April 2, 2002

Jane Case-Smith

Chair, Senate Steering committee

119 Independence Hall

1923 Neil Avenue

Campus

Dear Jane:

In a letter last fall addressed to me as Chair of Library Council, you suggested that the Libraries and the Office of Information Technology work together to propose a new committee to be called the Council on Libraries and Information Technology. As requested, representatives of University Libraries and the Office of Information Technology met and developed a replacement for Faculty rule 3335-5-482.

Subsequently you contacted Library Council suggesting that the Council consider absorbing the functions formerly performed by the Bookstore Committee into the newly proposed committee, identified above. The matter was discussed at the Council meetings on February 13 and March 13. You and two other advocates for the Bookstore attended the Library Council meeting held on February 13 and participated in the discussion.

The current Library Council supports in principle the oversight of, and advice on, university bookstores by a group composed of faculty/students, and recognizes the value of such for the university community. Nonetheless, the Council rejects the notion that such a function should be included within the newly proposed Council on Libraries and Information Technology or, indeed, within the governance structure of the university for the following reasons:

The operations of the bookstore and Libraries are not compatible. The former is commercial and for-profit; the latter, public service and non-profit. Although they appear to share a common cognate--books--their functions and approach are entirely different.

The Council’s responsibilities have been broadened to include information technology, one of the most compelling influences on library service, as well as an overriding factor in virtually all campus operations. The Council must focus its oversight and advisory role on this primary, most encompassing engagement.

The bookstore is a vendor of books for the University under the management of Barnes and Noble with a commission contract and the Libraries is a buyer of books, contracted with vendors that may include

Barnes and Noble. The potential for a conflict of interest would appear to be possible and should be avoided.

Library Council supports the constitution of a new Council on Libraries and Information Technology. A marked up version of the text of Faculty Rule 3335-5-482, indicating suggested additions and deletions to reflect the expanded responsibilities of the Council is attached.

Sincerely,

Philip Smith

Chair, Library Council

Attachment

c: Library Council