Dean's Reflections on 2022
Preparing this annual report well into 2023 gives us perspective of time and context of the present to reflect on the many accomplishments Drexel Libraries staff made in 2022. It also offers a clearer vision of strategic directions for changing the focus of what we do in the coming few years.
In 2022 we navigated numerous disruptions and managed uncertainties relating to budgetary expenditures, staffing levels, information resources, and software and technologies. These are constants that the Drexel Libraries, like most other libraries, routinely face, year in and year out. What was unique to last year, however, were the different ways we continued to address more recent changes in expectations for work and study in a more flexible and hybrid world, amidst recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, evolving implementation of an ambitious strategic University vision, and insights from the conclusion of the Drexel Libraries’ 2017-22 strategic priorities, laid out over five years ago.
As we acknowledged the challenges of this seemingly unstable universe, we also grew to recognize these challenges are less hinderances to returning to a time past, and rather are incentives to change how we shape a “new normal” for the next few years. With that comes disruptions for many. The way we think of what the Libraries’ essence is, and what it does, is not about preserving and sustaining the academic department we call a library. But rather, it is the Libraries’ holistic, collaborative, and cost-effective approaches to leverage its unique expertise and partnerships that enable connections between authoritative information and the people within the University community who are dependent on them to learn, teach, and conduct impactful systematic inquiries.
This annual report documents that the Drexel Libraries successfully connected the campus community to diverse sources of information to support student success and faculty work. It shares as evidence, selected stories, reported counts of activities and resources, and noted staff recognitions.
It is more difficult however, for such a report to build understanding of the value the Libraries’ work provides the University. We count on the readers of this report to gain insights in the ways the Libraries applies its unique expertise and approaches to support the Drexel community. Our hope is that this report will increase understanding of what we have been doing, and more importantly, raise curiosity about how the Libraries can expand its contributions to the University’s future success: To ensure cost-effective access to diverse content and formats of information and data resources. To comprehensively track and enable discovery of information about Drexel researchers and their scientific output, as well as authors of creative expressions. To inspire Drexel students and partner with faculty to engage effectively and ethically with diverse information resources in their academic work and beyond.
The stories and data you’ll read throughout this report are just a sample of what we have done in 2022 and our impact on Drexel clients and stakeholders. In hindsight, for some people, 2022 was a year of waiting for stability amidst changes and uncertainties. For others, it was a return to actively managing new opportunities.
Here, I highlight three milestones within managing new opportunities that we began to explore last year. We have not promoted them as completed achievements, but they are no less important in identifying ways we can scale and realign our fundamental professional expertise and the specialized resources we manage. The results of our explorations will help us establish strategic directions for the next two years and set goals for the Libraries’ continued transformation to address the changing priorities of the University to achieve distinctive and competitive success for 2030 and beyond:
- The Libraries explored ways to function in hybrid environments to do what we uniquely do best—guide information seekers to connect most effectively to resources relevant to their inquiries and to build communities of support around shared curiosities. Explorations begun in 2022 included adapting communication technologies to guide information seekers and to build communities, while restoring benefits of in-person engagements. For the first time since adjusting to the remote Zoom alternatives necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, we hosted hybrid events, bringing people back together on campus. One pilot involving a partnership between the Drexel Libraries and Drexel IT Instructional Technologies staff explored new software and technologies that provide more engaging group virtual experiences in informal learning spaces. We also joined FLEXspace, a consortium that shares information and inquiries around flexible learning environments.
- We intentionally focused efforts to strengthen our individual and organizational commitments to embed Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity across all the Libraries’ organizational programs, laying the groundwork for strengthening future alignments. In 2022, we added administrative support to help assess, track, and encourage program managers to embed DEI efforts in everything we do. Our baseline at the end of 2022 highlighted modest staff awareness of what the Libraries does beyond attending staff development programs. As I write this report at the end of spring 2023, we have evidence of nearly 100% of the Libraries' program managers confirming their active inclusion of DEI principles in their program operations, making contributions to improving the University’s recruitment procedures, client education, community, and organizational structures. For example, taking an intentional look at embedding DEI goals in the Libraries’ unique areas of work led us to identify and acquire resources featuring diverse voices and content in support of curriculum needs.
- In 2022 we concluded the Libraries’ 2017-22 strategic plan. Not anticipating the period’s disruptions, we learned to take smaller bites than ones based on 5-year assumptions and we now, mid-year, are framing new directions for 2023-25—still a far horizon for predicting realistic strategic goals. During 2022 we undertook several pilot projects to explore observed problems and tested ways to address them. For example, we explored creative ways of increasing our expertise and capacity in response to the departure of staff and challenges to recruit replacements by successfully recruiting co-ops for a variety of professional entry jobs and using temporary appointments to increase project capacity. We also began a partnership with a single Drexel academic unit, the School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems, to pilot ways in which the Drexel Libraries can help prepare students in multi-informational literacy and critical thinking, and strengthen management of evidence of research expertise and output. Collectively, these pilots offered opportunities for staff to engage in exploration of responsive ways libraries can support connections between people and information in transformative ways that respond to current changing demands and existing resources. They were small projects and nevertheless inspired staff to return to their creative engagement with the Libraries’ future strategic directions.
As you read through our 2022 annual report, I hope you will act upon questions that your curiosity raises about what the Libraries does or might be able to do. Share your ideas to help us see how we can most effectively direct our expertise and resources for the University’s success. We accomplished a lot last year with several plans emerging from our experiences that will inspire improvements or changes for the future.
We are back to reshaping ourselves to apply our holistic, collaborative, and cost-effective approach to take risks without knowing what support we will have in the future. We work to remain flexible and responsive to our clients and administrators, while also respecting the capacity and limitations of our existing staff and resources. Aligning value with expertise will enable us to affect change that is rewarding to both the University community and our staff. Not to forget the Libraries’ unique approach is one of our university’s most valuable assets—collectively, we can simultaneously develop a shared identity as partners for solving problems in a universe with no shortage of problems worth addressing.
I hope you will enjoy reading about some of our accomplishments from the last year and stay connected to learn what else we are doing during 2023.
It’s been quite the year at the Drexel University Libraries. From milestone anniversaries to inspiring exhibits and events, 2022 was a year full of excitement and efforts to find new approaches to ongoing challenges. Here are a few of our favorite stories from 2022.
Libraries’ Pilot Publishing Fund Aims to Break through Barriers to Open Access Publishing
The Libraries undertook a pilot Open Access publishing fund in 2022 to explore subsidizing the article processing charges (APCs) Drexel scholars must pay to publish in Open Access (OA) journals. The Libraries accepted 23 funding proposals from Drexel authors across diverse colleges, schools and disciplines and analyzed evidence on where subsidy is sought.
Authors Event Celebrates 10 Years of Drexel Scholarship & Creative Expression
On April 27, 2022, forty-five faculty, staff, students, friends and family members joined the Drexel Libraries and the Office of the Provost to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Celebrating Drexel Authors event with an in-person event at The Study Hotel in University City.
This was the first time the Authors Event was held in person since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year, the event honored 58 unique book authors and editors and 33 prestigious Drexel researchers who contributed to 19 peer-reviewed journal articles classified as “Highly Cited Papers” by Clarivate Analytics.
Student Exhibit Inspires Curiosity & Celebrates Diverse Cultures & Perspectives
Drexel Cartonera: Memorias al Cartón, a student-created exhibit, was on display in the W. W. Hagerty Library during the spring and summer terms. Students enrolled in Professor Celeste Mann’s Spanish 401 course in winter 2022 were challenged to create their own original books based on the practice of cartonera (cardboard publishing)—an alternative publishing and art movement committed to community engagement, social activism, economic justice, and literacy. Their creations made up the unique and exciting display.
Ten Years of Building Connections to Scholarship through ScholarSip
To celebrate 10 years of ScholarSip, the Libraries hosted 10 “food for thought” presentations from Drexel faculty, staff, and students across all disciplines. Sessions focused on a variety of interdisciplinary research topics, including climate change, racism and public health inequities, autism and social health policies, and cybersecurity.
Libraries Staff Appreciation Event Renews Connections to our Community
This year, instead of recognizing selected staff and student employees during the traditional Staff Celebration Awards event, the Libraries recognized all staff and student workers for their hard work over the last year.
The 2022 staff appreciation day included a private Mural Arts bus tour around West Philadelphia, providing staff an opportunity to spend time together (in person for the first time in two years) while also strengthening connections to the diverse community in which they live and work.
Exploring the Changing University through the Archives
A lot has changed at Drexel since its founding in 1892—which is the theme of the University Archives’ latest exhibit, 1892 to 2022: A Selection of Moments from Drexel’s History, on display in the W. W. Hagerty Library atrium for the second half of 2022. The exhibit explores a selection of moments from Drexel’s history through photographs, text, and physical objects drawn from the Archives’ collections.
Take a video tour of the exhibit using the link below:
ScholarSnack Returns after COVID-19 Hiatus
In a welcome return to tradition, 2022 saw the return of ScholarSnack, an in-person event series where Drexel students enjoy snacks while discussing their experiences in exploring information and data resources. Due to COVID-19, the ScholarSnack series was canceled from March 2020 through August 2022.
Shaily Panwar, a business analytics and finance major in Drexel's LeBow College of Business and one of the Libraries' Information Explorers, developed the idea for the event called Debunking Climate Change & Sustainability Social Media Myths. Panwar used a game-based approach to discuss misinformation and share tips to help others identify fake information online.
Seven New Staff & Three Co-op Students Join the Drexel Libraries in 2022
Over the last year, the Libraries has worked tirelessly to hire and on-board new staff to fill several vacancies. From June through October 2022, seven new staff and three co-op students joined the organization, including the Libraries’ first-ever Diversity Resident Librarian. The Libraries established the resident librarian position as part of its long-standing commitment to diversity and its participation in the Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL) Diversity Alliance.
Drexel Votes Coalition Hosts Voter Registration Drive
Ahead of the November 2022 elections, three Libraries staff members served on the University’s Drexel Votes coalition and helped organize a voter registration drive right outside the W. W. Hagerty Library. Pennsylvania’s 2022 midterm elections were some of the most important in the country, with two key races on the ballot, including those for Pennsylvania governor and the state’s U.S. Senate seat.
To help educate members of the Drexel community about elections and voting, the Libraries also created informational brochures and updated its non-partisan voting resource guide. In fact, Drexel was named “most engaged campus for college student voting" due to the University's efforts to increase voter turnout and education during the 2022 midterm elections.
Open Access Week Events Shine Light on Drexel Research
To celebrate Open Access Week 2022, the Libraries hosted a series of hybrid and virtual events featuring five of the 23 Drexel faculty and post-graduate researchers who published their articles in Open Access journals using funding provided by the Libraries' OA Publishing Pilot Fund. More than 75 members of the campus community attended the five events, all of which showcased the benefits of free and open access to information and Drexel research.
Using Creative Expression to Relieve Stress & Anxiety
Wellness continued to be a priority for the Libraries in 2022. In November, the Libraries partnered with Girija Kaimal, PhD, Associate Professor and Interim Chair of the Department of Creative & Art Therapies, College of Nursing & Health Professions (CNHP), to host an event on using creativity to manage stress.
Professor Kaimal spoke about her recent book and research on using self-expression to manage emotions and process stress and trauma during the interactive event held in the W. W. Hagerty Library.
To end the event, Professor Kaimal led the group through a simple creative activity—creating hand-drawn bookmarks—to show how easy it is to use art as therapy and relieve stress.
Kelly Hall Time Capsule Offers Glimpse into Drexel’s Past
During recent renovations to Kelly Hall, staff from Drexel’s Real Estate and Facilities department discovered a time capsule behind the building’s cornerstone. The time capsule made its way to the University Archives, where our staff worked with University Facilities to safely open the lead-sealed box. Most objects honor the residence hall’s namesake, Ralph Kelly, and show what life was like at Drexel and in Philadelphia during the 1950s and 1960s.
Strengthening Our Understanding & Commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
The Drexel University Libraries is deeply committed to the University’s priorities of diversity, equity, and inclusion—a commitment that characterizes the core principles underpinning libraries.
This year, the Libraries intentionally focused on managerial efforts to embed DEI goals and initiatives across all organizational programs, laying the groundwork for strengthening future commitments
In March, the Libraries formally announced a new DEI Program within the organizational structure and appointed its first Coordinator for DEI and New Initiatives, with the dean serving as the Program Manager. The new roles help evolve the Libraries’ DEI initiatives and provide administrative support for planning, designing, communicating, and implementing strategic initiatives requiring coordination across DUL programs, leadership, and other University units. The Coordinator represents the Libraries on several University committees, including Drexel’s DEI Partners Group and the Academic Leads Council, and serves as the Libraries’ Antiracism Implementation and Success Monitoring Liaison.
The Libraries also continued its efforts to invest in diverse resources and materials by or about traditionally marginalized and underrepresented groups that authentically reflect a variety of ideas, information, stories, and experiences in support of the University’s teaching and learning goals. Over the course of the year, the Libraries purchased a number of new e-books, journal packages, and other materials covering topics from race and racism, gender studies, sustainability, and health and wellness, as well as works of fiction from diverse authors.
In addition, the Libraries began work to expand its DEI and heritage month resource guides and exhibits. Throughout the year, members of the Libraries’ DEI Working Group created new resource guides about Black History Month, Women’s History Month, Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month, and Native American Heritage Month in 2022. Each online resource guide had a corresponding exhibit on display in the W. W. Hagerty Library.
To augment these efforts, in October, the Libraries welcomed the inaugural Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) Diversity Resident for a three-year appointment. The ACRL residency program provides an opportunity for entry-level librarians from diverse backgrounds to begin their professional careers and develop skills and experience in academic librarianship.
Throughout the year, Libraries staff also participated in webinars and workshops on topics including an all-staff workshop called Working Through Social Identities Towards Empathy and Inclusion. The workshop was developed specifically for the Drexel Libraries and was presented by the Assistant Vice President for Inclusive Culture and Belonging at Drexel. Throughout the year, staff also attended sessions on accessibility, working with neurodiverse populations, and creating inclusive environments.
The Libraries staff are more energized than ever to continue their work to promote, support and sustain an environment of diversity, equality, fairness, inclusion, and respect in the years to come.
Drexel Libraries by the Numbers
Each year, the Drexel Libraries submits data to IPEDS (Integrated Post-secondary Education Data System). The purpose of the Academic Libraries Survey (ALS) is to collect and report information on library resources, services, and expenditures from academic libraries serving degree-granting, Title IV post-secondary institutions in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the outlying areas. This and other sources of data are used to prepare the annual Drexel Libraries' "By the Numbers" summary.
Download a comparison of Libraries data from FY19 - FY22 [PDF].
Staff Awards, Presentations & Publications
In 2022, our staff published academic journal articles and presented virtual sessions and workshops at national and international conferences.
Download the complete list of staff awards, presentations, and publications [PDF].
Our Supporters
We are grateful to all individuals and organizations for their generous support of the Drexel University Libraries in 2022.
Download the complete list of donors [PDF].
Read Previous Annual Reports
Read our previous annual reports to learn more about the Drexel University Libraries.
The 2022 annual report covers the period of January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022. The data provided in this report reflects the fiscal year (July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2022).
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