introduction

This 2011—2015 Library and Technology Services (LTS) Strategic Plan is an update of the 2006—2010 plan. The update takes place within an important new context: Lehigh University's new campus-wide strategic plan, Advancing our Intellectual Footprint. Joining with the campus community, LTS aspires to move Lehigh to a whole new level as a "premier residential research university, internationally recognized for research excellence and a distinctive student experience." LTS has been very much involved with the formation of the campus-wide plan, with its grand challenges and four front runners. Our staff played significant leadership roles in the Plan's Strategic Thinking process. Bruce Taggart, Vice Provost for Library and Technology Services, is deeply involved in the implementation process.

The purpose of this LTS Strategic Plan is to articulate our vision and mission and to define our direction. The Plan contains strategies but not tactics. Specific metrics are developed separately by those implementing the strategies set forth. Like all plans, it must be flexible enough to respond to unanticipated changes in the institutional and external environments. This Plan will require significant new resources in order to achieve its goals; for instance, the network infrastructure upgrade will require millions in capital expenditures. Even maintaining some programs at their existing levels will require the infusion of new permanent funding, especially for the highly successful TRAC Writing Fellows program and for science and engineering e-journals.

diversity

In addition to embracing the University Strategic Plan, the LTS Strategic Plan must incorporate the Lehigh University Diversity Initiative that seeks to "coordinate institutional priorities to support our diversity goals, including strategic planning, leadership recruitment, and accountability." In keeping with this Initiative's mission, each LTS strategy should be understood to include a diversity component wherever relevant. Thus we will actively promote an inclusive community that values, affirms, and advances the diverse backgrounds, interests, experiences, and aspirations of all members.

sustainability

Another value that we wish to articulate and apply to all relevant strategies is adoption of sustainable alternatives to conserve energy and care for the environment. LTS has both initiated and cooperated on many fronts (printing, recycling, lighting, etc.) and will continue to do so. Library and Technology Services staff members provide significant leadership in both the diversity and environmental initiatives on campus.

external support

Finally we continue to embrace the responsibility to find resources outside the budget process, both to supplement university funding and to draw national and international attention to the reputation of Lehigh University. Recent years have seen considerable success in this area across a broad front, from federally funded projects (Library Services and Technology Act, National Science Foundation, Pennsylvania Research and Education Network or PennREN) to foundations (notably Mellon Foundation funded library-related initiatives) to important gifts in kind (J. P. Morgan Chase and Goldman Sachs donations of Egenera Computing Systems) and wonderful, generous giving by alumni and friends to the Linderman renovation program and Friends of the Libraries.