These minutes were approved as submitted at the October 19, 1995 meeting of the University Library Committee UNIVERSITY LIBRARY COMMITTEE MINUTES Tuesday, September 26, 1995 PRESENT: Anna-Marshall-Baker, Human Resources,Chair Eileen Hitchingham, Library Darrel Clowes, Education Lori S. Marsh, Agriculture & Life Science Lance Matheson, Business Raymond Plaut, Engineering Marie Wall, Architecture & Urban Studies Peter Wallenstein, Faculty Senate Linda Vick, GSA GUESTS: Donald Kenney, Library ABSENT: Karen Dyer, Veterinary Medicine Richard Helm, Forestry & Wildlife Calvin Ribbens, Arts & Sciences The meeting was called to order at 4:00 p.m. The minutes of April 13, 1995 were approved with two corrections; a typo, and the recognition that Darrel Clowes had attended the April 13 meeting. Following introductions by the new chair, A. Marshall-Baker, and the rest of the committee, the charge of this committee was restated. To enhance the focus and value of the committee's work, A. Marshall-Baker noted that she would consult monthly with E. Hitchingham to help develop specific meeting agenda items. NEW BUSINESS: Library Report (E. Hitchingham): E. Hitchingham presented an overview of the teams currently working within the library which are addressing issues of change and improvement in various areas. One of the teams is looking at user services whose purpose is to design library services that assist members of the university community in being productive and proficient as they use information resources in the libraries and elsewhere for learning, teaching, and research. (Copies of the team objectives were distributed to committee members). As part of this effort the technical services unit in the library is attempting to free up over $200,000 in people resources for work within user services. E. Hitchingham indicated that the University Library Committee would be a valuable resource in helping to make assessments of current and potential user information needs. This may take the form of participation in focus groups consisting of representatives of the university community. Another team is looking at our VTLS interface. This group will also examine how the library can use to fuller advantage some of the newer software developments available from VTLS, Inc. The library has a team that is looking at financial record keeping, to gain a better sense of resources and functional costs and how we can make our funds work more effectively. The shelving team is looking at the storage capacity within Newman Library, which is nearing a crisis state. Our shelves are approximately 90-95% filled, whereas a 70-80% fill is necessary and generally recommended to allow for shifting and addition of materials. This team will look at the best way to move out some 300,000 resources, working with departmental liaisons and faculty to assess kinds of materials to move to storage or discard. A. Marshall-Baker encouraged committee members to attend any of the focus groups that may be of interest to their departments or college, or identify someone in their college that could attend some of the meetings. E. Hitchingham urged that members look not only at their own departmental needs, but at the wider university picture when providing their feedback. In addition to the teams, the collegiate librarian/information officer program is in place for the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Agriculture, College of Human Resources, and College of Education. There are responsibilities being shifted to make a librarian available for the College of Business, and efforts to hire someone for the College of Engineering. The library has begun looking at the possibility of working with the Center for Excellence in University Teaching to develop pilot programs in information literacy. E. Hitchingham would like to see a program developed that would sequence levels of specialized resources to meet the needs of students as they progress through undergraduate and into graduate work. She emphasized that one of the best things we can do for Virginia Tech students as they graduate, is to empower them with the skills that will make them information literate. In response to a question about the library and the five year campaign, E. Hitchingham indicated that the campaign aspires to a 3.5 million dollar goal for the library - an unprecedented level for the library in this kind of endeavor. Vinod Chachra, President of VTLS, has agreed to serve as chairperson of the library segment. E. Hitchingham announced that the Class of 45', which will be meeting here for its reunion in October, is pledging $100,000 for library remodeling to make a more user-focused lobby area. This has been a very exciting level of support, and she hopes that we can attract potential donors to help with collection, journal and personnel support as well. A question was raised about the availability of material electronically. E. Hitchingham commented that beyond indexes and searching type tools, there isn't a lot and what is there is not inexpensive. She indicated that through the VIVA Project (Virginia Virtual Library), funded through the State Council of Higher Education, efforts are being made to allow access to 8 - 10 databases on a system called FirstSearch and several English poetry and drama databases. Eventually, joint purchases may make around 1,000 widely-read journals available electronically in full text. Further discussion involved the possibility of having a presentation on VTLS at a future committee meeting. The suggestion was also raised about having the committee visit and become more familiar with some of the functional areas of the library. A regular meeting schedule was established for the rest of the year: Meetings will be held in the library board room on the third Thursday's of the month, from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. The next meeting will be on October 19, 1995. The meeting was adjourned at 4:55 p.m.