Oxford Union Society Library Committee
Minutes of Meeting HT2011 Week 4 (Monday 7th February) 2.30 p.m.
Present: Francis Cameron, Harry Dienes, Hannah Dingwall, Joshua Felberg, Oliver
Hutchings, the Rev. David Johnson, Su Lockley (Librarian-in-Charge), Catherine Mackay
(Minutes Secretary) Anne Ross, Rannald Sim, Joachim Steinberg, Alexandra Turney, John
Whitehead and Gareth Williams.
1.
Apologies
The Committee received apologies from Edward Eban, Richard Hill, Lauren Pringle
(Librarian Elect), Mark Scott and Kevin Tan.
2.
Membership
John Lunan resigned from the Committee. There is therefore one graduate vacancy.
There are currently no junior vacancies. The Librarian-in-charge introduced Hannah
Dingwall who had expressed her interest in joining the Committee.
3.
Minutes and Matters Arising from Previous Meeting
The Librarian-in-charge reported that Standing Committee had now decided that the
Library and the bar would now both be open on Friday 11th and Saturday 12th February
despite the Women’s Open debating tournament happening at that time.
4.
Complaints Book
There were no complaints.
5.
Book Lists for HT Week 3: Archaeology and Anthropology (£75)
The Librarian-in-charge explained that Laura Winwood was having difficulty due to
the small budget for this list. The book she would recommend buying costs £100
second hand. Anne Ross suggested that if the book was useful then it might be possible
to transfer the unallocated budget from week 8 which would make the list budget up to
£100. John Whitehead agreed, saying that it would be a good idea to consider this as at
that price it would not be easily accessible to students. The Committee agreed to
purchase A comparative study of thirty city-state cultures: An investigation.
6.
Book Lists for HT Week 4: Sociology (£67), Physics (£75)
The Librarian-in-charge explained that she had taken the book lists prepared last term
and reduced them to suit the revised budgets.
i. Sociology
Anne Ross stated that Meritocracy and economic inequalities by Arrow et al. is a
very topical book. Joachim Steinberg seconded this, saying that in America Arrow
is essential reading for Law, so this book would be useful across disciplines.
Meritocracy and economic inequalities will be taken from the reserve list in place
of Interviewing for Social Scientists, by Peter Knight, for which there are already
holdings at the Bodleian, and The Sicilian Mafia, by Diego Gambetta.
ii. Physics
The Physics list was passed. As with the Sociology list, the remaining reserve
suggestions will be kept for reference for future lists.
7.
Book Lists for HT Week 5: Travel (£108), Psychology (£75)
The Librarian-in-charge has prepared the Travel list.
Neither Hasan Ali (Junior Librarian) nor Lauren Pringle had managed to find
somebody to write the Psychology list. Harry Dienes will see if he can find anyone and
let the Librarian-in-charge know.
8.
Book Lists for HT Week 6: Biology (£105)
Catherine Mackay (Minutes Secretary) will prepare the Biology list.
9.
Members’ Suggestions
Anne Ross suggested that American Gods, by Neil Gaiman, The boy next door, by
Irene Sabatini and The net delusion, by Eugeny Morozov be selected as they are all of
contemporary interest and because the fiction collection is something particular to the
Union library. The Committee agreed.
10.
DVD New Releases for March
The kids are alright, Made in Dagenham, Tamara Drewe, Madmen Season 4, Skins
Series 5 and Ugly Betty Series 4 were selected from the DVD New Releases list. Jane
Eyre was also recommended. The Librarian-in-charge will check and see if we have
any other versions of Jane Eyre and add it to the list if not.
11.
DVD List HT4
The Rev. David Johnson proposed that the DVD list be passed nem con. Francis
Cameron seconded this and the Committee agreed.
12.
Deferred Withdrawals 2011HT3
i.
The Librarian-in-charge explained that having checked on other accessible
copies and on previous OLIS loans of English trade in the middle ages, by L. F.
Salzman she would recommend its withdrawal as there were other copies available
and those had not been much borrowed.
John Whitehead re-iterated that he thought this could be useful for a dissertation.
He queried whether there was a later edition. The Librarian-in-charge said there was
not.
The Committee voted on whether to keep this book, with 3 votes in favour, and 5
votes against.
ii. Seventeenth century life in the country parish with special reference to local
government, by Eleanor Trotter is available as an online resource and therefore
there is no need to keep the Union’s copy.
iii. The Committee agreed, therefore, to withdraw both books.
13.
Withdrawals 2011HT4
John Whitehead asked whether Diary of a country priest by George Bernanos might
still be of interest to members. Catherine Mackay (Minutes Secretary) stated that the
Library already has a newer edition of this.
John Whitehead also queried the withdrawal of Spanish mysticism: a preliminary
survey, by Allison Peers. Francis Cameron agreed, saying that although he had not read
it, this author was certainly authoritative in this field. The Librarian-in-charge will
check for other holdings and their usage on OLIS.
14.
New Members
Hannah Dingwall introduced herself to the Committee. She explained that she found
the Library to be good for academic and leisure reading and it was this that made her
interested in joining the Library Committee.
She was welcomed as a new junior member and will be added to the waiting list until a
junior position becomes available. Anne Ross will ask Jack Sennett to take her name to
Standing Committee for ratification.
15.
Any Other Business
i. Francis Cameron expressed concern that whilst the Library was not in a very happy
state financially the Junior Librarian was not present at this meeting. The Rev. Johnson
and John Whitehead agreed, saying that the library is half of the literary and debating
trust and physically half of the Union buildings.
Francis Cameron also noted that those who want to make a political impact draw more
attention than those who wish to quietly work in the library.
The Librarian-in-charge asked if any action should be taken. In response the Committee
proposed the following motion:
The Library Committee was disappointed that Hasan Ali (Junior Librarian) was
not present at the meeting today again, without giving an apology, at this crucial
time for the library.
This motion was passed unanimously.
ii. The Librarian-in-charge has contacted Elizabeth Chapman who will conduct the
review of the library this coming Thursday, 10th February, and on Thursday 10th March.
The Librarian-in-charge has asked Elizabeth Chapman who she would like to talk to in
particular but has not yet received any indication about this. She has also sent the two
previous reports in the library, from 2001 and 1996. She noted that the library would
now be unrecognizable from these reports.
Francis Cameron thanked the Librarian-in-charge for having done this and asked if
there was any indication of whether Elizabeth Chapman would be there to be helpful or
critical. The Librarian-in-charge stated that Elizabeth Chapman would hopefully review
the library from the point-of-view of a professional librarian.
The Rev. David Johnson stated that it is disappointing that neither the library staff nor
this Committee knows the terms of reference or the reason for the review. Anne Ross
stated that this was part of a process of reviews for other parts of the Union and that it
would be best to e-mail the President for an oversight of how it fits in with what else is
going on, rather than encouraging speculation.
John Whitehead expressed concern that comments could be taken out of context and
used to against the library. He also stated that to conduct a review would be a difficult
thing to do in such a short space of time, over just two days. The Rev. David Johnson
stated that the Union library has specific characteristics and matters affecting it and
therefore cannot be like a college library.
Francis Cameron asked if there could be some communication from her after the first
visit so that points could be raised with her at the second one.
The Rev. David Johnson asked if she might be able to come to Library Committee and
see how this works. The Librarian-in-charge explained that she is very busy and could
only attend on Thursdays but that if she did want to see the Library Committee in
action it might be possible to call an emergency meeting.
The Committee asked if the underlying reason would be financial. Anne Ross reiterated that it would be better to contact the President than to speculate.
16.
Time and Date of Next Meeting
The next meeting of the Library Committee will take place on Monday 14th February at
2.30pm in the Morris Room.