Library Units Overview - Fall 2025 Updates

Access & Engagement Unit

Objective 1: Facilitate Course Reserves

• 109 courses using course reserves (slightly fewer faculty, slightly more classes than last fall)
• 84 faculty/instructors using Course Reserves
• 7,897 students enrolled in courses using Course Reserves
• 295 course reserves items circulated
• 1,117 course reserves items viewed (CDL items)
• 6 additional ebook licenses purchased based on turnaway notifications
• Estimated cost-savings: $685,802.60

Objective 2: Review and Maintain Physical Stacks

• Binder project (shelf reading) on fourth floor nearly complete
• GSCC adopted new science curriculum
• 503 physical items pulled for mending
• 44 physical items mis-shelved

Objective 3: Point-of-Need Services

• Significant changes: reference desk moved to second floor, rebranded as “Research Help” desk
• New reference coordinator hired
• Loaner laptops expanded from 28 to 80+
• 3,831 recorded Circ Desk transactions
• Reference interactions: 1,106 Research Help desk interactions
• 59-66% transactions READ 2 or above (slightly lower than fall 2024’s 68%)

Objective 4: Timely Building Access

• Total Main Library space reservations: 1,484 (may be influenced by water-damaged 1st floor study room)
• Reservable space booking hours by month: Aug (343), Sept (1,709), Oct (1,571), Nov (521), Dec (567)
• Gate counts (people IN): Aug (11,868), Sept (44,036), Oct (42,137), Nov (27,054), Dec (24,499)

Objective 5: Reference Model Pilot Project

• Research Help Desk moved to 2nd floor
• Preliminary data showed no drastic change in READ 2+ questions, though overall questions declined
• Desk remaining on second floor for spring 2026

Metrics:

• Courses using reserves: 109
• Faculty/instructors: 84
• Students in courses: 7,897
• Reserves circulations: 295
• CDL views: 1,117
• Ebook licenses purchased: 6
• Cost-savings: $685,802.60
• Items pulled for mending: 503
• Mis-shelved items: 44
• Circ transactions: 3,831
• Research Help interactions: 1,106
• READ 2+ percentage: 59-66%
• Space reservations: 1,484
• Total gate count: 149,594

Discovery & Acquisitions Unit

Objective 1: Acquire and Maintain Resources

• POLs created: 32 ebooks, 0 ejournals, 303 physical books, 23 scores, 1 physical journal, 15 e-videos, 5 DVDs
• 2 electronic collections added
• 1,642 unavailable portfolios fixed or deleted
• 648 item records added
• Gobi API set up (adds holdings to Gobi, sends EDI invoices to Alma)
• No items sent to bindery (due to large batch in Fall 2024)
• ~450 donated items processed (primarily Leonard Garrison donation, student work)
• 99 lost item records removed from Alma
• Documentation developed for lost list process
• 3rd floor cleanup: 200 volumes boundwith, 140 items received barcodes
• 25-35 serials items checked for holdings accuracy
• Alyssa Hamburger hired as Copy Cataloging Assistant
• First section of Forest Service Pacific Northwest Collection preservation inventory completed and submitted to FDLP
• Continued processing Special Collection’s Kolln materials (~142 items in first batch)

Objective 2: Monitor Electronic Collections

• Provided CPU data and FY projections to Collections Team monthly, at least one month before renewals
• Data collected and reported for 58 subscriptions (Aug-Dec 2025)
• Collections Team reduced expected inflation by $163,309.17 (initial target: $33,985.71)
• Total cancellations identified: $197,294.88, bringing FY2026 cancellations to $202,724.88
• Cancelled subscriptions average FY25 CPU: $32.65
• Renewed subscriptions average FY25 CPU: $9.65
• Created reports detailing acquisition costs and circulation for ebook firm orders by liaison fund
• Unit Head will update and send reports periodically

Objective 3: Monitor Print Resources

• Began project evaluating print serials holdings for relevance and uniqueness
• Second floor and basement serials evaluated, prioritizing area near computer lab
• Emailed 6 other WEST libraries about holdings; withdrawing/updating in progress
• Project continues spring 2026, targeting summer 2026 for final withdrawals
• Created reports for print approval plan titles by LC range and print firm orders by liaison fund
• Reports to be updated periodically by Unit Head

Objective 4: Resource Sharing

• Implemented Rapido for Interlibrary Loan
• Jeremy Hixson hired as ILL Supervisor
• ILL loan borrowing up 53.6% from 2024 to 994 (possibly due to increased Primo visibility beyond Alliance)
• Article borrowing dropped 11% to 842
• Summit borrowing requests grew 45% to 6,774, but fill rate dropped from 95% to 83% (needs investigation)
• Summit lending grew 47% to 5,619, but fill rate dropped 15% (needs investigation)

Metrics:

• POLs created: 379 total (breakdown by type above)
• Electronic collections added: 2
• Portfolios fixed/deleted: 1,642
• Item records added: 648
• Donated items processed: ~450
• Lost records removed: 99
• Boundwith volumes: 200
• Barcodes added: 140
• Serials checked: 25-35
• Subscriptions reviewed: 58
• Cancellations: $202,724.88 saved
• Cancelled avg CPU: $32.65
• Renewed avg CPU: $9.65
• ILL loan borrowing: 994 (+53.6%)
• Article borrowing: 842 (-11%)
• Summit borrowing: 6,774 (+45%, fill rate 83%)
• Summit lending: 5,619 (+47%, fill rate dropped 15%)

Digital Scholarship and Open Strategies Unit

Objective 1: Access and Preservation of Collections

• Planned new digital archive drive infrastructure with RCDS and Spec
• Established new authentication system with RCDS
• Created connection documentation and usage guidelines
• Collaborated on Verso archiving policy and workflow
• Led 3 new digital collections through launch/promotion checklist
• Andrew updated library living room screen with DC/CDIL highlights
• Normalized and cleaned standardized fields across collections to improve Search
• Added Idaho Country data for better audience service and discovery
• Improved Digital Collections data for management and aggregation
• Contributed to K-12 resources portal project
• Used Verso records and DOIs to document digital scholarship projects (19 DOIs summer, 2 fall)
• Redesigned web archive portal with “how to” content after main university website overhaul
• Helped migrate unique scholarly content from main university site and webpages server
• Developed accessibility expertise for new requirements
• Built script tools, organized/prioritized remediation, taught/documented processes
• Processed files and transcripts
• Published resource guides for PDFs, audio transcripts, and LibGuides
• Consulted across campus on accessibility (including CETL)

Objective 2: Collaborative Learning and Project Development

• Events: Hosted Library Fellowship showcase (4 student fellows), supported weekly MRIC and living room events, supported GIS Day and WAML Conference
• Fellowships: 1 IJC Jazz fellow started, 2 CDIL fellows wrapped up, Think Open on pause
• Reframed CDIL fellowships to welcome open publishing and OER projects
• Organized, centralized, and documented fellowship programs process
• Updated and normalized fellowships page data
• Supported classroom digital project with history course (Faculty Dev fellowship)
• Consulted with students about America250 digital projects
• Digital scholarship projects published:
  • “Mechanics and Aesthetics of Cello Playing” (Hugo Becker translation, Mirand Wilson)
  • “People’s Guide to the Inland Pacific Northwest” (history course students, Alyssa Kreikemeier)
  • “We are Nimíipuu - Nez Perce Indians” (recovery project, Rodney Frey)
  • “Campus Photograph Collection” (redesign/enrichment, Shelley Walker-Harmon)
  • Music Library catalog prototype (Nick Conner)
  • “America Election Denial” (public history exhibit, Jacob Bindley)

Objective 3: Open Publishing Infrastructure

• Leesa continued podcast interviews, outreach, training, and Studio/podcasting infrastructure
• Reviewed all Pressbooks for accessibility using new embedded tool, made improvements
• OAPF successfully spent funding period #1 money
• CollectionBuilder: completed Digital Librarian Cohort program, maintained external contacts, grant funding restored
• Developed workflows and policy for issuing DOIs for digital projects
• Minted new DOIs and Verso records for polished/published projects
• University of Idaho Press discussions: proposed press oriented to campus, explored models, met with contacts, considered policies/infrastructure, helped draft proposal

Metrics:

• Staff/faculty conversant with NDSA: 3
• Digital preservation levels report: 0
• Scholarly outputs produced: 6
• Pressbooks projects: 1
• Communications announcing new work: 8
• Fellowships: 1
• Fellowship applications: 1
• Public events: 1

Research & Experiential Learning Unit

Objective 1: Maximize User Engagement

• MILL door counts: 12,232 (down slightly from 12,650 fall 2024, but not significant)
• Data Hub usage: average nearly 7 people/day (down from ~9/day fall 2024)
• Data Hub desk questions: 32 (down 50% from 77 fall 2024, similar to 34 fall 2023) - significant decline, though recurring questions from same patrons were higher in past
• Studio bookings: 387 (up from 215 spring 2025, 141 fall 2024)
• Studio hours in use/week: 41.94 (up from 21.76 spring 2025, 13.5 fall 2024)

Objective 2: Effective Learning and Research Experiences

• Data Tech Talks: 4 talks given (1 cancelled), average 11 attendees (up from 7 average fall 2024 across 5 talks)
• GIS: Unit members planned WAML (Sept 2025) and GIS Day (Nov 2025)
• 2 Data Hub Levine Fellows sought and selected (work spring 2025)
• MILL workshops: 160 attendees (outpacing fall 2024’s 136)
• Make@theMILL: average 17.7 students/workshop
• Learn@theMILL: average 2.4 students/workshop
• License to MILL: 1 non-employee completed, 2 employees completed, 3 active working on it
• MILL social media: increased visits/views on Facebook and Instagram, Instagram reach increased, Facebook followers decreased
• MILL main page (fall vs spring 2025): 987 users/2,695 views (vs 950 users/2,832 views spring)
• Studio: updated web pages with new images, tutorials, how-to guides, expanded FAQ, troubleshooting
• Studio promotion: partnered with MarCom for print/digital materials, newsletter content, newspaper ad, faculty outreach email
• Studio Open House event held, promoted/started podcasting club, several high-profile appointments
• Course engagement:
  • MILL: visits from SPAN 2020, EHSS class, in-depth engagement with Apparel, Textiles, and Design
  • Data Hub: VTD 2540 use throughout semester, IIDS use, Tech Talks and Grad Student Essentials held in space

Objective 3: Manage Research Information and Data

• GIS platforms: average ~480 users/month (slight decrease from 492 fall 2024), other metrics stable
• Added two new GIS collections: Pahsimeroi River aerial imagery (2009), Weiser River Basin (2011)
• Added GIS-focused meeting following monthly Unit Meetings for discussing Esri license and ArcGIS Online management
• VERSO: added CDIL projects, ARGUS journal, enhancements to Extension materials
• Updated VERSO “homepages” for each unit with graphics, links, text
• Explored PDF remediation for upcoming accessibility requirements
• VERSO user updates: widespread profile updating throughout fall (triggered by university website change pointing to VERSO)
• Admin assistants and proxies updating profiles campus-wide
• Data management: 2 DMP consultations in fall (4 in summer)
• All data management webpages updated

Metrics:

• MILL bookings: 218
• Studio bookings: 387
• Web visits: VERSO (249,091), GIS (19,311), MILL (2,837), Data Services (527), Studio (1,207)
• Consultations: Studio (14), MILL (436), Data Hub (32)
• Instructional materials added: Studio (5)
• Class/research project appointments: Studio (141/387), Data Hub (17/32), MILL (29/218)
• Workshops: MILL Make (7), MILL Learn (15), Tech Talks (5)
• Campus partners: Studio (1 - Music)
• Studio new bookings: 92%
• Studio hours in use/week: 41.94
• Studio equipment circulations: 242
• GIS usage: Unique Users (2,404), New Users (344), Items Created (2,622), Unique Creators (507), Item Views (597,197)
• Data Hub GIS questions: 12/32
• Data Hub classes: 1 (VTD)
• Data Hub people count: 536 (excl. events), 1,054 (incl. events), 6.96 average
• MILL partnerships: 4
• Mobile MILL/tabling visitors: 375+
• Mobile MILL events: 3
• MILL door count: 12,232
• MILL Marketplace sales: 5 sales, $50 total

Special Collections and Archives

Objective 1: Curate Collections

• 43 new donations accessioned (Aug 1-Dec 31, 2025), including 1 purchase (CCC scrapbook from Idaho camp)
• Guidelines for appraising/accepting university faculty papers drafted, to be used/shared in 2026

Objective 2: Make Collections Easy to Find and Use

• 30 of 43 fall donations processed before year end (goal: process all under 3 cubic feet before shelving)
• 162 patron interactions Aug 1-Dec 31 (compared to 156 Jan 1-May 31)
• 143 finding aids added or updated in Archives West (Aug-Dec 2025)
• Total finding aid views: 18,633
• 2 major digital collections launched: Political Buttons Collection, Kibbie Dome 50th Anniversary

Objective 3: Demonstrate Importance of Archiving

• Archival instruction in 6 classes
• 1 workshop
• 1 one-credit workshop (aligned with Archival and Primary Source Library Literacy)
• 4 EtIL workshop sessions on archival practices/resources
• Head of Spec presented to 1 community group
• Created digital collection and physical banner for Kibbie Dome 50th anniversary
• Created display of archival objects for Smithsonian exhibit “Voices and Votes”
• 15 posts added to Idaho Harvester

Objective 4: Steward Collections Using Professional Standards

• No quote provided by SpaceSaver rep for carriage spacing issue
• Sandbags placed after fall water incursion to mitigate future events
• Digital storage adequate

Metrics:

• Extant finding aids: 1,451
• Finding aids added/updated: 143
• Patron interactions: 162 (33 university/129 non-university)
• Digital asset visits: Views (27,252), Active users (20,385) across special-collections and harvester properties
• Displays in building: 1 (political buttons with Smithsonian exhibit)
• Displays outside building: 1 (Kibbie Dome photos at University House)
• Exhibits hosted: 1 (Voices and Votes)
• Workshops offered: 4 EtIL, 1 invited presentation (INdigitizing History), 1 community presentation
• Classroom instruction: 6 sessions, 1 extended workshop instruction
• Fellowships: 4 summer (Strong x2, Wells, Baird), 1 fall (metadata)
• Digital archive GBs added: ~6.0
• Linear feet added: (metric being retired)

Comparative Data (Fall 24/Spring 25/Fall 25):

• Extant finding aids: 1,274/1,352/1,451
• Newly created: 70/78/99
• Modified: 14/43/44
• Archives West visits: 10,243/11,872/18,633
• Patron interactions: 105/164/162
• University/non-university: 32-73/46-118/33-129