Interview with James L. Mullins
The libraries of tomorrow: Purdue's Dean of Libraries outlines vision for future
Last summer, James L. Mullins was appointed dean of
Libraries by the Purdue University Board of Trustees, and on July 1, 2004, he
began his tenure as fifth director of the Purdue Libraries. Along with the new
leadership, a new vision for the Libraries began to take shape. The following
is an interview with the dean conducted by freelance writer Angie Roberts.
Q: How have libraries, in general, evolved to the present
form over the past century, and what has been the historical philosophy driving
Purdue Libraries?
A: Purdue Libraries are well positioned to make dramatic
strides forward during the early part of the 21st century. The face of the
libraries at Purdue University changed dramatically in the 20th century, laying
the foundation for an exciting new 21st century vision.
Early in the 20th century, many monumental academic
library buildings were constructed. In 1912, such a library facility was built
at Purdue to meet the needs of the University by centralizing all functions and
resources under one roof. After the second World War, as universities
considered how to confront the explosive growth of library collections and
services, some chose to expand the centralized building concept, while others
chose to decentralize functions into a variety of small, specialized libraries.
The latter was chosen by Purdue. During the 1940s and 50s, nearly 30 branch
libraries came into being on the Purdue campus.
Q: Did technology play a role in the evolution of the
Libraries?
A: Yes, Libraries also began to undergo changes in
response to emerging technologies. Thirty years ago, every academic library, no
matter what the discipline, looked the same since the majority of the resources
were print. Today, the sophisticated technologies available to libraries serve
the increasingly diverse needs of patrons by providing greater accessibility to
specific types of information, whether in digital format, microform, or print.
The mix of these formats is now determined by the discipline or disciplines
served.
Q: With this history in mind, what should the goal be for
the Purdue Libraries for the next ten years?
A: Our goal must be to bring to the Purdue community,
libraries that most effectively meet the unique requirements of each discipline
while recognizing the growth of interdisciplinary collaboration. Our envisioned
emphasis within the libraries on an interdisciplinary focus parallels the move
toward interdisciplinary research and instruction within
the University, a key element in the University's
strategic plan.
Q: How did you arrive at this goal in such a short period
of time?
A: Soon after arriving on campus I heard from students
and faculty of the need to reduce the number of libraries. I heard accounts of
having to visit five or six, and sometimes as many as ten libraries on campus
to retrieve research materials. This is obviously not efficient use of the time
of our students or faculty.
The current fourteen decentralized libraries must be
taken to an optimal number of interdisciplinary libraries, most likely four
with two or three branch libraries. This merger into fewer facilities blends
well with the interdisciplinary focus by combining resources and services by
increasing accessibility to our faculty and students.
Q: How has technology affected the access to library
resources; hasn't computer access reduced the need for print collections?
A: Technological advancements have brought many library
resources to the individual's desktop computer, reducing the need for immediate
access, which had been the intent behind the decentralized, branch library
system. However, even with such advancements, many resources still remain in
print format only, requiring state-of-the-art library facilities to house,
provide access, and preserve these important resources.
Q: Will this change the way the Libraries store the print
collections?
A: Yes, it is quite possible. Another use of technology
in the 21st century library is high-density storage and robotic retrieval that
provides highly efficient storage of printed materials. Volumes are stored in
boxes that are placed on shelving that can be as high as 30 to 60 feet. When an
item is requested, a robot retrieves the box containing the item and delivers
it immediately to a service point. This is especially efficient for science and
engineering library materials which, for the most part, are comprised of long
runs of periodicals and where browsing is less an issue. Extraordinary
efficiencies can be achieved using this system, requiring a smaller building "footprint" while housing these important materials on campus.
Implementing this type of high-density storage for
science and engineering materials would free up space in the Hicks Library.
This would provide an opportunity for more open stacks for the humanities and
social sciences collections, disciplines that traditionally are more
book-oriented and benefit from browsing and serendipity.
Q: If the number of libraries on campus were reduced,
would there be savings and benefits to the students and faculty?
A: Centralization of library facilities and resources
would bring efficiencies to the operation of the libraries by reducing
redundant service points at the multiple locations. We've seen a similar
decision made on campus by food services with the creation of several central
dining facilities rather than a dining facility for each residence hall. There
are many services that the Libraries wish to provide, but with our current
rather costly decentralized structure, it is not possible. By reducing
redundancy we could reinstate article-scanning for faculty and provide new
services, such as delivery of requested books and journals to an individual's
office.
Q: How has your career prepared you to meet the challenge
of developing a vision for the Purdue Libraries?
A: Although I hate to think about this, I have been a
librarian for over 30 years. When I began my career, there was no technology in
libraries; we worked with card catalogs and everything was in paper or
microform. There was a static quality that I'm not sure I would have enjoyed
for long. My years at Indiana University, Villanova University, and, most
recently, Massachusetts Institute of Technology have given me, I hope, insight
into what the next 10 years must hold for libraries, and especially, of course,
the Purdue Libraries.
Today, a new world of opportunity awaits. We could have
not envisioned this new world 30 years ago ... institutional digital repositories,
open access to scholarly communication, joint sponsored research opportunities,
information instruction and research, digitization of special collections, the
list goes on and on.
Q: What insights have you gained from your years of
experience that support you in your new role as head of the library system?
A: Not only must there be a commitment to the provision
of quality services for
the University community; libraries must be a place where
students can gather to research, to learn and study, and to spend time in a
collegial, informal setting where the sharing of information can ensue.
Q: How do you determine what students, faculty, and
library staff need?
A: Listening to the users of our libraries is key to
development of our vision for the Purdue Libraries. To elicit opinions
I created two student advisory councils representing both
undergraduate and graduate students.
Soon after arriving I began a series of extensive
meetings with library faculty and staff, deans, department heads, and entire
school and departmental faculties. Also, the University Senate Library
Committee, comprised of faculty representing most colleges and schools on
campus, has been invaluable in helping form this vision.
Q: What do you see as key to achieving this vision?
A: The vision for the future of Purdue's libraries rests
on the creation of new venues to most effectively bring the resources needed
for new types of learning - an exciting opportunity, indeed, for students,
faculty, and the staff of the Libraries.
A creative and dynamic vision for the Purdue University
Libraries is absolutely critical to take the Libraries to the next level of
excellence, thus assuring that our students and faculty are supported in their
discovery, learning, and engagement endeavors by library resources, services,
and facilities that are world-class in every respect.
