Libraries

Libraries

The Libraries of the Big Ten Academic Alliance are aligned in the vision of uniting our separate collections into one collection, shared and fully networked: the BIG Collection. By this phrase we mean a holistic and comprehensive understanding of what a library "collection" is: not simply the things we hold, but our services; our people; our expertise; our technology; and our infrastructure.

In advancing this future of interdependence and excellence, we are guided by our North Star in everything that we do:

In order to advance a just, trustworthy, scalable & sustainable open knowledge ecosystem, make open, more equitable scholarship our lead purpose.

On these pages, you'll find more about the services, programs, and community that are advancing this vision in a principles-centered, mission-driven, values-aligned way.

Academy Owned Scholarly Publishing Landscape Report
Launched in the fall of 2022, the Big Ten Academic Alliance [BTAA] landscape assessment of academy owned scholarly publishing activities explores the shared challenges and opportunities facing publishing programs and operations within the Big Ten institutions.
big ten open books
Big Ten Open Books
Big Ten Open Books connects readers everywhere to fully accessible, trusted books from leading university presses. Established as a new model for open-access publishing focused on equity and inclusion, we invite you to explore our Gender and Sexuality studies collection.
BIG Collection: Resource Access Policy Harmonization Report
The Resource Access Policy Harmonization pilot team is pleased to share their final report. Aspirational in nature, the report includes the new BTAA Resource Sharing Agreement plus Scanning Standards; reaffirms the Principles and Protocols for Sharing Special Collections within the Big Ten; and articulates important next steps for future pilot projects and working group investigations.

Library News


CIC Leadership Opportunity: Director – Center for Library Initiatives

Sep 1, 2015, 10:53 AM

The Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC) seeks a senior leader with energy, drive, tact, and tenacity to serve as Director of the Center for Library Initiatives (CLI).

The Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC) seeks a senior leader with energy, drive, tact, and tenacity to serve as Director of the Center for Library Initiatives (CLI).

Reporting to the Executive Director of the CIC, the CLI Director works in concerted action with the CIC university librarians to leverage institutional resources and collections (both print and digital); to provide access to information resources; to advance library-based strategies in support of CIC academic initiatives; and to enhance opportunities for collaborative services in the CIC libraries. The CLI Director is responsible for advancing this broad library cooperative agenda. As a member of the CIC headquarters Executive Team, the Director also works closely with the Executive Director and other Team members to set strategic priorities, establish operating policies, and develop and sustain a high-performing collaborative culture.

The CIC offers a highly collegial headquarters office and the ability to work with some of the best leaders in American higher education. The staff has a genuine appreciation for research universities in general, and the CIC universities in particular. Skilled in synthesizing information from many discussions into focused areas for action, the CIC team possesses the abilities to distinguish great ideas from the mediocre, deftly handle both concepts and personalities; and have the wherewithal to move projects from idea to action with autonomous groups and individuals.

 For more on the position, see the full job description.  Please visit CLI's homepage for an overview of current initiatives.

CIC Org Chart 9-1-2015