Standard 5.A.1 – Purpose and Scope

5.A.1 The institution’s information resources and services include sufficient holdings, equipment, and personnel in all of its libraries, instructional media and production centers, computer centers, networks, telecommunication facilities, and other repositories of information to accomplish the institution’s mission and goals.

Lead Bloggers: Suzanne/Candace

In addressing this indicator, the following questions were addressed.

Does the library have a mission statement, was it easy to locate, and if so, does it relate well to the institutional mission?

The Library’s Mission statement is easily found on the Library Website at www.umhelena.edu/library under the “Library Mission” link. The mission statement is as follows.

The mission of the Library at University of Montana – Helena is to enhance instruction and learning by providing resources and access to information in support of the college’s programs.

The Library assists students in achieving success and contributes to the educational process by maintaining a balanced collection of materials in a variety of formats and by providing knowledgeable staff to help patrons with their information needs.

The Library also exists to foster the broader educational ideals of life-long learning, information literacy, and intellectual freedom to the college and the greater Helena community.

The Library’s mission statement follows closely the mission statement for UM-H. That mission statement is found on page 2 of the 2008-2009 course catalog.

The University of Montana - Helena College of Technology promotes lifelong educational

goals of learners, supports workforce development needs of employers, and

fosters com­munity involvement by providing a substantive, responsible, and accessible

learning environment.

Do we have instructional media or instructional production in our library?

The library’s instructional media consists of dvd’s and videos, some AV equipment, remote access to library website which links to data bases, PowerPoint presentations on how to use the library, reserve collections, and, of course, its collection of books, journals and magazines, newspapers, electronic books, electronic books, journals, and newspapers. The librarian is very willing to create displays at instructors’ requests.

The library does not have any instructional production equipment in the library.

Do we have a computer center in our library? Networks? Telecommunications? Copier, Scanner? Is there equipment that the library lacks that would enhance our services?

The library has a computer center for online research that has five computers with one being housed at a table that is handicapped accessible. The five computers have no software on them other than that needed to go online, search the card catalog and print out a bibliography or research material. These computers have access to the library network. The library also shares the school’s wireless network, and guests are provided with directions for log-on.
The library houses a copier that students can use for .05 cents a page. There is no fax or scanner in the library. These two are needed to help students do research, produce materials for classes, and to help them communicate with various outside groups. These two things would enhance the library’s ability to serve students.

Are our resources sufficient to support our stated mission? If not, where are we lacking,(ie. lifelong learning). How do our electronic resources relate to our print collection?

The librarian works with program faculty to make sure that the book collection and journal collection meet the needs of the programs. Faculty members are invited to suggest new books and journals and to help cull outdated works. For example, in order to receive Board of Nursing approval, the nursing department has to have access to current and appropriate books and journals in the library. The book collection and the electronic data bases sufficiently support the nursing program needs. Other areas need to grow.

The trades programs, housed at the airport campus, have access to the electronic materials and the book catalog through faculty computers and student computer labs. However, there is not a branch of the library on that campus. The library holdings have good and updated books and journals that support the trades, and the trades faculty have input into ordering and culling of books and journals.

Patrons have good access to collections at the Donaldson campus. They also can access most Montana library collections through the library website and the University of Montana libraries through the card catalog. Books and journal articles are easily obtained through interlibrary loans. The data bases provide excellent access to collections in general areas, in the sciences, in business, in arts and humanities, in nursing, in history and public affairs, in the trades, in career areas, and in computers. Newspaper and specialized and general encyclopedias are offered as well through the electronic holdings.

For lifelong learning, the library website highlights websites of general interest: medical, zip codes, Montana, Native Americans, and so on. The collection lacks good fiction and non-fiction that would be used for recreational or lifelong learning opportunities beyond those required by the programs and their instructors. Some recreational reading books are available for downloading in audio format. The library is beginning to gather some self-help books that help students promote good physical, mental, and financial health.

Program needs and the needs of lifelong education could be better supported by the library being open more hours per week, by having professional librarians or technicians and not work study students operating the library in the evening hours. More trained personnel would allow the library to open earlier in the morning and for longer hours over the weekends. Currently, the library is open during fall and spring semesters on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 pm Monday through Thursday, and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and for some Saturday hours during the second half of the semesters. During breaks and the summer, the library is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

What library services/activities, if any, support the cultural development of students?

The library’s holding include books, journals, and electronic media about many cultures; the library often creates displays that coincide with cultural events on campus. For example, for Montana’s American Indian Heritage day, the library puts together a display of its books on Montana tribes. When the Diversity Committee sponsored a deaf culture panel discussion, the library displayed its holdings on deaf culture.

The library also hosts art exhibits and book discussions; these all contribute to the cultural life of our students.

In summary, our library does well with its limited budget, personnel, and physical space. The library offers basic services: a book collection and journal collection focused on UM-Helena programs; electronic access to databases that support the programs; a limited computer center; a copier; a variety of videos and dvd’s, some reference materials; available wireless internet; and one professionally trained research and administrative librarian and one library technician. The library does not offer video and audio equipment beyond a projector and some laptops, nor does it offer a production center, nor a copying center. It is not a repository for state or federal materials. Its collection of lifelong learning materials needs to be enhanced as does its collection of books aimed at helping students maintain mental, physical, and financial health.

The library’s physical holdings along with its electronic holdings and the choices made for each uphold the library’s mission, especially where its programs are concerned.