LAC Minutes
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
8:30 a.m. – Library Conf. Rm.
Present:
John Evans, Sylverna Ford, Ed Frank, Mary Freilich, Annelle Huggins, Linda Hyatt,
Elizabeth McDonald, Tom Mendina, Kevin Merriman, Anna Neal, Betsy Park,
Bess Robinson, Perveen Rustomfram, Sonji Savage, LSSA President, Stacey Smith,
Inez Todd
Absent:
James Singleton
1. Learning Commons Update - Betsy Park
During the interim the Commons Room will remain open 24 hours/7days a week. Hours for the
Commons Room are being worked out for May 21 Professional Development Day; it will be
closed during the day.
2.
3.
Presentation on Electronic Theses and Dissertations - Betsy Park
The Electronic Theses and Dissertations Ad Hoc Committee appointed by the Graduate Council
and chaired by Betsy Park made their final recommendation for graduate theses and dissertations
to be electronically submitted by the fall of 2010. The majority of electronic theses and
dissertations will probably be submitted in PDF with some submitted in multimedia files.
Staffing Pool – Stacey Smith
Nine staff members are participating in the Libraries’ Staffing Pool. As part of the Staffing Pool’s
training they toured all branch libraries, received training on Millennium, and the Public Access
Catalog, as well as shadowed other staff members in the areas in which they will be helping. A
reference manual has been put together and will be available on the Libraries’ webpage to provide
additional information and tips for the Staffing Pool. Anna Neal has just about completed the
Staffing Pool’s schedule for May. One of the challenges with scheduling is covering John
Swearengen’s shift when he takes off at the Speech and Hearing Library. Circulation will
maintain a key for Chemistry and the Math library for individuals who are scheduled to open or
close either library. Keys should be picked up and returned to the circulation desk. Dr. Ford
thanked the committee and the departments that have people participating in the Staffing Pool.
She stated this is a challenge and it changes business in the departments, but it is important that
we maintain continuity during this time when we are stretched with staffing holes in our
organization.
4. Deans’ TAF Update – John Evans
John Evans gave an update from April 28th Deans’ TAF meeting which he attended in the absence
of Dr. Ford. A survey was conducted on the availability of computing equipment for students on
campus. Information reported from the survey included the following: 80% of students have access
to a personal computer, 61% have access to a laptop, 76% use a computer for printing, 73% use a
computer for document preparation, 70% use a computer for email, and 65% of students use a
computer for Spectrum access. Laptops are the preferred computer choice of students when
purchased or when used on campus. The conclusion of the students’ usage survey indicates more
printers are needed on campus. The purpose of the survey was to determine what to do about the
TAF footprint. The Dean’s TAF committee is pursuing the reduction in the TAF footprint but no
decisions will be made on cuts until they see the affect of the computer lab in the new UC.
Students will no longer have the option to rollover printing from each semester. One of the Deans
TAF committee’s priorities is a kiosk in the library to be set up to show the availability of
computers within the library.
LAC Minutes – May 5, 2009
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5. LSSA Expo Update – Sonji Savage
Sonji Savage gave an update on June 12 “We Are One” Expo and Circulation Conference. The
5th annual Circulation Conference will be from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. in the Library, The
Expo is from 2:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., and the concert will be from 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. in the
Rose Theatre. Tickets for the concert are $10.00 per/person and are now on sale. Some of the
topics that will be discussed at the Circulation Conference will include: Customer Service 101,
Email Etiquette, Safety in the Stacks, Sticking to Policy, Book Repair Quickies. The deadline to
register for the Circulation Conference is May 15. Lunch will be offered at the Holiday Inn and
will be $10.00 per/person for individuals attending the Circulation Conference. All of the artists
performing for the concert are paid artists and have donated their time. Ms. Joyce Henderson, a
Blues Artist along with several outstanding gospel artists will perform at the concert. In addition
to the artists’ donations, Melvin Massey with WUMR radio station will donate free advertising
for the events. A Yamaha Clavionova piano has been loaned for use during the concert. The
library has a video that will be showing during the expo and concert.
The Expo is free and will include a photographic exhibit donated by Rev. Dr. LaSimba Gray,
several displays tables setup in the foyer with information from various TBR schools, and
colleges in the community, our library, and the continuously running video. Kannesse Woods is
working on a webpage to provide more information about the combined events. Barbara Thomas
has created an excellent flyer that is being distributed throughout the community. James Hudson
is the LSSA school representative for promoting and selling tickets for the concert. Zach Curlin
lots will be free for the events as long as cars are not parked illegally. There will also be parking
available in the Zach Curlin garage.
The LSSA is accepting donations for Marie Dixon who is in the hospital. There are two get- well
cards available in Collection Management for individuals who would like to sign the cards or
give a donation.
6.
ALC Move to McWherter – Dr. Ford
It appears that the Advance Learning Center will be moving to the McWherter Library. Last week
a list of summer projects to be funded was distributed. Creating office spaces and classrooms for
ALC in McWherter library was on the list. There will be more information to come as it is
received.
7.
Subscription Reduction Project – Dr. Ford
All departments except for one have sent feedback regarding the Subscription Reduction Project.
When the list is finalized the Dean will send an email to departments and library liaisons. As part
of the Subscription Reduction Project we will probably be moving some of the titles to a more
appropriate list assuming they survive the cuts. One of the things we want to move forward with
is asking departments to eventually evaluate the titles attributed to them so we can identify titles
that can be dropped or titles that can be added. At the end of the project we should have money to
pay our bills and to buy books for at least the next two years. Thanks to everyone for their work
on the project.
8.
Honor Books for Award Winners – Dr. Ford
A few years ago we started a practice to plate a book for faculty members who received an award
during faculty convocation in the spring. In the absence of a collection development person now is a
good time to re-evaluate the way books are selected for reward recipients. It makes sense for library
liaisons to identify a title to be plated for award recipients in their discipline. This is a good
opportunity for us to connect with faculty. In the past, a letter from the Dean was sent to award
recipients along with a copy of the book plate to let them know that we have plated a book in their
honor in recognition of their award. This has been something that the award winners have been very
LAC Minutes, May 5, 2009
Page 3
Honor Books for Award Winners - Continued
pleased about and is something that we should continue. Library Liaisons should feel free to check
with faculty members in their discipline for book title suggestions and if the book suggested is not in
our collection it might be possible for us to purchase it from our gift account. Books that are
purchased should not exceed $100.00 each. There will be more information to come.
9. Software for TAF Central Pool - Dr. Ford
Every semester we are asked to summit appropriate software suggestions that could be purchased
from the central TAF pool. The TAF pool funds are getting smaller and smaller each year. It is
uncertain how much money will be available to purchase new software. This past semester it was
only $75,000. RefWorks and a portion of Web of Knowledge were purchased from the central TAF
pool. Suggestions for software purchases should be emailed to the Dean with the following
information: a description, expected users, vendor’s information and pricing.
10. Added Agenda Items
Annelle Huggins gave an update from TBR Deans and Director meeting. Rita Scher, Dean of
Library at ETSU has taken the buyout. Her last is the end of this month. As a result of Ms. Scher
taking the buyout, ESTU has formed a task force to review combining the ETSU Library, the
Medical library, and their E-learning center under one person. Sue Szostak, Motlow State
Community College will be leaving the end of July also as part of the buyout. There were other
universities who lost faculty due to buyouts. The Student Government Association at Chattanooga
State Community College gives money every year to buy movie DVDs that can be checked out, and
refreshments to serve in the library during final exams. UT Knoxville’s budget has been cut
tremendously. UT Chattanooga will cut 650 of their periodicals which would leave them with 250
print subscriptions; they are also moving their technical people to public service and becoming a
teaching library instead of a research library.
Announcements
S. Smith Books were left from the end of the semester lost and found in circulation. Kevin Merriman
and Denise Keeney will review the books to determine if they can be added to the library’s
collection. Library Liaisons will also be given a chance to review the lost and found books.
Any books that are left on the book cart in the staff lounge are free for anyone to take.
T. Mendina - This was the third year the library hosted Faculty Scholarship Week (FSW) followed by
Spring Convocation. Things went well. The FSW Planning Committee, Chaired by Tom
Nenon will be meeting this week and welcomes any comments for next year’s FSW. Send
suggestions to him.
J. Evans -
Last week GoPrint was down with the problem being the monitor. A replacement monitor
was ordered and there was a problem with getting it to fit. James Singleton figured out a
way to install the monitor and he saved us $250.00.
-
The four original laptops which we purchased are no longer any good. We have some handme-downs which we are going to service as soon as we find $1200 to pay for the memory
upgrades.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:04 a.m. The next scheduled LAC meeting will be Tuesday, May 19,
2009. Annelle Huggins is scheduled to bring the refreshments.
Submitted by: Inez Todd
Approved by: Dr. Sylverna Ford