The Task Force on Communicating the Directions and Goals of the University Libraries met at 10:15AM on January 18. All were in attendance.

The following items were covered:

1. Reviewed the conversation P. Ladwig had with J. Younger concerning suggested changes to the draft charge.

2. Set the time for next meeting: Friday, January 26, from 1:30 to 3:00 PM.

3. Presented reports:

3A. T. Casad reported that she had reviewed the various budget statements and did not think they should be made public outside the library. The Task Force decided to consider if any part of the budget should be made available after discussing the other strategic statements. She also reported that she had not had a chance to investigate the reasons for why these documents were written--this will be covered at a later date in a conversation with J. Younger and possibly others.

3B. M. Eiteljorge demonstrated the current Web location of the documents-- http://www.nd.edu/~libstaff/ under the Reports and Publications section. She also had identified two additional documents presented to the Library Advisory Council--these, along with a link to the University's mission statement, will be added to the Web page. She will also create a Web location for the Task Force, its charge, and its minutes.

3C. P. Ladwig reported on various descriptions of general library functions or activities. There was discussion about whether faculty/staff, the building, and the computers should be explicitly listed for mapping relationships among the statements and within individual statements, or should be left as implied from the various activities. This discussion will be continued at a future date.

3D. C. Tuai reported on the business and library literature on strategic planning and mission statements. Because there are so many possible models and definitions, the Task Force must choose among them. This will be part of the focus of the next meeting.

4. Next steps:

4A. The Task Force identified four areas that need to be covered next: 1) whether the Libraries should have a strategic plan, 2) of the various alternatives available, which strategic plan seems best for the Libraries, 3) what are the constituent elements of that plan, i.e, how is this strategic plan defined, and 4) does the library have all the elements of that strategic plan in its current statements.

4B. C. Tuai will put together both library and business reading material for the members to consider over the next week. From that material, the Task Force will use the next meeting to discuss 1) whether the Libraries should have a strategic plan, and 2) which model seems best for our purposes. The Task Force is committed to finding working solutions and not to devoting an inordinate amount of time determining theoretical bests.
 

The Task Force adjourned at 11:45 AM.

Parker Ladwig