2. Status of Main Library Renovation--In February 2001, URS/Shepley Bulfinch Richardson and Abbott were hired to conduct a feasibility study which would examine issues and propose an ideal program for the building, including cost models. During the spring, Library Council sponsored a number of open meetings and/or focus groups with faculty, staff, and students, and over the summer they gathered additional information to assist them in developing cost estimates.

On October 15/16 they will be returning to campus for another round of open meetings and focus groups; they will present multiple alternatives. The cost estimates are sobering, and at least 30-40% of the estimated costs relate to upgrading the building's infrastructure. Following these meetings they will begin to develop their final report, which is due by the end of the calendar year.

Wes Boomgaarden and the architects met with the University's Design Review Board in September. That group had earlier identified the benefits of having an entrance/exit on the west side of the building, a need to make the stack tower more usable, and the additional requirement to stay within the current assignable square feet if the Libraries is to avoid additional continuing charges for maintenance. The Board also indicated that the RFP process to select the architect for the project could begin as early as next spring; it is anticipated that the architectural portion of the project will take three years from the beginning of the process to prepare the RFP.

A question was raised as to whether Library Council was the conduit for the Senate to have input concerning this renovation project. Wes Boomgaarden responded that the Chairs of eight Senate Committees have been invited to attend meetings with the architects. There is also an ad hoc Feasibility Study Committee appointed by the Office of Academic Affairs.

An additional question was raised as to how the success of the meetings next week would be judged. The most obvious answer would be large attendance with good participation. The project has a commitment to move forward from the University's administration, but a strong turnout would seem to support the importance of moving forward with the project. Council support of the meetings by members' attendance and participation would be appreciated; the following members volunteered to introduce each of the sessions:

Staff Open Meeting, October 15 (Ted Riedinger)
Faculty Open Meeting, October 15 (Ethan Knapp)
Student Open Meeting, October 15 (Katie Schmees)
Faculty Focus Group, October 16 (Phil Smith)
Student Focus Group, October 16 (Phil Smith)

3. Budget--Articles in the Columbus Dispatch have indicated that the Governor may be cutting state agencies by as much as 6%; OhioLINK has been told to be prepared for such a cut.

The Libraries' acquisitions budget has been protected for the past decade by the Library Materials Index, which had had a regular inflationary increase in annual rate each year in order to maintain purchasing power. This consistent level of funding has not been typical of the situation for other large academic libraries. The Libraries' situation has begun to worsen during the current year when the monies received were in cash, rather than annual rate; if cash is supplied for next year, it will require the amount provided this year, plus additional funds to cover this year's inflationary increase in order to maintain the same purchasing power for next year.

In order to respond to the proposed budget cut, it will quite likely be necessary to cancel journal subscriptions. Preparation for this possible eventuality has already begun, with the bibliographers responsible for the various subject areas identifying different levels of serial cancellations in their subjects; the interdisciplinary nature of many areas tends to muddy the waters. Involvement and cooperation of teaching faculty will be appreciated in this process; it would be helpful if Library Council could serve as a sounding board. Lists of titles identified for cancellation should be developed by February in order to allow time for cancellations to become effective prior to the beginning of the next subscription cycle. If the continuance of some aspect of the Library Materials Index is in question, it would also be helpful if Library Council served as an advocacy group at the appropriate time.

4. Digital Initiatives--It will be important to use technology for the provision of new information services. OSU Libraries is doing well in acquiring materials that are published in electronic form, but is not doing as well with, particularly, special collections materials that are owned, but not identified, but could be digitized and made available for teaching and research. The questions of deciding what to do and where to find the resources to meet the challenge assume significant importance. With the cost of appropriate camera equipment in the range of $100,000, it will pay to outsource the generation of digital images. For new publications, there needs to be a change in the way publication is done, so that authors will not lose their control over the dissemination of research results. The tendency of tenure/promotion panels to discount electronic publication will also need to be addressed.

5. Frequency and Time of Meetings--It was proposed that meetings be held bimonthly on the second Wednesday of the month at 3:30, with the option for calling additional meetings for special needs that may arise. The next meeting will be held on November 14, with scheduled meetings following in January, March, and May.

6. The meeting was adjourned at 4:55 with interested members touring the building to see the short-term improvements that have been.

Elizabeth Sawyers for
Joseph Branin