Present: Jerry Diethelm, Bob Haskett, Margaret Prentice, George Shipman, Augustine Thompson, Sergey Yuzvinsky. Absent: Phil Ferguson, Anne McLucas. Guest: Deborah Carver, Assistant University Librarian for Public Services and Collections.

The meeting was called to order at 4:05 p.m. by Margaret Prentice, chair. The agenda for the meeting was to identify topics for discussion during future meetings.

Serials Cancellation Project

Carver stated that because of the increasing costs of serial subscriptions, the 95/96 University Library Committee and several library staff determined that it would be necessary to implement a $500,000 cancellation of serial subscriptions over the next three years (beginning 95/96). Because the actual inflation rate was not as high as predicted, the Library will not cancel the titles identified for this year. Discussions on cancelling titles next year will take place after the legislature convenes and the library has information on the amount of state funds that will be given to the library for its acquisition budget. Eventually, all titles on the list will be cancelled, but a favorable financial situation will help us to retain them as long as possible. [extensive information on this serials cancellation project can be obtained by consulting the ULC’s home page.

Shipman added that libraries are facing the dilemma of purchasing journals versus technological applications. Several areas need to be explored:

• inflation
• alternatives - electronic subscriptions/journals
• institutional publishing
• increased sharing with libraries (e.g. Orbis)
• other potential consortia

Shipman reported that he and several other PAC10 library directors are in the process of forming a consortium to explore areas such as digitizing material, implementing electronic archives of journals, and using technology to increase lending between the consortial libraries. The group plans on meeting again in January. Shipman will inform the ULC of their discussions.

In summary, four items that the ULC should address during winter and spring terms include:

1. implementation of Orbis circulation
2. serials cancellation process
3. copyright and education issues/fair use
4. PAC 10 consortium progress

Carver suggested that the ULC receive copies of the library portion of the University’s accreditation report which could provide useful information for future discussions. S. Gray will send the copies.

The next meeting will be Thursday, January 23 at 4pm. The agenda will be Orbis/circulation module. Information packets on Orbis will be sent to the committee members prior to the meeting (enclosed).

The meeting was adjourned at 5:00 p.m.

Submitted by
Sheila Gray
Dec. 2, 1996