Monthly Archives: July 2017

1. The Executive Committee met with Kathy Weimer and David Bynog to discuss how the library will approach the recommendations of the Staff Communications Task Force. The Task Force will present its work at a town hall meeting scheduled for August 25 at 10 a.m. Following the town hall, the report will be shared with library staff.
2. The Executive Committee discussed next steps for Fondren’s strategic plan. Lisa Spiro and Melinda Reagor Flannery will confer with the strategic planning team to determine how best to solicit input from Fondren staff. In early fall, we plan to begin sharing the plan with the rest of the campus and inviting feedback.
3. Mary Lowery announced upcoming events sponsored by the Friends of Fondren:
   1. the Friends of Fondren Annual Meeting and Membership Dinner will occur on September 6 and will feature a presentation by Dr. Marie Lynn Miranda.
   2. Meet the Author: Featuring John Boles (co-sponsored by the Association of Rice Alumni and the Susanne M. Glasscock School of Continuing Studies) will take place on September 14 from 6:00-08:00 p.m.
   3. the Houston Folk Music Archive Celebration (co-sponsored by the Woodson Research Center) will take place on November 9, during Rice Homecoming.
   4. The library tours previously held during Homecoming and Families Weekend will not occur this year.

June 29, 2017

1) The Exec Committee discussed the status of the Careers at Rice program.

2) Lowman invited input on goals that the library should report on for the Rice Outcome Assessment Report (ROAR). Library staff will be asked to write brief assessment reports on research data, library ambassadors, Fondren 101, and collection assessment. Lowman also requested suggestions for projected ROAR goals for FY 2017.

3) The committee explored how to approach the recommendations of the Communications Task Force. At the next Exec meeting, the group will review committees and their charges. Denis is working on a charge on technology tools and communications. Communications will be discussed at a Town Meeting to be held in August.

July 13, 2017

1) Lowman solicited suggestions for topics for the August Town Meeting. Suggested topics include:

• Discuss the report of the Communications Task Force
• Share the Library Service Platform committee’s recommendations
• Provide an update on the strategic plan

2) The Executive Committee discussed a GWLA recommendation to adopt a new ILL system. Fondren decided to delay this move until staff members have more time to implement it.

3) The Executive Committee discussed how to handle the Communications Task Force’s recommendations that committees be examined to ensure that staff time is spent most efficiently. Lowman will ask staff chairs for their input. After receiving this input, Exec will explore how to ensure that committees are most effective.

4) Lowman announced that the Faculty Senate is interested in having Fondren staff present the draft strategic plan. The next Exec meeting will focus on strategic planning.