Introduction

The Information Systems Sector of the University of Kentucky provides library, computing, communication, and printing services to the entire University. To keep the community informed of computing and communications strategic plans and directions, this statement of philosophy, priorities, and current plans for implementation has been prepared in consultation with the University Computing Advisory Committee and will be updated as necessary. The current revision was prepared in September, 1995.

During the 21st Century, the Libraries of the University of Kentucky will be the primary source for information resources for the students, faculty and staff of the University, and they will serve as an important backup source for information resources for the citizens of the Commonwealth, especially in the critical areas of education, health care, and economic development. To do this the Libraries must take full advantage of information technology as they redesign access and delivery services in order to maximize users' access to instructional and research material while at the same time minimizing the costs of supporting these services. The new environment will be a distributed, networked information and desktop delivery system

The construction of the William T. Young Library offers the University Libraries a window of opportunity to define their role as the University's primary gateway to both paper and electronic information resources, and an important University gateway to communication and computing resources. Indeed, the new facility offers an unprecedented opportunity to redefine what a university research library system that is responsive to change and to the needs of its community of users should be. Success in creating a new and responsive university research library system -- made up not only of the new building, but of linked college information centers -- will put the members of the University community and the citizens of the Commonwealth at a great advantage in a society in which information is increasingly critical to economic development and all aspects of life.

As the University of Kentucky prepares to meet the computing and communications needs of a 21st century institution, Computing Services and Communications Services will continue to provide the technical foundation for the various operational activities and services offered through the Information Systems Sector of the University. Computing and Communications Services will support a broad array of information storage, manipulation, and transfer functions, and will continually strive to maintain these services and facilities at the "state-of-the-art" level and to make them accessible to the broadest possible user spectrum.

The growing impact created by the increased use of data, the rapid growth of academic and administrative systems, the dynamic nature of technology, relatively shrinking budgets, and decreased staff have exacerbated the pressure on Information Systems' resources. The University needs to radically redesign how it delivers information to researchers and management. According to the Gartner Group, 27% of management's time is spent finding, accessing, reconciling, and reformatting information. It seems likely that an even higher percentage of researchers' time would be similarly engaged. Therefore, we need to transform data into actionable, accessible information for better, faster decision making.

Building upon the technical foundation of Computing and Communications Services, Information Systems will continue to upgrade and strengthen the quantity and quality of available support services. The incorporation and application of technology into virtually every academic program will continue. Programs and initiatives to assist faculty and staff in developing and strengthening individual technology skills and in exploiting the potential of technology in the learning experience will be expanded.