Message from the Dean
As we prepare the 2021 Drexel Libraries Annual Report and look ahead to 2022, we recognize the future has a shorter horizon. In this report we share facts about what we have accomplished over the past year, including observations about how we are adjusting the ways we focus on next tasks, shaped by lessons learned from others helping us envision the future of the Libraries.
Next year marks the end of the Libraries’ 2017-22 Strategic Plan. We began the five years with assumptions, scenario plans, and four major objectives for the Libraries to contribute to advancing the University’s mission and strategic initiatives.
We aimed to help contain the rising costs of higher education through efficient and efficacious management of access to authoritative information resources by integrating economical access options (such as licensing, purchasing and resource sharing) and by guiding the University community to utilize open access resources.
We partnered with commercial experts to strengthen Drexel’s connections to scholarship through improving its systems and service infrastructure to manage the University’s research output and unique archival resources.
We designed and maintained physical spaces and websites to inspire the quest for learning by providing informal learning environments, beyond classrooms, where self-directed learners and seasoned researchers can focus with minimal distractions and privacy, take ownership of pursuing their curiosity through seeking information, and experience active learning behaviors alone, with and amidst others.
And we managed our innovative organization with flexible, matrixed working groups, decisions driven by evidence, and strong commitments to customer-centered service quality. We functioned as if we were the traditional “heart of the University.”
As we close 2021, we report what the Libraries accomplished this year toward achieving this plan, but also what we did to respond to unanticipated challenges of different fiscal conditions within which to be efficient, and to adjust to changed priorities of research infrastructure needs and to shifting sense of place.
Going forward, we need to rethink our horizon for planning. We do not expect to set plans beyond annual assessments as we have done in the past. Hence, in the upcoming year our planning will reflect a dynamically evolving approach with engagement of our clients and others who value the Libraries and are eager to share their vision of its importance. Our collective challenge is to engage our administrators more deeply in solutions we can offer that address the critical issues facing Drexel University as a model for higher education.
We greatly appreciate those who were indispensable in helping the Libraries accomplish important achievements this year. We salute the Libraries staff, all of whom--amidst tackling challenges in their own lives--worked hard to recognize and prioritize the academic needs of our students, faculty, and staff. We also thankfully acknowledge the value of support from our donors, colleagues, and friends.
I trust that readers of this report will recognize the Libraries’ accomplishments, expertise, and potential as we face 2022.
Our Work: Highlights from 2021
In a year unlike any other, the Drexel Libraries continued its efforts to contribute to the University’s success. The following sections document our work in 2021 to deliver our continued obligations to the University: to contain the affordability of higher education; to shape future research; to inspire the life-long quest for learning and to model an innovative library organization.
Through these strategic directions, we engage students, faculty and staff to become well-prepared to make life-long contributions to a global, knowledge-dependent society.
Containing the Affordability of Higher Education
We make decisions about how to facilitate access to information based on costs, usage, and alignment with the University’s educational and research priorities.
In 2021, we:
- Migrated the EZBorrow interlibrary loan system to an updated technology platform with a new and improved search interface, making it even easier for our clients to request to borrow resources not available through the Drexel Libraries.
- Continued our efforts to educate the campus community about the benefits of free, open access to research and textbooks through our Open Access resource guide and our Open Access panel discussions, which featured Drexel faculty, staff and students.
- Continued to prioritize cost-effective access to authoritative information resources [PDF].
Shape Future Research
We apply our knowledge and expertise to strengthen the University’s contributions to scholarship by enabling access to and exposure of Drexel-generated research outputs to global researchers.
In 2021 we:
- Launched two new systems: the Drexel University Digital Archival Collections platform and the Drexel Research Discovery portal. These systems enable preservation and discovery of Drexel’s digitized archival collections and research assets (including theses and dissertations, publications, datasets and creative works) so they are findable, accessible, interoperable and usable through a single search and discovery tool.
- Hosted the 9th annual Celebrating Drexel Authors Event, during which we recognized Drexel authors and editors for their achievements, raised awareness of the importance of publishing and disseminating scholarship and creative works, and shared evidence of what contributes to Drexel’s reputation as a comprehensive research university. The 2021 event, held virtually again due to COVID-19, honored a diverse cohort of 61 book authors and editors, and 32 prestigious Drexel researchers who authored journal articles that were in the top 1% of cited publications in their academic field.
- Continued our work to upgrade our digital infrastructure and make our archival collection materials easily accessible and discoverable online. In February, we introduced the Drexel Family Digital Archive, an online exhibit that documents the legacy of University founder Anthony J. Drexel and his family. Several months later, in June 2021, we launched the new ArchivesSpace database, which provides access to collection guides for the Drexel University Archives, the Legacy Center Archives and Special Collections at the College of Medicine, and the archives at the Academy of Natural Sciences, all in one place.
Inspire a Quest for Life-Long Learning
We guide the Drexel community to utilize information responsibly, build learning environments that promote self-directed learning, and foster peer-to-peer education and social learning.
In 2021 we:
- Formalized our commitment to creating inclusive library environments. We announced the creation of two new staff assignments to lead our efforts to support diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) at Drexel: the Libraries’ DEI Liaison, and the Chair of the Libraries’ newly charged Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Working Group. These new staff assignments focus attention and coordinate DEI conversations and activities both internally among Libraries staff and externally across campus and the surrounding communities. Two current employees who have demonstrated leadership, interest, experience, and training in diversity, equity and inclusion assumed these new roles.
- Welcomed seven co-op students to join our staff for the spring-summer 2021 co-op rotation, providing Drexel undergraduate students valuable work experience while expanding the Libraries’ staff capacity and providing staff opportunities to guide and mentor the future workforce.
- Hosted a variety of events, exhibits and programs to nurture new knowledge communities and guide our clients to use information resources responsibly. 2021 events included our annual ScholarSip series, which focused on the theme of Responding to COVID-19 through Research and Scientific Problem Solving. New events and exhibits launched in 2021 include the series Promoting Diversity through Drexel’s Archival & Special Collections and an exhibit commemorating 50 years of WKDU, Drexel's student-run radio station. We also continued our Wednesdays@Noon event series, which connects faculty, staff and students with the Libraries’ expertise, tools, resources and services.
Model an Innovative Library Organization
We model a collaborative and entrepreneurial library organization that effectively leverages University and external resources to serve students, enhance teaching, and support researchers.
In 2021, we:
- Engaged the Libraries’ Strategic Leadership Group in a coached team development exercise to assess and develop their working habits and generate input for planning the Libraries’ strategic future focus.
- Adjusted our service deliverables for Academic Year 2022 [PDF] to address capacity and budget gaps. These deliverables focus on three areas: informal learning environments, access to e-resources and utilization of library experts.
- Continued our efforts to foster an internal culture founded on principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion through new professional development opportunities. For example, in the spring, six Libraries staff participated in the virtual course Equity in Action: Fostering an Antiracist Library Culture, offered by Library Journal, a library trade publication and professional development content provider. The three-week course was designed to help library leaders cultivate an anti-racist culture by evaluating and improving library spaces, programs, services, and collections policies. Afterwards, staff shared insights and exercises with their colleagues to strengthen skills that foster a welcoming culture of equity, diversity and inclusion at the Libraries.
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.
Download a comparison of Libraries data from 2019, 2020 and 2021 [PDF].
Libraries Staff Awards, Presentations & Publications
In 2021, 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].
On April 6, we hosted the 12th annual Library Celebration Awards online via Zoom. This year, we honored six staff members and two students who exceeded expectations to advance the Libraries’ mission and values in 2021 through their outstanding accomplishments.
Our Supporters
We are grateful to all individuals and organizations for their generous support of the Drexel University Libraries in 2021!
Download the complete list of donors [PDF].
Previous Annual Reports
Read our previous annual reports to learn more about the Drexel University Libraries.
This 2021 annual report published by the Drexel University Libraries covers the period of January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021. The data provided and list of supporters included in this report reflects the 2021 Fiscal Year (July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021).