Attending: Puniello, Wu, Tehrani, Tate, Nathanson, Toyama, Kesselman, Denda, Mardikian, Vazquez, Olin, Langschied, Womack, Niessen, Fetzer (Chair), Mulcahy, Glynn, Sloan, Bartz, Jantz, Wenk, Dess, Calhoun, Gardner, Kuchi, Tama-Bartels, Harrington, Libutti, Murtha, Consoli (part), Stec (recorder).

• The minutes of Feb 15th meeting were distributed and amended. The line "Many people noted that the whole merit business is 'bad'." Was replaced with "Many people are troubled by merit pay." The minutes were accepted as amended.
• Announcements: Thelma Tate was congratulated on receipt of the Human Dignity award. Howard Dess was elected to the Faculty Senate; and Jim Niessen has been elected to the New Brunswick Faculty Council.
• Director's Report/Open Lines: Ryoko Toyama gave a report on open faculty lines. The Social Sciences Librarian position will be posted as approved by UL; the Exploratory Committee (Fetzer, Mulcahy, M.C. Wilson, chair) is in place; Music/Performing Arts Librarian position (1 of 2) will be posted as approved by UL, a new Exploratory Committee will be appointed; and an Exploratory Committee (Dess, Tallau, Wu) is examining optional plans for the line that will be vacated by Addie's retirement.

  Tracy Rudnick declined the Music/Performing Arts Librarian position.

  Concrete planning for the following positions will be on hold until the University's budget announcement, including the effects of the "buyout" option, is made (April/May/June)

  · Music/Performing Arts Librarian Position (2d of 2)
  · Line vacated by S. Hines resignation
  · Line vacated by M. Page.

  Ryoko asked the faculty to discuss:
  1) Expertise NBL/RUL needs in the next five years
  2) Faculty, staff, or does not matter
  3) Priority
  
  Discussion ensued. There was concern that the figures used by M. Gaunt on salary ceilings may have been too low. There was some discussion about the expertise needed -do we need generalist or specialists? Concern was expressed about the specialists being asked to take on generalist duties that then prevent them from doing the job they were hired to do. A suggestion was made to hire more part-time librarians. Strong concern was voiced about these positions becoming exploitative of those occupying Librarian V slots-that they would have no future in RUL. The idea of hiring people who are flexible vs. more experienced was suggested as a way to develop and "grow" these people into leadership positions. Objections were made to additional long-term Librarian V's, because we might lose hard-fought faculty status gains. A compromise regarding time limitations on a person holding a Librarian V position might be a non-exploitative way to give some people time for child-rearing, etc.

  Another suggestion was made to think broadly on ways for senior faculty who might like to slowly move toward retirement-think of ways to pass on knowledge and allow for this movement.

  Another suggestion was to form teams of librarians organized around subject specialties with representation of technical services, instructional librarians, subject specialists, technical specialists, etc. This would make the approach more user-centered.

  Opinions were also expressed that we are in strong need of subject specialists in the social sciences and music/performing arts.

  The idea of creating an associate head for Access Services was suggested.

  The group acknowledged that the events and development around D21 may catalyze forward movement in the Digital Library Initiative and we need to be aware of and positively challenged by the new directions our new AUL is taking us.

  Toyama and Consoli traded sartorial comments. Discussion was shortened due to Ryoko's needed attendance at another meeting, but the faculty was encouraged to continue discussion and email their additional comments to Ryoko.

• Travel Committee Report: there is only $400-700 in unencumbered funds left for this year; however, there may be more because not all the encumbered funds are always spent. Joe Consoli directed all NBL faculty who are attending ALA annual conference to submit their conference registration receipts to him by June 15, so they can be taken from this year's budget. That amount will not lower the usual amount reimbursed to faculty for the next fiscal year.
  
  
• Associate Director's report: May 15th the Annex will be open for business!

  SCILS intern Angel Falcon will be spending his summer in Special Collections/Archives and working in the fall with Lourdes Vazquez on collection development.

  Francoise revisited the history of D21 for the benefit of newer faculty and reported that the initial phase of costs, $4.3 million, will cover updating and replacing Douglass wiring, HVAC and sprinkler system, as well as installing a new ADA compliant elevator. Work will be done on the front lobby and information commons. Francoise shared the floor plans covering the construction areas. Construction will be delayed until the state can float a bond issue and RU can provide $30 million "in kind" for the project. Discussion also took place regarding the importance of maintaining a service point for the music/performing arts library.

• Elections and By-law Changes: A call for nominations will go out for NBLF Deputy Chair/Chair-Elect. This will be followed by a formal ballot. Please remember that nominees must be tenured and self-nominations are acceptable. While the Chair encouraged consulting with potential nominees beforehand, it was agreed that if people wish to nominate but not consult with the potential nominee, the Chair will contact that person before placing his/her name on the ballot.

  The Chair also proposed an amendment to the NBLF by-laws. It would add a responsibility to the section pertaining to the organizational structure. The current sentence reads:

  The Chair will be responsible for the preparation of the meeting agendas and conduct of meetings, as well as for additional areas such as coordination of the FASIP; orientation of new faculty; representation of the New Brunswick Libraries within the RUL structure ; and other responsibilities as determined from time to time by the Faculty.

  The proposed addition would read:

  The Chair will be responsible for the preparation of the meeting agendas and conduct of meetings, as well as for additional areas such as coordination of the FASIP; orientation of new faculty; representation of the New Brunswick Libraries within the RUL structure including New Brunswick Libraries representative to the University Libraries' Coordinating Committee; and other responsibilities as determined from time to time by the Faculty.

  In proposing the change, Fetzer said that it would provide the NBL Chair with a better link to the overall RUL organization; she would yield the last year of her two-year term on Coordinating Committee to the new incoming NBL Chair if the bylaw change is approved. A motion to consider the change was seconded and passed. The final discussion and vote will take place at the May NBL faculty meeting.

Respectfully submitted,
Eileen Stec