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The season of spring always brings to mind fresh starts, renewal, and opportunity. It is no different here at the Z. Smith Reynolds Library as we look forward to an exciting spring semester. For the first time in my tenure as dean, we will launch a multiyear plan for the library. The plan will focus on our mission to inspire learning, advance knowledge and build community. With this new plan, ZSR will work to ensure our ongoing commitment to excellence while continuing to adapt to a rapidly changing higher education landscape. At Wake Forest University, these changes include new initiatives, new campuses and an increasingly diverse and international student body. To accomplish this goal, we will take a fresh look at our services and structure by “reimagining” them. Many things will likely stay the course, but without renewal and assessment, even the most successful operations will eventually become obsolete.

One key area is replacing our aging library systems to improve discovery and improve the user experience of our extensive electronic collections. We will also participate in planning for new and innovative teaching, learning and research methodologies in partnership with the University community. And we will strengthen the library’s contributions to student success by responding to and supporting the changing curriculum. Beyond our campus, ZSR will participate in and provide support for engaged research initiatives affecting the local community. We will launch a Friends of the Library group to engage young alumni, local retirees and others in the Winston-Salem region.

I hope you will find new and traditional ways to engage with ZSR—we are your library and we are here to support your research, teaching and intellectual curiosity.