About Ingram Library

• from UWG Fact Book 2004

The library is the most important learning center on any campus. Library services provided at West Georgia's Irvine Sullivan Ingram Library are among the most advanced in the state of Georgia. The Library's participation in the University System of Georgia's GIL (Georgia Interconnected Libraries) project provides automated services for its patrons. Circulation, reserves, interlibrary loans, Special Collections, government documents, and serials are available through the library's world wide web homepage and its online public access catalog (OPAC). The Library's homepage contains an electronic suggestion board, and all patrons are encouraged to provide input. The Library's catalog and home page are available throughout the world to anyone with Internet access. Through PEACHNET library users . students, faculty, or the general public . have access to GALILEO (Georgia Library Learning Online) which includes the catalogs of all system libraries and full-text journal and encyclopedia databases.

Ingram Library provides a wide range of additional electronic resources to its students and faculty, with web-based indexes to all electronic materials. All licensed, electronic materials are available to University students and faculty from any computer in the world with an Internet connection. Students and faculty can be issued Joint Borrowers. Cards allowing them circulation privileges at the other thirty-three University System of Georgia Libraries; the Library also provides access to the research libraries of the Atlanta area through West Georgia's membership in ARCHE . the Atlanta Regional Consortium for Higher Education. For students or faculty who require additional materials, electronic generation and transmission of interlibrary loans expedites this process considerably. The Library pursues an aggressive instructional program. The Library offers a for-credit course in a computer enhanced classroom or over the web, and it provides orientation presentations to classes and customized instruction on library resources for upper-division courses. It maintains traditional library reference service with library faculty on duty every hour the Library is open. Off-campus Library Services ensure that students enrolled in courses at the University's remote class sites, or from their homes receive the same level of library support as those at the Carrollton campus. Fax and courier services provide timely delivery to these sites. Reserve reading materials an be transferred to a library near the class site and Joint Borrowers. Cards are routinely issued to off-campus students.

Ingram Library does not neglect traditional library services to students, faculty, and community members that visit the library in person. The Library presently contains seminar and conference rooms, lockable faculty carrels, hundreds of individual study carrels, facilities and equipment for microform reading and copying, the Annie Belle Weaver Special Collections Room, large areas for reference, periodical materials, maps, and the circulating book collection. Audio and video cassette players and photocopiers are also available to assist students and faculty with their study and research needs. The four-story structure provides more than 85,000 square feet of usable research/storage area and over 1,000 seating spaces for students and faculty.

Irvine Sullivan Ingram Library presently houses approximately 370,896 bound volumes, 23,706 reels of microfilm, a limited audiovisual collection, more than 1,040,266 pieces of microforms, 19,362 maps and charts, and 28,498 volumes/pieces and 315 linear feet of manuscript materials in special collections. The Library currently subscribes to 1387 paper magazines and newspapers. It is the Sixth Congressional District selective depository for over 208,215 Unites States government publications.

Irvine Sullivan Ingram Library provides a wide variety of materials in different formats to support its curricular offerings. These include books, journals, U.S. government documents, microforms, electronic resources (many of which are full-text), maps, and audiovisuals. In addition, the Library owns or leases additional databases that are available to students and faculty with Internet access. Additional materials are located in the Newnan-Coweta Public Library, which serves UWG's Newnan Center, and in the Dalton State College Library, which serves UWG classes offered in Dalton. UWG's academic community also has full access to all University System of Georgia (USG) libraries, either by visiting the libraries and checking out circulating materials or through Ingram Library's interlibrary loan service (http://www.westga.edu/~library/depts/ill/). It is projected that during 2002 an online Union Catalog of all USG holdings will be available to UWG students and faculty, with intralibrary loans being initiated by the library user, through GALILEO Interconnected Libraries (GIL). Materials in traditional formats are also sent free of charge to distance learning (DL) students who request additional resources (http://gil.westga.edu/, http://www.westga.edu/~library/databases.shtml, http://www.westga.edu/~library/cgi-bin/libejsearch.cgi, http://www.westga.edu/~library/depts/special/, http://www.westga.edu/~library/depts/govdoc/mission.shtml, http://prospero.westga.edu/reserves/, http://www.westga.edu/~library/depts/ref/, http://www.westga.edu/~library/depts/offcampus/request.shtml, http://www.westga.edu/~library/depts/govdoc/collectionpolicy.shtml, http://www.westga.edu/~library/rls.shtml).

The Library's mission and goals have been modified to reflect and support UWG's newly revised strategic plan and its accompanying goals, including the visionary plans adopted by UWG's Faculty Senate in December 2000. Many aspects of the USG's new strategic plan approved by the Board of Regents in August 2001 also have been incorporated into the Library's revised statement of purpose, available via a link from the Library's home page (http://www.westga.edu/~library/depts/admin/Mission11_01.pdf).

Throughout the past decade the Library and UWG's other learning resources have been regularly evaluated (http://www.westga.edu/~library/depts/admin/annualrpt.01_02.pdf). During the 1997-98 academic year UWG, in cooperation with the USG's Office of Planning and Policy Analysis, conducted a student-opinion survey that examined library services and resources, as well as all other services that Georgia's state-supported colleges and universities provide for students. A new library assessment survey has been developed and will be distributed in Fall 2002 to every student "group" represented by enrollment. An analysis of this survey will be filed with the other printed assessment documents. Furthermore, in March 2001 UWG conducted a separate survey to determine student and faculty use and perception of the effectiveness of the Library's staff, resources, and services. Surveys were completed and returned by 2,433 students and 201 faculty. Hereafter, all references to student and faculty opinion are based on the results of this survey.

The liaison program provides yet another evaluative mechanism (http://www.westga.edu/~library/info/faculty/shtml). Every Ingram Library faculty member is assigned an average of two academic departments and the responsibility of meeting annually with every faculty member within these departments to determine whether the Library is meeting both their needs and those of their students. The Director of the Library also meets regularly with UWG's academic and administrative officers to solicit their input regarding its services. A link exists on the Library's Web site for feedback, comments, and suggestions from users (http://www.westga.edu/~library/cgi-bin/libfdbk.cgi). The USG and UWG evaluative surveys, as well as systematic written and verbal comments, have been utilized to improve and upgrade the Library's resources and services throughout the past decade. Two course-research projects evaluating the Library's administration, operations, resources, and services are currently being reviewed.

Every Ingram Library's liaison person is responsible for working with the faculty and students in their assigned academic areas to ensure that the Library's materials, resources, and services meet the curricular and research needs of the various academic departments. All Library faculty members are expected to familiarize themselves with their assigned academic departments' subject collections, to assist their departmental faculty in choosing and updating materials necessary to support the curriculum, to aid with new courses or programs, to fill deficiencies that may have occurred over time in the collections, and to assist in the efficient use of the Library's resources and services (http://www.westga.edu/~library/info/faculty/shtml). Each liaison is also responsible for carefully monitoring the utilization of all Library materials and for updating all reference materials in a timely manner.

Every academic department or college is allocated funds annually for purchasing Library materials to support their curriculum as well as faculty research, based on an accepted acquisitions formula that also takes into account the University's strategic plan and revised goals (http://www.westga.edu/~library/depts/acq/mission.shtml). Some additional funds are provided to departments through their liaison to correct any deficiencies. A "new book" approval plan that reflects UWG's course offerings provides additional Library resources for academic departments (http://www.westga.edu/~library/info/liboverview.shtml, http://www.westga.edu/~library/databases.shtml, http://www.westga.edu/~library/info/liboverview1999.shtml).

ibrary users have access to the full range of materials necessary to support the University curriculum in a variety of formats. Patrons have access to numerous electronic full-text resources (http://www.westga.edu/~library/databases.shtml, (http://www.westga.edu/~library/depts/news/resourcespot.shtml). All of these databases are available via the Internet.

Orientation for faculty and students wishing to utilize the Library and acquire bibliographic information takes several forms (http://www.usg.edu/galileo/skills/, http://www.westga.edu/~library/depts/offcampus/, http://www.westga.edu/~library/depts/li/sessions/). Formal instruction for students includes numerous face-to-face orientation sessions scheduled throughout each semester. These sessions are designed for novice and inexperienced users, as well as for those who need a refresher course in basic information retrieval. Each session covers a specific topic. Topics include, but are not limited to, research strategies, GALILEO (Georgia Library Learning Online), GIL (GALILEO Interconnected Library), e-journals (electronic journals), and other print and electronic indexes. Information concerning these sessions and their scheduling is available online (http://www.westga.edu/~library/depts/offcampus/, http://www.westga.edu/~library/info/faculty.shtml, http://www.westga.edu/~library/info/guides.shtml). Enrollment is through email.

New faculty members are invited to attend an orientation session at the beginning of each fall semester. Instructional librarians conduct sessions that include an overview of the Library's service to faculty and information on specific resources. Liaison librarians work with their assigned faculty to acquaint them with existing and newly acquired information resources and technology. All faculty members are contacted during the fall semester by their Library liaisons for individual consultations. The faculty survey showed that 80% of the respondents believed that their contact persons in the Library were effective in assisting with research and policy procedures.

Numerous guides and tutorials designed to help users are available from the Library's home page (http://www.westga.edu/~library/). These electronic guides include information on accessing resources, general research, and class-specific databases. In addition, there are subject/discipline Web guides for faculty within each liaison department. These are designed by Library personnel.

Several print guides that cover general and specific topics are available to students and faculty in the reference area. There is also an introductory guide for all patrons, "Welcome to the Library," as well as an introductory guide for faculty titled "Library Services for Faculty."

The Library also provides an instructional program designed to teach students how to utilize fully its various learning resources. LIBR 1101, a two-credit-hour course, is taught each semester by librarians (http://www.westga.edu/~library/depts/li/libr1101.shtml). Open to all undergraduate students, the course is taught in both face-to-face and online formats. Seven sections of LIBR 1101 were taught during Spring 2001; four sections were taught during Summer 2001. Seven instructors taught eleven sections to over 250 students in Fall 2001, while seven instructors taught twelve sections to over 300 students in Spring 2002. Nine of the eleven Fall 2001 sections were taught online; ten of the twelve Spring 2002 sections were taught online. In addition, the "Freshman Experience" program, operated by the EXCEL Center, was conjoined with LIBR 1101 beginning in Summer 2002.

The Library also provides self-paced and computer instruction. The Online Library Learning Center (http://www.usg.edu/galileo/skills/), established by the USG Board of Regents, provides tutorials for patrons as well. This site offers training on the nature of information, the research process, and needed research tools. It serves as a primer on databases, catalogs, and the Internet. It also explains copyright laws, issues concerning plagiarism, and the evaluation of sources.

In addition, point-of-use instruction and personal assistance are available to Library users. Research assistance is available at all times at the reference desk. Library faculty are located on all three floors of the Library and are available for consultation or assistance. Users may also telephone the reference desk or utilize "ASKAL," the "Ask a Librarian" electronic program, for answers to their questions (http://callisto.gsu.edu/cgi-bin/homepage.cgi?style=&_id=a00a9c9e-1039010256-6387&_cc=1).

The survey of students and faculty revealed that 83% of the respondents believed the Library was easy to use, 90% thought its environment was conducive to study, 87% indicated the librarians were readily available for assistance, 88% found the staff to be approachable and knowledgeable, and 87% said the librarians were helpful in selection of the best database for conducting research. Eighty-nine percent of faculty respondents said that the Library promptly and correctly placed their materials on reserve.

During the regular academic year the Library is open 84 hours per week (http://www.westga.edu/~library/depts/info/libhrs.shtml). During the last three weeks of the Fall and Spring semesters the Library extends its hours and is open to patrons 88 hours per week. During the Summer semester the Library is open 81 hours each week. The Library's typical academic-year schedule is as follows:

Ingram Library's collection of print and non-print materials is well organized, shelved together by subject, and easily retrieved using Library of Congress catalog numbers or Superintendent of Document numbers (http://gil.westga.edu.edu/, http://www.westga.edu/~factbook/fb2001-02/FactBookFY02.pdf, 2001-2002 pp. 86-89). Periodicals (arranged alphabetically by title), maps, charts, microforms, and some oversized books are shelved in separate areas. In addition to electronic guides (http://www.westga.edu/~library/depts/govdoc/libmap/), all stacks are clearly labeled with the appropriate call-number classifications. Directories are located on each floor of the Library. Sixty-one percent of undergraduate respondents and 72% of graduate-student respondents to the recent survey said that the Library is easy to use. Seventy percent of undergraduate respondents and 75% of the graduate-student respondents said that they regularly find materials in their proper place on the Library shelves. Academic programs are supported through effective access to electronic bibliographic databases, both for patrons on-site and in remote locations (http://www.westga.edu/~library/info/depts.shtml, http://www.westga.edu/~factbook/fb2001-02/FactBookFY02.pdf, pp. 86-89, http://www.westga.edu/~library/depts/cat/, http://www.westga.edu/~library/depts/cat/stumanual.shtml).

Ingram Library is housed in a four-story structure that provides more than 85,000 square feet of useable research and storage area. More than 1,000 seating spaces are available for patrons. The facility contains seminar and conference rooms; lockable faculty carrels; hundreds of individual study carrels; equipment for microform reading and copying; a Special Collections Room; large areas for reference, periodical materials, maps, computers, audio and video equipment, photocopiers; and the circulating book collection.

Interlibrary loan services are available. Orders are placed via electronic request forms. The average turnaround time for all materials is eight days. Journal articles usually arrive within 48 hours. Of the 1,503 interlibrary loan requests made during 2000, 1,400 were filled within a period of one to eight days. Some articles are delivered electronically using a Web-based document-delivery system that includes a hypertext link to the article that permits the patron to download the material on his or her computer. Among faculty respondents to the recent survey, 89% said that the Interlibrary Loan Service was timely and helpful.

The circulation desk is staffed at all times by either a professional librarian or by support staff.

The Library collections and databases are sufficient to support the educational, research, and public-service programs of the institution. As of July 2002, the Library housed 378,656 bound volumes, 207,525 government document volumes (units), 1,342 serial subscriptions (as well as some 12,000 serial titles available full-text in GALILEO and in databases purchased by Ingram Library), and 1,104,126 total physical units of various types of microform. Cartographic materials number 19,763. In addition to materials at the main campus, a small collection is maintained to support the Newnan Center. Arrangements have been made for students registered for UWG courses taught at Dalton to have access, and receive services, through the Dalton State College Library. Seventy-six percent of faculty respondents in the recent survey indicated that the Library provides adequate support for undergraduate research and instruction.

Many specialized program resources are made available electronically. Examples include the full-text Education Complete, which supports education courses taught in Newnan or Dalton, and full-text Nursing Journals for nursing courses taught at either location. Eighty-seven percent of faculty respondents to the recent survey indicated that the Library provides adequate access to electronic databases.

Students access the Library's catalog through GIL, a compendium of the books, periodicals, government documents, audiovisual materials, maps, and other materials housed in the Library. Additionally GIL allows students access to the catalogs of all libraries within the USG. GALILEO is an entry portal that provides access to over 150 databases indexing thousands of periodicals and scholarly journals. GALILEO also provides over 7,500 full-text journals, as well as encyclopedia, business directories, government documents, and a collection of approximately 15,000 full-text books. The library provides other electronic journals through its license to JSTOR, Project Muse, IDEAL, and other subject-specific databases. In all, the Library provides more than 12,000 full-text electronic journals. In the recent survey 90% of the student respondents indicated that they always found materials in their proper place on the Library shelves (http://www.westga.edu/~library/depts/govdoc/libmap/).

The collections of print and non-print materials are well organized, shelved together by subject, and easily retrieved using Library of Congress catalog numbers or Superintendent of Document numbers. Periodicals, which are arranged alphabetically by title, maps, charts, microforms, and some oversized books are shelved in separate areas. All stacks are clearly labeled with the appropriate classification numbers. Directories are located on each floor of the Library.

UWG offers graduate work in several academic areas, and the Library's corresponding resources are substantially beyond those required for the bachelor's degree. Among graduate students who responded to the recent survey, 72% said that the book and periodical collection was adequate for study at the graduate level. Through a link from the Library home page (http://www.westga.edu/~library/depts/acq/), graduate students may access subject-specific bibliographic databases and full-text resources.

Librarians, teaching faculty, and researchers share in the development of collections, and the guidelines defining their respective involvement are in the Collection Development Policy (http://www.westga.edu/~library/depts/acq/colldev.shtml, http://www.westga.edu/~library/cgi-bin/libfrls.cgi). Through the liaison program the subject librarians remain aware of the changes in curricular needs. Funds are allocated to each department for faculty selections. In addition, each liaison librarian has funds for enhancing new programs or filling gaps. Seventy-six percent of faculty respondents indicated that the Library does an adequate job in soliciting faculty input with regard to the selection of materials for the collection.

Librarians, teaching faculty, and researchers share in the development of collections, and the guidelines defining their respective involvement are in the Collection Development Policy (http://www.westga.edu/~library/depts/acq/colldev.shtml, http://www.westga.edu/~library/cgi-bin/libfrls.cgi). Through the liaison program the subject librarians remain aware of the changes in curricular needs. Funds are allocated to each department for faculty selections. In addition, each liaison librarian has funds for enhancing new programs or filling gaps. Seventy-six percent of faculty respondents indicated that the Library does an adequate job in soliciting faculty input with regard to the selection of materials for the collection.

UWG provides Internet access to all electronic library resources at all computer labs, faculty and staff offices, and dormitories (http://www.westga.edu/~library/). Members of the UWG community can access the same resources from any location if they have an Internet connection and the current password. The password can be obtained by following the instructions at http://www.westga.edu/~library/depts/govdoc/access.shtml.

GIL (http://gil.westga.edu/) is an extension of the GALILEO initiative. GIL integrates the following into one system: a Web-based online Union Catalog of all USG book collections, which currently exceed 6,000,000 volumes; a circulation system with self-service options; and fund accounting, cataloging, and check-in and control functions. In addition to the above resources, access is also available to over 7,500 electronic journals (http://www.westga.edu/~library/cgi-bin/libejsearch.cgi), government documents (http://www.westga.edu/~library/depts/govdoc/), and Internet resources (http://www.westga.edu/~library/info/internet.shtml).

Assistance in learning how to access and utilize these resources is available at the Online Library Learning Center (http://www.usg.edu/galileo/skills/). The Center provides a ten-unit tutorial on everything from basic research skills to the organization of a library. Specialized assistance for students involved in taking courses through distance education is also available at http://www.westga.edu/~library/depts/offcampus/.

Among student respondents in a recent survey, 71% of undergraduates and 79% of graduate students felt that the Library's Web page is well organized and useful. Among undergraduates, 57% of the respondents felt that the Library provides adequate support for off-campus and distance classes. Among graduate students, 61% of the respondents concurred. Among faculty respondents, 57% felt that the Library provides adequate support for off-campus and/or WebCT classes, and 87% believed that the Library provides adequate access to needed electronic databases. However, there was little support for increasing resources directed to technologically based materials.

Cooperative agreements and relationships with other libraries, USG Board of Regents, networks, and agencies are pursued and maintained in order to increase the ability of the Library to provide the resources and services vital to its users.

Cooperative agreements with organizations such as SOLINET (http://www.solinet.net/), OCLC (http://www.oclc.org/home/), and Georgia Online Database or GOLD (http://www.public.lib.ga.us/pls/gold/) provide the Library with shared online cataloging services and access to electronic holdings information. As a member of these organizations, the Library contributes original bibliographic records and holdings information into the database for sharing with other libraries throughout the world.

Participation in Interlibrary Loan supplements the Library's ability to provide patrons with access to books and periodical articles owned by libraries worldwide. All libraries within the USG provide interlibrary loan service to one another free of charge (http://www.ala.org/rusa/acrobat/interlibrary_loan_code.pdf). Additionally, participation in the USG's Joint Borrowers' Card Program allows UWG faculty, staff, and students to make use of the services and materials from the other 33 USG libraries (http://www.westga.edu/~library/depts/offcampus/joint.shtml).

Membership in the Atlanta Regional Consortium for Higher Education or ARCHE (http://www.atlantahighered.org/) is another vehicle for providing patrons with unique resources available from state and private academic, public, and special libraries in the Atlanta area.

Agreements with the Thomas B. Murphy Holocaust Teacher Training and Resource Center, United States Government Depository, Dalton College and Newnan-Coweta Public Library, and our Guest Borrowers Policy are used to offer more services, materials, and educational experiences to library patrons. Formally signed and current copies of these agreements are on file in the Director's office and on the Web (http://www.westga.edu/~library/depts/admin/contracts/index.shtml). All agreements are evaluated on an annual basis.

The Director of Libraries has the professional qualifications required for the position. He holds an undergraduate degree in history and an ALA-accredited master's degree in library science, has 34 years of administrative experience, and is extremely active in professional organizations, having held various offices including that of president of both the Georgia Library Association and the Southeastern Library Association. He also serves on various American Library Association committees and its policy-making council. In 1992 he served as national co-chair of the White House Conference on Libraries and Information Services Taskforce. He has been a member of the GIL Steering Committee since 1998.

The Director reports to the Vice President for Academic Affairs and is a member of the Administrative Council, Faculty Senate Committee on Learning Resources, and Committee on Graduate Studies (ex officio).

The Library staff consists of 15 professional librarians. Each has earned a master's degree from a library school accredited by the American Library Association. 13 librarians hold additional master's degrees in other academic fields. These other fields include English, History, Business Administration, Sociology, and Education (http://www.westga.edu/~library/info/libfacstaff.shtml).

No exceptions have been identified among the members of the staff (http://www.westga.edu/~library/info/libfacstaff.shtml). The professional staff is aided by a support staff of 16, who have the following credentials: eight have earned bachelor's degrees, four master's degrees, one an Ed.S., one a Ph.D., and two certificates from West Central Technical College. The support staff is categorized as Library Assistants I, II, III; Technical Assistants; and Library Associates I and II (http://www.westga.edu/~library/info/libfacstaff.shtml).

The Library has published statements with regard to the minimum skill requirements for employment. These statements include the minimum standards for additional course work and cross-training that are required for promotion. Detailed job descriptions for both professional and support staff members are on file in the Director's Office. All staff members are provided written contracts on a yearly basis. Organizational relationships within the Library are clearly drawn and displayed in the organizational chart available in the Director of Libraries' office and at http://www.westga.edu/~library/depts/admin/orgchart11_01.pdf.

Professional librarians have faculty rank and tenure. Three hold the rank of full professor, six are associate professors, five are assistant professors, and one is an instructor. They are employed, retained, and promoted on the same basis as teaching faculty. This procedure is outlined in the Faculty Handbook (http://www.westga.edu/~vpaa/handrev/, section 103.02-103.04).

The Library provides a comprehensive support program for all DL students. Information on available services, which include personal research consultation via a toll-free telephone number or email, document delivery, online research tutorials, and borrowing privileges at any other USG library, are explained through a link on the Library's home page (http://www.westga.edu/~library/depts/offcampus/, http://www.usg.edu/galileo/skills/). All faculty teaching DL classes are reminded by email prior to, or at the beginning of, the semester to make their students aware of these available services; they also are encouraged to provide a link from their online syllabus or WebCT course materials to the Distance Learning Library Services' page. A system for contacting students directly by email regarding these services was implemented in Spring 2002. All USG libraries anticipate implementing the GIL Universal Borrowing Program during 2002, a program that will supplant the currently used Joint Borrower's Card. Under this plan the student's current ID card can be used to check out materials from any other USG library, to place holds at other libraries, and to pick up materials sent for them to any System library.

All UWG students have full use of GALILEO, which provides electronic access to abstracts and bibliographies, reference sources, newsletters, and books. The Library leases or owns over 30 other databases. It maintains and adds to a collection of approximately 10,000 materials selected to support UWG's External Degree Program offered in Newnan. The Library also provides $7,000 annually to acquire materials for UWG's External Degree Program at Dalton State College. In order further to support the students enrolled in the Newnan and Dalton programs, the Library has signed formal agreements with the Newnan-Coweta Public Library and the Dalton College Library, both of which have agreed to be the first-point-of-service for UWG students who reside or are enrolled within their service areas. The contracts in place include provision for computer work stations capable of accessing all available online resources provided by the Library, as well as of requesting the delivery of materials in traditional formats to either site (http://www.westga.edu/~library/depts/offcampus/).

The Library's Head of Access Services is responsible for providing resources and services to off-campus and DL students. This person works with a document-delivery assistant, who answers the toll-free phone line, sends requested document copies free of charge, and advises students when interlibrary loan services are needed. Another assistant in Circulation handles requests for all print materials sent by courier to Dalton or Newnan. The Head of Access Services, who is involved in all research consultations with DL students, is in regular contact with the staff at the Newnan and Dalton libraries in order to resolve any problems and to ensure that students and faculty are able to obtain the materials needed to support their courses. In addition, the Library's Systems Department staff travels as needed to Newnan to install and maintain all computer hardware and software used by UWG students to access electronic resources (http://www.westga.edu/~library/databases.shtml, http://www.westga.edu/~library/cgi-bin/libejsearch.cgi, http://www.westga.edu/~library/depts/govdoc/, http://prospero.westga.edu/reserves/, http://gil.westga.edu/).

The Dalton State College Library staff regularly consults with the UWG faculty assigned to that site for the purpose of purchasing materials adequate to the curriculum. The focus of the curriculum offered at UWG's Newnan Center runs the gamut from undergraduate general studies to graduate education and courses in public administration. A committee of involved faculty, college administrators, and librarians is being formed to assist in altering the composition of the collection maintained at the Newnan-Coweta Public Library. Materials no longer needed will be transferred to the Library on the main campus or put into storage. Materials that are relevant to the new programs and that emphasize online resources will be purchased to replace them.

The Library's commitment to maintaining an active and appropriately staffed Systems Department has allowed the Library to pursue cost-effective technologies to manage and provide access to its services. A librarian with technical expertise implements state-of-the-art automation of such services and administrative functions. A testament to the administration's commitment to leveraging current technology, virtually all Library interactions are available to its patrons through online tools. Ingram Library is one of only a few USG libraries that guarantees full access to its online resources whether the user is on-campus or off-campus. This service is provided through a proxy server, which is maintained by Ingram Library's Systems Department. Also unique for a campus its size, UWG's library provides a Web-searchable database of its online, full-text journal collection via a locally created program. In addition, the following interactions are conducted online using tools created in house: patron requests for Interlibrary Loans, faculty/staff requests for book and journal purchases, and faculty requests for the placement of items on reserve. An example of typical cost savings due to staff expertise is conversion of the Library's online catalog to a newer system using programs written by the Systems Librarian -- something that otherwise would have required the employment of outside consultants.

The Library Automation Committee (LAC) participates in the planning and implementation of all automated systems in the Library. The committee serves as an advisory group to the Library's administration and the Systems Librarian, recommending policies and procedures related to automation. LAC serves primarily as a forum for discussing and solving problems as they affect the whole Library. To that end it may review proposals and make recommendations for automation; review budget proposals for hardware and software; advise division and department heads, as needed, in the implementation of and training for automated systems; and develop and update long-range automation plans. In the process of its activities, LAC makes planning decisions that affect the technology-supported research resources in use by the entire campus community.

As the use of computer technology becomes increasingly relevant to student success, many departments integrate technology instruction into their academic courses. Research activities required to succeed in coursework necessitate that students use many of the online resources available from the Library. Reference librarians provide individual instruction and also offer classroom sessions for the numerous instructors who request this service. A major point in Learning Resources' mission is to "support the University's on-going efforts in the integration of technology into instruction." LR offers regular training to both groups and individuals in the use of technology and its integration to instruction (http://www.westga.edu/~lrc/).

As the use of computer technology becomes increasingly relevant to student success, technology instruction has become an ubiquitous part of taking courses at UWG. The University makes high use of technology related to course creation, delivery, and instruction. Examples include WebCT, campus email lists, and online course materials. Two classes in Core Area B.2 provide an opportunity for students to acquire basic computer competencies: CS 1000 (Practical Computing) is a hands-on introduction to the use of computers and software; LIBR 1101 (Academic Research and the Library) addresses student needs in the areas of information literacy and computer-based research. In Core Area F the Richards College of Business (RCOB) provides CISM 2201 (Fundamentals of Computer Applications), which is designed to ensure a basic level of computer-applications literacy, including spreadsheet, database, LAN, email, and Internet utilizations. While RCOB requires CISM 2201, Fundamentals of Computer Applications, and COE requires MEDT 2401, Introduction to Instructional Technology, CAS does not require a computer course in all degree programs.

Several campus computer labs offer students the opportunity to use state-of-the-art technology and to receive help from lab personnel. Irvine Sullivan Ingram Library provides a dedicated area of research computers staffed by reference librarians and student assistants who offer point-of-need training. In addition, several departments have labs specialized for their students' particular needs. Numerous online guides and tutorials created by UWG staff and faculty assist students seeking to increase basic computer competency.

Ingram Library endeavors to provide all resources to both on- and off-campus users. Toward that end all of its online databases are available equally on and off campus. In 2000 the Library installed a proxy server that allows validated, off-campus access to its research resources. Ingram Library is unique among USG institutions in its proven ability to provide access to all its services and resources whether the users are on campus or off campus.

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