MINUTES OF THE LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD

October 14, 1998
 
 

The meeting was convened by Dr. Robert (Bud) Fischer, Chair, at 4:03 p.m. in the BOG Room of Booth Library.
 
 

Present: Reed Benedict, Valencia Browning, Leo Comerford, Steve Davis, Robert Fischer, Joyce Higgins, Barbara Kemmerer, Karen Ketler, Newton Key, Brian Pritschet, John Weber, Ted Weidner, Bailey Young, Allen Lanham. Visitors: Karen Whisler, Virginia Baldwin. Absent: Rosemary Buck.
 
I. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

With the exception of the misspelling of Dr. Lankford�s name, the minutes of September 23 were approved.
 
 

II. COMMUNICATIONS

a. Introduction of Members Dr. Fischer welcomed everyone to the meeting. He introduced Joyce Higgins from Chemistry.
 
 

b. Other Requests had been received to demonstrate the library on-line system. It is on the today�s agenda. People were referred to Library Coordinators for further library information, including the discipline fund accounts.
 
 

III. NEW BUSINESS

a. Funding Two sheets were shared; one was last year�s budget, and the other was the Adjustments to FY98 Budget to Fund Electronic Journals. It was asked how the discipline was determined for all IDEAL journal titles. The Head of Acquisitions prepared a handout showing title by title; the Library of Congress� classification was used. If a journal is already being subscribed to the same discipline who requested it was charged. Dr. Fischer questioned the seemingly deep cuts in Sciences; new funds were used for electronic journals. K. Whisler said some journals are being put on-line and are not being canceled, really. Dr. Fischer would like further clarification. Dr. Lanham explained that in the IDEAL Journals Pricing Information handout, the blank column indicates Booth never had that specific journal before electronic subscription. Other codes clarify whether the title was canceled 1998 or later (C), was canceled earlier, prior to 1998 (CE), or whether we have a print subscription (P). The totals in each department correspond to the second handout Adjustments to FY98 Budget to Fund Electronic Journals. It was asked if LAB could share this information with other faculty; Dr. Lanham agreed. It was suggested that faculty tell their students about the electronic journals available in library.
 
 

b. Role of Library Advisory Board Chair Fischer asked that this item be tabled until next meeting.
 
 

c. Library Move Dr. Fischer asked for assurance that some type of library will be on campus during the renovation period. Dr. Lanham stated that there will be a library presence on campus, plus off-site storage and compact storage. All items will be accessible within 2-3 hours. Many items will be on campus. Booth Library will be totally vacated for faster, cheaper renovation. The target window to move Booth, according to Ted Weidner, is after spring graduation in 1999.
 
 

Internet access was addressed by Dean Lanham. Since October 1, after another router was changed, service has been acceptable.
 
 

e. Other Media Services Equipment Policy handout was given. Dr. Fischer asked that questions be directed to LAB. Dr. Lanham stated that the policy was necessary to show who would repair, replace and maintain the media services equipment. The money necessary to do the best job is unavailable; the dean and Council of Chairs have been lobbying for additional funds. At present, we can fund Priority One items for each college. When asked if decentralization was a possibility, Dr. Lanham stated it had been discussed earlier, but the Deans� Council decided to keep these responsibilities in Media Services.
 
 

d. Dean�s Report Several items on his agenda had already been discussed. The EIU Library Services Planning Cycle 1999 handout was distributed. Library Services Council will meet shortly concerning this; the deadline is November 17. Library units set goals and priorities; if LAB has suggestions, they could e-mail their respective comments to Dean Lanham.
 
 

The Book Sale is next Wednesday from 9 am to 4 pm; all books are donated, not from Booth Library collections. It will be on the west side of the building. This is part of getting Booth ready for the move; a final book sale will be held in spring. A question was posed whether our collections are regularly culled. Dr. Lanham replied that materials are routinely checked and bibliographers do periodic inspections. Some materials are replaced by newer publications; others are trashed when no longer usable or pertinent.
 
 

The electronic journals were demonstrated by Karen Whisler, Head of Collection Management Services. Searches can be done various ways. MUSE and IDEAL are possible models for future journal subscriptions. The printing of materials from these sources is free of charge in the library. If you alert the server about the specific journal you are interested in via a digest you can "e-mail subscriptions" to, the latest issue available will be forwarded to your e-mail. The browsers are always available, even when the library is closed. This type of information is noted in NoteBooth and available from the subject bibliographers. Continual communication of what is available at the library is our biggest problem. Faculty are encouraged to check the library�s website.
 
 

Whisler also gave a brief demonstration of the new ILLINET Online.
 
 

The next meeting will be November 4 at 4 p.m. in the Dean�s Conference Room. We will discuss the role of the LAB and revisit the Articulated Plan, asking for suggestions or additions at that time, and address how to disseminate information better.
 
 

The meeting adjourned at 5:07 p.m.

Ellen Shupe, Recording Secretary
 
 




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