About OU Libraries
HIGHLIGHTS
OU Libraries is made up of a main branch called Bizzell Memorial Library and several branch libraries.
The libraries have 5 major divisions and numerous units
We are governed by our Interim Dean Carl Grant, and a senior leadership team of Associate Dean’s and Senior Directors.
Our main websites are the libraries website for public information and the staff intranet for internal information.
We have 5 strategic pillars that guide our services:
Create Excellent Library Experiences
Support Campus Research and Scholarly Communication
Build on Excellence in Special Collections
Develop Relationships and Practices to Support Community Engagement
Strengthen Skills and Capabilities
About Digital Innovation and Development
COMPLETE ON YOUR OWN
- Explore the confluence page to learn about the division, each unit, and the leadership team
- Explore the 2019 Division Goals to learn what the leadership team is focusing on this year
- Learn more about the Data, Analytics, Visualization, and Informatics Syndicate (DAVIS)
- Send supervisor your schedule for the semester & ask how to submit time off requests (this varies by supervisor)
- Learn about the RACI method of managing matrix teams. As a Graduate Assistant, you will have responsibilities that your supervisor is accountable for.
DIVISION TOOLS WE ALL USE
Every unit tracks projects and time in Jira ticketing system
Every unit maintains unit information and documentation in Confluence
Every unit maintains their passwords in a secure, shared platform called Lastpass
We use Google Docs for shared, collaborative documents
We use Slack to communicate with each other asynchronously
We all keep our Outlook calendars up to date and use these calendars to schedule meetings with each other
Major Service Areas & Projects
The main library website services as a tool for faculty, staff, and students. It gets over 1 million visits per year on average. It provides access to the libraries catalog, databases, journals, research guides, events, and organizational information. It also provides authentication for off-campus users to access electronic resources even when they are not physically on campus.
SHAREOK is the university’s state-wide institutional repository developed with Oklahoma State University and University of Central Oklahoma. This open access repository provides access to faculty intellectual output in the form of published scholarly articles, conference papers, presentations, and research. It is also essential to the libraries partnership with the Graduate College. Every graduating masters and PhD student is required to deposit a copy of their thesis or dissertation into SHAREOK.
Digital Collections & Digitization
The Digital Collections repository provides faculty, students, and researchers digital access to the rare materials such as manuscriptions, books, maps, photographs and audio visual materials contained within the libraries special collections. The libraries special collections range in topics from western history, native american archives, and oklahoma history to the history of science including works by Galieleo and Charles Darwin. These materials are digitized within the libraries digitization laboratory and loaded into the Digital Collection.
OJS is a publishing platform for faculty and staff to publish open access scholarly journals. This platform hosts presitigious journals such as the American Review of Politics and The Journal Committed to Social Change on Race and Ethnicity (JCSCORE). This project is in collaboration with the Open Initiatives and Scholarly Communication Unit lead by director Jen Waller.
The libraries catalog is hosted by a company called Ex Libris and includes two products. Alma is the administrative product that allows the libraries to maintain its physical collections and circulate materials. Primo is the platform that scholars use to search the libraries collections. The libraries has branded this platform as “Discover” and that is how it is referred to when working with Patrons.
The libraries has a robust exhibit program that is often powered by technology. Digidev maintain the exhibit websites, the metrics technology that measures engagement, and the technology that runs the exhibits.
Data Analytics, Visualization & Informatics Syndicate (DAVIS) supports OU community members with their data needs. Consult with specialists and graduate assistants who are familiar with working with data, including management, analysis and visualization. With the ability to ask questions and receive guidance, DAVIS is the focal point to help faculty, researchers, and students work with their data.
ILLiad
This platform provides ILL services to patrons. Our division maintains the servers and software that runs this service.
Technology & Networking
The libraries maintains it’s own internal technology, including staff and public computers, door counters, lending technology, networking, on premise servers and applications, circulation technology, and exhibit technology. The unit responsible for these functions are called Library Technology Platforms.