Minutes
University Library Committee Meeting
Minutes
Monday, 22 September 2008
12:00pm – 1:30pm
Present: Lakshmi Ashok, Harvey Charlton, Nicholas Hardison, Michelle Harrolle, Kerry Havner, Carl Hughes, Peggy Longmire, Susan Nutter, Susan Osborne, Bob Pond, Douglas Reeves, Edward Sabornie, Joe Sevits, Renzo Shamey, Walter Wessels,
Staff: Terry Hill, Wendy Scott
Guests: Greg Raschke, Annette Day
Douglas Reeves, Chair, called the meeting to order.
Orientation to ULC: The chair reviewed the charge/purpose of the ULC and emphasized the committee’s advisory role to the Libraries’ administration. He reviewed the frequency of meetings, “perks” for student members, the opportunity to participate in other events in the library, such as interviewing candidates for library positions, and the name and purpose of the three subcommittees (Hill of Beans/Creamer Advisory Committee, Library Appeals Committee, and Student Advisory Board).
Wendy Scott circulated a sign-up sheet for the three subcommittees.
Hill of Beans/Creamery Advisory Committee: Ed Sabornie, Bob Pond, Michelle Harrolle, and Carl Hughes. Committee needs a new chair.
Library Appeals Committee: All student members are deputized for this committee.
Peggy Longmire, Walter Wessels, Kerry Havner (if needed), Doug Reeves (chair?)
Student Advisory Board: Nicholas Hardison, Carl Hughes, Joe Sevits (chair)
Budget Overview/Outlook: Susan Nutter gave an overview of the budget outlook for fiscal year 2008-2009. She explained that the NCSU Libraries is operating in a period of constraint and, after many years of work and progress to reach number 27 in ARL rankings, has dropped to 41. Nutter explained that the ranking is based on the resources of each library. The Libraries took a cut this year at the same rate as other academic units, and the Libraries will lose the amount of lapsed benefits it used to accrue due to the centralization of the benefits budget. The Libraries has received approximately $1.6 million in enrollment increase this year. Normally the Libraries allocates more than half of enrollment increase to collections. This year however, a significant portion (almost $800,000) will address a longstanding problem with the classification and salaries library support staff. In conjunction with career banding, the salaries of this critical group of employees will be raised to a rate that is competitive in the market place. The Libraries expects that users will benefit from its ability to attract and retain staff with needed skills, and that turnover among these positions will be reduced to an acceptable level. The collections budget will gain almost $504,000 from enrollment increase. In addition $263,000 was allocated by the legislature for collections inflation. Based on expectations for future enrollment, a further increase to the collection allocation is expected next year.
Collections Budget, 2008-2009: Greg Raschke and Annette Day reviewed the Libraries’ collection budget. A comparison to the 2007-2008 budget was provided with explanations for areas of increase and decrease in the budget. It was suggested that, in the future, the chart showing allocations by library location (Hill, branches) include historical data to show trends. Also requested is a chart that shows breakdown of journal title subscriptions those that are print only, e-only or both print and electronic. A faculty member asked if enrollment growth was likely to slow due to economy. The university still expects increasing enrollment. A question was asked as to whether NC community colleges have access to NCSU Libraries resources. The Libraries can only make available resources that are not licensed. Community colleges have access to all NC LIVE resources. The NCSU Libraries has requested funds through the State’s expansion budget to make resources that are unique or in our areas of strength accessible state-wide.
As a follow-up to the report on the collections allocation for digitization, a request was made for a future agenda item on the Libraries digitization projects, including the Open Content Alliance and digital repository. A report about the different types of material that is being digitized was also requested.
Future Agenda Items: The chair asked if members had topics in mind for future agendas. A student member asked for a discussion of the Libraries’ policy regarding making textbooks available. The decision was made to add a full discussion (October agenda) about the ways the Libraries supports course content (textbooks, e-reserves, assistance with managing copyright in making articles accessible) and ways it can improve services.
Meeting was adjourned by Douglas Reeves.