Minutes of the Meeting of the University Librarian

Minutes of the Meeting
University LibrariansAdvisory Council
October 17, 2003

The meeting was held at the General Administration office complex in Chapel Hill beginning at 10:05 AM with the following in attendance:

Chairman Mae Rodney began the meeting by inviting attendees to introduce themselves and provide updates about events on their respective campuses.

In the interest of time permitted by Larry Alford=s schedule, he was next on the agenda to give an update on consortium purchasing negotiations. First he talked about discussions with Elsevier. Then he offered to represent ULAC, along with some of his colleagues (Ken Armstrong and Selden Durgom-Lamoureux) in talks concerning Science Direct. Sherman Hayes offered a motion in support of Larry and his colleagues to continue discussions with Elsevier; Doris Hulbert seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

The question was asked: can Chapel Hill handle other consortial negotiation issues for ULAC? Larry said he and Selden are willing to give some time in this effort. They would see how it goes with Science Direct.

Mary Reichel said a process is needed and suggested that Larry and his colleagues connect with the Cooperative Issues Committee after the Elsevier negotiations are concluded.

The Cooperative Issues Committee was asked to come up with a charge concerning the consortial purchasing process and Bil Stahl agreed the committee could do so.

Betsy Brown then talked about the budget. Things are set through 2004-05. The only new money going to libraries has been enrollment increase money. Libraries need to ask for their share of this money if they haven=t received it and also their share of overhead money. The door is now open to campus-proposed tuition increases. Enrollment increase dollar allocations are based on local initiative. Sherman Hayes said the formula is 12 % of faculty salaries.

In June the Office of the President will start work on the expansion budget. ULAC should start thinking about shared resources. Betsy is interested in receiving detailed information about budget increases and decreases and reductions in purchasing power. Sherman Hayes said this information should be based on budget allocations, not special funds such as gifts that libraries receive; perhaps the budget committee can come up with a formula. Mary Reichel asked when the expansion budget would be presented to the Board of Governors; Betsy said September 2004.

Concerning fines, Betsy said libraries should continue to escrow until the appeal is settled.

Betsy also pointed out that the ULAC portion of the Website of the Office of the President needs updating, in particular the minutes and names of library directors. Sherman Hayes said he had taken the initiative of posting the minutes with the assistance of Dan Pfohl. Mae Rodney directed that these duties become the responsibility of the secretary.

The next topic of discussion was the charge to ANC. Several topics were discussed:

(1) there will be no university-wide card;

(2) there will be no university-wide catalog for now but it may be part of the budget plan for the

new biennium;

(3) ANC needs to interact with chief Information Officers;

(4) any suggestions about the Website should be sent to ANC.

Mae Rodney said ANC needs to make a report to ULAC sometime in the near future.

The topic of upgrading library positions as considered by the Personnel Committee was next discussed. Betsy Brown said the Office of State Personnel has not chosen to study libraries. Sherman Hayes said a banding study is now going on at UNCW.

Mae Rodney said the Personnel Committee needs to conduct new surveys. Bobby Wynn said the salary survey is needed. It was suggested that Mary Marsh of Chapel Hill conduct the EPA survey.

The Personnel Action Committee which worked under the direction of the Personnel Committee is now inactive.

Bil Stahl is conducting a survey of librarian salaries now. He suggested that the Personnel Committee turn their attention to recruitment and retention.

Mae Rodney suggested asking the Personnel Committee to come up with recommendations on what to study.

Dates for the February meeting were discussed and February 25 decided on, the meeting to be conducted virtually, from 2- 4 PM.

May 20 in Chapel Hill was discussed as the next meeting time.

Nothing was decided about July, although ECU was mentioned as the location.

Mary Reichel reported that she had been to the TLTC meeting and had the followup recommendation of possible preparation of a white paper on e-learning and its implications for libraries. Maybe this can be a discussion topic for February or May.

Betty Ladner discussed the Professional Development Portal. The content is currently under development.

Mary Reichel reported that, in connection with ULAC=s document delivery task force, she had a report on the possibility of UPS offering system-wide delivery service. She said she understood they could offer a favorable rate and she would look into moving forward with this project. Mae Rodney stated that Jim Kuhlman could give a report of the Ariel grant project at a future meeting.

Concerning the standing committees, Sherman Hayes noted there really need to be four, separating Budget and Governmental Relations. Mae Rodney said she would update standing committee membership information.

Mae Rodney asked how the ULAC list serve could be updated; Betsy Brown said she would check on this. Mae also asked that people respond to her messages.

Vicki Weavil raised the matter of concern of lack of technical support that exists on some campuses.

Mary Reichel asked which schools were not charging fines; the replies were NCSU, FSU, and NCSA.

Betsy Brown said there would be an NC LIVE retreat in July. An increase in funding for all communities of interest would be requested. Community colleges have paid only half of their commitment. Public schools are still not involved.

The meeting was adjourned at 1:50 PM.