August 21
Judy Howell visited to discuss Fondren’s fundraising efforts. Howell plans to update the “one-pager” listing fundraising priorities for Fondren, since it hasn’t been revised since 2007. The Executive Committee identified four key areas to focus on, including current use funds (such as technology), capital projects, a proposed fellowship program, and digital projects. Executive Committee members will provide Judy with short descriptions to be used in funding requests.
Lowman offered an update on the renovation project. Since project costs are within the anticipated range, work is proceeding on renovations to the basement (including relocating the Kelley Center collections and building a new space for the DMC and a collaboration room) and the south end of the first floor. Demolition work on the basement back stacks area will start in late September, and the basement renovation is expected to be completed in mid-December.
The Executive Committee reviewed and provided feedback on updates to the university policy concerning travel.
August 28
The library will close over the winter break (December 25-January 4).
The Executive Committee offered feedback on the draft Rice Digital Scholarship Archive Deposit Guidelines, which will be posted soon at scholarship.rice.edu.
Staff are encouraged to attend Dan Cohen’s October 29 lecture, “The Emerging Research Environment & the Digital Public Library of America.” Cohen serves as the Executive Director, Digital Public Library of America and formerly was the director of the Center for History and New Media. The lecture will take place at 4 p.m. in 301 Sewall Hall.
Fondren has been challenged by the University of Texas Libraries to participate in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. If staff are interested, they can volunteer to help organize Fondren’s response. Participation is completely optional.
Melinda Flannery thanked Diane Butler for recommending that interview groups do more advanced preparation for candidate interviews; the change allowed for more focused questions and will become a standard part of the interview process for librarian positions.
Topics for upcoming Executive Committee meetings:
- September 4: no meeting
- September 11: library assessment
- Sept 18: Mike Dewey (to be confirmed)
- Sept 25: IT projects
- October 2: library communications
- October 9: no meeting