28. november 2015 University Merging - for Better or for Worse: Looking back at the first Year from a Library Perspective Tove Bang ASB Library

28. november 2015Dias 2 Rehearsel from EBSLG 2007: Major changes in the Danish university sector since WHY: The Goal of the Danish government was to: - enhance quality – higher ranking - strengthen research and university education in an international context -increase business collaboration and innovation -attract more international funding and EU Framework participation -enhance research based services for the public authorities ( scientific consultancy work ) How: The means to achieve these goals was to: - merge the universities and governmental research institutions Result: - since January 2007 the Danish university sector is reorganised

28. november 2015Dias 3 Reorganised Danish university landscape  Before Dec the number of DK universities was 25 (12 universities and 13 research institutions)  After January the number of DK universities is 8 and 3 research institutions  97% of public research activities will be concentrated at 7 universities  3% of public research activities will be devided between 4 smaller universities

28. november 2015Dias 4 3 Danish universities among the biggest 3 Danish universities are now among the biggest in Europe in terms of resources  University of Copenhagen  University of Aarhus  Technical University of Denmark App. 2/3 of public research and university education in DK takes place here

28. november 2015Dias 5 The new Aarhus University – 2007 is like a flower

28. november 2015Dias 6 The AU campus is now spread all over Denmark

28. november 2015Dias 7 Big is beautiful, but …. Appr students - More than ph.d.- students - New and broader educational competencies Yearly budget app. 600 million EURO - App employees - 25% of all Danish public research

28. november 2015Dias 8 Lots of challenges for academics and staff at ASB after the merge + (for better): - AU has got an exceptional depth and breadth - A Merger Agreement gives ASB extra research resources for at least the coming 4 years -New cross educations attractive for students. New research areas (AU Strategy : Quality and diversity) -AU is ranking high (Leiden: 38; THES 114, etc.) -Easier use of EU Framework Programmes -More attractive to international researchers - (for worse): -A very large university - a very large population – -Lots of coordination and meetings - Bureaucracy has grown -Decision-making takes a lot of time - Staff uncertainty (->for support, it and administrative staff)

28. november 2015Dias 9 The flower of the ’New University Libraries’ at the New University of Aarhus

28. november 2015Dias 10 The Library perspective … Rehearsal from EBSLG 2007 … Since mid-80’ties a Library co-operation Agreement has existed between the State and University Library and Aarhus University … The State and University Library is still an institution that falls under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture …

28. november 2015Dias 11 The great challenge… To design the ’New Aarhus University Libraries’  ’Aarhus University Libraries’ is now a virtuel co-operation betweeen 27 libraries - (earlier status as Institute-, Faculty-, University-, and State and University libraries)  Total Staff: app. 200 ft.equiv.  Total budget app./year: DKK 155 mio./21 mio.EURO  Total Materials budget app./year: DKK 46 mio/6,2 mio EURO  A Library task force presented in October 2007 a development plan for the ’Aarhus University Libraries’ for the period (Okt. 2007).

28. november 2015Dias 12 ’Aarhus University Libraries’ Development plan Mission & Vision The State and University Library and ’Aarhus University Libraries’ is together a multi-campus library characterized by:  Campus libraries close to the users and the professional staff (Faculty, Institute, Research center)  Decentraliced budgetting. Delegation from deans to library directors/library managers  The libraries are knowledge & information centers delivering information to the whole Aarhus University

28. november 2015Dias 13 ’Aarhus University Libraries’ Development plan The development plan points out 3 common initiatives to be taken immediately: -Implement a common library system -Extension of common licenses -A common homepage for the,New Aarhus University Libraries A list of basic backbone library services shall be maintained and developed through optional cross cooperation and initiatives (Materials handling, Study facilities, Information infrastructure, user services etc.) A list of special development areas open for those interested: Reseach registration and archiving; Bibliometrics and research measuring; Working Knowledge for researchers; develop the attractive study environment; Information competencies; Digital rights; Virtual libraries; Staff development and competencies)

28. november 2015Dias 14 A merge of libraries – not a taking over … What has happened at ASB Library so far: -Library and ICT department has been merged together. New possibilities and challenges -Library budget and staff has not declined -ASB Library still carry the innovative yellow library shirt! -ASB Library is well rooted in ALEPH before the EU supply is annonced in May Most licenses are already open for users at AU campus/outside ASB. All in all: ASB Library is still ASB Library – but has no longer status as a university library (affects our national and international representation and brand) But ASB Library will survive and still be among the leading business school libraries in the world.