About the council
The Public Services Council is one of several function councils within the Library. It conducts business in open meetings and the discussion topics and decisions are recorded in minutes that are distributed to the library staff in a timely manner. Depending on the nature of the issue, input may be gathered from other venues such as Function Councils, Subject Councils, Roundtable, and expertise groups.
Mission
The Public Services Council fills the crucial role of advising the Library leadership team on the public service impacts of policies, operations, and services Library-wide, and the ability of public service staff to implement them. Under the leadership of the AUL, Public Services Council represents the needs of the library user communities and provides a forum for discussion of issues across individual libraries and councils, fostering services and communications that are responsive to the needs of users and advancing the Library’s educational, outreach, and service roles.
Charge
The Public Services Council is advisory to the AUL and Library administration in areas such as:
- Academic and course-related services
- Assessment, evaluation, and statistics
- Circulation services
- Collection use and discovery services
- Disabilities and access services
- Instruction and instructor support services
- Interlibrary and document delivery services
- Learning spaces, programs, and services
- Library liaison roles
- Operations and facilities policies
- Privileges and borrower policies
- Public computing, scanning, and printing services
- Reference and research services
- Web and online services
- Partnerships with other Berkeley libraries, regional libraries, and peer institutions
- Partnerships with campus academic support units
- Partnerships and outreach beyond campus (alums, schools, museums, etc.)
The Public Services Council vets issues and policies from related groups such as:
- Access Services Advisory Group
- Alma/Primo VE Coordination Team
- Circulation Services Group
Diversity, equity, and inclusion statement
The UC Berkeley Library stands firmly in opposition to discrimination and systemic oppression. Social justice, equal rights, and equal treatment for all are bedrock principles for the Library, as we fulfill our public mission. It is clear that we must do more to address racism in the workplace and in the campus community. Without changing the primary purpose of this group, you should carry out your charge in a way that advances the Library’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion within the context of your group work.
Membership
Members represent various units and functions of the Library. Representatives from some units are identified by virtue of their primary positions and have indefinite appointments. Other members represent groups who select a representative for a two-year term. All members have equal participation rights.
Chairs
- Elizabeth Dupuis, Senior Associate University Librarian for Educational Initiatives, User Services, and Strategic Projects and Director of Doe, Moffitt, and the Subject Specialty Libraries
- Lynne Grigsby, Interim Associate University Librarian for Digital Initiatives and Information Technology
Roster
- Nicole Brown, Instruction Services Division
- Albert Chung, Circulation Services Group
- Misha Coleman, Sciences Council, 2023-2024
- Ellen Dario, NRLF
- Fedora Gertzman, Bancroft Library
- Sheehan Grant, Circulation Services Group
- Kris Kasianovitz, Affiliated Libraries, 2022-2024
- Mark Marrow, Access Services Division
- Shannon Monroe, Interlibrary Services
- Ayaka Sato, East Asian Library
- Virginia Shih, Arts and Humanities Council, 2022-2024
- Naomi Shiraishi, Cataloging and Metadata Council, 2022-2024
- Dan Vaccaro, Communications Office
- Nadia Winters, Social Sciences Division, 2024-2026
- Dave Wong, Library IT
Meeting schedule
Generally the fourth Tuesday each month, 10-11 a.m.