University Library Committee
Minutes
February 25, 2002, 3:30 PM<
The meeting was held in room B23 of
the library starting at 3:30 p.m.
Minutes submitted by Arnold Barkman and Ernest Couch.
Present: Arnie Barkman (Accounting), Pam Marcum (Physics), June Koelker (Library),
Bob Seal (Library), Ellen Page Shelton (Ballet and Modem Dance), Lee Daniel
(Spanish), Sue Anderson (Education), Donnell Payne (Computer Science), Cathy Gabor
(English -graduate student), Ashish Bansal (Computer Science -student), Jane Mackay,
(E-Business), Ernest Couch (Biology)
Absent: Woodworth, Blevins, Polisetty
Comments from Bob Seal
Bob Seal started by handing out the Planning and Assessment Document for the Library.
This was motivated by the need for assessment by both our self-study for re-accreditation
and TCU requirements. The document was created by a committee of 10 Library staff
members, and is based on the Library's Mission and Vision Statements. Three basic
functions were identified, and these led to 5 intended outcomes, each of which has
measurable action steps. The key items are:
Mission Statement: The Mary Couts Library provides information resources for
inquiry, intellectual discovery, and the development of life-long learning skills in a
people-centered environment.
Vision Statement: To be a dynamic gateway to global information for a diverse
academic community.
Basic function I: To collect and provide access to information and cultural resources in
support of TCU' s teaching, research, and \service functions.
Basic function II: To provide physical space and facilities for collections, services,
users, and staff.
Basic function III: To assist the TCU community in the use of library resources and
services.
Intended Outcome 1. Library users will have enhanced access to curriculum specific
resources.
Intended Outcome 2. The TCU community will achieve an increased awareness of
library services and resources.
Intended OutŁome 3. Library users will have optimal support for their information
technology and research needs.
Intended Outcome 4. Faculty and students from TCU's PhD programs will have access
to resources which strongly support study and research.
Intended Outcome 5. Students using the Library will have access to sufficient numbers
of computers, printers, scanners and knowledgeable staff to conduct research in
completing classroom assignments.
Next was a brief discussion of the "fact sheet" which had been prepared for the Friends of
the Library in its efforts to obtain new members. This document was an attachment to
the notice of the Feb. 25 meeting.
Status of A V Lab: the remodeling is already done; what's left is for the vendor to install
the equipment. Seal hopes this will be completed by March. The result will be state of
art listening carrels as well as video capability and small group training rooms.
Two events of interest are about to occur. On Friday March 1, 7pm in the Reading
Room, Mary Ramos, Editor of the Texas Almanac will speak.
April 3 will be 30th annual Friends of the Library Banquet. The speaker will be the
Director of the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington DC, Richard Kuhta. This
event is open to all who are interested and the cost will be $30.00. It will be at the Kelly
Center, Black Tie optional in honor of the 30th anniversary, and entertainment will be
provided by a lute player.
At about the same time, the Library will sponsor a Shakespeare Week, with exhibits of
Shakespeare and film, a Shakespeare time line, and display of the Library's Shakespeare
folios.
Shelton mentioned the Latin American arts festival to be held April 11-13 and wondered
if the Library wanted to participate in any way. Seal mentioned that the Library is
increasing its holdings of Latin American Music.
Couch asked about use of KARL, and whether the issue of the number of pages a student
could print was ever resolved. Seal noted that a color laser printer is available; that a
color copier that cost $700/month was underused has been removed.
Seal reminded the committee that the faculty survey of regarding satisfaction with the
library was underway; that 120 responses to the online survey had been received, and he
encouraged additional response.
Information Commons:
The information commons opened on Jan. 14 in the
reference room. The expanded lab has 100 computers paid for from a $130,000
grant from the State of Texas. Total phase one costs were about Y4 million
dollars.
An expanded help desk has reference librarians together with the
computer help folks who previously had been in Sid Richardson. These people will
be available whenever the library is open, some 101 hours per week. More work
will be done this summer when new carpeting will be installed in the reference room. The information commons has its own
web page separate from the library home page. The student section is up and running and
work is progressing on the faculty/staff portion.
Phase 2 will include further remodeling with 4 wired group study rooms, a small training
room, and additional staff (a full-time administrator for the commons plus full-time staff
rather than students who work on a part-time basis). These space requirements would
mean going to compact shelving and/or putting in a mezzanine. Phase 2 requires raising
several million dollars for an endowment which will fund these items as well as provide
for equipment replacement every 3 years.
Couch asked about what kind of training was received by the information commons
people. Seal responded that each group (reference librarians and computer help desk
folks) had 2 weeks of training regarding aspects of what the other group does. Training
will be an ongoing issue. Concerns regarding potential difficulties with computer and
reference people working side by side proved to be baseless. Couch also asked about
software. Seal responded that would be covered by the anticipated endowment of phase
2.
Seal would like to see the commons evolve into center for testing new ideas, developing
new applications, and partnering with faculty to work on research projects; to become a
center for information retrieval, analysis, and utilization. The forthcoming issue of the
TCU Magazine will contain a major story on the information commons.
As a result of the article in the Chronicle of Higher Education citing the Library, Seal has
been contacted by people from the Dallas Morning News, the Christian Science Monitor,
the San Francisco Chronicle, and an Italian newspaper. Mackay mentioned that her
mother in the north-east saw something on television about the TCU library and its
Bistro.
The meeting was then adjourned and the committee went upstairs for a tour of the
Information Commons.
|
