1. The meeting was called to order by Joe Branin at 3:40 p.m.

2. Realignment of Library Council--The Chair of the Senate Steering Committee sent a message to Phil Smith, Chair of Library Council suggesting the realignment of Library Council to form a new committee that would encompass information technology. Betty Sawyers and Bob Kalal (Office of the Chief Information Officer) will get together to work on a draft of a new charge for discussion at the next meeting of Library Council. Bob Kalal provided information about the impact such a committee might have on existing advisory committees in the Office of Information Technology; this new committee might obviate the need for one or more of these existing advisory committees.

3. Main Library Renovation--Representatives of SBRA/URS were on campus October 14 and 15 and held three open meetings and two focus group meetings; attendance at the open sessions was not high. Four alternatives (identified by letter) were presented at these meetings:

Alternative A--Renovation of existing structure ($75-77M)
Alternative B--Altered stack tower and additions ($80M+)
Alternative C--Altered tower and larger additions ($90M+)
Alternative D--Removal of the stack tower ($125M+)

The final report of the Feasibility Study is due the end of December. A question was raised as to who makes the final decision as to which alternative to pursue; that decision will be made by the President and the Board of Trustees. It is anticipated that a total of $70M in capital funds would be required over two biennia, with $10-30M needed in development income. The Libraries' Development Officers met with Jerry May and set the Libraries' target at $25M.

4. Libraries' Budget--During the current fiscal year, the Libraries has been required to return, using surplus cash, an amount equal to 3% of budgeted funds, exclusive of the library materials budget. During the next fiscal year the Libraries will be required to make a permanent reduction to operating funds of $1.4M and at least an 8% reduction to the library materials budget. The mandated budget cuts are 10% for central units, 7% for support units, and 5% for academic units. The reduction in operating funds will require the elimination of ca. ten regular positions and a cut in the number of student hours by 10-15%. It is hoped that the elimination of regular positions can be handled by the freezing of vacant positions, with internal transfers being used to redistribute the necessary workload; layoffs will be avoided if at all possible. The decrease in the library materials budget will necessitate subscription cancellations and the purchase of fewer books. The latter situation will be exacerbated by the 6% reduction of State funds that will be required of OhioLINK.

Elizabeth Sawyers for
Joseph Branin