The following minutes were approved as submitted at the April 15, 1997 meeting of the ULC. University Library Committee Minutes March 18, 1997 PRESENT: Lance Matheson, Business, Chair Eileen Hitchingham, Library Stephen Donohue, Agriculture & Life Sciences Karen Inzana, Veterinary Medicine Bradley Klein, Faculty Senate Raymond Plaut, Engineering Chris Bunn (for Rajiv Khosla, GSA) ABSENT: Anna Marshall-Baker, Human Resources Richard Helm, Forestry & Wildlife Peggy Quesenberry, Staff Senate Calvin Ribbens, Arts & Sciences Humberto Rodriquez-Camilloni, Architecture & Urban Studies Duncan Neesham, SGA The minutes of the February 11, 1997 ULC meeting were approved as submitted. K. Inzana, College of Veterinary Medicine, presented L. Matheson, Chair, with a petition signed by 230 veterinary students, protesting the library policy requiring that fines be paid at the branches by check, or by cash at the Newman Library only. E. Hitchingham noted that this procedure was in place because of auditing practices, but that she would look into the matter. E. Hitchingham distributed a handout of statistics gathered from VTLS on March 17, 1997, regarding faculty and non-faculty borrowers in relation to overdue items. This "snapshot" data was presented in response to the question raised at the last meeting as to the existence of data indicating there was a problem in faculty book returns. The figures gathered on March 17 showed that faculty are 12% of borrowers, but account for 22% of overdue items. More than half (55%) of the 1,064 faculty borrowers have items overdue. E. Hitchingham noted that any recommendation the ULC made regarding a new fines policy for faculty would be carried forth through the university governance. At the University Council (held on 3/17/97), the Commission on Student Affairs had brought forward a resolution to the effect that everyone should be fined uniformly. This resolution was deferred in council until the ULC could make some recommendation which will ultimately go back to the Commission on Undergraduate Study & Policies and the Commission on Graduate Studies & Policies, who may or may not wish to make recommendations to the University Council. L. Matheson asked for any further responses from the colleges in response to the question, "Should the University Libraries fine all types of users for keeping library materials beyond the due date?" S. Donohue, Agriculture & Life Sciences, noted that of the 78 responses in his college, 46 (59%) were in favor of fines, and 32 (41%) were not. L. Matheson presented data forwarded by C. Ribbens from Arts and Sciences: out of 68 respondents, 30 were in favor of fines, 34 against fines, 4 mixed responses. L. Matheson commented that he felt the magnitude of the problem did not justify changing the fines policy for faculty, and that aspects of the problem could be addressed through more efficient notification by e-mail (perhaps possible with a new circulation system in VTLS) and by making returns easier with additional drop-off locations. E. Hitchingham noted that she was looking into purchasing book-drop units for other places on campus. Several ULC members pointed out that in the comments gathered from their faculty, many indicated that they would be in favor of fines for faculty associated with overdue recalled items. C. Bunn, GSA representative, pointed out that the heart of the matter for the graduate students is being able to depend on getting a particular resource if requested by recall. Students resort to traveling to other universities to locate resources when recalls here have not been honored. Three issues were voted on: 1. A recommendation that faculty and staff be fined for all overdue materials. (Vote: 3-yes, 3-no) This did not pass. 2. A recommendation that faculty and staff be fined for not responding to recall requests. (Vote 5-yes, 0-no, 1 abstention) Passed. 3. A recommendation that the amount that faculty and staff are fined for ignoring recall requests be the same as that for other ignored recall requests (currently 10 cents per day) (Vote: 5-yes, 0-no, 1 abstention) Passed. The meeting was adjourned at 5:05 pm. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 15, 1997, 4-5 p.m.