Advocacy and implementation of Stony Brook University’s global library initiatives

Abstract

In support of the Stony Brook University’s global mission, the University Libraries designed a suite of services and expertise to facilitate and strengthen the work of Stony Brook University faculty and students abroad. The Office of Global Library Initiatives provides leadership, creativity, and vision in enhancing and developing the Library’s critical role in the success of SBU faculty and students.

Since its inception in September 2014, the Office of Global Library Initiatives of Stony Brook University has worked closely with academic and clinical departments and the Office of Global Affairs to identify international initiatives, programs, and activities in order to focus the Library’s efforts to the areas that are most critical to SBU success. We have developed relationships with research libraries that support the global mission of Stony Brook University and initiated sustaining international collaborations. So far, we have signed the Library Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with five academic libraries in China including: Shanghai Normal University, Shandong University, Northeast Normal University, Southern University of Science and Technology, and Shandong Normal University. We have expanded information exchange and visiting scholar programs by hosting a number of visiting scholars from around the world. We have initiated and developed relationships with other research libraries abroad to allow Stony Brook University researchers and students access to research material during extended stays in other countries.

Topics to be covered in this presentation include: strategic plan of the global library initiatives at Stony Brook University, collaborations with the Office of Global Affairs, the Global Medical Education, and the Global Health Institute, establishing relationships with academic and research libraries abroad, importance and benefits of international library cooperation, cultivating visiting scholar programs, and our experience serving international students.