Mission

The Centre of Scientific and Technical Information of Lublin University of Technology is a university-wide organizational unit performing scientific, service, teaching, and publishing functions, comprising the following primary units of core activity:

1. The library, which is the basis of the library and information system, whose task is to create a research and educational workshop adapted to the needs of students as well as research and teaching staff;
2. LUT Publishing House, whose task is to implement the publishing process and to promote and disseminate the University's scientific achievements;
3. Bibliometric Analysis Unit, whose task is to support the University’s evaluation process;
4. The Museum of Lublin University of Technology, whose task is to collect, inventory, preserve, and make available the assembled museum collections.

The mission of the Centre of Scientific and Technical Information of the Lublin University of Technology (CINT PL) is to support the University in the fulfillment of its core tasks, namely research and teaching. CINT PL implements this mission through the collection, processing, and provision of access to its holdings, as well as their storage and protection, and by ensuring access to the latest national and international sources of scientific information, in accordance with the University’s academic disciplines and study programmes. It also conducts educational, informational, and documentation activities, making full and effective use of available technological capabilities. The mission of CINT PL further includes fostering the overall cultural development of students, supporting the formation of their ethical and moral attitudes, and assisting them in the process of self-education.

Directions of development of the Centre of Scientific and Technical Information

SWOT Analysis

Strengths

1. The largest scientific library in the region in the field of technical sciences.
2. Central location of the library space on the campus.
3. Collections aligned with the educational profile and research activities of Lublin University oof Technology.
4. Access to a wide range of electronic resources.
5. Use of the cloud-based library system called Alma.
6. Access to PRIMO multisearch engine.
7. Well-equipped computer facilities with Internet access.
8. Professional website.
9. Remote access to databases from any location (PROXY system).
10. Access to wireless Internet (EDUROAM) within the premises of CINT PL.
11. Facilities for people with disabilities (computer equipment, induction loop system).
12. Well-organized interlibrary loan system.
13. Standards Information Point (standards collections available on-site to all interested users; implementation of the ISMS in accordance with PN-ISO/IEC 27001:2017-06).
14. Patent Information Point (cooperation with a patent attorney).
15. LUT Publishing House within the structure of CINT PL.
16. Platform of the Open Journal Systems (OJS).
17. ROCK Repository, which also collects current publications of LUT academic staff published by LUT Publishing House.
18. Continuously updated “LUT Employees' Publication Database”, which forms the basis for parametric evaluation and all scientometric assessments at the University.
19. Participation in consortia enabling access to full-text journals.
20. Participation in the national projects – the coordinator of the BazTech consortium.
21. Cooperation with the NUKAT- the central catalogue of Polish academic collections.
22. Effective training offer for students, doctoral students and LUT employees.
23. Convenient opening hours for users.
24. The Museum of Lublin University of technology within the structure of CINT PL.
25. Systematic promotion of CINT PL services and the University’s history.
26. Highly qualified staff with good foreign language proficiency among CINT personnel.
27. Good cooperation with the University authorities.
28. Good cooperation with academic libraries, museums and other institutions.
29. Acquisition of grants, funds, and subsidies for the development of CINT PL activities and infrastructure.

Weaknesses

1. The lack of our own building that meets the requirements of a modern academic library:
• lack of rooms for individual and group study;
• insufficient premises for some faculty libraries;
• too few designated areas for students to spend time;
• insufficient number of open-shelf collections;
• lack of equipment facilitating user services (book drop boxes, security gates, readers, entrance counters, monitoring systems).
2. Lack of a stable and transparent incentive system for staff remuneration.

Opportunities

1. Development of the information society.
2. Development of information technologies and computer-based library systems.
3. Increase in budgetary funding allocated to science.
4. Rising status and competitiveness of LUT in the region, in Poland, and internationally.
5. Development of education for international students at LUT.
6. Positive image of CINT PL within the University community.
7. Dissemination of the open access publishing model for scientific publications.
8. Participation in available open publishing programmes.
9. Increased awareness related to the copyright protection as well as the protection of industrial and patent property.
10. Digitisation of collections and their provision in digital form (Alma Digital).
11. Development of nationwide library consortia.
12. Launch of a national interlibrary loan system.
13. Acquisition of the support and structural funds from the European Union, among others, for the construction and equipment of CINT PL.

Threats

1. Insufficient budgetary funds for financing scientific activities.
2. Inability to obtain funding for the construction project from European Union funds.
3. A decline in the number of potential library users.
4. Unfavorable changes in legislation concerning science, higher education, and libraries.
5. Low professional status of librarians.

Objectives

The mission will be carried out by achieving the following objectives:

1. Developing the library collection and ensuring access to resources in line with the University’s profile and the needs of its academic staff, students, and doctoral candidates, in cooperation with the teaching staff.
2. Contributing to the improvement of the academic and professional environment by providing users with easy access to resources, creating a user-friendly working environment, and continuously adapting services to changing user needs and emerging technological opportunities.
3. Ensuring the development of CINT PL staff and enhancing their professional qualifications.
4. Building the image of CINT PL within the academic community.
5. Cooperating with libraries in Lublin and other academic libraries to improve user services and create shared information resources.
6. Cooperating with Polish museums within the framework of the Association of University Museums.
7. Undertaking efforts to construct a new building.

The implementation of the defined objectives

OBJECTIVE I. Developing the collection in line with the University’s profile and the needs of its academic staff, students, and doctoral candidates, in cooperation with the teaching staff:

1. Updating, in cooperation with the University’s academic staff, the lists of required and recommended literature.
2. Creating opportunities for the electronic submission of information on newly recommended titles, enabling the collection to be developed in line with the needs of the community.
3. Monitoring the use of subscribed Polish and foreign journals in order to implement an appropriate acquisition policy.
4. Introducing regulations requiring the submission of conference materials to CINT PL for processing and inclusion in the collection.
5. Increasing funding for the acquisition of journals, e-books, and databases.
6. Seeking suppliers of books and journals offering the most favorable financial terms.
7. Cooperation with the National Union Catalog Center (NUKAT) in the co-cataloguing of monographs and serial publications.

OBJECTIVE II. Contributing to the enhancement of the academic and professional environment by ensuring users easy access to resources, creating a user-friendly working environment, and continuously adapting the services provided to evolving user needs and emerging technological opportunities:

1. Developing website of CINT PL as a knowledge gateway and a platform for providing integrated information services.
2. Designing and implementing the most advanced forms of communication between CINT PL and its users.
3. Expanding the range of services available through the website of CINT PL.
4. Providing access to distributed resources available in electronic form (PRIMO multi-search engine).
5. Implementing a strategy for user training and a library training programme for students.
6. Developing policies towards database providers to expand access to the library’s electronic resources from users’ home computers.
7. Organizing training sessions on searching for the latest scientific information in bibliographic and abstract as well as full-text databases for doctoral candidates and academic staff.
8. Conducting classes on Library induction and Information literacy for students.
9. Conducting teaching classes for the Doctoral School in the field of Open Science and research ethics.
10. Carrying out survey-based research to monitor reading needs and improve the services provided..

OBJECTIVE III. Ensuring the development of CINT PL staff and improving their professional qualifications:

1. Systematic internal training for CINT PL staff.
2. Increasing staff participation in courses, training sessions, and conferences that enhance professional qualifications.
3. Encouraging staff to learn foreign languages.
4. Seeking funding for language courses.
5. Motivating staff to actively participate in professional conferences and publish academic papers.
6. Implementing a recruitment policy at CINT PL that prioritizes individuals with relevant higher education qualifications.
7. Improving the qualifications of staff providing scientific information services in user-facing positions.
8. Increasing the number of highly qualified academic librarians.

OBJECTIVE IV. Building a positive image of CINT PL within the academic community:

1. Comprehensive promotion of CINT PL services.
2. Organization of projects within the framework of the Lublin Festival of Science.
3. Preparation of thematic exhibitions and exhibition openings at CINT PL.
4. Co-organization of cultural events integrating the academic community.
5. Participation in university community initiatives.
6. Supporting the University in the evaluation process through data registration and preparation.
7. Conducting bibliometric and scientometric analyses for university authorities, units, academic disciplines, and individual researchers.

OBJECTIVE V. Cooperation with libraries in Lublin and other academic libraries to improve user services and create shared information resources:

1. Cooperation with the National Union Catalogue Center (NUKAT).
2. Cooperation within the BazTech project (Database of Contents of Technical Journals), serving as coordinator of the BazTech consortium.
3. Participation in activities within the Federation of Digital Libraries.

OBJECTIVE VI. Efforts towards the construction of a new building:

In order to adapt to the changing needs of the academic community, efforts should be made to construct a new building. This would facilitate better development of information needs, improve user comfort, increase the use of resources, and open up opportunities for expanding the range of services offered by CINT PL.