Thursday, November 14, 2002
2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Downstairs Lounge
UCLA Faculty Center

1.       Call to Order

          Michael Oppenheim, LAUC-LA Chair, called the Assembly to order at 2:15 p.m.

2.      Approval of the Agenda

An addition was made to Item 4 of the Agenda. The phrase “Statewide Representatives” was added.

3.      Approval of Spring Membership Meeting Minutes, April 25, 2002

The minutes from April 25, 2002, were approved.

4.      Introduction of 2002/2003 LAUC-LA Executive Board, Committee Chairs, and Statewide Representatives

Michael Oppenheim introduced the Executive Board, LAUC-LA Committee Chairs and LAUC Statewide Representatives.

5.         Announcements

            a.         Committee on Research & Professional Development – Chuck Wilson

The Committee has funds to distribute; the minigrant timeline has been changed, and the Committee welcomes applications. The Committee will meet in the beginning of December. LAUC travel funding has increased from $625 to $640 per year, and from 34 to 36.5 cents per mile for mileage reimbursement. Air travel must be booked by UCLA Travel, and the Library assumes the $30 fee.

            b.         Peer Review Documentation Workshop Committee – Renee McBride

The Peer Review Documentation Workshop will be held Wednesday, December 11 at GSLIS 111, from 12-3 p.m., and the invitation will be out soon; other Committee members include Elaine Adams and Kris Kasianovitz. The Review Initiator Workshop will be held December 18, in the Green Room at Schoenberg Hall. Speakers include Pat Hawthorne, Elaine Graham, and Jenifer Abramson; the meeting is open to all.

            c.         Other

Michael Oppenheim announced that the LAUC Statewide Assembly will be held December 6 at UC San Francisco. He requested that members contact him to suggest topics for discussion.

Michael Oppenheim also mentioned to the membership that the LAUC-LA Executive Board meeting is held 1-3 p.m. on the first Tuesday of the month, in the YRL Administrative Conference Room. Meetings are open to all members, and we are all encouraged to attend.

Michael Oppenheim also encouraged all members to attend the upcoming “Lunch with LAUC” forum to discuss the three University Librarian candidates. He reminded the group that written comments on the candidates must be sent to Renee Dennis by Friday, November 22.

Janet Carter commented on the quality of service provided by UCLA Travel, and noted that it is often not adequate. Pat Hawthorne added that she and Jan Wildman are in the process of arranging a meeting to investigate other options. Faculty are not required to use UCLA Travel; as librarians are also academic appointees, perhaps we too can arrange travel through other means. Ruby Bell-Gam suggested we collect evidence of poor service.

6.         Presentation by Esther Grassian, LAUC President

The relationship between LAUC and the University Librarians is on the upswing. Esther Grassian and LAUC Vice President Linda Kennedy attended the October 28 University Librarians meeting, and the Board sent out this year’s LAUC plans to the University Librarians. The University Librarians are interested in issues such as current reference statistics; significant achievement or capstone achievement; the distinguished step; faculty status. The University Librarians want a dialogue with LAUC. They would also like to attend the Spring Assembly. Esther Grassian invited them to a question-and-answer session, and suggested they attend the Assembly every year, or attend the LAUC Executive Board meetings.

Esther Grassian would like LAUC members to play a more activist role in the organization, to give their representatives ideas, to read the LAUC documents, and to respond to email.

Esther Grassian also noted that the Fall Assembly will be held December 6, at UC San Francisco, from 9:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Dan Greenstein of the CDL will respond to a panel. The Spring Assembly will be held at UC San Diego. She believes that some University Librarians will attend, and hopes the group will discuss cooperative collecting, recruitment and diversity issues. She asked members to contribute any ideas to Michael Oppenheim.

7.  LAUC-LA 2001/2 Committee Final Reports and Discussion

            a.         Chair’s Report – Maureen Russell

            b.         Ad Hoc Task Force on Communication – Maureen Russell

Maureen Russell announced that the Ad Hoc communications survey will be sent out soon and asked the membership to respond.

            c.         Committee on Library Plans and Policies – Elaine Adams

            d.         Committee on Professional Governance - Ruby Gutierrez

Dora Loh inquired as to the impetus for the report on the role of the MLS. Ruby Gutierrez answered that there were some local and CDL positions which did not require the MLS. Kate Pecarovich added that LAUC should discuss a position on the MLS requirement. Esther Grassian could not find a policy on this topic, and it will be discussed at the Fall and Spring Statewide Assemblies. Pat Hawthorne offered to work with LAUC on the issue.

            e.         Committee on Research & Professional Development – Adrienne Adan

            f.          Committee on Programs – Joan Flintoff-Lopear

            g.         Committee on LAUC-LA Distinguished Librarian Award – Ruby Bell-Gam

Ruby Bell-Gam addressed the recent Librarian-of-the-Year Award survey. Most respondents to the survey wanted to see a cash award and were willing to contribute to a fund. However, Bell-Gam noted that LAUC-LA does not have a treasurer, and that only 46 members responded to the survey, so the results may not reflect the opinion of the entire membership.

Dora Loh moved that the new Committee establish a fund and request a five dollar donation per member. Janet Carter noted that LAUC-LA would need a tax exempt status for the fund, and Pat Hawthorne concurred. Dora Loh moved that the Committee establish procedures to make a cash award for Librarian-of-the-Year. The motion was seconded. A vote was taken, and the results were: 15 in favor, 16 against, 20 abstentions. The motion did not pass.

Dora Loh proposed another motion, that the Committee investigate the IRS regulations and draft recommended procedures for a fund and distribute an award. Dora Loh withdrew this motion. Dora Loh put forward another motion, that the Distinguished Librarian Committee establish a cash award for the Distinguished Librarian Award. The motion was seconded. A vote was taken, and the results were: 14 in favor, 23 against, 17 abstentions. The motion did not pass. Diane Childs suggested that the Executive Board appoint a task force to investigate procedures to establish an award. Diane Childs and Dora Loh volunteered to work on this task force.

            h. Peer Review Documentation Workshop Committee – Keri Botello

            i. Nominating Committee – M. Rita Costello

            j. Election Committee – Jennifer Hill

            k. Peer Review Committee – Michael Oppenheim

8.         LAUC 2001/2001 Statewide Reports

            a. Research & Professional Development – Janice Matthiessen

            b. Committee on Cultural Diversity – Judy Consales

            c. Committee on Committees, Rules and Jurisdiction – Ken Wade

            d. Committee on Professional Governance – Rhonda Lawrence

As the business meeting went long, Rhonda Lawrence agreed to speak at a separate “Lunch with LAUC” session.

9.         Brief Remarks by Pat Hawthorne, Director of UCLA Library Human Resources

As the business meeting went long, Pat Hawthorne agreed to speak at a separate “Lunch with LAUC” session.

10.       Adjournment

            The business meeting was adjourned at 3:50 p.m.

11.       Introduction of the New UCLA Librarians, begun by Janice Koyama, AUL for Public Services

Janice Koyama hosted the New Librarians Reception, as Alison Bunting was not able to attend. The following new UCLA librarians were introduced:

Cheryl Bartel – Biomed

Lynn DeLacy – Arts

Amos Lakos – YRL Reference

Kris Kasianovitz – YRL Reference

John Vallier – Ethnomusicology

Cynthia Lewis – Law

Diane Mizrachi – College

Pauline Swartz - College

Respectfully submitted,

Beth Feinberg
LAUC-LA Secretary