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Virginia Tech
Governance Minutes ArchiveApril 8, 1992
These minutes were approved as submitted at the September 16 ULC meeting. UNIVERSITY LIBRARY COMMITTEE MINUTES April 8, 1992 PRESENT: Earving Blythe, (Provost's Office) J. Scott Poole, Architecture Darrell Clowes, Faculty Senate Martha Rose, CSAC Joanne Eustis, Library Mark Smith, Veterinary Medicine Edward Fox, Arts & Sciences Cortney Vargo, GSA Megan Hilt, SGA James Yardley, Business Gerald Luttrell, Engineering Rodney Young, Ag. & Life Sciences Ken McCleary, Human Resources (Chaired for N. Dodl) GUESTS: Debbie Averhart, Library Bruce Obenhaus, Library Paul Metz, Library Frances Painter, Library ABSENT: Carol Burch-Brown, Provost's Off. Norm Dodl, Education MEETING SUMMARY: The committee first met in the Media Center for a tour of the facility. The regular meeting was called to order at 4:15 p.m. The March minutes were approved as submitted. The committee agreed to cancel the May meeting unless there were important agenda items. If a meeting is necessary, it will be on the first Wednesday, May 6, rather than on the second. A motion was adopted that a letter be written in support of the library's budget request. REPORT LIBRARY BUDGET PRESENTATION (J. Eustis and P. Metz) J. Eustis and P. Metz presented the overview of the library needs that they had previously presented to the Council of Deans and the Budget Advisory Committee. J. Eustis began with general remarks about the role of the library within the university and the current state of several critical library services. Major changes taking place in research libraries, such as escalating serials costs and the shift from print to electronic format, will impact the libraries' ability to provide adequate support for the university's academic programs. Although the library has lost 8 faculty positions (a 15% reduction) and is holding 3 more faculty positions and 10 classified positions, it has managed to remain open the same number of hours and maintain the same level of services as in the past. However, library services must inevitably begin to suffer as demand continues to increase without commensurate growth in staff. For instance, circulation of media materials increased almost 20% and use of reserve media increased 30% during 1990/91. Requests for interlibrary loan service totaled 11,000 in 1990/91, an increase of 7% over the previous year, and ILL filled 18,000 requests--a 10% increase. Technical service areas such as the Cataloging Department, have been affected as well. All of this is occurring at a time when the library will be expected to expand access to new technology and collections will still need to be maintained. P. Metz talked about the library materials budget and presented overheads to illustrate the University Libraries decline in ARL rankings, relative to other research libraries. The statistical indicators of this decline were presented in relationship to three different domains. First, in relationship to the publishing universe; in 1985/86 our monographs were the equivalent of 40% of US academic books published that year and serials were 19% of all serials; in 89/90, our monographs matched 22% of US academic books, and we had 16% of serials. Second, in relationship to university growth, especially in research; in the past five years graduate enrollment has grown 21%, sponsored research projects increased 11%, and faculty positions increased 12%, while volumes added have declined 15%. Third, in relationship to our peers; in 1980 we were 42nd in the ARL in volumes added, 41st in serials; we are now 75th in volumes added, 74th in serials. Among the 20 institutions in our SCHEV-designated peer group, we are 17th in materials expenditures and volumes added, and 18th in serials. The presentation outlined the libraries' needs in serials, monographs, miscellaneous costs, advanced technology and document delivery, and supported the case made to the Budget Advisory Committee for a $5,300,000 library materials budget request for 1992/93. NEW BUSINESS DISCUSSION OF THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY COMMITTEE'S ROLE The discussion began by referring to the preceding budget presentation, in particular how committee members might help the process of securing a greater level of funding for the library. The response was that members communicate to their colleagues the idea that the library should be perceived not as in competition with the colleges, but as equally deserving of consideration in the budgeting process. The University Librarian intends to meet individually with ULC members during the summer, and will try to develop more specific ideas about possible committee outreach to the campus community in support of library goals. The committee role will continue to be an agenda item in the fall. A motion was passed to have N. Dodl write to the Provost, on behalf of the University Library Committee, endorsing the library's budget request. The committee will meet in May if there are any agenda items. The meeting was adjourned at 5:05 p.m.
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