The meeting was called to order at 3:06 p.m. by E. Forte in the Mary Cheadle Room.

The new Executive Committee met with Sarah Pritchard, University Librarian, to discuss LAUC issues. (The agenda is available online at http://www.library.ucsb.edu/lauc/execagenda20041005.html.)

S. Pritchard began with general remarks on her perception of LAUC as an equalizing forum for all librarians. She noted issues she is unable to discuss with LAUC-SB, e.g., matters covered by the MOU that must be addressed by the AFT union. She would like to see LAUC take a more active role in facilitating information-sharing, since members attend and are involved in such a variety of external professional meetings and activities. S. Pritchard announced that the $1000 travel funding will continue this year. The additional $400 (to supplement the $600 base allotment) is not retroactively applicable to travel earlier this fiscal year, but is available now for the remainder of the year. She also clarified what constitutes “administrative travel,” which is travel that can be justified as in the business interest of the library and UCSB.

S. Pritchard reiterated that the Libraries have been keeping vacant positions open for the purpose of savings, but that two academic and three staff vacant FTEs have actually now been eliminated, as part of meeting this year’s budget cuts. This does not include the Reference Librarian (History) position or the Fellow.

S. Pritchard clarified the awarding of the Nyholm Prize. The winner of the prize is to be decided by the University Librarian, and the role of LAUC-SB (and more specifically, CAP) is to solicit nominations and present the list of all nominees with an evaluative opinion to the University Librarian.

S. Pritchard responded favorably to the Program Committee’s list of potential speakers but advised waiting on inviting Senate committee chairs until the Senate committees meet and get organized for the term. She also supported the Program Committee’s idea of a regional workshop (topic TBD). She further suggested presentations about the UCSB Libraries’ big grant projects and other special initiatives.

S. Pritchard addressed issues of interest to ULs and faculty scholarly communication committees as well as to LAUC statewide, such as copyright and fair use, which segued into a discussion of upcoming LAUC-related meetings. The UL/SOPAG meeting will be held at UCSB this November (Patrick Dawson is currently LAUC representative to SOPAG). Several venues were mentioned as possibilities for the LAUC Spring Assembly to be hosted at UCSB.

On the role of the LAUC-SB Division in the UCSB Libraries, S. Pritchard noted that while she believes it is more productive to discuss front-line service issues through the relevant committees and departments, she encourages LAUC-SB to be active in the broader issues, e.g., matters related to professional development, copyright and information policy, strategic planning, etc.

After S. Pritchard’s departure at 4:10 p.m., the Executive Committee stayed on to handle a few business matters:

• Tentative dates were set for the next Membership and Executive Committee meetings.
• M. Gaston moved to approve the Aug. 25 Executive Committee minutes. J. Markham seconded, and the minutes were unanimously approved.
• J. Markham announced the roster for this year’s WOM Committee, which is chaired by Janet Martorana and composed of the other CAAR Committee members (Chuck Huber, J. Markham, Lucia Snowhill) plus Sylvia Curtis.
• G. Thomas will follow up on the status of this year’s Nyholm Prize.

Recorded by Ellen K. Kempf