University Library Committee

February 12, 2007

12:00pm

DRAFT

Present:

Hugh Davis (Chair), Ed Harris (Interim Library Director), Bob Axtell, Shirley Cavanagh, Rebecca Hedreen, Enda McGovern, Rob Snyder, Wes O’Brien (Senate guest)

Library Director Search

        Rob and Rebecca updated the committee on the status of the library director search. Four candidates were brought to our campus for interviews. Three finalists were chosen and their names were submitted to the President and Provost for consideration. Only two people from the committee’s recommendation list were offered the position and both candidates declined the job offer. The search committee will meet this Thursday to determine if any of the previous applicants should be interviewed. If the committee doesn’t select any of the applicants, the search process will begin again. If the job is reposted, Provost Williams has asked the committee to make sure that the ad mentions the job title. This position is for a library director and not a dean.

University Library Committee Structure

Wes O’Brien, from the Senate’s rules committee, came to the ULC to discuss our committee’s bylaws and organizational structure. Wes indicated that two librarians had come to him with some concerns. They wanted to know the charge of the ULC and the election process for selecting representatives to the committee. They also felt that there should be better communication between the committee and the library faculty.

A discussion ensued about the history of the ULC and its current charge. In 1994, Vice-President Tony Pinciaro, established the university library committee and appointed the committee members. In December 2001, the structure was expanded to include more faculty members from the academic schools. For example, the Graduate Council, Undergraduate Curriculum Forum, and Faculty Senate were also asked to appoint or elect representatives. Hugh has tried to make sure that all of the academic schools are represented. He has contacted the undergraduate and graduate schools for a student representative to our committee but the positions remain unfilled.

Hugh indicated that the committee’s charge was to serve as an advisor to the library director. In the past, the committee lobbied for an increase in the library’s acquisition budget and advocated for the library’s needs. ULC committee members would also report back to their schools and departments.

Rob and Hugh, both original members of the committee, were going to look for their original appointment letter and any relevant documentation. Our original charge would serve as a good starting point for our committee’s official function. We hope to review any documentation at the next meeting. Any proposed changes that are recommended will need the President’s approval. To ensure better communication, the distribution of our minutes will be expanded to include more campus individuals. Library committee members already give a ULC report at their bi-monthly faculty meetings. A copy of our minutes will be sent to the following individuals: librarians, Provost Williams, Wes O’Brien – representing the Senate. 

New Library Addition

The new addition is scheduled to be completed at the end of spring 2007. Library services, personnel and materials will be moving once the library addition has been approved for occupancy by Public Works.

Status of Ground Floor Materials

Shirley and Rebecca reported that the many of our bound periodicals, oversize and juvenile collections have been shipped back from storage and are now housed in the old student center.  Our damaged library material, especially the material in the Art Gallery, still remains in Rochester for further evaluation. The Student Center building will be closed access and a retrieval system is being set up to pull material for library patrons. All of these collections will be moved to the new addition during the summer.

Our next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, March 14 at noon. Meeting adjourned at 1:00pm.

Respectfully Submitted,

Shirley B. Cavanagh