Instructional Support Committee

Minutes of November 16, 2005
Noon
Faculty House

Minutes approved with minor edit.

Continued discussion of online versus paper grade reports. One department has requested that distribution of paper copies be resumed. The Registrar's Office will print hard copies of the reports on request. Faculty need to pick them up at JCC. ISC agrees that this solution is an appropriate compromise and will consider this discussion closed unless either party contacts the committee to readdress the issue.

Library Director interviews: ISC will play a large role in the interview process. ISC requests copies of the cover letter, cv, and summary of reference checks. Committee members also request the option to review letters of reference if they feel it is necessary. These letters would not be distributed. Margarita and Bill will take this request to the search committee.

ISC will most likely interview candidates over the lunch hour so that more of the committee may attend. The Committee will meet briefly after each interview to give feedback. The ideal would be for the ISC interview period to last from noon to 12:45 with 15 minutes reserved at the end for ISC to discuss observations. Comments will be gathered and presented in one document. [NOTE: after the meeting, the Dean sent a note indicating that the Librarian search committee would like comments within 24 hours of each candidate's visit.]

Suggested topics for questions: (Focus on experience, not "What do you think about…")

• Importance of print/drawing study room and special collections
• Inquiry-based learning and the role of librarians in instruction
• Aesthetics of Library: cozy or more formal
• Integration of technology
• Role of Library Director on faculty committees
• "exciting vision" of a future library

John K. will forward interview documents from Human Resources to the listserv.

The search committee has not yet decided on the form of public presentation included in the interview process. Two possible formats are giving a focused lecture or an informal open house. Both formats may be held.

One important issue to address is faculty status held by Librarians. The Director is an advocate for the Librarians and will need to be sensitive to this issue.
Suggest something similar to:
"At Grinnell, Librarians hold faculty rank. How would you articulate the rationale for this status?"

Wiretapping the Internet: An FCC ruling allows the FBI and CIA to wiretap the internet, similar to a phone tap. Some organizations are trying to gain an exclusion from this practice for academic institutions. The cost to institutions to install equipment that facilitates wiretapping could better be used elsewhere. Bill and John will attend a Webinar on this issue on November 17 and will report back to ISC at the next appropriate meeting.

Library/AV administrative merger: Administrative activities, such as ordering, cataloging, and tracking AV materials will become the responsibility of the Library. Language and culture instructional materials used regularly by the language departments will be kept in the AV Center. Language departments will maintain departmental control of their instructional holdings not kept in the AV Lab; the Library will not be involved in ordering or keeping track of these materials.

A first step in the administrative merger is for a team of librarians to survey the AV Center collection to develop a sense of the scope of the project and the process and budget needed to carry it out. A visit for this purpose will take place soon.

As the project develops, librarians will begin cataloging AV materials and will replace them as appropriate. This will be a gradual process with no disruption of instructional service.

Some logistical issues:

• Will AV student workers and director be AV or Library employees?
• The College will need to dedicate funds to catalog and replace videos.
• The Listening Room will soon have the capability to read internationally formatted media.

ISC Budget Request: Jon has requested an increase of $25,000 in the ISC budget for next year for EKI-related curricular development activities.

Respectfully submitted,
Terri Phipps