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University
Library Committee Minutes
April 23, 1998
Submitted by Susan Staples, Dept. of Mathematics
Committee members present were A. Barkman, R. Flowers, D. Gouwens, E. Garrison, M. Patton and S. Staples.
R. Seal gave a report to the library committee summarizing recent
library news items and presenting summer plans for the library. After this presentation, R. Seal discussed some ideas
for possibly redesigning parts of the library to have the atmosphere of a bookstore and showed a video program on
electronic journals at TCU.
- News items:
- The Library Friends banquet with Kate and Jim Lehrer as guest speakers was a great success. Approximately 180 people attended the event compared to a typical attendance of about 75 to 80.
- The library received its budget projections for next year. In general the library was pleased with the increases received. Periodicals received an increase of 8 to 9 %, Books received a 3% increase and the Electronic Resources category received a 10% increase. Increases in minimum wage due for the fall of 1998 may make the student budget tight, since the library did not receive the full amount requested, however even that appears "workable".
- The library has two faculty photocopiers available now and
has added an additional copier for students as well.
- Students are receiving overdue notices by email now. In the
future, faculty may receive overdue notices in this manner also.
- Summer:
- The Micro lab will be moved upstairs to the first floor and
will accommodate 45 work stations. Twenty of the computers will be moved from downstairs and the other 25 will be purchased with grant money from TTI.
- The bound periodicals will be rearranged according to call
number. This process will take about two months. Staff will be on hand to aid faculty and students in finding journals in the interim period.
- Jim Wright will move his office to the TCU library. He will also donate 1200 volumes to TCU and approximately 100 boxes of archival materials.
- The library will be working together with the Intensive
English Program to create a language lab which will also serve in a dual capacity as a library instructional room. The intended plan is to have approximately 20 computer stations that would have state of the art language lab equipment. The ESL program has received a grant to fund this project and the library will be contributing the space.
- Discussion on the idea to "Make the library look more like a bookstore":
R. Seal mentioned some articles which examined environments where students prefer to study. A number of the students surveyed felt more at ease in the coffee shop environment of a Barnes and Noble type of setting. The library is beginning to consider what types of changes would make more TCU students use the library facilities. The committee engaged in brainstorming and wish lists and mentioned a variety of options ranging from having a coffee bar, to piping in music (no agreement as to which kind), to offering poetry readings or dance presentations in the lobby, to adding comfortable groupings of furniture, to making some parts of the library food and noise accessible while keeping other areas quiet and clean.
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