Meeting Minutes April 7, 2003

 

Present: Absent:
Mark Vargas Bob Hansen
John Eber Judy Christie
Bea Julian Carol Poston
Dave Kohut
Graham Peck
Pat Philbin
Noreen Sullivan
Ruth Ann Althaus
Anita Morgan

 

A G E N D A

  • Update on Front Entrance and Haddad Room
  • Update on Student Survey
  • Distribution and Discussion of Data Tables
  • Forthcoming Data Collection
  • Other

 

Update on Front Entrance and Haddad Room

We have been given the green light on all of the front entrance improvements including a new circulation desk and security gates. Mark will meet with Paul Matthews and Susan Piros in the next week to finalize the design and layout of the desk and gates. Because the front doors that lead into the library do not meet ADA standards, the security gates will be angled. The desk will take eight weeks to arrive after it is ordered. It is anticipated that it will take one full day to remove the existing elements and another full day to install them once the materials have arrived.

The Haddad Room is a “go” and Mark will be working with Susan regarding the design and furnishings.

New chairs have been added to the main reading room. Most of the furniture in the Bishop Quarter Room has either been replaced or re-upholstered. New chandeliers have been ordered.

The cardboard boxes in the Current Periodical Room are being replaced with stronger, clear plastic boxes and relabeled.

Through the organized efforts of Susan Piros and Dr. Chalokwu, these improvements are being funded through this year’s budget even though they were not budgeted.

Update on Student Survey

Library student surveys have been distributed to undergraduate and graduate classes. Surveys for field-based masters students have been sent to respective faculty to distribute and then return for tabulation.  A two-week extension on the due date will allow all of these surveys to be included in the tabulation. Kathleen Carlson will tabulate the data. The data results will be ready for our May meeting.  Mark noted that a sample review of completed surveys identified the need for more computers and extended library hours. Several students remarked that they were pleased with the help they had received from the professional library staff. Others noted that portions of the collection were dated.

Distribution and Discussion of Data Tables

Mark led a review of data that had been compiled on the usage of various resources within the library, specifically the three major databases and the cost of serials by major in hardcopy and microfilm. The figures in the data are relative rather than absolute. Mark spoke about the expense of periodicals and the difficulty in forecasting rising costs. Initially, online access can be more expensive, but the special features they offer can offset the added cost. Mark invited everyone to review the data at their convenience and direct any questions to him. It was noted that some of the results in the data were questionable because of various shortcomings in identifying groups among users.

Mark distributed data compiled from peer ACRL institutions based on the 2001 ACRL Statistics, and spoke about the difficultly in selecting peer institutions for comparative data analysis. Many variables exist among peer institutions. Of the ten institutions Mark did select, Saint Xavier fell somewhere in the middle in many areas, but SXU was last when it came to total expenditures compared with the others. Staff salaries were third from last, serials were at the lower end, and electronic serials put us last. These numbers were determined before many of our newest electronic resources had been added. We expect to fare better when we run the numbers again. The comparative data used in this analysis is based on the ACRL Annual Survey for 2001. Another survey will be run to see how the numbers have changed and in what areas. John Eber pointed out that FTE would be a more valuable criterion to use, because credit hours are more important than head count. Mark pointed out that he used the best data available from ACRL. John also said that the University Statistical Planning and Budgeting unit is working on compiling an accurate list of peer institutions. He will provide a copy to the committee when it becomes available.

Forthcoming Data Collection

There was discussion of how student workers could better profit in the library setting if their jobs included mentoring opportunities or internships. Data from other institutions disclosed a much higher rate of student workers within libraries.

Other data is being gathered to identify other major issues that need to be addressed to the Administration regarding staffing, materials, equipment, and space.

Other

The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 12, 2003 at 1:00 PM in L108-B