CSU Libraries: Money-Saving Initiatives

CALIFORNIA POLYTECHNIC STATE UNIVERSITY — San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly) has joined the other 22 libraries in the California State University (CSU) system to launch a new website that features updates on initiatives that include shared services, equitable access and improving learning spaces.

“Students, faculty, staff and administrators all have a big stake in the health, quality and sustainability of their library programs,” says Anna Gold, chair of the Council of Library Deans and University Librarian at Cal Poly. “But they often don’t hear the stories of how libraries work together to save students and campuses money while advancing the mission of the CSU.”

The CSU Chancellor’s Office is investing $1 million in initiatives that will create a next-generation technology platform that integrates many library functions in ways that will enhance user discovery and access. In October 2014, the CSU announced it was preparing a request for proposals to explore platform options that will organize, share, monitor and mine information resources across all 23 campus libraries, giving students and faculty access to more information and resources.

This work is done through System-wide Digital Library Services, which implements new technologies in the areas of information discovery, user-driven content acquisition, integration with learning management systems, and digital preservation. The CSU libraries are sharing their progress through a newly launched website: http://libraries.calstate.edu.

Featured

  • Harvard Announces Replacement Facility for Native American Program

    Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., recently announced that construction will begin this spring on a new home for its Native American Program, according to university news. The 6,500-square-foot, all-electric building will stand three stories and serve as the central hub for the Harvard University Native American Program (HUNAP).

  • Campus Safety Requires Using Every Resource Available

    Across the U.S., school and campus leaders are facing a security landscape that has changed dramatically over the past decade. Incidents on school property have increased in recent years, with several consecutive years setting record totals. According to analysis of data by CNN, dozens of shootings now occur on school grounds annually across K-12 and higher education environments.

  • Designing Third Spaces That Do What AI Can't

    In 2026, education is evolving faster than ever. With AI reshaping everything from lesson planning to personalized instruction, schools and universities are turning their attention to what AI can’t replicate: spaces that foster collaboration, community, and creativity.

  • Universities Continue to Launch Multimillion-Dollar Campus Transformations

    What makes the current wave of campus development especially noteworthy is its emphasis on multi-use functionality and community integration. Institutions are no longer investing solely in academic or athletic facilities in isolation. Instead, they are creating destinations that blend recreation, health, housing, and event-driven economic activity.