"I am pursuing a BS in Cyber security.  I enjoy using the library.  It gives me access to the resources I need to complete my studies.  I like the fact that it has a cafe, private study rooms and the latest technology.  The technology includes a variety of printers, scanners, personal computers - both PC and Mac.  In this environment there is really no excuse for not getting it done." - Orlando Bloom, freshman

Title V and the Mercy College Mission

Mercy College's commitment to student transformation and life-long learning are core values of our Mission.  These values are energized by the resources and technologies provided by the Title V Grant.  Through the addition of integrated services, technology supported facilities, cutting edge smart room facilities and cultural learning events and activities, the Mercy student is now better able than ever before to gain the information and technology fluency they need to succeed in the job market, to enrich their lives with the richness and diversity of art and culture and to apply new tools and skills to improvement in their course work.  Most importantly, the Title V grant has enabled Mercy students to work, study and socialize in an technology-rich environment that inspires critical and intellectual inquiry. 

Year three of the Grant has catalyzed student success by extending the Commons model of integration to the Bronx and Manhattan campus.  All three campuses are now able to offer high quality learning environments to greater numbers of students. Expanded smart technologies within the libraries can now be leveraged to increase the sophistication with which information literacy is integrated into reference, instruction and consultation service.  Students are able to practice with new technologies such as digital storytelling, and to use library facilities to learn about smart boards, Flip cameras and other emerging tools.  Art work displays on electronic display monitors and artist talks within the Art Gallery are introducing students to alternative viewpoints and critical issues in society and the environment.

  The Mercy mission of teaching students to act ethically and responsibly in a changing world is in evidence through the technologies and activities made possible through each year of the Title V grant.  We continue to find new ways of leveraging Title V resources for our stated mission goal of transforming the lives and imaginations of Mercy students.

Mercy College Library and Learning Common's Mission Statement

The Mercy College Library Learning Commons (MCLLC) and its patrons will share a unique relationship of mutual self-discovery and transformation. Operating as one entity, the MCLLC is committed to promoting the academic success of students by offering: 

• support for curriculum and instruction in a wide range of disciplines and degree programs, both onsite and online, and from associates to masters level
• services to students with varied schedules, backgrounds and levels of academic preparedness, and to enhance the teaching activities of faculty
• physical and intellectual access to quality information and technology resources in a variety of formats, both online and onsite, that will ignite curiosity and lifelong learning

Our strength and inspiration is drawn from the diversity of Mercy's on-campus and online students, the breadth of disciplines and programs offered, and through the ongoing conversation with our constituency. By understanding the complexity of their world and continually assessing how we can become an integral part it, the MCLLCwill be a trailblazer in higher education.

Mercy College Library and Learning Commons Vision Statement

The Mercy College Library Learning Common (MCLLC) seeks to ensure that students are prepared for a dynamic and complex information environment by providing cutting-edge teaching and learning spaces, information technology, and information resources. Supporting the larger mission of Mercy College, the MCLLC is committed to inspiring and nurturing in students the desire to continue learning throughout their lives, and to use information ethically and responsibly in a changing world.

Continuation of Strategic Planning Process for 2010-11

The library's Mission and Vision statements share the common theme of enabling student success by providing the cutting edge tools and information resources needed for an increasingly complex and technology driven world.  Our strategic plan, developed in consultation with a nationally recognized librarian and educator, contains goals and objectives specifically focused on leveraging changes in the techology and higher education learning environments.  We have continued to work with this same consultant in 2010-11 to further develop core initiatives contained within the plan, outlined as follows:

• Strategic Planning Part 1 - December 2010:  At this general meeting, the various components of the Strategic Plan were examined along with a discussion of recent research in improving student learning outcomes through greater focus on embedded librarianship, on understanding the methods and practices of student work habits and new ways of providing reference assistance and collection development. It was decided that future day long sessions would be focused on specific areas that could have the most impact on student learning.

• Rethinking Reference - February 2011:  Rethinking reference service was the subject of this day's session.  We collectively decided to pilot a systematic model of "roving reference" rather than a desk model in order to maximize our ability to reach students wherever they might be studying in the Learning Commons and to minimize librarian time spent handling no-reference related questions.  In addition, we would create a private consultation office for in-depth research assistance for students.  The pilot was launched in May of 2011 and was considered a success.  Librarians were able to spend more time focused on working with faculty and specific student needs and less time with non-reference related questions.

• Collection Development - May 20, 2011:  Because of the increasing use of electronic and online resources, the library's importance as a "gatekeeper" of information has steadily declined.  This enables librarians to spend less time on collection development and more on the user experience and on assisting and teaching students in best methods of research and locating of online information.  This session's goals were two fold: to both discuss current trends and methods of streamline collection development and secondly, to discuss what resources Mercy students in particular are most in need of and how best to facilitate access.

• Strategic Planning Part 2 - August 2011:  Because of the importance of always looking broadly at the many components of the strategic plan, we decided to have a session devoted again to firstly, a look at current trends impacting libraries and student learning, and secondly, how we might deepen our ability to reach students through greater focus on roving reference, integrated librarianship, enhanced services and online and technology tools.   Finally, we also developed specific

• Embedded Librarianship - October 2011:  The libraries launched the liaison initiative in the fall of 2010 in order to better address student needs through more direct engagement with faculty.  The focus of the Liaison mission in 2010 was in primarily collection development. Librarians were assigned to the five schools of Mercy College with the mission of working more closely to understand assignments and resource needs.  At this meeting, however, we assessed the initiative, looked at current literature and research, and decided a fundamental shift in thinking was needed, away from collection development, and more towards librarians become integrally involved with faculty course work development in support of student research skills and needs over an extended and evolving period of time, rather than contained within one-shot instruction sessions.  We will begin to apply this new approach in earnest beginning spring 2012. 
   

Strategic Planning Process

A Library consultant was hired to analyze the results of the LibQUAL survey conducted in the spring of 2010. A committee of three librarians worked intensely over the summer of 2010 and, under the assistance and guidance of the consultant,  revised the mission and vision of the Mercy College Library Learning Commons (MCLLC) and drafted the Strategic Plan  to address the following areas identified in the LibQual Survey as needing innovation and improvement.

• Increased engagement with faculty and schools through creation of Liaison program to promote integrated partnership for collection development and research and instructional services
• Expansion of reference and instructional services into virtual realm through creation of Libguides and other emerging technology tools to better serve students anyplace and anytime
• Deepening of technology support through integrated development of technology training initiatives, creation of student specialist program and just-in-time support for smart classroom technology
• Increase in assessment initiatives through creation of student advisory board, continuing planning for future surveys and focus groups including on-going deployment of student satisfaction surveys
• Development of electronic resources in all areas and weeding out of outdated formats and materials in print

Strategic Planning Goals for Mercy College Library Learning Commons (MCLLC)

2010-2014

1. Integrate librarians into the faculty teaching and learning process by establishing a successful Library Subject Liaison Program for strong and continuous relationships between MCLLC and the College’s academic programs.

2. Build a unique core collection of electronic, DVD, streaming and print resources that are current, compelling, easily and globally accessible and directly relevant to curriculum and patron needs.

3. Deliver current and timely instructional technology hardware and support to the Mercy College Community by partnering with Faculty Center for Teaching (FCTL) and Mercy Online to train faculty and students to become skilled and fluent users of technology.

4. Enable an atmosphere of collaboration and intellectual activity by involving patrons in the critical assessment of LLC functions and growth.

5. Adopt relevant software and technology to provide speedy and reliable access to all library resources.

6. Assess the effectiveness of service to Mercy College community.

7. Provide professional development, continuing education and training opportunities for all MCLLC library faculty and staff in order to provide accurate and timely services to the Mercy College Community.