Saturday, November 8, 1998
Present: Samuel Goldberg (presiding), Terry Carlton, Eric Carpenter, Robert Cassidy, Virginia Cassidy, Ray English, Margaret Erickson, Paul Erler, Carol Ganzel, Nathan Haverstock, Norman Jung, Gary Kornblith, Albert McQueen, Marlene Merrill, Gordon Neavill, Whitney Pape, Carl Peterson, Molly Raphael, Barbara Richards, Dina Schoonmaker, Dorothy Smith, Daniel Wilder, Janice Zinser
1. Welcome
President Goldberg called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone. Each member introduced him/her self. The President then referred to the agenda and committee reports distributed in advance of the meeting.
2. Program Committee
Marly Merrill presented the report of the Program Committee. A revised report was distributed listing programs planned thus far for fall 98 and future program possibilities for 1999. The Jantz lecture has already been held this fall, and E. O. Wilson will be the speaker at tonight's Friends dinner. Vartan Gregorian or Daniel Boorstin were discussed as possible speakers for the Friends dinner next fall, which will be held in conjunction with the alumni librarian conference. Some reservations were expressed about Boorstin, and Yale University Librarian Scott Bennett was also suggested as a possible speaker. James McBride '79, author of The Color of Water, was discussed a possible speaker for the spring; although his honorarium would be expensive, Council members expressed strong interest having him come to campus. A 50th anniversary celebration of the publication of Shane (1949) by Jack Schaefer, Oberlin alum, is also being planned for the spring of 1999. In the fall of 1999 Marly Merrill will present a talk on her new book, Yellowstone and the Grand West, which will be published by the University of Nebraska Press. Gary Kornblith urged that the texts of these talks be displayed on the world wide web via the Friends home page.
Molly Raphael then led a discussion on the alumni librarian conference planned for the fall of 1999 (a memo on this was distributed with the agenda). Various dates were considered. Since the college's capital campaign kickoff is now scheduled for Nov. 6, 1999, either Oct. 30-31 or Nov. 13-14, 1999 appear to be preferable dates. The Sat.- Sun. program format will include a panel discussions and speaker presentations, the Friends dinner, and an after dinner presentation by the featured speaker. Topics to be covered include how Oberlin has influenced the careers of participants, the Oberlin College Library today, and the social role of libraries, and the library of the future. A session also be held for current Oberlin students considering librarianship as a career.
There was some discussion about the intended audience for the conference. Should librarians from the Oberlin area be invited? It was decided to keep the focus primarily on Oberlin alumni who work in libraries and current Oberlin students who are interested in librarianship as a career. There has been a good response to the idea of the conference so far from alumni, and planning at this point is assuming a Conference enrollment of approximately 50-75.
3. Membership Committee Report
Paul Erler presented the report of the Membership Committee. A written report was distributed with the agenda. For the 97-98 fiscal year there were 502 regular members. As of October 23, 1998 there were 312 regular members compared with 351 on 10/29/97. So we're slightly behind last year's pace. There was a discussion of various methods of recruiting members. Paul mentioned last year's suggestion that each Council member distributed 10 letters to alumna or potential members. It was agreed that this method be tried this year, together with follow-up letters to potential members not responding to the first letter. The idea of multi-year memberships was also suggested. Other ideas included operating membership tables in each Library at various times during the academic year, and distributing membership brochures at each Friends dinner. President Goldberg stressed the need for more new members in each membership category, including students. Ray English noted that the size of the membership compares very favorably with that of other similar liberal arts colleges libraries.
Daniel Wilder then discussed student membership. He wants to organize a meeting with members of the current library student assistant staff to form a core group to set up tables on Wilder Bowl to recruit student members. The cost of student membership was $5 in 1991/92 but was subsequently reduced to $1/yr. Ideas for student friends activities include sponsoring study breaks each semester, the book collecting contest, and designing bookplates.
4. Financial Report
Ray English presented the financial report, referring to a document that was distributed with the agenda. 1997-1998 was another good year for the Friends. Revenues exceeded $28,500. Expenses in 97-98 were lower than the preceding year. Approximately $11,500 was spent to acquire materials and $5,800 on printing, programming, and other expenses for a total of approximately $17,300. The ending balance for 1997-98 was $50,162. The Friends group is in sound financial condition.
5. Acquisitions Committee
Eric Carpenter presented the 1998 report from the Acquisitions Committee. The Acquisitions Committee me by conference call on Tues. Oct. 27 and approved Purchases List #8. A copy of this list was distributed at the meeting. Eric reviewed categories of purchases on this list as well as the process the committee follows. Nominations of titles are solicited annually from faculty members and liaison librarians. Eric compiles a list of nominations, presents it to the Acquisitions Committee, and the Committee confers and makes its selections.
President Goldberg then led a discussion of his Nov. 7 memo to the Friends Council and accompanying materials. It concerns Friends support for new curricular areas. He believes that the responsibility for funding library support for new curricular areas rests with the Deans of the College and the Conservatory and not with the Friends of the Library. The Nov. 7 memo includes an exchange of email messages with Ruth Hughes, Chairperson of the Acquisitions Committee, on this topic. After some discussion it was agreed to refer this matter to the Acquisitions Committee for study and a report at next year's Council meeting.
6. Metcalf Student Assistant Reception
Nathan Haverstock reported on the Metcalf Student Assistant Receptions, which is now sponsored annually by the Friends. Student award winners have been appreciative of the awards ceremony. Two suggestions were made:
1) that a special issue of Library Perspectives be devoted to Metcalf award winners, and 2) that they be invited to participate in the alumni librarian conference. Friends Council members are urged to attend the Metcalf reception in April 1999 if possible.
7. Honorary and Life Members
Janice Zinser reported that the Honorary and Life Members Committee has nominated one person for life membership this year:
Dr. Robert I Rotberg.
One person has been nominated for honorary membership:
Dr. Eleanor Jantz.
A voice vote was taken and both the nominations were approved.
8. Nominations Committee Report
A list of proposed new members and officers for the 1998-99 Friends Council was distributed with the agenda. Proposed new council members for the coming year are:
Carol Ganzel, Gordon Neavill, Dina Schoonmaker, and Scott Smith.
Proposed new officers for 98-99 are:
President Carl Peterson
Vice President Terry Carlton
Secretary Nathan Haverstock
A waiver of the two term limit for officers was granted by acclamation for Nathan Haverstock, and these new members and officers for 98-99 were approved unanimously by voice vote. New members were urged to join one or more of the Friends Committees and report their preferences to President Peterson.
Minutes by Eric Carpenter and Ray English