LAUC-B Fall Assembly
Friday, December 2, 1994
8:30-10:00am, Morrison Library
1. Call to Order
The Assembly was called to order by Barbara Kornstein, LAUC-B
Chair. B.Kornstein introduced the guest speaker, Vice-Chancellor
Carol Christ.
2. Address by Vice-Chancellor Carol Christ
The Berkeley campus is confronting six major challenges in the
coming years: (1) rebuild the faculty; (2) transform the UC
budget structure; (3) increase administrative efficiency; (4)
respond to changes in the research environment; (5) improve
undergraduate education; and (6) enhance the quality of campus
atmosphere.
The campus will prioritize rebuilding the faculty. Three successive
early retirements have reduced faculty ranks by 27 percent. This is
both a crisis and an opportunity. There will be new recruitments.
And the Academic Planning Board will use the reduction as an
opportunity to reshape academic programs. During the first year
of the rebuilding campaign, 80 searches will be conducted. 55 new
hires are expected during 1994/95.
The UC budget structure will increasingly focus on fundraising and
entrepreneurial activities. Examples of entrepreneurial activity
relevant to the library might be document delivery projects that
exploit the depth of the UCB library collections. Crucial
questions in this area include the extent to which UC will be
willing to privatize its operations. The University of Michigan
privatization "model" involves some high costs for students.
Administrative efficiency will be achieved by looking closely at
what we do not have to do any longer (eliminating work) and
through simplification of procedures relating to those functions
that must be maintained.
Major changes are taking place in the research environment. In
particular, the era of large and reliable Federal support for
university research is ending. An overhaul in the Federal
research support process is likely. And this will have a profound
impact on the research process at UCB.
Three aspects of undergraduate education will challenge the
campus: quality; affordability; and student throughput. These
concerns are often raised by the public and through its
legislative representatives.
In terms of campus atmosphere, UCB will need to ensure that it
preserves its rich tradition of tolerance (this is the thirtieth
anniversary of the Free Speech Movement) while creating a college
experience that is both stimulating and not frightening for
students.
3. Minutes from Spring 1994 Assembly.
The minutes were approved as submitted.
4. Chair's Report.
B.Kornstein welcomed new LAUC-B Members Catherine Candee
(ASTR/MATH), Suzanne McMahon (RSCD), Hideyuki Morimoto (EAL),
John Ober (LSO), and Virginia Shih (RSCD). There are currently
111 LAUC-B members. This compares with 152 in 1990, 117 in
April 1993, and 105 in November 1993.
Judson King had requested LAUC input and concerns in
his presentation to the Executive Board meeting in August.
Beverly Renford sent a follow-up letter--based on information
solicited from the LAUC membership on the new LAUC listserv--
which addressed the following areas: policy advisory structures
(Library Council/University Librarians); support for One
University-One Library concept; identification of ways to meet
librarian continuing education needs; network issues, especially
support in developing the network infrastructure; external
users; declines in the quality of collections; digital library
needs; and instructional support needs.
The new LAUC listserv had been subscribed by 30 percent of the
membership in October. B.Kornstein encouraged LAUC-B members to
subscribe.
5. LAUC-B Goals.
Elizabeth Byrne presented the LAUC-B Goals document. The theme is
that LAUC-B should move beyond housekeeping functions and assume a
proactive stance. The document has been reviewed by the 1993/94
Executive Committee and LAUC-B Committee Chairs, as well as the
1994/95 Executive Committee. The new Chair will be assuming
responsibility for implementation and comments on the document
should be addressed to Barbara Kornstein.
6. CAPA Report 1993/94.
Ivan Arguelles (for Lily Castillo-Speed) thanked the 1994 Committee
members. He then reviewed the Report and highlighted key statistics.
The caseload is heavier this year than last. Librarians and their
reviewers this year are reminded to carefully adhere to the peer review
guidelines.
7. Professional Travel Funding Report.
Laura Osegueda presented the Report. The goals are to simplify
procedures, reduce administrative/clerical workload for academic
staff, and allocate limited, available travel funds on an
equitable basis. Peter Lyman is suggesting that an allocation
model based on categories of participation (the previous model)
would be preferable. The Librarian's Office is able to provide
spreadsheet support. Travel funding is likely to be an ongoing
discussion topic.
8. Announcement of Candidate(s) for Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect.
B.Kornstein announced with pleasure that Kathleen Vanden Heuvel
(LAW) has agreed to stand for election in an upcoming special
election for the position of Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect.
9. Bylaws Revision.
The proposed bylaws revisions are designed to create an elective
LAUC-B Treasurer position responsible for handling the LAUC-B
budget and travel fund, and reduce to a more manageable level the
workload for the LAUC-B Secretary. The proposal preserves the
size of the Executive Committee by reducing the number of Library
representatives on the Committee.
10. Task Force on Streamlining the Peer Review Process.
Alice Youmans, Task Force Chair, updated the Assembly on progress
in meeting the group's charge. Task Force members (Rebecca Lhermitte,
Debby Sommers, A.Youmans) have met with Peter Lyman, Library
Administrative Group, and Patty Owens. They continue to review a
very large amount of relevant documentation, including
several surveys and reports of similar groups at other UC
campuses. Although Task Force is not ready to report at the
present time, it has identified three general categories of issues
on which it will focus its work: (1) timeliness; (2) training
for review initiators; (3) practical/procedural improvements
(e.g., modifications of the self-evaluation and bio-bibliography
formats). The Task Force will prepare a list of final
recommendations by early 1995 and provide a forum for input from
the membership prior to implementation with the next review cycle.
11. Public Announcements of Advancements and Promotions.
B.Kornstein led the discussion centered on a recent CU News
posting with detailed information on recent academic staff
advancements in the library. Although there are valid reasons for
announcing this category of information (acknowledgement of merit,
providing information to CAPA and librarians regarding their peer
group), there was some concern that the level of detail in the
announcement was unnecessary. B.Kornstein will explore
alternative models for advancement notices with Janice Burrows.
The Assembly adjourned.
Recorder: Chuck Eckman