November 9, 1996
1:30 p.m., Goodrich Room, Mudd Center
Present: Marian Baum, Alan Boyd, Nancy Cooper, Ray English, Paul Erler, Robert Geitz, Sam Goldberg, Mike Haverstock, Ruth Hughes, Marly Merrill, Whitney Pape, Carl Peterson, Lois Peterson, Kristen Pohlman, Molly Raphael, Barbara Richards, Mark Richards, Jan Zinser1. The Oberlin Fund. Ray English reported that Kathy Mead was unable to attend the meeting due to health reasons. He then explained in general terms the changes in the annual fund that had been implemented with the 1996-97 year. Mr. Erler and other members of the Council expressed interest in having a way for alumni to contribute to the Friends of the Library when they receive the annual fund solicitation. He noted that donating to the organization would be encouraged if the Friends were specifically mentioned. Ms. Cooper expressed interest in a specific checkoff for the Friends. Mr. Goldberg asked what would happen in the case of someone who checked the category Teaching and Learning, but also indicated that the gift was for the Library. Mr. English said he thought such contributions would simply go into the general teaching and learning category of the operations budget. Mr. Goldberg said he felt there was a need to make sure alumni know about the existence of the Friends as an alternative. Ms. Baum suggested perhaps something could be worked out cooperatively with the Friends of Art and the Friends of the Artist Recital. Several people, including Mr. English, Mr. Goldberg, Ms. Cooper, Mr. Erler, and Ms. Baum, expressed interest in pursuing these matters with Kathy Mead and the annual fund staff.
2. Friends Homepage. Mr. Boyd demonstrated the Friends of the Library Homepage. After seeing the main parts of the homepage as itÕs been constructed so far, Council members offered some suggestions on how it might be improved. These included putting in a link from the main ŅWhatÕs NewÓ section of the Oberlin Online Homepage, listing alumni librarians through self-generating lists, and including links from other libraries. Another suggeston was to include a record of all acquisitions the Friends have made for the library. Mr. Goldberg is working on such a list.
3. Membership Committee Report. Ms. Cooper summarized the membership committee report which was distributed at the beginning of the meeting. Discussion of the report followed. Nancy Cooper suggested it might be possible to track the success of individual mailings by color coding the solicitation cards. That would be an easy way to determine the return rate. Jeff Weidman suggested a mailing to the Friends of Art. Mr. Erler inquired about privileges that Friends members receive and how that might be used in membership recruiting. Mr. English explained the Friends benefits in comparison with other patrons. He also asked for ideas about how it might be possible to recruit members without competing with the annual fund. Mr. Richards suggested we might compile a list of specific titles the library would like to have and see if there was donor interest in acquiring them for the library. Mr. English said that could be done in either the newsletter or the Friends homepage. Ms. Merrill suggested the possibility of taking out an ad in the Alumni Magazine. Ms. Cooper suggested an article about the Friends in the Alumni Magazine. There was then a discussion about how that might be done without infringing on the Development OfficeÕs concerns about maintaining unrestricted annual fund gifts. Ms. Hughes suggested we might consider a smaller ad. A letter to the editor of the Alumni Magazine was also suggested. Mr. Goldberg inquired why the gift category was so many fewer in 1995-96. Mr. English explained that until recently the Development Office had included a checkoff for the library as part of the library mini-campaign in mailings to reunion classes. In response to a question about our total gifts to the Friends, Mr. English replied that we had received several donations in the $1,000 category. Mr. Goldberg indicated he had had discussions with Young Dawkins about Friends membership mailings and how they relate to the annual fund.
4. The Program Committee Report. Ms. Merrill summarized the Program Committee report that had been distributed at the beginning of the meeting. She indicated one of the problems in finding a speaker for the annual dinner was the issue of cost. In one instance, a speaker we hoped to attract charges a fee of $16,000. She mentioned that possibilities for next yearÕs dinner include Anthony Grafton, a professor of history at Princeton who can give entertaining, illustrated talks on the history of printing. Mr. English inquired about Michael Dirda, a Pulitzer-prize-winning book review editor for the Washington Post. Mr. Peterson said he had been invited to Oberlin by the English Department several years ago; that he is low key, but very good. It probably wouldnÕt be best to bring him back right away. Other program suggestions included Nicholson Baker, inviting John Weidman, and perhaps even Stephen Sondheim, to Oberlin since thereÕs an Oberlin connection with Jeff Weidman. Ms. Zinser suggested we might have two speakers who would present a point,/counterpoint. Ms. Merrill raised the possibility of Ann Rever, an OC alumna and New York Times gardening editor who could talk about gardening books. She also thought a speaker about cookbook collections would also be interesting. Other ideas included Nicholas Blechman, who has written artistsÕ books and is the father of an alum. Buddy Blechman and Eddy Sorrow are cartoonists and childrenÕs literature authors. Rita Dove (not interested now) and Geoffry Ward (who spoke at the innaugural dinner) were also mentioned, as was William Honan '52, a cultural correspondent for the NYT.
Mike Haverstock raised the possibility of having an event for Oberlin alumni who work in libraries. He said he was intrigued by how much correspondence he receives from people who have worked in a library context. This led to an enthusiastic discussion about the possibility of having an alumni librarianÕs reunion, with perhaps a tie-in for current students who are interested in librarianship as a career. As an initial step in planning such a reunion, we might send a letter of inquiry or place an ad in the Alumni Magazine. It was noted that the latter would be an indirect way of creating an interest in the Friends. One possibility would be to tie the reunion into the Commencement Reunion Weekend. Another would be to do it in conjunction with the Friends of the Library annual dinner. Such a reunion would in any event include a colloquium or seminar with speakers so that it would have substantive discussion about library issues.
Mr. English indicated it was easy to mail to alumni working in libraries, and that he had done so in conjunction with receptions he has held at American Library Association conferences.
5. Acquisitions Committee Report. Ms. Hughes delivered the Acquisitions Committee report. She indicated the committee had chosen several titles from the list of titles nominated for purchase that was distributed in advance of the meeting. Purchases included Asian American studies at $2,000; Native American Studies at $500; Italian Language and Literature at $635; Blake facsimiles of Dante ($600) and Jerusalem ($650); the Dictionary of Art ($2,250); BeethovenÕs Symphony No. 3 facsimile ($1,445); the Piero del Francesca facsimile ($1,820); the Presidential papers of Franklin Roosevelt CD-ROM ($600); and $3,000 toward the microfilming of the (1930-1969) Oberlin News Tribune.
In discussion that followed, Mr. Goldberg asked what titles on the list of possible purchases would the library have bought under any circumstances. Ms. Hughes replied that most of the titles would not be acquired without FriendsÕ help, though the Dictionary of Art is one title that would have been purchased in any case. In general, the Friends shy away from purchasing titles that would be bought from the regular budget, though they have funded such items for very special acquisitions, like the Dictionary of Art. Mr. Goldberg also inquired about the support the DeanÕs office provides for library acquisitions for new faculty. Mr. English explained that such funds are made available but they are generally not enough to meet the full need.
6. Student Friends Group. Mr. English reported the Student Friends group is in the process of organizing its activities. The two students who were most interested in the Friends last year have now graduated. There is now a group of six students who seem to be quite interested. They have met to discuss program ideas and are also working on a membership mailing to students. Ms. Pohlman reported that the group is very interested in several program ideas including study breaks and bringing Thea Joselow (OC '96), who wrote a book about children of divorce, Go to campus. Other ideas include contacting Robin Feinsmith, who is an Oberlin graduate and does a program for WCLV.
7. Metcalf Student Assistants Reception. Mr. Haverstock reported the Metcalf Student Assistant reception which the Council decided to fund last year came off very successfully. The Council seemed pleased with continuing this arrangement.
8. Financial Report. Mr. English summarized details for the financial report which was previously distributed to the Council. He also clarified several details of the report. He noted that in past years the library had some regularly budgeted funds that had been added specifically to help with the startup of the Friends. These funds were eliminated in the most recent budget cuts on the assumption that the Friends group is now well-established and can be largely self-supporting.
9. Honorary and Life Members Committee Report. Ms. Zinser presented the report of the Honorary and Life Members Committee. Nominated for Life Membership were 1) Ruth and George Bent who have set up an endowed fund for the Conservatory Library and whose family also set up an endowed fund for the Art Library; 2) Dr. Michael Shinagel, Dean of Continuing Education at Harvard, who established an endowed fund in memory of his Oberlin friend, Owen Paul Thomas, Class of Ō56 and who also recently indicated his intention to establish another endowed fund in memory of two relatives. The Council voted unanimously to award these Life memberships at the annual dinner on February 7. Ms. Zinser also indicated the committee was proposing a special posthumous citation for the late Professor Barry McGill who established a generous book fund in memory of his late wife, Barbara McGill, who taught chemistry at Oberlin and also worked in the Main Library Serials Department. During his retirement Professor McGill also volunteered in the Main Library Special Collections Department. This resolution was endorsed unanimously.
10. Ms. Zinser presented the Nominations Committee report which was previously distributed to Council. The following people were then elected to Council terms expiring in 1999: Paul Erler, Norman Jung, Al McQueen and Barbara Richards.
Ms. Zinser then presented the officers nominated for 1996-97: President, Samuel Goldberg; Vice President, Ruth Hughes; Secretary, Nathan Haverstock. The new officers were unanimously endorsed by all present.
Ms. Zinser then presented a resolution honoring and recognizing Marian Baum for her service as President of the Friends for the past three years. This resolution was endorsed enthusiastically.
11. Comments from Mr. Goldberg. Mr. Goldberg provided comments on what he hoped he would achieve as President of the Friends. He said he had been compiling a record of gifts that the Friends had purchased and found it very impressive. He hoped to put that and other past accomplishments of the Friends on record. Other goals he hoped to attain include getting more people to become members of the Friends and getting members more involved in committee works and actually doing things.
12. The meeting adjourned at 3:47 p.m.
Minutes by Ray English and Alan Boyd