments include the liaison librarian in the departmental meetings, while others include the librarian in the users' group meetings. Subject assignments in the division were reorganized in Summer Semester 1995, following the retirement of two librarians and the departure of a third on extended sick leave.
Classes preparing students for specific library assignments and for library research in general are offered by reference librarians on request. The Computer Seminar Room on the Fourth Floor of the Library, equipped with a new colour projector and sixteen computers, has expanded our ability to offer presentations which involve the user in the learning process. Several librarians have honed their teaching skills through the Instructional Skills Workshop offered by the Centre for University Teaching. General tours of the building are no longer offered; a clarified Library Floor Plan is made available at the entrance to the building.
Reference Division --- W.A.C. Bennett Library
The Fine Arts Room offers collections of slides and sound recordings for use by members of the university community. In Fall and Spring Semester 1995/96 staffing of the room by temporary library assistants was initiated in order to provide a maximum number of service hours at the Reference Desk. Queries related to research strategies were referred to the Reference Desk. Users appreciated the extended hours and no complaints about the need to consult a second service point were received.
The Maps Room makes available a collection of general and topographical maps. A modest increase in queries (3.8%) was recorded in the first full year following relocation of this service to expanded quarters on the Seventh Floor of the Library. Initial plans for offering Geographical Information Systems data through the Maps Room were revisited; the service is now to be offered through the Research Data Library.
The Microforms collection offers monographs and serials in a variety of micro formats: film, fiche, card and cassette. After a marked increase (82.3%) in the number of queries at the service desk in this area in 1994/95, there was a decline of 36.6% in 1995/96, probably because staff were available for fewer hours at the desk, having been reallocated to other duties.
The Telebook service provides delivery of articles, books and videos to students enrolled in Distance Education courses who live outside the Lower Mainland. The course packages are intended to be self-sufficient; the books and articles sent to these students are supplementary to the required readings. Videos are available for students who live outside the range of the broadcast or who missed the initial presentation of the programme. Following the introduction of the new library computer system some procedures were streamlined, which allowed reallocation of staff.
Two students from the School of Library Archival and Information Science at the University of British Columbia completed the cataloguing of the collection of the Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology in a for-credit project supervised by a reference librarian.
Samuel and Frances Belzberg Library
During the past year, the Samuel and Frances Belzberg Library has continued to enhance the services and resources offered to the faculty, staff and students of Simon Fraser University at Harbour Centre. Belzberg Library has used innovative technology to expand the collections and staff of a small branch library by delivering the resources of the world to patrons' computers and by teaching users to become increasingly self-
Samuel and Frances Belzberg Library
sufficient at searching and requesting information. Additional emphasis has been placed on individual assistance to better meet the needs of busy students and faculty downtown. At the same time, Belzberg Library's staff of two full-time and two part-time librarians, and three library assistants (two at Harbour Centre and one in Burnaby) have maintained a full range of library public services. Available 60 hours per week, these include reference, instruction, circulation, reserves and delivery of material from the main Bennett Library in Burnaby and from other libraries.
The shift to more self-serve options, remote use of the library, and individual instruction has resulted in changes in the use of the library. In 1995/96, there was a slight decrease to 42,965 in the number of general library enquiries. This can be explained in part by a 4.2% drop in undergraduate enrollment at Harbour Centre. However, it is also a result of the increase in resources users can access from home or office as well as the number of functions, such as book and journal requests, patrons can do themselves. Staff are therefore able to devote more time to one-on-one assistance in addition to processing the greater numbers of books and journals which have been requested. Use by people within the library is also changing. Over 176,000 people came into Belzberg Library last year, a rise of almost 10% over the previous year. Many of the additional patrons are not affiliated with SFU; they are students from nearby private colleges, downtown business people and community users who come to the library to study and browse the collections. This use of the library is consistent with Harbour Centre's goal of reaching out to the community and becoming a centre of learning in downtown Vancouver.
One of the new technologies which Belzberg Library, and the SFU Libraries generally, has embraced is the World Wide Web. "The Kiosk" uses web technology to provide access to information about the library, allow users to search the catalogue and other databases, and link to Internet sites relevant to their discipline. Developed by Library Systems, the Kiosk was first tested at Belzberg Library in September 1995 and is now available at computers downtown and in Burnaby or directly at: http://www.lib.sfu.ca. Librarians at Belzberg did much of the initial work in creating documents for the Kiosk. These include descriptions of all SFU databases, links to useful Internet resources such as dictionaries, statistics and journals, and a home-page for Belzberg Library complete with clickable map (http://www.harbour.sfu.ca/belzberg /belzberg.htm). The coming year will see the completion of guides to web resources for Gerontology, Publishing and Liberal Studies as part of the Belzberg librarians' formal faculty liaison responsibilities for Harbour Centre programs.
In addition to web technology, Belzberg Library has used e-mail to enrich services. In September 1995, an e-mail reference service was introduced. This allows students, staff and faculty to send questions and receive assistance from a librarian via e-mail. Librarians at Belzberg have assumed the responsibility of answering or
Samuel and Frances Belzberg Library
referring questions for the entire library system and respond to an average of 52 questions a month. Although the volume is currently a small portion of total reference questions, responding generally takes more staff time but offers users the benefit of individual service at their convenience.
A trend to individual and small group assistance is also apparent in library instruction. Although fewer students than last year participated in library instruction, the number of sessions increased. This is a result of more hands-on instruction in the computing labs and the introduction of individual consultations. In response to the needs of students in the Executive MBA program, Belzberg Library initiated an appointment service which allows the student a 30 minute uninterrupted session with a reference librarian at a pre-arranged time. Students are instructed on database searching and document requesting and advised on the best sources for their specific topic. The service has been very well-received and the library plans to expand it to other graduate programs at Harbour Centre.
Both electronic and print collections at Belzberg Library have been augmented in 1995/96. In addition to acquisitions in business, liberal studies, and gerontology, resources in writing and publishing have been added to support the Masters in Publishing program. Belzberg Library also maintains a core reference collection, reserves for downtown courses and over 800 journals, most on microfilm. The Belzberg Library Endowment Fund continues to grow with the goal of eventually funding a portion of acquisitions expenditures.
As the collections available to Harbour Centre patrons have expanded, they have also been increasingly used. In 1995/96, circulation rose by over 15%. Some of the growth can be attributed to more material at Belzberg as demonstrated by the 7.5% rise in books and journals consulted on site. However, even greater use has been made of material from the Bennett Library in Burnaby with a 20% increase in the number of items delivered to students downtown. This is due primarily to enhanced technology which allows Belzberg patrons to place online requests for books and journal articles from Bennett Library and UBC. Items are then shipped daily from Burnaby. Additional document delivery options for Belzberg patrons include ordering articles from Carl/Uncover to a fax machine, online Interlibrary Loan forms, and OJAC journal requesting from BC colleges and universities. In Fall 1995, the UMI Powerpages service was implemented. This provides fax delivery of articles from the ABI/Inform business database to Belzberg Library within 30 minutes of request. Full-text document access will be further expanded by SFU Libraries' participation as a development partner in BH Blackwell's electronic journals project to deliver over 200 academic journals via the web.
The enhancements of the past year have enabled Belzberg Library to better meet the needs of the Harbour Centre campus. While expansion in future will be more challenging without additional resources, the achievements of 1995/96, provide a strong foundation of library services, technology and collections on which to build.
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