Report of the Library Advisory Committee—Minutes of 4 December 2003

The LAC met on Thursday, 4 December 2003 at 8:15, in El Pomar 304C.

Present: Lesley Ginsberg (chair), Rita Hug (Library), Leslie Manning (Library), Christina Martinez (Library), Dick Discenza (Business), Michael Kisley (LAS-Soc), David Weiss (LAS-Sci),  Patrick Yarnell (LAS-Hum),  Rodger Ziemer (EAS), Mary Hagedorn (Beth El), Catherine Kelly (Education).

 

  1. The minutes of the previous meeting of 30 October 2003 were approved.

  2. Announcements.  The library is purchasing a new on-line database package from J-Stor, popular with students, that features scholarship in Art, using monies received from a grant from student technology fees.  The library was also approved for funding to purchase a new server.  This will allow newer, faster, and more specific searches with updated software.  The old server was purchased in 1998 and is worn out. 

  3. The library has a vacancy in a .5 classified staff library tech. #1 position due to the retirement of Cathy Mundy.  It is converting this position into a computer technology assistant position that will be .5 in the library and .5 in computing services.   The new hire will be maintaining the new server and updating the library’s web page and web accessed databases.  In order to pay for this new position, which is more expensive than the previous classified staff tech. #1 position, the library is giving up a currently unfilled .5 position in circulation.  This means that the circulation desk will not be able to stay open many hours as currently.  The library conducted a survey of circulation desk usage over the past three weeks to target the cuts in service for those days and times with the fewest users.  One hour per day M-F will be cut, 2 hours per day Sat./Sun, for a total of 9 hours cut, a drop from 98 to 89 hrs. per week. The new schedule will start in Spring ’04 and are distributed as follows:

Current: 7:30-Midnight, M-Th.

Change: 7:30-11p., M-Th.

Current: 7:30-8p.,  Fri.

Change: 7:30-7p., Fri.

Current: 9a-7p., Sat.

Change: 11a-7p Sat.

Current: Noon-10p Sun.

Change: Noon-8p. Sun.

            Some concern was expressed by committee members about the cuts; members noted that as more of the student body lives on campus that demand for library hours will likely increase.  However, the committee recognized that at present we are primarily a commuter campus and that the hours being cut are currently underutilized according to the library’s recent survey of users.

  1. The library’s request for 1.5 full time tenure-track new faculty positions for FY ’05 was discussed. A motion was advanced: “The Library Advisory Committee supports the library’s request for new faculty lines while recognizing the need for new faculty lines across the University.”  After discussion, the motion was tabled.  The consensus was that while the committee members recognized the validity of the library’s needs, there are too many other unmet needs in departments, schools, and colleges for the committee to take a stand that would influence the distribution of new lines given the pressing unfulfilled needs across the University. 

  2. 9:30a., adjourned.