Strategic Priorities

Mission

The Consortium leads Illinois academic libraries to create and sustain a rich, supportive, and diverse knowledge environment that furthers teaching, learning, and research through the sharing of collections, expertise and programs.

CARLI Strategic Priorities 2008-2010

CARLI remains fully committed to fulfilling its established mission, and will thoughtfully balance ongoing support and development of critical existing services and programs with the pursuit of excellence and innovation, as embodied in the following ambitious strategic priorities.

CARLI reaffirms its commitment to resource sharing, through the continued maintenance and development of its integrated library management system, and the provision of meaningful electronic resources, through brokering, subsidization and cost-sharing agreements. While identifying and planning new initiatives defined by the strategic priorities, CARLI will seek to actively expand the participation of qualified libraries in I-Share. Emphasis will be placed on clarifying and communicating the value of CARLI to members and their stakeholders.

Collaboration and Leadership

Facilitate effective communication around members’ needs.
Catalyze communication and evaluation of emerging trends.
Develop leaders by embracing new models of participation for staff in CARLI libraries.
Investigate an increase in CARLI staffing levels and funding capabilities to strengthen leadership strategies and customer support services to members.
Enhance and expand the visibility of CARLI in partnership with member libraries through various means such as marketing, white papers, or conference presentations.
Educate member libraries on issues, innovations, services and best practices for physical and digital collections.

Innovation

Foster a climate of experimentation and acceptable risk through piloting new technologies and services, balancing rapid implementation with appropriate consultation.
Explore ways to provide seamless integration of disparate content discovery tools.
Explore opportunities to work with outside organizations to improve services.
Encourage and support innovation and experimentation in member libraries.

Resource Sharing

Broaden access to CARLI member collections through digitization and other means.
Explore alternatives to physical delivery.
Improve time from request to delivery to 2-3 days within CARLI.
Work toward establishing standardized transaction times and loan periods within I-Share.

E-Resources

Create clear, realizable, consortial licensing principles to guide CARLI and member libraries in effective negotiations.
Educate member libraries on techniques and best practice for e-resource negotiations.
Work with other consortia and publishers to create new models for e-resource acquisitions.