Humanities & Sciences Library Committee
4th Floor Conference Room, James Branch Cabell Library
January 28, 2011 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Minutes
Attendance
Bonnie Davis (chair), Denis Demchenko, Antonio Espinoza, Sandra Gramling, Les Harrison, Eric Hazelrigg, Catherine Ingrassia, Laura McLay, Rebecca Segal, A. J. Shriar, Fang Shen Wu, James Terner
Staff: Jeanne Hammer, Dan Ream, John Ulmschneider
Recording Secretary: Antonia FD Vassar
Business
Review and approval of agenda
The agenda was approved as presented.
Review and approval of minutes from December 2010
The minutes were approved as presented.
Open access publishing initiative at VCU (handout)
Dan Ream updated the committee about his work with the Faculty Senate to pass the “VCU Faculty Senate Resolution on Open Access Publishing December, 2010”. Open access publishing is primarily web-based, usually peer-reviewed, and has the potential to significantly lower journal expenditures by the VCU Libraries. Many other universities are moving towards open access publishing -- UVa, MIT, Harvard, and others have such policies.
While the resolution is less comprehensive than the original proposal, it does recognize a university commitment towards open access publishing. Dan Ream expressed surprise at the lack of broad based faculty support for open access publishing. In response to a question by Rebecca Segal, John Ulmschneider noted that this method of publishing is becoming more common, and will eventually have major impacts on the journal publishing industry.
Elevator lobby redesign for Cabell Library
Jeanne Hammer showed the Committee several images of the proposed elevator façade redesign. The project needs to be completed by the end of this fiscal year. The 1st floor façade will have images taken from VCU historic photos. All of the floor facades will incorporate quotations from profound thinkers around the world, in a variety of languages. Quotations are currently being submitted, and the VCU Libraries Advisory Committee will judge the submissions. The H&S committee was asked to send along their quotation suggestions (http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/vcul_quotations).
Reports and Discussion
VCU Libraries in recalibrated VCU2020 Strategic Plan
John Ulmschneider reminded the Committee that he and Dan Ream both served on task groups for the recalibration. The final report has been sent to President Rao. The recent news that VCU’s Carnegie status has been changed to “very high” is considered a very positive sign for the university as a whole. John Ulmschneider again encouraged the Committee to visit http://www.future.vcu.edu in order to leave comments and suggestions.
Use of Cabell Library, Fall 2010 (handout)
Cabell Library door counts continue to climb, with over 1 million visitors during the first half of the year. The number of visits to the library by students is increasing, and exceeds the increase in use that might be expected due to higher enrollment. The Cabell Learning Commons has been very successful and well-used, but it isn’t large enough to accommodate total student need for academic work space.
The LibQual survey begins in March 2011, and John Ulmschneider expects to see improvements in comments regarding space needs.
Upcoming programs
Forgotten Roots: Muslims in Early America, January 24-28, 2011, Cabell Library
VCU Libraries Black History Month Lecture, “An Evening with Melissa Harris-Perry”, February 10, 2011, W.E. Singleton Center for the Performing Arts
Demo and discussion: Proposed Humanities Center at VCU (handout)
Catherine Ingrassia discussed the proposal for a new Center for Advanced Research in Humanities that will go to the Board of Visitors in May. It will be located at 920 W. Franklin Street, in the Valentine House. The Center will include representatives from departments throughout the College and from other Schools. Currently, the College is piloting a three semester course on the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, and this will be a model for other similar “themed curriculum”. Partnerships with groups and individuals outside the university will be encouraged.
The curriculum will feature 4 core areas of focus: global cinema, medical humanities, trans-Atlantic studies, and media & digital humanities. John Ulmschneider affirmed the VCU Libraries’ support for the Center.
New business
John Ulmschneider thanked Fang Shen Wu for his questions during the last meeting regarding loan policies. Because of his questions, the VCU Libraries has instigated a full review of media loan policies, with a goal of creating a new policy that is well-founded in data on use, student needs, and the collection. While this is happening, the current policy is still in effect.
The new Assistant University Librarian for Public Services, Dennis Clark, will be arriving in March.
There was no further new business, and the meeting was adjourned at 3:50 p.m.