TRLN has a unique opportunity to lead in the
creation of innovative digital collections and services for the
twenty-first century. Our new direction will include several areas of
emphasis:
Provide interactive user services and
new tools to "search TRLN": We will explore using Endecas'sŪ
"faceted browsing" software across all TRLN collections to provide a
seamless search and request environment for faculty and students on each
campus. Endeca
Implementation Steering Committee
Archive efficiently and permanently:
TRLN will sponsor an "opt-in" model for archiving a single print copy of
long journal runs. TRLN also will support LOCKSS (Lots of Copies Keep
Stuff Safe), Portico, and other initiatives to ensure a permanent
archive of electronic scholarly content.
Single
Copy Task Group | LOCKSS |
Portico
Build large-scale digital collections:
We will seek to expose the wealth of print resources in our collections
by participating in one or more mass digitization efforts.
Develop library leaders for the
digital future: TRLN will develop and host a management training
institute to address our common workforce planning issue--demographic
data point to the necessity to prepare new leaders for this new
environment. TRLN
Management Academy
Lead a national copyright education
initiative: TRLN will play a leadership role in the Association of
Research Libraries' (ARL) copyright education initiative, supporting our
communities in asserting their full rights under the law.
ARL: Know Your Copy Rights
Develop large-scale data storage and
analysis through a RENCI/TUCASI partnership: TRLN will help to
identify researchers on each campus and collaborate to develop and test
a prototype digital asset environment to further share research
strengths and increase our institutions' competitiveness.
RENCI
The consortium is uniquely suited for a
major digital library leadership initiative based on the size of our
combined collections; our notable reputation for excellence in library
cooperation, policy development, and innovative sponsored projects; the
strong expertise of our staff; and the sustained commitment of resources
from institutional leaders who see libraries as pivotal to achieving their
vision for greatness. Our libraries
and institutions are undergoing dramatic and profound changes that affect
how we will carry out our missions in this century, and the expectations
of the networked academic communities that we serve are accelerating
rapidly. While we have a strong record of accomplishment as a consortium,
it is not enough to simply continue doing what we have done well, nor even
to improve upon it incrementally. Instead, we must build upon our strong
foundation of cooperation to forge a new and compelling vision: an
integrated suite of digital services and content that will engage
tomorrow's students and faculty as both users and creators of scholarly
content. Accordingly, TRLN proposes a
major initiative to build the digital TRLN. Its aim is to design
and create a digital knowledge and research environment characterized by
intelligent, interactive user services and tools that facilitate access to
large, multifaceted collections. These collections are growing to
encompass greatly expanded digital content and a variety of disciplinary
data, content that originates both within the universities and from
external sources. TRLN will encourage sustainable publishing models and
assist our faculty in managing their copyright. We also recognize the
importance and necessity of preparing tomorrow's library leaders in
a rapidly changing world, and we are committed to providing opportunities
for professional learning and development that are informed by the
consortium's shared initiatives. TRLN
makes this commitment to the future of integrated digital content and
services with the recognition of the inherent ambiguity in such an
endeavor. We will proceed opportunistically, pursuing grants and external
resources where possible and engaging outside expertise where appropriate.
Core values and programs:
TRLN (Duke University, North Carolina State University, the University of
North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and North Carolina Central University) is
one of the oldest consortia in the country. The hallmark of cooperation
among the four universities has been a highly successful cooperative
collection development program. A recent analysis of collection overlap
validated the continuing success of this program, demonstrating that there
is little duplication across institutions and a high degree of uniqueness
in the respective collections. With the licensing of electronic content,
the cooperation has expanded to include electronic resources. These shared
collections are made available to users from any TRLN library in person
through reciprocal borrowing arrangements, and through electronic and
hard-copy document delivery arrangements. Another of TRLN's strengths is
the broad range of staff development, continuing education, and training
opportunities that are offered locally and attended widely by all levels
of staff. |
