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Texas Council of State
University Librarians Monday, October 1, 2001 Committee Reports / Old Business-New Business / Guest Speakers President
Carolyn Kacena called the meeting to order at 4:05 p.m. and welcomed attendees.
She also expressed thanks to Ebsco, Academic Press, Baker & Taylor
/Yankee Book Peddler, Blackwell’s, and Endeavor for their support. New
and continuing members introduced themselves from the floor.
Seven attendees indicated that this was their first TCSUL meeting. Approval
of minutes Minutes
of the October 5, 2000 meeting were approved as distributed. President’s
report President
Kacena suggested that the TCSUL Bylaws were in need of review.
Virginia Bowden agreed to chair a Bylaws Review Committee.
A new Nominating Committee was also appointed: Marguerite Butler, Michael
Kelly, and Richard Wood (Chair). Secretary/Treasurer’s
Report Cindy
Scroggins reported an October 1, 2001 cash balance of $7,753.66.
Binding
contract Committee
chair Ken Jones reported no binding contract as yet.
The contract was sent out for bid in July 2001, with only two bids
received. Penny Farias of the GSC
reported that a decision would be reached in the near future, but that the
current contract would remain in effect through November 2001. Mr. Jones
received no binding contract complaints in the previous year, but Penny Farias
reported that she had been contacted directly with complaints.
Materials contract Committee
chair Joan Heath reported that the materials contract would remain in effect
until December 31, 2002. Ms. Heath
acknowledged committee members Mori Lou Higa-Moore and Jeannie Harrell, as well
as assistance from Penny Farias of the GSC. Ms.
Farias pointed out that, under House Bill 1545, universities are no longer
required to use GSC contracts for materials or binding.
Legislative Al
Cage is the sole member of this committee. He
invited questions and participation from the membership, reporting that the last
two years have been very quiet regarding our libraries and legislation.
Mr. Cage recalled a time when the state had 13 higher education formulas,
including a very clear library formula. Currently,
excellence funding is in place, and he expressed uncertainty about how this will
affect us. Mr. Cage posed several
questions to the floor, including whether we want to make a case at this time
regarding funding disparities among libraries; whether a committee should be
developed to look at formula funding for libraries (Richard Wood expressed
support for this from the floor); and whether TCSUL wants to have a formal
position. There was a good deal of
discussion from the floor. Jeanne Pyle
moved that the Legislative Committee be expanded to monitor this situation,
Richard Wood seconded, and the membership approved the move unanimously. Old
Business
Cindy
Scroggins reported that 50 of 53 libraries responded to the survey (94%).
Of those, 33 collect a library-related fee (66%).
Eight libraries raised fees in FY02, two libraries reported new fees in
FY02, and three libraries indicated that new fees were planned for FY03.
There was some discussion from the floor regarding the view that library
fees are our only hope for budget expansion. Ms.
Scroggins volunteered to conduct a survey of all revenue sources in our
libraries. TCSUL dues Cindy Scroggins
reported that a good deal of confusion surrounded the past year’s dues
collection, with some payments being sent to past treasurers, past presidents,
TLA, and even the Texas State Library. Ms. Scroggins suggested the problem is due largely to TCSUL’s
tradition of each treasurer collecting dues directly, rather than through a
constant, centralized TCSUL office. Pat
Smith stated that TLA manages dues collection for several Texas library groups
and could do so for TCSUL. Ms. Smith and
Ms. Scroggins agreed to discuss the possibility of transferring TCSUL dues
management to TLA. Peggy Rudd -
Texas State Library & Archives Commission Peggy Rudd discussed
the fact that TexShare now includes public libraries.
She further discussed House Bill 3591, which opened TexShare membership
to the Texas Medical Association Library and possibly one or two hospital
libraries. This bill came as a surprise
to TexShare, and Ms. Rudd discussed the need for the Texas State Library to be
in the driver’s seat where TexShare expansion is concerned.
As a result, a TexShare Expansion Taskforce was created, led by Rhoda
Goldberg. Ms. Rudd discussed
the Library of Texas, a development of the Texas State Library and the
Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund that began in 2000.
The aims are to expand TexShare databases; index live web pages and
create a digital archive (through the Texas Records and Information Locator
Service); create a virtual library; and provide training opportunities. Sam Tessen -
Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund Sam Tessen reported
$24,500,000 in grant funding for higher education and $20,000,000 for libraries.
Mr. Tessen advised the membership that TIF awards are no longer automatic
or routine. TIF is stressing outcomes
assessment; we must demonstrate what impact TIF dollars have on our ability to
teach students. Mr. Tessen made a number
of suggestions to the group, including
Finally, Mr. Tessen
encouraged all of us to be partners with TIF, to provide feedback and
suggestions. TIF is willing to push that
libraries be included in academic RFPs, but we need to do our part at the local
level. Mr. Tessen offered to meet with
any of us. Joe McCord commended
Sam Tessen for making many positive changes, especially regularizing the working
groups. Mr. McCord commented that the
Library Working Group recognizes the need for better needs assessment of all
libraries. He advocated funding of public
libraries as yet unfunded by TIF, the continuation of TexShare, and attention to
school districts where TIF has not filtered down to the library.
Mr. McCord suggested a legislative goal for us:
The continuation of TIF. Gloria
Meraz – UCITA Gloria Meraz
reported that UCITA got no hearing in the legislature this session, and there
appears to be no evidence of an interim hearing, so we are on good ground.
Federally, the ABA said that UCITA is a bad idea.
The American library community is proposing amendments to UCITA. UCITA passed in only the first two states where it was presented.
We should have more information on UCITA in January, 2002. Concluding
remarks Richard Wood moved
that we publicly acknowledge Joe McCord for his years of service on our behalf.
The membership was in full agreement. The
meeting adjourned at 6:05 p.m. Respectfully
submitted by Cindy Scroggins, Secretary |