» University Library Advisory Committee
Minutes: Tuesday, April 22, 2003
Present: Arne Almquist, Lois Schultz (ex-officio), Kathy Schroerlucke, Tom Heard, Matt Shank, Ann Luggen
Absent: Clinton Hewan, Yasue Kuwahara, Dick Durtsche, Candace Klein
Introductions
Report on Current Year's Expenditures
Arne gave a PowerPoint presentation on the breakdown of the materials budget for 2002-2003. We received funding from the summer enrollment expansion revenues and will carry that forward to help cover serials inflation costs for next year. We are working on a proposal that would potentially double the materials budget over the next five to six years. It was shown that serials make up the largest part of the budget and that serials inflation, if not addressed, will crowd out the purchase of other materials.
On a more positive note, we have purchased the JSTOR Language and Literature Collection. We currently have access to all JSTOR collections. We have gained additional funds for document delivery as a product of the Budget Enhancement Process. This is a cost effective way to provide access to a much larger portion of the journal literature than we currently hold. Three departments are currently participating in our pilot project. The project will be expanded next year.
Questions
In terms of revenue, what will the Community College contribute? (This question relates to an agreement to provide library services to the new Gateway Community College). We are negotiating a broad contract that will allow us to provide traditional library services to their students and faculty in exchange for payment by Gateway to NKU. We will pass through all transactional costs to Gateway. For the first year, we have agreed upon a price to cover estimated labor costs. A joint committee will be created to develop ways to quantify the impact on us and to come up with a more accurate way of setting payment for our services. This is an important contract that will enable Gateway to concentrate on creating state of the art electronic library services without duplicating resources that already exist in the area. The contract will help us in the area of staffing.
Is the library trying to get to zero in the materials budget every year? Yes we are. Our users tell us that they need resources and we should be spending the money to buy what they need. When money is carried forward from year to year important resources are not being purchased, many of which may not be available at a later date (out of print, etc.).
Does Steely Library know about the Greater Cincinnati Library Consortium? We are very involved. The GCLC Media Collection is located here and is managed by Steely library. GCLC provides training opportunities and discounted buying opportunities. Steely Library is also involved in the State-Assisted Academic Library Council of Kentucky (SAALCK). This is the group that worked for the creation of KYVL. The SAALCK Directors' Council meets on a monthly basis. SAALCK is working on consortial purchasing agreements, a group grant project, and is planning a number of shared projects.
Arne was then asked to talk about the Welcome Center in the Library and what its place is. He described the renovation of the Archives' space and pointed out that long term demands for a 1st floor, ADA entrance into the Library are being realized through this project. The Welcome Center is also going to be a catalyst for change in the Archives. The new entrance brings the Archives from the "basement" to the "front door of the University." A capital campaign project for the completion of the Archives will soon be under way. This will involve creation of an attractive reading room, improvements to the stacks area, and the purchase of specialized equipment.
During the time of the day that the Welcome Center is open, we have a staffed security desk at which items can be checked out and returned. When the Welcome Center is closed, our person moves to the Welcome Center desk to keep the entrance open, continue to check out materials, and to do light duty tasks in support of the Welcome Center itself (handing out brochures and parking passes and giving directions).
Report of the Formula Subcommittee
Lois gave a PowerPoint presentation concerning the work of the Formula Subcommittee. She discussed serials inflation, giving examples of the growth in prices from 1985/86 through 2002. The current subcommittee's charge was to refine the Materials Allocation Formula put in place last year. In the end, the subcommittee suggested increasing the weighting for graduate courses. Questions arose: Are 500 level courses graduate or upper division? Is the same true if the department doesn't have a graduate program? These are two questions that this group needs to decide on.
The ULAC voted to recommend the adoption of the revisions to the formula for FY 2003/2004.
New Developments in the Library
The library has instituted a proxy server. The proxy server is basically a computer server that allows us to provide security for the electronic resources that we are making available. Students can log in and access our electronic resources from wherever they are. Ours is the very first proxy server on campus.
Electronic Reserves is a very new and exciting development this year. We have purchased the Docutech system. We have a server that is housed in the Library that allows us to scan materials and place them on reserve electronically. Faculty are also able to fax their documents into the system. Students can easily and securely login to access the documents. To make the service as user friendly as possible, we will handle the copyright clearance for the faculty.
Another new service is direct access to interlibrary loan. Lois gave a demonstration showing how the system works. The service is accessed through FirstSearch. You simply click on the ILL icon and fill out an ILL form. Fulfillment time is 7 to 10 days.
Other Business/Questions
There were none.
Respectfully submitted,
Julie Matthews
updated on 09/16/03
