The State of the Library

Dean Dana Rooks outside the M.D. Anderson Library

Two years ago, I assumed the role of Dean of Libraries after seventeen years of visionary leadership by Robin Downes. When I accepted this position, I could only hope to continue his level of success. I believe that the University of Houston Libraries are maintaining and, in some instances, exceeding our past accomplishments thanks to the talent, the dedication, the incredible competence and the unwavering devotion to service exhibited by all the members of the libraries' staff. In this forum I can only highlight a few examples of the progress the libraries and its staff have made in these last two years. Many more achievements could be included, space permitting.

When I began my tenure as dean, I have to admit that I already had some of the cards stacked in my favor. I came to the position with the benefit of the best administrative team in the business working with me. Since then, we have only strengthened that team by hiring an incredibly talented group of new librarians and staff who have made major contributions to many areas of the library.

Our interlibrary loan operation remains one of the top twenty net lenders in the nation. Bibliographic services has processed scores of government document backlogs and has worked diligently in order to make these materials accessible. Serials accomplished a significant feat this fiscal year by processing $2 million worth of vendor invoices before Christmas. Work flow efficiency has improved due to the implementation of electronic ordering in our Acquisitions Department. The automatic importation of the university's student registration database into our patron file has eliminated the need for students to complete a registration form at the circulation desk. Our Systems Department recently converted all computers in the library to a Windows NT environment without taking all the computers offline. Information Services has added, within the last two years, 35 new electronic databases to the Electronic Publications Center.

I am happy to report that the libraries continue to expand around campus. In July of 1997, the new Music Library opened in the beautiful Moores School of Music Building. This was followed by the Jagdish Mehra Collection facility's opening in Spring, 1998.

Despite all the successes we have had in the last two years, they cannot compete with the promise of the future. Since 1983, the library has approached each administration at UH to request additional space. In 1998, we were awarded $25 million dollars, the largest allocation in university history, to expand the M.D. Anderson Library. Although we are incredibly grateful for this money, the library's master plan envisions a $41 million facility to meet current and future needs for generations of students and an increasingly research-oriented faculty. President Smith has committed his support to help the libraries identify external funding in order to close this gap.

The University of Houston Libraries have a bright and challenging future ahead. Together we will continue a leadership role within the campus, the State of Texas, and the nation to meet our mission of providing information resources and services to our students and faculty of the highest quality and at the lowest possible cost.

Dana Rooks, Dean of Libraries