MINUTES OF THE LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD

September 20, 2006

 

Dr. Chris Mitchell, Chair, convened the meeting at 4:03 p.m., in Library Conference Room, 4440.

 

Present:� Mary Claire Browne, Jose Deustua, Keith Kohanzo, Peggy Holmes Layman, Thomas McDonald, Marian Marjanovic, Chris Mitchell, Brent Walker, and Dean Lanham

 

Not Present:� Monty Bennett, Ann Fritz, Yunus Kathawala, and Tom Nelson

 

I.� Welcome and Comments

Introductions were made by everyone serving on the Board for this new school year.� The minutes from the April 12, 2006 meeting were approved as submitted.�

 

II.� Communications

Communications were received from Terri Fredrick, Yunus Kathawala, Ann Fritz, Tom Nelson and Monty Bennett regarding their inability to attend today�s meeting.

 

III. Old Business

There was no old business.

 

IV. New Business

 

Dean�s Report

Welcome

Dean Lanham welcomed the new Board members and distributed packets containing information relevant to library services and the role of the Library Advisory Board.

 

Dr. Lanham announced that Booth Library has started something new this semester by showing Independent first run movies from a subscription service called �Film Movement.� This replaces the documentaries and foreign films previously offered, and the response by patrons has been positive.

 

Service Issues

�        In August, many library personnel volunteered to drive students around campus in golf carts to help orient incoming students and faculty to Eastern Illinois University and Booth Library.� Library personnel also participated in Panther Palooza, Convocation, and gave library tours to students and new faculty.� Due to the popularity of laptops and the library being completely wireless, Booth Library has seen more groups of students studying in the middle of the library.

�        Planning has begun for the Farm Life: A Century of Change for Farm Families and Their Neighbors: NEH on the Road, an exhibit to be hosted by Booth Library during February-March, 2007.� Faculty interested in holding seminars or other activities related to this theme are asked to contact the library�s Administration office (581-6061).�

 

Collections

Dean Lanham announced his plans to have a guest speaker/presentation for the Library Advisory Board meetings.� Today, Karen Whisler, Head of Collection Development, briefly demonstrated two databases the Library is planning to add to the collection.� The first, the Gale Testing & Education Reference Center, offers study materials and practice exams for the GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, and other tests.� The second, MyMediaMall, is currently available at public libraries in the area.� MyMediaMall offers downloadable audio-books, e-books, and short educational videos.� Dr. Lanham has approved a two year trial of MyMediaMall to see if the database will appeal to students. �He also reminded the Board that they are encouraged to make suggestions to help keep our resources current.�

 

Budget Issues

  • The library is expecting an increase of $100,000 to the Book and Materials budget from the Provost to help maintain and enhance our electronic resources.�
  • With regard to the student assistant budget, an increase in student help dollars has been requested from the Provost.� Recent raises in student salaries have resulted in fewer hours available for students.

 

Planning Issues

The Library Circulation Policy and Collection Development Policy were distributed.� These policies are reviewed every two years and revised as necessary.� Current changes in the Collection Development Policy include paring the document down by taking the more procedural items out of the policy.� In the Library Circulation Policy, non-essential information was deleted.� Library faculty are satisfied with the resulting documents.� The Library Advisory Board is to review them and they will be a discussion item on next meeting�s agenda.

 

Other

The Illinois Library Association annual meeting is being held this year at Navy Pier in Chicago, October 3-6, 2006.� Many of Booth�s librarians are on panels or presenting papers. Also featured this year will be a traveling exhibit developed from the Art & Architecture in Illinois Libraries grant.� The grant, from the Illinois State Library, provided funding to document the art and architecture for all the libraries in Illinois.� The grant consisted of two teams who spent most of this last summer visiting over 600 libraries in Illinois photographing and documenting their art and architecture.� There are several hundred more libraries to visit.� Over the next year, the exhibit will be hosted throughout the state by at least 65 libraries.� The purpose of the exhibit is to draw attention to a database of this information that is being developed and will be maintained by Booth Library.

 

Chris Mitchell asked the Board to please email him any agenda items prior to the next meeting, which will be October 18, 2006.

 

V. Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 5:05 p.m.�

 

Respectfully submitted by:

Christine Derrickson, Recording Secretary