ACRL Regional Campus Libraries Discussion Group

ALA Annual Conference, Orlando

Sunday, June 27 4:00-6:00 pm

I. Roster

Present:

• Barbara Alderman, University of Central Florida at Cocoa and Palm Bay
• Anthony Blackie, Florida State University , Panama
• John Brandt, California State University , Stanislaus
• Elizabeth (Beth) Burns, Ohio State University at Mansfield
• Harvey Gover, Washington State University , Tri-Cities
• Jon Hufford, Texas Tech University
• Maryhelen Jones , Florida State University
• Allison King, University of Central Florida at Cocoa
• Robin Lockerby, National University
• Mem Stahley, Univeristy of Central Florida at Cocoa
• Carole Svensson, University of Washington , Tacoma
• Darby Syrkin, Florida State University , Panama City

II. General Discsussion

•  Topics

The topics were advertised as: Administrative models, information literacy, collection development and maintenance, and populations served. During introductions, the attendees were asked to pick one of the topics that held the most interest in order to help us either divide the group into areas of interest or define one topic that would be discussed by all. The majority of attendees mentioned an interest in administrative models, so we kept the group whole.

•  Highlights

An official note-taker was not designated. Consequently, only the highlights of the discussion are noted below. [Leader note: in future meetings, a note-taker will be designated.]

Foremost, our discussion highlighted the variety of administrative models and, in turn, how difficult it may be to define a regional campus library. While some definitions of a regional campus rely on the distance the campus is from the main campus, more than distance might need to be considered for our purposes, including the relationship and culture between the libraries, funding models, reporting and pay structures, and collection development policies.

Of the twelve attendees, ten (10) represented regional campuses and each presented a different administrative model. As each of us introduced ourselves and our libraries, we noted some similarities and extensive differences, including:

The number of librarians:

While many of us are the sole librarians, others reported working with several colleagues. Barbara travels between two campuses, working as the only UCF librarian at one and then working with Allison and Mem at another. John's time is also divided between the Stanislaus and main campuses. Robyn supervises eight librarians in different locations.

The number of support staff:

Support staff numbers also varied widely, but many of us expressed a strong dependence on the support staff, often leaving the support staff member(s) to provide full services while we are away. Anthony reported relying heavily on his five (5) student assistants while also being "on call" most of the time.

The collaboration with other institutions:

Harvey reported a Department of Energy collection and a Regional Business Information Center are part of the WSU-Tri Cities library. Barbara, Mem, and Allison reported on UCF's partnership with Brevard Community College and Darby reported the FSU Panama City collection is housed off campus in the Gulf Coast Community College Library. Carole mentioned UW-Tacoma's relationship with the Institute of Technology and the Tacoma School of the Arts on campus.

Multiple regional campus libraries:

Those institutions with multiple regional campuses often have different library facilities, reporting structures, funding models, pay structures, policies, and procedures. Beth reported several differences among her library and the libraries at other OSU campuses.

Tenure:

For some, tenure support varies between the regional and main campuses.

Reporting structures:

Some of us report to our campus Dean, others report to both the campus Dean and a Director within the libraries on the main campus. Harvey mentioned reporting to the Director of Information and Facilities Management.

Main campus activities:

John reported having a very strong relationship with the main campus library and mentioned this could be due to his active involvement there For example, he is the Web coordinator and spends part of his work week on the main campus. Others reported having regular meetings and maintaining active involvement in main-campus committees.

III. Notes

The following notes were also mentioned during the meeting:

A. Leadership

While Darby has created and has assumed leadership of this discussion group, she does not want to preclude anyone else from this leadership opportunity. If anyone is interested in co-leading, contact Darby. Otherwise, a discussion group leadership position normally lasts one year and Darby has offered to lead this group until next ALA Annual Conference, at which time we can choose another leader.

B. Listserv

The discussion group members agree the creation and maintenance of a listserv is necessary. While Carole volunteered to support a listserv, Darby will first check with ACRL to determine if the committee has any obligation to set up a listserv through ALA.

•  Web Site

The members agree the creation and maintenance of a website is necessary. While Carole volunteered to support a web site, Darby will first check with ACRL to determine if the committee has any obligation to set up a web site through ALA.

•  Directory

John and Darby, along with three other librarians, Linda Fredricksen ( Washington State University , Vancouver ), Sandy Hawes ( Saint Leo University ) and Tina Schneider ( Ohio State University at Lima ), have started to create a Regional Campus Libraries Directory. The attached profile is intended to help us with the information gathering effort and was distributed to the meeting attendees in paper, with the agreement it would also be distributed electronically. This profile will also be distributed electronically to the regional campus librarians who expressed an interest in the discussion group, but could not attend this first meeting.

•  Discussion Group and DLS cooperation

Darby encouraged all members of this discussion group to become a part of the ACRL Distance Learning Section (DLS), as that section is also very interested in regional/branch campus issues. The meetings of this discussion group will be purposefully scheduled around the DLS meetings to avoid scheduling conflicts and support active involvement. Harvey Gover also mentioned the possibility of DLS creating its own Regional Campus group and/or committee.

•  Partnership Libraries Discussion Group

Mem Stahley mentioned her upcoming Partnership Libraries meeting at the ALA conference and encouraged all members who are currently partnering with other institutions or group and/or considering future partnerships to attend. [Leader note: Mem will be petitioning ACRL to establish a Partnership Libraries Discussion Group. As this discussion group overlaps with the Regional Campus Libraries Discussion Group, active collaboration and representation in both groups is encouraged.]

G. Future Possible Presentation/Representation

John and Darby, Linda Fredricksen ( Washington State University , Vancouver), Sandy Hawes ( Saint Leo University ) and Tina Schneider ( Ohio State University at Lima ), have created a panel presentation proposal for the upcoming 2005 ACRL Conference in Minneapolis . While we have not heard yet, we are optimistic our presentation addressing regional campus library administrative models, populations served, and collection development issues will be accepted. For this presentation, we plan to gather as much information as possible from our regional campus peers. The attached profile is intended to help us with the information gathering effort, as well as with the planned directory (see above).

H. Future topics for Discussion Group

The attached profile includes a "Hot Topics" section in which members can list topics of interest. This will help us determine the topic for discussion for the next group meeting at the ALA Midwinter conference in addition to areas of concern for electronic discussion.