Next meeting:Wednesday, April 11, Noon, Faculty House
Agenda: Library budget, serial subscription
Field trip guidelines

Motion to approve Feb. 14 minutes by Bob; seconded by Marci. Approved.

ISC budget was distributed and discussed. Rebecca will clarify items with Doug Caulkins and Angie Story-Johnson. Discussion tabled until the budget is more clear.

Discussion of library budget/serial subscriptions:

• Christopher distributed copies of the library budget as well as a budget history.
• It is not effective to receive journals electronically. Once the library has paper copies, they are permanent. Electronic copies may become unavailable over time.
• Library is in last year of a 3-year challenge grant. This grant was used for books, videos, and recordings. These expenses were not included or reflected in the budget.
• Part of "Database searching" budget line was moved to "Software services."
• It might be worth checking into designated/tied endowments.
• Christopher distributed a document comparing Grinnell with peer institutions. Grinnell College is third from the bottom in serial subscriptions.
• Library is out of options to cut budget, and needs to start cutting serial subscriptions.
• The question was raised as to how other colleges could spend so much. Other colleges are enrollment driven.
• Library cannot rely on funding for Inter-Library Loan. Funding must be requested each year.
• What can be done?
  - Ask departments to cancel subscriptions or have library do it for them;
  - Struggle through for a year and hope the situation improves;
  - Have faculty intervene with administration advocating for more library budget.
• Departments have already cut serials.
• Some departments have relatively poor, but improving, journal collections. To do an across-the-board percentage cut would hurt these efforts.
• Books to be purchased are selected by departments as well as by library personnel. Suggestions for serials come from faculty.
• New faculty may not be aware that they should request books.
• What data does ISC need to continue this discussion?
  - Where do we stand per student? # volumes; # Int-Lib Loan
  - How do we compare to schools our size?
• From master plan point of view, books are assets/capital. Library could look at financial support through the capital campaign.
• ISC must take all constituencies into consideration.
• Subscriptions must be cancelled by October. This is too early in the year to know how the budget is going for the year.
• The library currently has two choices: get more money from administration or cut serials.

ISC does not want to appear as a mouthpiece for the library.

Issue is not only budget, but what services the college requires. Research is being stressed more.

Suggested external review of library.

Discussion will continue at the next meeting.

Respectfully submitted,
Terri Phipps