Newsletter Number 47, Spring 2001 The University of Texas at Austin www.lib.utexas.edu
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The format of a library's Annual Report differs from institution to institution. The content would seem to be the most important element—a record of the library's year, a benchmark to compare with other years, the bearer of tidings to the university administration, its users, and supporters. Good news, lots of progress, we need more money, a problem here or there—that sort of thing. But the format may indeed help shape the message. As funds in general, and publication funds more specifically, became tighter a few years ago, it was decided to incorporate the General Libraries Annual Report into its Newsletter series and to organize the report in a more outlined and graphical approach. The new format was very well received, and the information that our staff felt important to share seemed more easily composed, presented, and understood. There was some concern that this format might become too mechanical in appearance, repetitive in nature, and appear very much the same from year to year. That has not been the case. As material was gathered for this FY 2000 Annual Report, it became clear that the year—probably like most other years—was really quite different from the one before. It was surprising to find how far advancements had been made, collections grown, the traditional and digital library programs each strengthened in many ways. One thing remains a constant. The General Libraries organization is heavily rebuilding as staff retire, move on, or as the library model itself continues its dramatic change. Strong, fresh faces and minds combine with the strengths of continuing staff to invigorate our services, improve operations, look for new horizons. Thanks go to that staff—all with their varied responsibilities—for the many accomplishments recorded in this report. 
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- 1999-2000 Annual
Report
and beyond...
Services to users
- Infrastructure upgraded to expand and speed electronic information access
- New assistive technology equipment installed for library users with disabilities
- Use of Alexander Architectural Archive increases 365%
- Library users learning more from online tutorials
- Loan periods for graduate students and all UT staff increased to a semester
- Laptops made available for checkout in the Perry- Castañeda Library
- Collections and resources
- Special collections valued at more than $5.2 million acquired primarily through donations
- SciFinder Scholar licensed
- NEH grant of $191,436 awarded for preservation of early twentieth-century Mexican newspapers
- More than 3,500 full-text journals now available on UT Library Online
- $200,000 saved through the cancellation of duplicate journal titles
- Cooperative initiatives and outreach
- General Libraries and Ransom Center spearhead the statewide archival initiative TARO
- UT Austin reference librarians participate in new international electronic reference service
- Benson Latin American Collection donates duplicate materials to UT System and Mexican educational institutions
- Expanded materials exchange program begun with nine Taiwanese universities
- General Libraries hosts two national conferences
- Continued contributions to major international bibliographic databases
- Support and funding
- Total value of donations of library materials exceeds $5.5 million
- $580,000 in corporate, state, and federal grant funds received
- UT System Academic Library Collection Enhancement Program provides $1 million for acquisitions and increases to $2 million for FY 2001