ULC Meeting Minutes for December 14, 2004

Attending: Andrew Dell'Antonio, John Kolsti, Jill Marshall, Irene Owens, Tom Palaima, Kenneth Ralls, John Slatin, George Sylvie; Craig Burgler, Candace Chui, Greg Harper; David Hunter (Music Librarian), Jim Kerkhoff (Assistant Dean, College of Fine Arts), Beth Kerr (Theater/Dance Librarian), Laura Schwartz (Head Librarian, Fine Arts Library); Fred Heath, Dennis Dillon, Jo Anne Hawkins, Sue Phillips, Mark McFarland; Jocelyn Duffy

The next meeting of the committee will be announced by e-mail, together with the agenda.

Executive Assistant Jocelyn Duffy distributed the latest version of the "Can't Meet" schedule for Spring 2005.

Laura Schwartz, head librarian of the Fine Arts Library, discussed the future plans for the Fine Arts Library integrated learning environment that is being developed in cooperation with the College of Fine Arts. Assistant Dean Jim Kerkhoff spoke in support of the collaboration.

Fine Arts Library PowerPoint Presentation

Dr. Heath asked whether much of the collection at the Fine Arts Library consists of gifts?

Laura Schwartz replied that the collection is mostly built through acquisitions, though Fine Arts Library does receive gifts. She noted that Fine Arts Library regularly receives materials from KUT.

The Fine Arts Library's Historical Music Recordings Collection (HMRC), curated by Dr. David Hunter, was described as consisting of an estimated 400,000 items, of which about 64,000 are currently cataloged The Fine Arts Library staff believes that the HMRC is one of the largest archival sound recordings collections in North America.

Professor Slatin asked what is in the HMRC.

Dr. Hunter said that the variety of genres is across the board. Some non-musical items include interviews and radio shows. The HMRC also has all of the Austin Symphony and Houston Symphony recordings.

Among the unique items in the HMRC are special subcollections that include rare and racy items, scores with many parts, and collections of multiple CDs.

Laura Schwartz observed that the Fine Arts Library considers itself a collection for the state of Texas, and that the fine arts are not just academic disciplines but interests and hobbies for many people. This very extended general interest distinguishes the fine arts area from many of the hard sciences.

Courtesy borrowers constitute about six percent of the circulation of the Fine Arts Library, which offers art works, recordings, and tools for creating art works (scripts, equipment, etc.).

Graduate Student Assembly representative Craig Burgler asked in what sense the Fine Arts Library is a laboratory.

Laura Schwartz replied that students and faculty use the Fine Arts Library's space in the same way scientists use space in a traditional lab: they pick out a score, play some of it, and decide then if they want to check it out.

It was noted that the Fine Arts Library currently occupies floors 3-5 in the Doty Fine Arts Building. Its staff expects that its future can best be described as a learning center environment.

The Fine Arts Library is upgrading the technology in the library's seminar rooms (LCD projectors, smart lecterns, etc.), building a media center (an integration of the library and the Fines Arts computer lab) to allow playback and media manipulation, providing group study spaces to allow discussion and media viewing, and investigating new technologies, including the possibility of creating an audio institutional repository and making resources available digitally. They are also working with the Graduate Writing Project, and gathering data through LibQUAL+, informal discussions with users, and user surveys. Professor Slatin asked what support does the Graduate Writing Project provide? Dance and Theater librarian Beth Kerr said that the Project coordinates the writing centers on campus, but each college provides the funding for its own center. She noted that this support might be about to end.

Associate Professor Sylvie asked when the equipment had last been upgraded? Laura Schwartz said that the Internet workstations are in good shape. The equipment in the seminar rooms needs updating. Some of the AV equipment is more than 25 years old, but is needed for some types of older media. The library buys equipment in a piecemeal manner, having just recently purchased four new TV/VCR/DVD combination units.

Associate Professor Sylvie asked about the sources of Fine Arts Library's funding? Dr. Heath answered that while most of the Fine Arts Library's funding is provided by the University Libraries, a modest stream is also contributed by the College of Fine Arts... (Note added by Ken Ralls, Library Committee Chair: At this point the College of Fine Arts has contributed much more financially to the technological equipment of the Fine Arts Library than has the University of Texas Libraries.)

Assistant Fine Arts Dean Jim Kerkhoff reported that the College has a couple of funding streams, including student fee monies. The Fine Arts microcomputer lab currently uses library space. The College foresees itself and the Fine Arts Library working together as a unit.

Dr. Heath observed that with the current University-funding model, departments tend to replicate services. The Undergraduate Library is currently facing a similar collaborative situation. Critical inquiry, computer literacy and writing skills are provided by several different units within the same building. A way to put them all together and create a learning center is being sought.

Music librarian and curator David Hunter commented that Fine Arts Library is open 78 hours per week. It is attractive to students, and the Fine Arts Library is the third largest library on campus. It makes sense for Fine Arts Library to provide a variety of services.

Associate Professor Owens observed that the Fine Arts Library has been a great place for students from the School of Information to work on their practicums, especially since the Fine Arts Library's staff has a strong service ethic.

Laura Schwartz added that the Fine Arts Library is neutral territory for the College, as the Fine Arts Library isn't focused on any one discipline. Fine Arts Library's materials lend themselves to use within the building. There is a strong interpersonal connection between library staff and students.

Assistant Dean Jim Kerkhoff reported that all but 70 or 80 classrooms in the College had instructional technology installed in the past few years. But currently there is no good place for faculty to learn how to use the equipment. Some faculty can get help with large projects, but some basic instruction needs to be provided: how to create and use a web site, how to build and give a presentation. The College proposes to recast the Fine Arts Microcomputer Services to provide technical services for faculty, and to move other services into the library.

The meeting concluded with a tour (split into two groups) of the Fine Arts Library's units and collections. The tour was very instructive, relative to what branch library personnel do in comparison to what is done in the Perry-Castañeda Library. Branch libraries have to cover all bases with staff that must be multifunctional (and multitalented), whereas, PCL staff is generally specialized.