There are fewer barriers than ever before for those who wish to build something on the web, whether an online journal, a website with tools for teaching, or a digitized collection of rare and unique materials. Yet, no matter who creates these resources or how they were initially funded, there are substantial costs involved in keeping digital resources up and running for the long term while continuing to deliver value to those who use them. 

In the Ithaka S+R US Library Survey 2013 report we examine how the leaders of academic libraries are approaching systemic changes in their environment and the opportunities and constraints they face in leading their organizations. While exploring key topics covered in our 2010 survey of library directors, such as strategic planning, collecting practices, and library services, in 2013 we also introduced a new emphasis on organizational dynamics, leadership issues, and undergraduate services.

Building User Engagement for a Sustainable Future

Securing institutional support for a national mission

Shared infrastructure supports long-term sustainability and modest growth

Investing in distributed capacity-building for continuous growth

Cultivating a targeted user group for support and content

Upfront investment in user-friendly back-end systems allows for continual growth.

Sustainable growth through collaborative partnerships