Board of Directors Meeting
October 7, 2005
8:00 a.m.
4th Floor Conference Center
Present: Ewa Barczyk, Pat Van Alyea, EJ Brumder, Bob Meldman, Marianne Lubar, Donn Haglund, Martine Meyer, Gil Church, John Koethe, Tyrone Dumas, Nancy Laskin
Guests: Susan Modder, Dawn Lee-Vue (recorder)
The meeting was called to order at 8:00 a.m.
1.Welcome and introductions
2. Minutes of the March 4, 2005 Board meeting were approved as submitted.
3. President’s report:
Van Alyea informed the committee to check out the upcoming exhibit at the Milwaukee Art Museum titled “The American West, 1871-74: Photographs from the American Geographical Society Library”. Confirmed with the Board that the next Board meeting will be on January 6 and April 7. Annual meeting date will be set in January. Van Alyea asked the committee for suggestions and ideas for the Friends 30 th anniversary to do something in January or early spring. Lubar suggested possibly a fundraiser, Susan Modder suggested a ‘friend’ raiser, invite a friend.
4. Treasurer’s report: Meldman reported that the balance as of October 4, 2005 was $79,587.37. The report was accepted by the Board as submitted.
5. Interim Director of Libraries Report:
Barczyk mentioned that UWM is moving forward and has articulated goals of raising research, retention, recruitment, and diversity. Reported a busy and exciting last week. A reception was held for Professor McColl who had donated a large collection of Chinese materials and maps. In addition, he will provide funding for initiatives to promote the American Geographical Society Library (AGSL), digitizing photographs, preservation and 2 additional scholarships for foreign scholars to do research as well as supporting a buyer to purchase materials in China.
The state allocated $3.5 million for the first phase of the Libraries remodeling plans that will be tailored to students needs and upgrading exiting services. We will be starting a $1.4 million campaign to raise required funding to complete this project. This fits into the campus capital campaign that will be announced in January; Barczyk has asked the Vice Chancellor of Development, Lucia Petrie at the next FoL meeting.
Irish President Mary McAleese viewed a special exhibit of rare and significant Irish-related materials from the collections of the UWM Libraries during her visit to campus on August 22. A rich collection of over 70 book arts materials, including original book works by internationally noted artists, has been transferred to the UWM Libraries’ Special Collections. The materials, most of them donated, had been jointly owned by the School of the Arts and the School of Letters and Sciences, and held in the Art History Gallery. The Libraries received a generous bequest from Ernest R. Ostrem, a UWM alumnus and Marquette University librarian. Ostrem also donated 3,000 high-quality hardbound books. The Libraries received educational technology student funding for a laptop borrowing program that will be operated out of the Multimedia Library in the east wing. Received 30 laptops that will be available to students at no charge for borrowing. Additional funds were used to upgrade one of the Library's instruction rooms.
Susan Modder noted that in this past year, the Libraries Annual Telefund program raised $12,500. Barczyk added that the funds will be used to improve student study areas hence the creation of a Browsing Collection is the Libraries’ latest accomplishment in response to student needs for friendly and welcoming study areas.
Over 230 people attended this year’s Morris Fromkin Memorial Lecture, presented by Nik Heynen, on November 3, in the Golda Meir Library’s Conference Center. The title of his talk was “Starving for Revolution: The Milwaukee Black Panther Party’s Struggle to Feed the Hungry.” Barczyk also brought copies of the John Downey book that is sold through the Peck School of the Arts for $25. Barczyk read a letter to the board she received from a new faculty and recent hire Liam Callanan, from the English department. Dumas had a question in regard to the remodeling if the main elevator will be part of the remodeling and if there will be any IT upgrades up in the 4 th Floor. Barczyk responded that we were told to concentrate in the west wing first floor.
6. Committee Reports:
--Development Committee: The Alaskan cruise fundraiser brochure was handed out. Meldman anticipates the Libraries should raise $30,000 dollars. The prices listed are regular prices that Princess offers and it includes a $600 tax deduction. The committee is also planning a 2007 trip. Barczyk mentioned the Libraries has ties with Slovenia since we have the largest Slovenian music collection in a U.S. academic library and it is also a popular destination. Reminded the board that the sign up for the cruise will be during the meeting on November 8.
--Program Committee: (Van Alyea reporting for Deb Conta) Booksale flyers were distributed. EJ will be in charge of the Newberry library tour. Both Donn Haglund and Marianne Lubar expressed interest to participate. The dates have yet to be announced.
--Communications Committee: Stanley Miller II is the new chair for the Communications committee, it was also noted that EJ Brumder has moved to the Program Committee.
7. Funding request from the Interim Director of Libraries. The Friends co-sponsor many of the Libraries planned events and the Libraries requested funding for refreshments and speaker expenses. Funding was also requested for the Libraries’ Guide to Resources brochure that has been redesigned as well as support for staff development and professional and student staff. The motion passed unanimously.
8. Barczyk brought the Ortelius map description for copies of the four maps. The idea was to use it as a fundraiser and that these maps would be sold for a $100 for a set of 4 maps with the description. Dumas suggested that the Libraries could try selling the maps at the next Booksale. Lubar suggested packaging the brochure would be a good gift.
9. Tour of the Libraries for interested board members.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 am.