Minutes of the Library Advisory Committee

September 21, 2005

In attendance: Anne Shook

Candace Walton

Holly Wylie

Robin Hall

Susan Orr

Connie Walton

Bob Brigham

Theresa Barron

Joan opened the meeting by presenting the names of the committee for 2005-06. Everyone was present with the exception of David Landis, Lanier Ward, Ryan Ivey, and Jordan Han. She also handed out the guidelines to the committee and explained the committee’s direction to the new members.

Joan presented the committee with an update on the facility and equipment for check-out purposes. The upstairs bathrooms have had locks placed on the exterior doors because of student abuse and the leather couch has been placed downstairs because of abuse. The projectors for the computers and digital cameras are being checked out by the staff and students on a constant basis. Joan stated that the camcorders were less in demand and Robin suggested that the departments who needed camcorders might want to purchase one for their department.

The goal for the library for the school year of 2005-06: “Initiate the creation of a culture in the library where it becomes a hub of student activity that promotes interactive learning and discussion”. Joan informed the committee that libraries in general were changing because of technology and she wanted the committee to consider the question of what the purpose of the library is, and the needs of the patrons within this community? She stated that the library is a beautiful architectural design but it does not function very well for young adults. Interactive learning requires an environment where the student can “complete challenging tasks, create knowledge representations, collaborate with others near or at a distance, or otherwise engage in meaningful activities” (Grabinger, 1996, p.667)

The library is not conducive to this type of learning because there are only two rooms for group study and the rest of the space is completely open, so voices and noise are obvious to all who occupy the space. The committee felt that more individual carrels were needed up-stairs, and/or additional tables for tutors and their students.

Joan felt that a survey needed to be developed in order to obtain answers to the question of what provisions the library can and should provide to the community.

She asked the members to think of two or three questions which could be used in developing a survey and e-mail them to her in the next couple of weeks. From these sources a design format will be developed.

Since there were no additional items from the committee the meeting was adjourned. The next meeting is scheduled for November 16^th.