Letter from Brinley Franklin, Vice Provost for University Libraries

Dear Friends:

I'd like to offer you a sincere “thank you” for a remarkably productive 2005-2006.

Last year, virtually all of the University’s discretionary funds were directed toward remedying problems associated with construction projects.  The University Libraries did not receive an increase in the University’s library collections budget to combat inflation.  No units on campus received capital funding to purchase equipment.

Despite these financial hardships, our library staff remained extremely prolific.  We continued to reposition library staff for the future with assistance from consultants who advised four of the Libraries’ functional areas.  We developed a Library Resource Tool as part of the University’s WebCT Vista implementation.  We made progress on the electronic resource management front and with campus copyright guidelines.  We initiated a Technology Learning Center and purchased and further populated the Digital Commons @UConn.

A number of important public programs took place in 2005-2006, many of which were part of the Dodd Center's 10th anniversary celebration.  More than 13,000 participants attended more than 1,100 library instruction sessions.  We borrowed more than 26,000 items for the UConn community and we lent more than 33,000 items to other libraries.  More than 1.3 million searches were conducted in our online catalog and users searched Infotrac almost 400,000 times.  Library staff published scores of articles, held a number of professional positions, and gave more than 50 public presentations.

I find these accomplishments truly amazing, particularly given the limited size of the Libraries’ staff and its charge to offer public services at nine physical locations on six different campuses.  All of these accomplishments stem from the creativity and hard work of the UConn Libraries staff and from the generosity of you, our friends. We are indebted to you and we thank you.  

Very truly yours,

Brinley R. Franklin
Vice Provost for University Libraries