The meeting was called to order at 7:30 a.m.in Café DeGrasta by Chairman Harvey Bender. Also in attendance were John Adams, Gail Bederman, Eugene Halton, Margaret Porter, Walter Pratt, Larry Rapagnani, Laurence Taylor, Jennifer Younger, Joanne Bessler, Gay Dannelly and Dan Marmion, and secretary Melodie Eiteljorge.

The minutes of the meeting of April 12, 2001 were approved as written.

Younger announced two new members for next year: Karen Richman, Anthropology and Stephen Silliman, Engineering.

Bessler reported on the renovation progress, which will include the move of reserve bookroom into microtext, microtext into current periodicals; Rare books, Special Collections will move into the reserve book room. ISRC will be closed, its content moved to NITA. Use of this space has not yet been firmly decided on. New office space will be built in the southwest area of the second floor.

At the last meeting a question was raised regarding a best practice percentage of library seats for the number of students enrolled. Bessler reported that 35% of the student body is a superior rating, according to the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) standards. For Notre Dame that would be 3500 seats. We plan to have 2100 seats in flexible and appealing configurations. The University is also planning for additional study space on campus, and campus-wide we will provide sufficient study space to meet the standard.

Bender asked about facilities for sight and hearing impaired patrons. Younger replied that there is already a room on the second floor that is equipped to accommodate these patrons. Bender further suggested that members of the planning team meet with Scott Howland, Office for Students with Disabilities.

Gay Dannelly reported on the successful conclusion of negotiations regarding access to the electronic version of "Nature".

She also introduced a draft of a policy on "Access to Rare Book and Special Collections Materials". This was precipitated by a request from a faculty member that a collection of manuscripts be sequestered for exclusive use. Some revisions were suggested, which will be completed over the summer for a vote by the committee in the fall.

Younger welcomed Barbara Hanrahan, Director of the Notre Dame Press. Hanrahan spoke about developments at the press regarding journal publication. She does not see electronic journals replacing print journals, but rather developing along with print. She also reported that the press is trying to build a reasonably sized journals publication program.

The press also joined netLibrary, which offers presses an opportunity to make a certain percentage of their backlist available electronically. Notre Dame Press selected 250 titles. Each additional title costs $600 to scan, unless it is requested by netLibrary due to demand. Electronic access increases the demand for keeping a book in print, contrary to the thought that online access will crowd out the requests for print.

In response to a question regarding print-on-demand, Hanrahan responded that as a publisher she likes to have as many options as possible. Print-on-demand is used mainly for short runs, which are expensive to keep in print.

Younger thanked Hanrahan for meeting with the committee.

At an earlier meeting Roger Jacobs introduced a resolution to encourage University support to publish Notre Dame journals online as well as in print. As requested, Younger has been looking at other models, which include support from the campus library or press to put journals online. Younger has learned from Jeff Kantor that he is also receiving requests from others on campus to put their journals online. "American Midland Nationalist" is already online. 

Younger presented the question of whether UCL or the Provost Office should look into Notre Dame journals online. By consensus it was agreed to ask Kantor to form a group.

An organizational meeting was set for August 30, 2001 at 7:30 a.m.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:30 a.m.
 

Respectfully submitted,

Melodie Eiteljorge
Secretary