From the Executive Director

As the New Year approaches, it is customary to assess the past and the future. Looking back, 2002-2003 has been a good year for the HAM-TMC Library. We maintained our budget despite serious fiscal crises. We conducted two surveys, one informing us who our users are and what services they need, and a second describing users’ perceptions of service, the library as a place, access to information and personal control. We noted with pleasure that all member institutions are represented in our walk-in traffic, and that we are meeting our users’ high expectations.

The staff increased the number of classes and orientations. We migrated successfully to a new library system and introduced new virtual services (Interlibrary Loan being a good example: http://www.library.tmc.edu/ILL).

This year the Library received a wonderful gift of the Menninger Library collections. The Friends of the TMC Library had an active year; they awarded librarians’ scholarships, created the Edward Lillo Crain, Jr. Memorial Fund and hosted a spectacular “Dinner with Houston’s Most Fascinating”. Alas, our perennial problems with scholarly publications’ constraints, costs and alternatives continue. We hosted a Scholarly Publication Conference to discuss the issues. We urged our users to “stay tuned” as debates on access and publishing continue.

The Library needs strong user-library relationships. We encourage partnerships and conversations to guide our decisions and provide needed feedback. As we move into 2004, the Library staff and I thank everyone for a wonderful past year and wish everyone a safe and happy holiday and the best for the New Year.
   

Elizabeth K. Eaton, PhD

Executive Director

HAM-TMC Library