Library Report

Annual Report

Return to main AR page

The CTR Library is the official depository for the TxDOT research program. Publications generated by TxDOT-funded research at research centers statewide are available at the CTR Library. The library also acts as an archive for TxDOT materials.

Library at a Glance: FYO7

Number of patron reference requests fulfilled: Approximately 1,700
Number of items cataloged: Nearly 2,000 new items were added to the web catalog and two new collections to physical holdings—the NAFTA and the International sections.
Web site enhancements: Two RSS feeds were added to the library site—Transportation News, and Recently Cataloged CTR Reports. The RSS feeds enable patrons to subscribe to a summary of transportation-related news and information.

Developing Resource Networks

Manager of Library Services Louise Rosenzweig has been involved this year with the establishment of the Western Transportation Knowledge Network (WTKN), a new resource-sharing group for the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Region 4 librarians. Goals of the WTKN are to share library resources and enable participants to develop common principles, standards, and cooperative agreements. Members are working to improve the transfer of information among member organizations.

Library staff continues to be active in the Special Libraries Association, both on a national and state level.

Additionally, the library staff is looking forward to becoming active in the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Library and Information Services for Transportation Group in the coming year.

Conference Participation

The CTR library staff participated in the ninth International Conference on Low-Volume Roads (see description in the Event Highlights section of this document). This was a great opportunity to promote the research of CTR and TxDOT as well as the services of the library. Staff noted that attendees were quite interested in the library and were excited to learn that the library offers services to the public. Visitors were also impressed by the tremendous resource that the Web catalog represents, particularly the direct links to research materials in PDF form. Library staff talked with researchers from all over the world, including Canada, Tanzania, South Africa, Australia, Iceland, and Mexico, as well as attendees from the Bureau of Indian Affairs and from other U.S. states, including Oklahoma, Florida, Oregon, and Kansas. The following materials were distributed:

Approximately 300 CTR Library brochures and 62 CTR Library magnets were distributed in the registration packets and directly to attendees. Many attendees took additional brochures with them to share with peers.
Approximately 134 CTR and TechMRT research reports were given to attendees, thus sharing valuable research with a global audience.

Manager of Library Services Louise Rosenzweig at the 9th International Conference on Low-Volume Roads

Field Advisor for Capstone Project

In the spring 2007 semester, Ms. Rosenzweig acted as the Field Advisor to graduate student Brent Lipinski for his School of Information Capstone Project. The goal of a Capstone Project is to complete “an academically rigorous, professional-level project, and receiving in return valuable mentoring in a real-world setting.” The student cataloged the International Section, adding approximately 800 new items to the web catalog, and reorganized the Reference Section. This project was a excellent opportunity to fulfill CTR’s mission of providing educational opportunities for University of Texas students.

Initiatives FY2008