Texas Digital Library Vision 2020-2023

Download the full Strategic Plan for 2020-23 from the TDL Institutional Repository: https://hdl.handle.net/2249.1/156513 

MISSION

A collaborative consortium based in Texas and rooted in higher education, the Texas Digital Library builds capacity among its membership for ensuring equitable access to and preservation of digital content of value to research, instruction, cultural heritage, and institutional memory.

VISION

The Texas Digital Library (TDL) will become a nationally recognized leader as a provider of essential, equitable, and sustainable infrastructure for libraries and cultural memory organizations, and its efforts will help to transform society through the radical broadening of access to valuable research, teaching, and cultural heritage materials.

As a center for expertise and excellence, it will be a sought-after partner by other consortia, institutions, and funders, and will serve as a model of community-based collaboration in service of Open Access, Open Data, Open Education, and digital preservation.

TDL’s success will be bound to that of our member institutions and their workers. Through our collective efforts, we will prepare and empower a diverse and inclusive library workforce to meet the challenges of the moment by amplifying their unique contributions, enabling sustainable workloads, and fostering mutually supportive communities.

STRATEGIES

1. Partner with members and like-minded external partners to broaden access to scholarly, cultural heritage, and educational materials.
2. Create value for members through shared resources.
3. Commit to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in order to ensure broad and equitable access to our tools, content, and communities.
4. Strengthen sustainability through membership growth and diversification of funding sources.

INITIATIVES

Strategy #1 | Partner with members and like-minded external partners to broaden access to scholarly, cultural heritage, and educational materials.

1. Support institutional efforts to migrate to open repository systems.
2. Engage in international efforts to sustain open infrastructure for academic libraries and memory organizations.
3. Promote and facilitate use of Open Educational Resources through partnerships with Open Textbook Network and others

Strategy #2 | Create value for members through shared resources.

1. Systematize training procedures for each service working through member groups and leveraging the resources of larger open-source software communities.
2. Coordinate meaningful opportunities for the professional development of member librarians, archivists, and staff in areas relevant to digital library practice and leadership.
3. Maintain core shared services to ensure stability, security, and sustainability of collections and materials.
4. Identify and encourage fledgling innovation happening at member institutions and open-source software partners, and identify opportunities for cross-institutional collaboration.
5. Provide responsive, sustainable and flexible digital preservation services and expertise.

Strategy #3 | Commit to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in order to ensure broad and equitable access to our tools, content, and communities.

1. Finalize, implement, and continually refine an Anti-Racism Action Plan.
2. Implement programs to support students from minoritized communities seeking careers in libraries and archives.
3. Increase diversity among staff, membership, and TDL-affiliated communities.
4. Ensure ADA compliance of all services and events.

Strategy #4 | Strengthen sustainability through membership growth and diversification of funding sources.

1. Grow membership through outreach to academic libraries while expanding membership types, including more opportunities for public libraries, museums, community colleges and others to partner with TDL.
2. Create opportunities for institutions outside of Texas to join TDL.
3. Facilitate collaboration among members to seek grant funding for projects that align with TDL’s mission.
4. Devote expenditures from TDL’s cash reserve to initiatives that benefit our members, while maintaining a responsible emergency fund.