LIBRARY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

MARY WASHINGTON COLLEGE

SEPTEMBER 13, 2002

MINUTES

 

 

ATTENDANCE: Ralph Alberico (James Madison University), Robin Benke (University of Virginia's College at Wise), Calvin Boyer (Longwood College), Barbara Brown (Washington & Lee),  Lisabeth Chabot (Mary Baldwin College), Virginia Cherry (Richard Bland College), Gene Damon (VCCS), Cathy Doyle (Christopher Newport University),  David Hayes (Radford University), Doug Hurd for Karin Wittenborg, University of Virginia (University of Virginia), John Jaffe (Sweet Briar College), Connie McCarthy (The College of William and Mary), Virginia O’Herron (Old Dominion University), Frank Moran, (Blue Ridge Community College), Kathy Perry (VIVA), Cathy Sabol (Northern Virginia Community College), Don Samdahl (Virginia Military Institute),  Aileen Schweitzer (Thomas Nelson Community College), LeRoy Strohl (Mary Washington College), John Ulmschneider (Virginia Commonwealth University), Elsie Weatherington, (Virginia State University) and John Zenelis (George Mason University).

 

CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at 9:00 A.M by Elsie Weatherington, Chair.

 

INTRODUCTIONS AND PRELIMINARY COMMENTS:

Elsie thanked Roy for the VIVA and LAC arrangements and hospitality at Mary Washington College .

 

Roy Strohl moved and Barbara Brown seconded the motion that the minutes of the June 7, 2002 meeting be approved.  The minutes were approved as presented.

 

VIVA REPORTS:

 

Ralph Alberico, Chair, Steering Committee, VIVA

The VIVA budget has been placed on a quarterly allowance and funds will be released as needed.  It is unknown what cuts will have to be made in the future but priorities will be planned.

 

Action: Develop an agenda for a retreat before next meeting to plan for possible cuts.

 

Action:  Users need to document budget cuts noting how much could potentially be saved.

 

Kathy Perry submitted a brief description of the impact of further VIVA budget reductions to SCHEV.  Ralph presented a draft resolution about further VIVA budget cuts and the impact of those cuts, which was directed toward SCHEV:  “SCHEV LAC Resolution on the Impact of VIVA Budget Cuts”.

Action: Make the resolution a formal resolution.  Ralph will revise and Kathy will forward to SCHEV.  . Ralph Alberico moved and Roy Strohl seconded that LAC accept this resolution.  The resolution was unanimously accepted by LAC.

 

Ralph has asked the Personnel Committee to assist with the evaluation of Kathy Perry, VIVA Project Director. John Zenelis will chair and the VIVA Standing Committee chairs will serve on the ad hoc Personnel Committee.  Members are encouraged to supply information to Ralph with a copy to John Zenelis.

 

 

Kathy Perry,  VIVA Project Director

The usage statistics have been put into an excel document which will be more useful.  Twenty-one companies have supplied statistics to VIVA. 

 

ILL allocations are not in any danger of being withdrawn and the funds will be released as soon as possible. Invoices for the PsycARTICLES will be mailed soon.

 

Sending Interlibrary Loans from electronic journals is an issue. John Duke will add a note if a database allows electronic interlibrary loans.

 

The Steering Committee agreed to buy the tapes of Academic Press archives 1966-2002.

 

Kathy disseminated a VIVA report, which included a “Program Description” and “The implications of budget reduction on programs/recipients.”  Implications are:  increased costs for other state agencies; ‘unleveling’ the playing field; lost research opportunities, lost support for distance education and other contractual benefits lost.   In summary, three points were clear.  First, all of VIVA’s work represents a significant overall savings to the Commonwealth of Virginia.  Second, any and all VIVA budget cuts will increase both the immediate and the long-term costs for all member colleges and universities (public and private).  Third, budget cuts to VIVA will be in addition to the budget cuts the public college and university libraries are already facing. 

 

Handout “Interview with Kathy Perry, Director of the Virtual Library of Virginia (VIVA)” conducted by Reba Leiding for Library Collections, Acquisitions, & Technical Services 26 (2002) 151-159.

 

 

Resource Sharing Committee: John Ulmschneider, Chair

The ILL Forum received favorable comments especially with more networking time provided during the forum.  John thanked David Seaman (UVA), Paul Rittelmeyer (UVA), and Kathy Perry for being speakers at the Forum.

 

John also announced that UVA Health Science will not charge for Interlibrary Loans to VIVA institutions and will release this information soon.

 

VIVA Resources for Users Committee: Gene Damon, Chair

Handout disseminated. The Committee reported the renewal of Oxford University Press, CIAO, ACM, GaleNet, and ABC-CLIO.

 

In August, the RUC sub-committee on training held training sessions for the Factiva database and the proposed CSA interface.  Pat Hausman reported that 142 staff attended the training sessions at four locations and that the evaluations to the training sessions were favorable.

 
Elsie Weatherington reported on the Virginia Heritage Project.  It was decided to delay their request for a workshop with an outside speaker for EAD  (Encoded Archival Description) finding aids.  The request for a name change was denied. 

 

VIVA Outreach Committee:  Connie McCarthy, Chair

The Committee has not met but has planned a Fall meeting.  The Committee was planning workshops to improve librarians’ teaching skills; however, due to budget cuts, the workshops are on hold.

 

Library Support and Advocacy Task Force: John Ulmschneider, Chair

John reported that the committee had a good luncheon meeting at Christopher Newport University and that no luncheon has been planned for today.

 

Ralph Alberico and Kathy Perry spoke at GPAC for the first time and presented an excellent VIVA program.

 

On August 8th,  Kathy Perry, Ralph Alberico, Gene Damon and John Ulmschneider met with representatives of the Department of Budget and Planning, Secretary of Education, Secretary of Technology, Senate Finance Committee staff and House Appropriations Committee staff.  The committee met with Pamela Currey, Assistant Secretary of Finance and Donald Finley, Executive Director of the Virginia Business Higher Education Council on September 11 

 

Ralph Alberico emphasized that it is more important than ever before that General Assembly members know who we are and what we have accomplished.

 

The Committee has been invited to speak before the Senate Finance Committee on October 10th and the House Appropriations Committee on November 18th.

 

SCHEV Work Groups Reports:

 

Economic Prosperity-Lis Chabot

The following strategies have been suggested:

Strategy:   provide career opportunities for K-12/adult. 

Strategy:  look at internships and service learning for academic credit. 

Strategy:  recognize areas that have shortages. 

Strategy: encourage students to stay in Virginia by providing incentives such as the       forgiveness of loans. 

Strategy:  consider funding of distance education.

Strategy:  need to increase diversity and collaboration.

Strategy:   recognize the economic impact on the surrounding community.

Strategy: monitor market responsiveness.

Strategy:  target grants such as Pell grants.

Strategy:  consider modular degree programs (certificate programs).

Strategy:  streamline in order to start new programs.

 
Efficient Use of Resources—Ralph Alberico
Identify the best practices and provide incentives for collaboration.

Now strategies might be implemented to focus on specific age groups:

            Ages: 17-27 prisons/college students

            Ages: 27-50 most productive

            Ages: 50 and over use more resources

 

Research-John Ulmschneider

Consider faculty recruitment and laboratory upgrades.  Attract out-of-state graduates by charging in-state tuitions.

 

Technology-Cathy Doyle, Eileen Hitchingham

Need support for learning activities and how to use technology for these activities.  How can we access and share this information?  Pursue advance computer and technology structure and training. 

 

Other Information and For the Good of the Order:

A discussion followed on budget cuts/local strategies/efficiencies of meetings.  John Zenelis requested that Committee reports avoid report redundancy.  Ralph Alberico suggested holding meetings on same day. 

It was approved by LAC to hold one meeting per year in Richmond.  We also need to have a theme focus for LAC where we share in the vision and project this vision to others.

Gene Damon will update the list of VCCS representatives.

 

The meeting was adjourned at noon.

 

Future LAC Meetings with VIVA Steering Committee the preceding day:

December 5-6, 2002: Richmond, with LAC meeting at Monroe Building, with Gene Damon VCCS hosting.

March 6-7, 2003: Sweet Briar College

June 5-6, 2003: Virginia Tech

 

 

Virginia Cherry, Secretary