University Libraries Directors Council meeting notes
Present: Judith Adams Volpe, Gary Byrd, Gemma DeVinney,
John Edens, Mark Ludwig, James Milles, Nancy Nuzzo, Stacy Person, Stephen Roberts,
Sharon Schiffhauer, Margaret Wells
Excused: Austin Booth
Guests: Bradshaw Hovey (Associate Director, The Urban
Design Project, Architecture), Robert Shibley (Director, Urban Design, Architecture
and, Sean Sullivan (Associate Vice President for Academic Planning and Budget),
James Willis (Interim Executive Vice President for Finance and Operations)
Recorder: Margaret Wells
University Master Planning:
The majority of the meeting focused on UB’s master planning efforts with presentations and discussions lead by Prof. Shibley and Interim Executive VP Willis, who work together to coordinate the master planning efforts. The primary points of the discussion included:
- VP Willis provide background information with statistics on the physical plant at UB, the concept of viewing UB as a single university with three locations (Suburban – Amherst, Urban – Main St., Downtown – Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus), recent efforts to talk with the local governments of UB’s host communities and that 15 major projects were in process to create vibrant and memorable spaces. He also noted the need for UB to integrate many different types of spaces, including living spaces, academic spaces and recreational spaces.
- The group offered comments about the types of spaces needed on campus and in the libraries to accommodate new learners, traditional functions and other needs.
- Prof. Shibley presented a slide show focusing on creating new library and learning spaces, including spaces in Libraries. Many examples from and issues raised in Diana Oblinger’s Educause book on learning spaceswere included.
- Prof. Shibley then presented a slide show on “Building UB: The Comprehensive Physical Plan,” which provided an overview of the current centralized planning occurring at the university. The presentation covered the context, reasons, scope, challenges, guiding principles and timeline for planning. Prof. Shibley noted the need for creating and articulating the vision for having a great university in the region, proving that the university is committed to implementing the plan and the need to strongly connect with and gain the full support of the region in building this vision. For more information, see the master plan.
- The main Steering Committee and five subcommittees will continue their work with consultants and constituents on building the plan.
- The group agreed that it would be useful to have the entire Libraries’ faculty and staff see the presentation. Steve Roberts will schedule a Town Forum or similar event.
Additional topics and issues:
- Human Resources – Gemma DeVinney:
— FEC requested a Libraries-wide policy on librarians teaching courses for DLIS. The group discussed unit practices and policies. Gemma will draft a policy for Directors Council review.
— April 19th Library Assistants’ Day event – Directors were encouraged to have staff attend.
— Time & attendance – Gemma has arranged for Liz Dundon from central Human Resources to offer workshops for supervisors. Directors Council members will also attend. Details will be sent soon. - Development – Judith Adams-Volpe: Directors Council members were asked to review and comment on a proposed brochure for the Libraries Legacy Society. The Development Committee is also reviewing it.
- Budget – Steve Roberts: End of year deadlines are approaching.
- SUNY Provost – Steve Roberts: The SUNY Center Directors met last week with the SUNY Provost to discuss issues related to funding models and electronic resources. The discussions will continue at next week’s meeting of the SUNY Council of Library Directors.
Action Items:
- Invite Prof. Shibley to make his presentation on the campus master planning effort to the Libraries’ faculty and staff at a Town Forum or in a similar venue – Steve Roberts
- Draft policy on DLIS teaching for group review – Gemma DeVinney
- Encourage staff to attend Library Assistants’ Day event on April 19th – All
- Send Libraries Legacy Society brochure comments to Judith Adams-Volpe – All
Content provider: M. Wells
Last update:
11 April, 2007
Comments: lib-staffweb@buffalo.edu