Tuesday, April 19, 2005
YRL West Electronic Classroom

Present:   Ruby Bell-Gam, Ellen Broidy, Debe Costa, Janet Carter (Chair) Miki Goral, Jenny Lentz, Louise Ratliff, Ken Wade.   Absent:   Laura Cadra, Orchid Mazurkiewicz, Kate Pecarovich.   Guests:   Lise Snyder, Gary Strong.

• Call to order

The meeting was called to order at 1.12 pm.

• Agenda review and announcements

• Chair’s report
• UCLACOL, April 4 meeting

Janet got permission to distribute the UCLA Library Fiscal Year 2005/2006 Budget Memo, dated February 15, 2005, to the Board.   The memo, which had not yet been released to staff but was discussed at COL, was largely seen as a very positive document.   The memo does not give the budget but sets out the Library’s goals for the coming year.   No further budget cuts are expected for the next fiscal year.  

• Update on LAUC Statewide Spring Assembly, June 2, 2005

Janet sent all LAUC members the link to register for the LAUC Statewide Spring Assembly at UCSB.   She also sent members the information for applying for one of the two available travel grants.   Lise offered to drive a van from UCLA if someone else would make the arrangements to rent the van from the University.

• Update on Peer Review Task Force activities

Janet sent out a message informing all LAUC-LA members that there will be an open session to discuss the CALL revisions on April 28 th from 12:00 to 1:45.   The session will be held in Rm. 1230, the Green Room, of the Schoenberg Music Building.  

• Vice Chair’s report

The Peer Review Committee has been very active.   Although there are three packets from outside units still outstanding, Debe anticipates finishing with her group of packets by early May.   Janet anticipates being finished with her group of packets by the end of May.

• Secretary’s report

The minutes of the March 15 th Executive Board meeting were approved as corrected.  

• New Business
• LAUC-LA Spring Assembly

The LAUC-LA Spring Assembly will be on May 26 th in the Faculty Center Lounge.   LAUC-LA has the room reserved from 1-4.   Janet wondered how much time was needed for the presentation for the Librarian of the Year award.   Previous problems with timing, such as the award being presented too early for people to get there, were discussed.   Ellen suggested that the award presentation come before the business meeting and the food be served after both.   Jenny suggested having the award and food first and the business meeting after.   Concerns about sufficient numbers of people staying for the business meeting were raised.   Janet decided that she would consider all the various scheduling options before making a decision.

• LAUC Committee on Professional Governance charge

As a member of the LAUC Committee on Professional Governance, Louise Ratliff asked the Board’s input regarding her committee’s charge.   The charge is to evaluate the effectiveness of hiring librarians at the Assistant rank given the recruitment and retention problems facing the profession.   The Board agreed that this was a serious problem that required addressing at the AUL and UL level.  Ruby raised the issue of UCLA’s failure to seek out people who were already employed in the library system for promotion.   The Board suggested that Louise attempt to get figures from LHR regarding the number of new hires at the Assistant rank, number of offers at the Assistant rank that were rejected, and whether new hire salaries ever exceed the posted salary range.   

• Guest speaker—Gary Strong
• University Librarian Gary Strong came to address the Board.   Upon his arrival, Gary was asked his opinion on the recruitment of Assistant librarians.   Gary agreed that recruiting entry level librarians was a problem.   He expressed his concern that librarians could not take advantage of MOP loans.   He also emphasized a better job needs to be done of recruiting and retaining UCLA LAs who attend library school.   Gary confirmed that Louise should speak with LHR to get the figures she needs.
• Gary said that he anticipates no further budget cuts this year.   Consequently, he is beginning to look at places where slots need to be filled.   He noted that we need to publicize the fact that the Library is interested in having current employees apply for open positions.  
• Janet asked Gary how some of the logistics of the CAPA would be implemented, namely, where the CAPA would meet, and whether or not the CAPA members would have access to the files they were reviewing after hours.   Gary said that Janet should put together a list of questions about the logistics of the new CAPA and he will address them.
• Janet mentioned that the new CAPA will begin working immediately after it is assembled this summer, but there was some speculation about the willingness of AULs and Unit Heads to support time off for CAPA members.   Gary indicated that he would be willing to step in if necessary.
• Gary emphasized that he is attempting to build a new baseline for the budget, as this hasn’t been done since the mid-1990s.   Susan Parker and Claire Bellanti will work with him to begin to analyze the needs of individual library units.  
• Lise asked if Gary, as part of his long range vision, was also planning on looking at other UCs in terms of growth disciplines, duplication of materials and unique collections.   Gary said that this was a priority and referred to Goal A of the 2005/2006 Budget Memo.  
• Gary is in the process of establishing a fund for replacing recalled books.   He noted that only 40% of recalled books are returned.   The faculty have expressed their frustration at the ineffectiveness of recalls numerous times to him.  
• Gary is also creating a Board of Visitors for the Library.   He would like this board to be made up of people who are willing to make significant financial contributions to the Library.    
• Gary welcomes suggestions for names of speakers to invite to campus as part of a professional development series for librarians.   Janet mentioned that a program for librarians who are approaching the Distinguished Step is in the works, and Gary agreed this was a good idea.

The rest of the agenda items were tabled until the next meeting, which will be Tuesday, May 20, from 1-3 in the West Electronic Classroom.

The meeting was adjourned at 3:10 pm.  

Respectfully submitted,

Jennifer Lentz