Communicate with the Senate

Minutes of the Manoa Faculty Senate Library Task Force
May 15, 2007
Room 113, Hamilton Library

Present: Ross Christensen (recorder), Harry Davis, Jim Hollyer, Karen Jolly, Rebecca Knuth, Sara Rutter, Robert Sullivan, Ginny Tanji

Guests: John Awakuni (Library Fiscal Officer), Paula Mochida (Interim University Librarian)

1) Statistics distributed

a) Monograph and Serial Costs in ARL Libraries, 1986-2005 (Hollyer)

b) Library Services Funding [2003-2007] (Rutter)

2) Discussion of the UH organization and reporting lines for the library. The library reports to the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, whose focus on undergraduate education may not be broad enough for library services. There may be a need for a stronger relationship between the library and the Vice Chancellor for Research and Education.

3) Discussion of the library and university budgets

a) In a general discussion about the library budget, it was suggested that "hidden" costs, such as the cost of interlibrary loans, need to be accounted for.

b) Awakuni was asked if data for Library Services Funding can be obtained back to 1992. He explained that records are only retained for five years in the Fiscal archive. He will search for the records and provide the data to the task force. Awakuni discussed apparent discrepancies between library records, UHM administration records, and statistics available from ARL.

c) Mochida was asked for her assessment of the current library budget. She commented 1) that the base budget could be higher, but not so high that it can't be supported by the state, and 2) that an annual budget increase for inflation is needed. She explained that the library made its case for budget increases to the UHM administration and the state legislature using ARL statistics and other financial data, including inflation rates. When asked about her views on making UHM Library a premier library, Mochida commented that the library should be aligned with UHM as a whole. She mentioned development of the Student Success Center and of institutional repositories as examples of aligning library services with institutional needs.

c) Hollyer presented a CTAR brochure which could serve as a model for how to present data and arguments in support of UHM Library as a premier research library.

ACTION: Christensen will obtain from Mochida a copy of the Library's biennium budget request.

ACTION: Rutter will post on the Library Task Force web page the PowerPoint presentation of the Faculty Forum on the Future of the Library, which contains budget statistics and other library data.

ACTION: Rutter will distribute the URL for a UC Berkeley Library web site that could serve as a model for presenting information about the library.

4) Hollyer and Christensen excused themselves after the meeting with Mochida and Awakuni was completed. The following are Sara Rutter's notes on the remainder of the meeting.

a) Robert offered to go over statistics while he away to compare UH Manoa with peer institutions.

b) Sara said that she would put up the PowerPoint from the January library senate forums that will perhaps answer questions about collection management at the library.

c) Sara said that the collection policies are on the web but that they do not use the RLG conspectus levels in their descriptive information.

d) Sara explained that the library has chosen electronic over print in journals for some time.

e) A question was raised about whether the library has to pay for their electricity.

f) It was suggested that the group meet again in a week and that perhaps Kris Anderson, the collection manager can meet with the group to provide more information about how decisions are made regarding collection development.

Meet adjourned at 3:45 pm.

From Robert Sullivan
Date Thu, 17 May 2007 09:57:31 -1000
To Ross A Christensen Harry Davis B , Jim Hollyer , "kjolly@hawaii.edu" , "knuth@hawaii.edu" , Roger Debreceny , Ross Christensen , Sara Rutter , Virginia Tanji Subject Re: Draft Library Task Force Minutes May 15, 2007

Dear Ross, and Sara,

Thanks for these accurate minutes. Could we add something about the term 'premier' which Paula said was a useful strategic term and something that Jim first pitched as a useful adjective to market the Library's services.

Here's the statement from our campus strategic plan which also uses the term (I found the link on the OVCAA page) so it has a useful resonance:

Our Mission

Leadership Excellence Innovation

Our Vision

Manoa is a premier research institution whose scholars are leaders in their disciplines and whose students are prepared for leadership roles in society. Manoa strives for excellence in teaching, research, and public service. Manoa is an innovative institution, comfortable with change. Manoa celebrate its diversity and uniqueness as a Hawaiian place of learning. We build on our strengths including our unparalleled natural environment and tradition of outstanding Asia-Pacific scholarship.

Here's the Library's:

Our Vision

To be the leading research library serving the University of Hawaii, the State of Hawaii and the Pacific region.

There is also a mission statement but I found it too hard to cut and paste from the pdf. Here's the link to it on the library website: http://library.manoa.hawaii.edu/about/strategic_plan.pdf

I also recommend reading the Libqual+ survey, which makes sobering reading and provides data that needs to be addressed in terms of the Library's clients' needs. Listed on the "about" page, http://library.manoa.hawaii.edu/about.html

It looks like others will be away next week and I'm happy to keep track of developments via email if need be.

I'm greatly impressed by this committee and I'm confident we can come up with persuasive arguments to support the backbone of the information infrastructure we have on campus.

All the best for the summer, Robert