About KU Information Services - Divisions

Below are the distinctive, interdependent units that make up KU Information Services:

KU Libraries

Led by Lorraine Haricombe, dean of libraries, the KU Libraries are one library organization housed in six buildings on the Lawrence campus and in the Regents Center Library on KU's Edwards Campus in Overland Park, Kansas. Each library offers a mix of printed and electronic research materials, a professionally trained staff and a wide range of services to facilitate learning, teaching and research. The collections in all of the KU Libraries currently comprise more than four million printed volumes. The KU Libraries are implementing new technologies and delivering services in new ways to meet the evolving needs of today's tech-savvy college students. While administratively separate, the Law School Library in Green Hall and the Dykes Library at the KU Medical School provide additional resources.

Information Technology

KU IT is led by co-directors Chuck Crawford and Julie Loats. Chuck is director of Information Technology, Enterprise Infrastructure and Security. Julie is director of Information Technology, Enterprise Applications and Services. Information Technology is located in the Computer Center building. IT administers KU's email system, the university web presence, the Kyou portal and affiliated services, and management of university academic and administrative systems. Information Technology also maintains the university's extensive infrastructure of servers and related technical resources; manages KU's general-use student computer labs; provides and supports instructional technology; leads KU's information security effort; and more.

IT also manages the physical plant of cabling and cabling support infrastructure that carry voice, video and data services on KU's main campus, Edwards Campus and remote departmental locations. More than 130 buildings are interconnected by more than 14,000 cable-miles of twisted pair and coax cable, and more than 1,000 strand-miles of fiber. IT also provides consulting, planning, engineering and installation services for new construction, renovations and rewiring projects

IT includes ResNet, the staff-supervised, student-run organization that provides phone, cable TV and data networking services to the 4,500 students who live in KU's residence and scholarship halls and Stouffer Place Apartments. ResNet provides both service and technical support for students needing assistance with technology problems.

Collaborating with Local Technical Staff Across KU's Lawrence and Edwards Campuses
While Information Services does not directly supervise local technical staff in various academic units across the University, we maintain an official collaboration on technical issues through the campus-wide Technology Partners group and Technical Liaisons. These groups were created to establish clear lines of communication and facilitate collaboration on technical issues and other necessary administrative tasks. Each unit that maintains its own technical staff appoints one central Technical Liaison who serves as a local technical director and the Information Services contact for various administrative discussions.