University Librarian's Cabinet: Minutes of the February 8, 2005 Meeting

Present:

Agnew, Boyle, Fetzer, Gaunt, Millerand, Mullins, Puniello, Sewell, Zapcic

Videoconferenced:

Golden

Absent:

Fultz

University Librarian's Report - Gaunt

• Deans Council Update: the all funds budgeting model is being reviewed with the deans and changes are being made along the way. All funds budgeting will also apply to administrative areas of the university. Vice President Furmanski hopes to be able to use this approach beginning July 1, but additional changes may occur. The Libraries will have a modified model, as we are not generating funds, but the basis for budgeting will remain the same – to provide the units with accountability, flexibility, and responsibility to use their funds as appropriate, and to have more predictability and planning.
• The University has joined the Higher Education Recruitment Consortium (HERC), which will go live for Rutgers in July. All faculty and staff positions will be posted on the HERC website along with the names of members of the search committees. It is viewed as an extension for recruitment that will make it easier for those interested in moving to the area to find positions available. Community information will be part of the website, so that each unit need not build its own. As we gain experience with the website, changes in the website design will be made.
• Prof. Barry Qualls, Prof. Michael Beals, and Prof. Linda Stamato gave an update on the Undergraduate Life and Learning Committees' subcommittee on structure. Broad discussion with a variety of groups is being planned as the subcommittee looks to promote a structure that provides opportunities for all undergraduates to avail themselves of educational opportunities while having access to supporting co-curricular activities. Challenges of the current structure were reviewed and areas where improvement could be made were discussed.
• The Libraries are encouraged to participate in the activities at the university related to the visit of the Dalai Lama in September. Suggestions for participation include building a reading list on our home page, mounting exhibits, offering space for programs, performances, and lectures, provide teleconferencing and Web casting, and assisting in a film discussion series.
• The Planning and Coordinating Committee will be exploring beginning salary levels for librarian recruitment – are we comparable to our peer institutions?
• The focus of the upcoming Cabinet meeting with the Planning/Coordinating Committee is to articulate a process for discussing organizational change for the Libraries. What is the most advantageous way to engage both faculty and staff in discussions in an organized manner?

Strategic Plan Update - Gaunt

• The Strategic Plan Steering Committee met last week, and all members were able to attend. Gaunt chaired the meeting for Becker, since he is back to work part-time. Background documents were given to all members to review, as they provide both an environmental scan as well as recommendations from various areas. Minutes of the meetings will be posted to the planning website, and members were reminded to be inclusive as they plan open meetings and discussions along the way. Members were asked to read the documents before the next meeting, highlight important areas and themes, and make recommendations for subgroup assignments.

Travel Policy - Gaunt

• It was noted that staff are not explicitly mentioned in some travel categories for reimbursement, and it was questioned as to whether this was an oversight. After discussion it was agreed that we would add staff to appropriate categories and would include international travel in the invitational travel category. Discussion of system-wide travel was clarified. System-wide travel is meant to cover travel by those (staff or librarians) who are asked to represent RUL at a meeting. Under these circumstances, full travel reimbursement is made from system-wide funds, rather than unit funds. System-wide officers will determine the need for representation at the meeting and the individual chosen to represent RUL. Units are free to send anyone to a similar meeting for professional development, but with unit funds, and librarians are free to use their travel funds for such meetings.

Fundraising for the Next Twenty-Four Months - Zapcic

• Zapcic provided a draft of our fundraising goals for the next twenty-four months between now and the next capital campaign. These consist of specific projects and areas for fundraising that can be achieved in twenty-four months and positioning ourselves for the next capital campaign. It was agreed to include the IJS in the next twenty-four months and not just the Dana third floor and to be more explicit about preservation. As the Annex is our top priority for additional space, there were questions concerning its absence on the list. Zapcic reported that there is currently discussion about how the University will fund new buildings and expansions. This would affect how we raise funds, especially if the university funds a large portion of the building. Secondly, we would not be able to raise the funds needed in the next twenty-four months; it would be rolled into the capital campaign. Similarly, a preservation lab, while a small fundraising project in itself, could not begin before there is are assurances that we will have an expanded annex in the near future. This would change if we decided to put the lab in an existing building.

Announcements

Sewell:

• Sewell will establish a committee to develop specifications for a digital preservation center. This information will be provided to a consultant who will develop a package and position us for fundraising.

Boyle:

• OIRT will sponsor a symposium on Information Literacy on April 13. The Libraries are co-sponsor. The plan is to have faculty speaking to faculty about incorporating information literacy into courses.
• Imaging services is developing a plan to replace their larger scanners across the system. Need to help them track all service calls. Depending on budget situation, start this plan with end of FY 04-05 or next fiscal year. Imaging Services also considering how we can offer scanning services in more locations, but very staff-intensive.
• OpenURL Committee co-chairs are meeting to consider end of free EBSCO service, and how we will we continue to offer this feature.
• Boyle is participating in the university's IT Strategic planning governance committee and will join the budget and finance subcommittee.
• Golden noted that oirt.rutgers.edu now provides digital streaming of OIRT's previous seminars for faculty. Quality is better on streaming than original live remote.

Puniello:

• Puniello reported on faculty affairs committee discussing proposal for clinical faculty (e.g., performers teaching at MGSA or business leaders at Business School) and recommendations for streamlining of faculty reporting of activities.
• Attended seminar on services to students with disabilities. Recommend more signs telling people to ask for help, e.g., reference desk.
• LC senior class gift will go to create an outdoor reading area for Kilmer. Also, a temporary building will be constructed on Livingston campus between the library and Tillet to allow holding more classes on that campus.

Mullins:

• OIRT research subgroup asked participants to produce half-page statements on information technology needs. Libraries were only member to do so, and thus became the demonstration project for other members. Faculty is seeing importance of information literacy, digital archiving/repository/issues.

Zapcic:

• Will meet with Marts and Lundy to provide feedback on last Capital campaign, asked all to give her any input.