MINUTES TBR LIBRARY DEANS AND DIRECTORS MEETING
OCTOBER 8, 1998
The meeting was held in the ABC Conference Room of the Genesco Building in Nashville.
Attending: (21) Winston Walden, Tennessee Technological University, Lynne Craver,
Cleveland State Community College, Sue Loper, Columbia State Community College,
Scott Cohen, Jackson State Community College, Rosa Burnett, State Technical Institute
at Memphis, John Hitchcock, Motlow State Community College, Bill Black (for Don
Craig), Middle Tennessee State University, Becky Brunton, Roane State Community
College, Duncan Parsons, Northeast State Technical Community College, Elijah Hall,
Tennessee Board of Regents, Robbie Kendall Melton, Tennessee Board of Regents,
Fred Borchuk, East Tennessee State University, Mike Rothacker, Volunteer State
Community College, Les Pourciau, University of Memphis, Vicky Leather, Chattanooga
State Technical Community College, Yildiz Binkley, Tennessee State University, Peter
Nerzak, Pellissippi State Technical Community College, Donald Joyce, Austin Peay
State University, Doug Cross, Walters State Community College, Peter Consacro,
Tennessee Board of Regents, Randi Trout, Tennessee Legislature.
I. The meeting was called to order at 12:10 by Chair, Winston Walden. He distributed
the meeting agenda and requested other agenda items from the floor. An amended
agenda was accepted on a motion by Rosa Burnett, seconded by Mike Rothacker.
II. The minutes of the previous meeting (April 14, 1998) had been posted on the Library
homepage prior to today's meeting. They were accepted on a motion by Les
Pourciau, seconded by Becky Brunton.
III. The Chair allowed all present to introduce themselves. Peter Consacro introduced
Robbie Kendall Melton as our new TBR liaison. She comes to TBR from UT Martin
where her expertise was in the fields of educational technology in the classroom and
distance learning. Sue Loper introduced Randi Trout representing the Tennessee
Legislature's Fiscal Review Committee.
IV. Agenda item four pertained to the update of the name/address directory of the Library
Director's web page. The Chair decided that there was no need to distribute print
copies due to its location on the web. He circulated a copy and asked that updates be
noted and returned to Scott Cohen.
V. The next agenda item addressed the need for changes in the TALC document. Peter
Consacro apologized for the delay in getting the proposal to the academic sub-
council. It will be on their agenda for their October 22 meeting. It cannot be
endorsed until the academic officers and the President's Council have approved it.
He urged everyone to brief their academic officers on the proposal so that they will
be prepared to discuss it.
There had been some concern on the part of some members
of the academic sub-council regarding the wording in the first paragraph of
"Governing Principles." After some discussion, the paragraph was revised to
read "TALC will be composed of the TBR and UT Library Directors. The TBR
libraries in TALC shall operate in compliance with all policies, guidelines,
procedures and directives now or hereinafter in effect and issued by the
Tennessee Board of Regents, the Chancellor, or the Joint Presidents' Council
of the State University and Community College System of Tennessee." The
revision was approved on a motion by Becky Brunton, seconded by Mike
Rothacker. The Chair clarified another concern by stating that all schools don't
have to participate for the project to go forward.
VI. Agenda item 6 examined the relationship between TBR library directors and TALC.
Several library directors expressed concern that there may not be enough strong
communication between the TBR library deans and directors and the TALC
representatives. The concern was that the TBR library deans and directors could
only react to what had transpired at the TALC meeting and had no avenue for input
prior to the meeting.
It was pointed out that the TALC representatives were
elected by the membership to represent our concerns to the TALC Board and that
hot links from the homepage were available to submit suggestions/agenda items
prior to their meetings. It was requested that TALC Board activities be made a
routine agenda item at all meetings of the TBR Libraries Deans and Directors
meetings. It was also requested that one week before all TALC Board meetings
the Board agenda be sent via e-mail to the membership of this group providing the
opportunity for input to our representatives prior to the meeting. Both requests
were made motions by Becky Brunton, seconded by Donald Joyce, and were
approved by those present.
VII. Scott Cohen led a discussion on the Virtual Library Initiative. He informed the membership on the status of North Carolina Live; Winston Walden reviewed Mississippi's Magnolia network. Scott asked Les Pourciau to review his proposal. Les stated that the THEC initiative is coming from TALC. Yildiz Binkley summarized everyone's feelings that in the absence of one global network, everyone is scrambling for something. Sue Loper discussed the Tennshare proposal; Rosa Burnett noted that all libraries in Tennessee are not members of Tennshare and in some cases the dues requirement prohibited libraries from joining.
Donald Joyce
expressed concern that there are no academic initiatives coming from the Tennessee
State Library and Archives. Mike Rothacker addressed this concern by saying that
the State Library is getting involved. He reviewed this initiative as the TBR
representative to the Tennessee Advisory Council on Libraries. Becky Brunton
echoed the fact that the academic vice-presidents are confused with multiple
initiatives. It was pointed out that the State Library/Tennshare initiative is for
basic database access and that the TALC proposal is designed to supplement
this basic access to address academic needs.
VIII. After the break, the meeting reconvened at 2:20. The Chair expressed our
appreciation to Robbie Kendall Melton for the refreshments. Elijah Hall addressed
TNII. He said that this is in the response to the need to pull together the State,
TBR and UT networks, and to consolidate them into one initiative. The RFP is
ready to go out and we will soon have in place one network to accommodate the
paradigm shift. An explanation of this initiative can be found on the web at
www.utenn.edu/tnii.
Scott Cohen introduced discussion of staff development
initiatives in TBR libraries.
IX. The next agenda item addressed policies and procedures surrounding library instruction for high school classes. Members shared their experiences in addressing the needs of this population. Donald Joyce encourages use by high school students and uses this as a recruitment tool; Winston Walden writes letters to all high schools inviting classes to make appointments for library instruction and Mike Rothacker noted that high school seniors in his service area are able to enroll in Volunteer State's required library orientation course as dual enrollment students. He noted that high school librarians can teach this course as adjunct faculty members.
X. The Chair asked Donald Joyce for a report from the Task Force on Faculty
Status. He reported that the Task Force has not yet met; he distributed packets to Task Force members and will be calling a meeting before the end of the year.
XI. The Chair gave a brief report on the Bell Buckle retreat. All present who had attended agreed that this was a valuable meeting time and we should pursue the retreat next year. The Chair noted that at this meeting TAF funds were discussed as well as values and vision for the TBR Library Deans and Directors. Lynne Craver will find out dates during which the facilities will be available and set up a meeting for early summer.
XII. The next agenda item addressed internet use policies. It was stated that TLA has
a policy which they have endorsed mounted on their web page. Members shared the
policies in place at their institutions - Winston Walden uses his institution's "Code
of Computing Practice;" Sue Loper utilizes her computer center's policy and
requires net users to surrender identification cards; Peter Nerzak and Lynne Craver
"bounce" students camped out on the web in lieu of users waiting to access data
bases. Lynne commented that while there was no "official" use policy on campus,
there was a generic statement that all computer use "must conform to acceptable
community standards."
XIII. Agenda item 13 centered around discussion of group study rooms and policies associated with their use. A variety of approaches are being taken at member libraries.
XIV. The final agenda item concerned TAF funds and their distribution. Robbie Kendall Melton suggested that we conduct a study across the system to determine how funds are being dispersed. Rosa Burnett suggested that this group develop a proposal to the academic sub-council which guarantees a certain percentage go to libraries. Donald Joyce suggested that a task force be formed to design a questionnaire regarding TAF money. Becky Brunton, Rosa Burnett, Donald Joyce and Yildiz Binkley volunteered to serve on this Task Force which will be chaired by Becky Brunton.
Robbie Kendall Melton stated the need for us to develop a purpose or "reason for being" to maintain high standing among members of the Board and academic sub-council. She said that at our next meeting she wants to review her role and responsibilities. Her desire is for us to be proactive rather than reactive and she would like to represent us to the eleven other committees which she chairs from this perspective. She also gave a status report on the Renaissance Center in Dickson.
The Chair announced that the dates for the spring TLA meeting are April 28 - 29. April 27
is the date for preconference workshops. It was suggested that the next meeting be
held at TBR the day before. With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:30.
Respectfully Submitted,
___________________________________
Lynne Craver, Chair-Elect