Library Committee Minutes for Oct 31 2018
Minutes
The Academic Senate Committee on Library Committee met on Oct 31 2018 LB 224
Committee Members in Attendance:
Agnieszka Tuszynska (Committee Chair
Peter Hayes Mauro
Larisa Honey (Secretary)
Biao Wang
Liaisons in Attendance:
Jeanne Galvin (Chief Librarian and Presidential Delegate)
Angela Ridinger-Dotterman, (Steering Committee Designee)
Business:
The meeting was called to order at 12.30pm
Review/Approval of Minutes
Minutes from May 10th, 2018 were reviewed and approved.
Introduction of New Members
The committee welcomed new member Pete Hayes and new liaison Angela Ridinger-Dotterman, and everyone briefly introduced themselves.
Review of Charges for the Year
Prof. Tuszynska began the meeting with a review of the library committee’s charges.
1. Committee on Computer Resources
2. Disability Bathroom
3. STEAM Labs
4. Coffee Shop Issues
Committee on Computer Resources
Prof. Galvin updated the committee about computer resources, noting that the library is routinely allocated new computers. Several years ago the library sought and received more laptops for student use. A new printing system was also introduced, which allots 300 black and white pages to each student per semester. The system is funded by the student activities fee. With this system, students sign in with their QCC email and swipe their ID card to access the printers. Students must now be physically present in the library building to print out pages with the library’s printers. This has led to a reduction in the numbers of unidentified print jobs left in the printers by people who were printing from elsewhere on campus.
Concerns were raised as to whether or not students and faculty were aware of the system, and a brief discussion ensued as to what could be done to raise awareness.
Disability Bathrooms
Prof. Tuszynska updated the committee on the current situation with the disability bathroom conversion. So far no progress has been made. The cost of conversion has been the primary factor hindering this progress. Committee members agreed that this should be made a priority, and they discussed various possible routes for facilitating the changes necessary so that students with disabilities could have access to bathroom facilities in the library building. The current location of accessible bathroom in the administration building is not adequate given the barriers that exist between the two buildings. It was decided that before taking further steps,
Prof. Tuszynska will email buildings and grounds (and cc the office of students with disabilities) to ascertain the latest information about the state of the reconstruction plans for these bathrooms. The committee decided that the next step could be a statement of concerns with the faculty senate. We agreed that if this step proves necessary, committee members should craft a statement and request that the presentation of this statement be included on the agenda of the faculty senate in December. Prof. Tuszynska agreed to write a draft that the rest of the committee members would then contribute to.
STEAM Labs
Prof. Ridinger-Dotterman discussed a new idea that is being considered as a project for the library committee for the coming year. STEAM labs create spaces for students and faculty to work together on interdisciplinary research projects. Committee members agreed that the idea sounded interesting and worthwhile and decided to do exploratory research into the STEAM labs that have been implemented by colleges in the area. A primary concern was the issue of space, with the computer labs suggested as a possible option.
Coffee Shop
Prof. Kimberly Riegel, chair of the Student Activities Committee, visited to discuss student concerns about the location of the Starbucks café in the library building. Students expressed interest in moving the café to the Student Union and had requested support from the faculty in making this move. Several concerns were raised, including the need for permission from Starbucks, and the need to follow the original contract. Next steps considered include a faculty survey or a letter of support from the faculty contextualizing the issue. The committee suggested that the students draft a letter about their concerns with the current location of the café.
As the meeting concluded, the committee briefly discussed the print framing project and health pamphlet, agreeing that the first should remain as a charge and suggesting that the second be added as a charge. Committee members were asked to review the Specific charge from the Steering Committee and to email comments to Prof. Tuszynska before the next meeting, which was scheduled for Nov. 21st.
Meeting Adjourned
Respectfully submitted,
Larisa Honey
Committee on Library Committee, Secretary
Minutes typed on Nov 3 2019
