It is an exciting time to serve as the Acting Dean of University Libraries at Ball State, and I am pleased to share some key milestones that highlight our Libraries’ expanding impact and future trajectory. Over the past academic year, the Libraries experienced a 16% increase in instructional sessions offered, supporting students as they develop essential information literacy skills. These sessions equip students not only for academic success but also to become lifelong learners, ready to navigate the evolving demands of today’s workforce. Remarkably, eight out of ten students completing library instruction sessions demonstrate proficiency in effectively locating and evaluating information—skills that are essential for their future endeavors.

Additionally, our Libraries have amplified efforts to expand the use of Open Educational Resources (OER) and licensed library materials in classrooms, aiming to make learning more affordable. This past year, the number of course sections utilizing Reading Lists—a tool that offers accessible, low-cost resources—grew by 15%. As a result, we estimate a cost savings to students of over $800,000. This initiative reflects our ongoing commitment to removing financial barriers and enhancing academic access for all.

Our outreach initiatives have also expanded, connecting students with vital resources for success. In Spring 2024, the Libraries took part in the university’s Spring Carnivale, where we engaged with hundreds of students through a game focused on organizing books by the Library of Congress (LC) classification system. Students eagerly participated, forming long lines as if it were Disney World, excited to learn how information is structured to support their learning. Moments like these, when students realize they can find well-curated information on their topics in a dedicated area of the library, underscore the importance of helping students understand how accessible, high-quality information is organized.

In addition to in-person engagement, our social media campaigns have helped students grasp the full breadth of library services and resources available to them. We’ve also expanded our Welcome Week and freshman orientation activities, now including sessions on copyright and plagiarism, providing a strong foundation in academic integrity from the start of their journey.

The success of these initiatives is grounded in the unwavering support we receive from university administration and our Friends of the Library. We are also fortunate to have dedicated staff who continue to work tirelessly, even as we manage staffing transitions due to retirements and other departures. In response, we’re actively recruiting and using insights from the Gallup Engagement Survey to foster an engaging and supportive environment for our staff. Our Archives team will soon be fully staffed, and we are delighted to introduce our new Director of Archives, Leo Gillis, and our new Associate Dean for Research, Access, and Open Education, Lisa Jarrell.

We hope you find inspiration in these updates. Thank you to our Friends of the Library for your continued guidance, encouragement, and partnership as we advance our Libraries’ mission to create transformative experiences for diverse communities of learners through excellent resources, expert research assistance, dedicated study and learning spaces, and innovative services and technologies for knowledge discovery and dissemination, lifetime learning, and community engagement.

 

Thank you,

Amy Petts
Acting Dean of University Libraries