May 21, 2004
1. University Librarian's Report on the State of the Library and Strategic Planning
It is as yet uncertain what the library budget will be for next year. The UCSB Budget Strategy Committee will decide how to implement savings targets, and Sarah has made a detailed presentation to that group. There will be a budget cut but it is not expected to be more severe than already announced. The governor proposed a 7.5% cut to libraries for FY 2005. There will be no range adjustments, nor COLA, nor VERIP. The Compact with the Governor starts FY 2006 and will continue for five years. There will be no new targeted funds for UC libraries until FY 2009, but it is not known exactly how other parts of the compact will be implemented. Sarah Pritchard is advocating with the University administration, on behalf of the University Libraries. The situation is still worrisome when examining the overall library budget. Repercussions include possible serials cuts, diminished funds for monographs, cutbacks in the number of student assistants, and likely additional consolidations of library services. Cutbacks in library service hours are probably not in the offing, as that would cause minimal savings. There is a "chill" in effect in hiring, if not an actual hiring freeze. Several vacancies will go un-filled for the time being, including a systems administrator, a technical services position, and a librarian position (history). The Head of Cataloging position will be filled.
Sarah gave an update on the building renovation/expansion project. The library will soon know if there will be a 3 or 4 story addition although much of the original design plan is intact. If 4 stories are funded this will translate into 88,000 gross square feet. This would involve some renovation, some building addition, and some seismic retrofitting. About four phases of moving will be required and construction is not anticipated to begin until 2008. Funding is contingent on passage of bond measures, one of which had passed earlier that funded the design plans that have been done to date. Sarah and Kim Thompson are working with the campus development group to establish a list of donor targets as part of the campus capital campaign. The library has already brought in $3 million in donor funds, most of which is from the William Moran gift. Space naming opportunities are being promoted as part of the overall plan. Sarah, Larry Carver and Mary Larsgaard are working on a grant proposal to the Library of Congress for a high profile joint project with Stanford for digital preservation of maps; this also validates and expands the existing work on the Alexandria Project.
SLASIAC and the UC Office of Systemwide Library Planning have released for circulation Systemwide Strategic Directions for Libraries and Scholarly Information at the University of California. The report examines a range of issues including coordination, challenges, and strategic directions for collections management, shared facilities and services, persistent access to digital information, and scholarly communication. This report gives "big picture" directions that show our centrality to the University of California, linking the libraries to academic initiatives to carry out our research mission. Librarians will gain a better sense of system wide planning, coordination and priorities.
2. LAUC-SB Committee Reports
a. Committee on Appointments, Assignments and Reassignments (Janet
Martorana)
The search for Head of the Cataloging and Acquisitions Services has closed. There are four candidates and interviews are scheduled for January. The statement of responsibilities for the Head of the Cataloging and Acquisitions Services was revised in the spring to remove the acquisitions component of the position. The position will continue to have interaction with the Section Head of Acquisitions and Book Fund Accounting.b. Welcoming, Orientation and Mentoring Subcommittee (Gary Colmenar)
There has been a very active range of activities this past year including the historic Isla Vista tour, the visit to Goleta tide pools, the program on former library assistants now in librarian positions, a program on serials, and the visit to view the baby Harbor Seals at Carpinteria Beach. There will be another social gathering planned before year's end.
c. Committee on Advancements and Promotions (Catherine Nelson)
Catherine Nelson reported that the review committees were formed and carried out their work and submitted their recommendations accordingly.
d. Committee on Professional Development (Jane Faulkner)
Jane Faulkner reported on the CPD web page revisions and on the revised guidelines for use of professional development funds. The main changes in travel funding guidelines will give more flexibility in the use of allocated funds and that each person is allocated $1,000. The web page guidelines now show these changes. The travel request form has a new template and in addition to accessing it from the L drive a link to it will also be made from the CPD web page. Jane asked travelers to please pull from the L drive any of their own forms that they may have inadvertently saved there. LAUC members were reminded that if they receive LAUC statewide funding for travel to be sure to use the UCLA travel center, as they offer major savings for flight tickets.
e. Program Committee (Eric Forte).
Eric reported on the program involving Executive Vice Chancellor Gene Lucas who spoke at the library on January 21.
3. LAUC System-wide Committee Reports
a. Committee on Committees-Rules and Jurisdictions. Gary Colmenar is our
representative. There is no news to report. The committee has not yet met.b. Committee on Diversity. Sylvia Curtis presented a copy of the report. The
committee examined diversity issues as a whole, in relation to students, faculty
and staff, with a focus on improving effectiveness. Sylvia expressed a need for the divisional representative to be more engaged in local issues and activities but in response to concerns expressed by members about not setting up yet another diversity committee, Sarah Pritchard suggested that LAUC-SB could propose that the divisional representative be appointed to our local administrative committee, the Library Cultural Diversity Committee.c. Committee on Library Plans and Policies. Sandy Lewis reported that a conference call was held in April and that Judy Kwan is the new Chair.
d. Committee on Professional Governance. Sherry reported on the completed fact-finding initiative on peer reviews on the different campuses. CAP Chair Catherine Nelson agrees to present a recommendation at the next LAUC-SB business meeting on the issue of what information to report to the LAUC membership at the end of local reviews. In the meantime, LAUC members should take some time to read the CPG survey report.
d. Committee on Research and Professional Development. Patrick Dawson
reported that five proposals were submitted and four were funded. Cathy
Chiu will send out more information about the funded projects.e. Ad Hoc Awards Committee. Sally Weimer reported. This committee was
established to look into travel awards, lifetime awards, and a "LAUC" member of
the year award. It recommended establishing a LAUC Travel Award for newer librarians to attend the LAUC Assembly; it also recommended establishing LAUC Outstanding Service Award, and recommended forming a standing committee to select award recipients. The LAUC Executive Board adopted the Travel Award recommendation, but not the outstanding award services.
4. Spring Assembly and Executive Board Meeting Updates
a. Budget Report from Myron Okada. In addressing the budget shortfall there
will be no lay-offs of faculty but as for staff and others UC is looking into other measures such as extending the START program. He suggested the idea of volunteering to take a pay cut across the board to avoid lay-off's. The UC Berkeley LAUC division had issued a statement on the importance of supporting librarian appointments at UC Berkeley libraries. Linda Kennedy stated that the System wide LAUC will be developing a similar statement. The compact between Governor, UC, and CSU is based on the assumption that the State's economy will improve during the next years. If it does not, the budget increase promised by the compact may not materialize.b. Distinguished Step Follow-up. Discussion was held on the Distinguished
Step. Sarah Pritchard stated that the University Librarians very much believe in a "distinguished step" however, there are different paths that can be taken to reach this step and that criteria are not reducible to a single recipe that does not address local concerns and practices. She felt that not enough information is being shared within LAUC yet, concerning how those who have attained that step. LAUC will continue to work on this issue by gathering data on what has been happening as a result of the salary restructure. How many librarians are now advancing in the upper ranks of the librarian series, and how many have advanced to distinguished status?
As part of the data gathering, it was suggested by some LAUC Executive Committee members that each LAUC division makes available the names of each librarian with the rank and step. Linda Kennedy asked each division to consult with membership whether such a list is desirable and how it should be disseminated. Lucia suggested that CAP look into this issue and make recommendation at the next LAUC membership meeting. Catherine agreed.
c. Definition and Guidelines for LAUC Position Papers. Cathy Chiu asked members to please look at the draft document that is being distributed and send her the feedback. LAUC System wide President Linda Kennedy will be finalizing this by a vote of the Assembly delegates.
5. New Travel Guidelines and Travel Request Form. (Reported by Jane Faulkner in section 2.d. above).
6. LAUC Election. Eric reported that a call for nominees went out and that to date there were no nominees. A second call will be made on Monday, May 24 with plans for the local and statewide elections to be done no later than Tuesday, May 25.
7. Statement on the Importance of Supporting Librarian Appointment. Cathy Chiu shared information about the LAUC-B statement. There was strong objection to the salary reduction measure proposed in the statement. Cathy stated the measures were proposed by LAUC-B membership for discussion with UCB UL. Other LAUC Executive members were not in favor of the measures. LAUC-B Chair Urbanic did not encourage other divisions to adopt the same measures. Linda Kennedy will issue a similar System wide LAUC statement without the measures proposed by UCB. The statement will be sent to UL's and UCOP.
Recorder: Sal Guerena