Faculty discussed the progress of the ongoing search for a new University librarian at Thursday's Academic Council meeting.
In addition to outlining the search committee's criteria for selecting a new librarian, Alex Roland, professor of history and acting chair of the history department, detailed the major issues that the University librarian will face.
The committee plans to use input from the faculty, library staff, undergraduate and graduate students to ascertain what issues the new librarian should concentrate upon, Roland said. Members of the search committee have already surveyed head librarians at the top 30 libraries belonging to the Association of Research Libraries in an attempt to define more clearly the proper role of head librarians at academic institutions.
"We have been trying to identify what we believe are the most important issues for the library," Roland said. These include balancing the supply of print and electronic materials, the state of special collections and the library budget, he added.
Ken Knoerr, a professor in the Nicholas School of the Environment, said he feels that library resources should better complement the University's academic programs, thereby aiding students in their endeavors.
"My sense is that for a long time, the library has had little input [about] the academic plans the University makes," Knoerr said.
Others expressed concern about the shrinking amount of accessible space for library materials. "We've been acquiring materials at a faster rate than we've been providing space in which to put them," said Steve Vogel, professor of zoology.
Diskin Clay, professor of classical studies, discussed the University's future system of cataloging, mentioning the differences between the Dewey Decimal System and the system used by the Library of Congress. "Dewey is leading us into problems," Clay said.
Roland added that the committee will also look at each candidates' personal attributes. "[Members of the library staff] don't want an authoritarian figure to come in [with] a hierarchical style," Roland said.
Roland said that qualified candidates should possess a doctorate in any academic field and should have experience with library management and computers. A librarian with a background in academia, Roland said, can best understand how the library fits into the University community as a whole.
IN OTHER BUSINESS: James Rolleston, chair of the German department, announced that Tom Rowe, professor in the law school, and Len Spicer, professor of radiology and biochemistry, will run in the Feb. 15 election for chair of the Academic Council, succeeding James Siedow, professor of botany.
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