Special Meeting
LAUC-B Executive Committee
Meeting No. 1996/97 (Special)
12 March 1997
10:00-11:39 AM, Harris Room, 119 Moses Hall
MINUTES
Present: W. Benemann (Secretary), R. Brandt, T. Dean (Chair), C. Lee,
R. Moon, G. Peete, D. Sommer, A. Swartzell, C. Tarr, K. Vanden Heuvel
Absent: D. Jan
Guests: Leon Litwack, several members of LAUC-B
Leon Litwack, Chair of the Senate Committee on Library, spoke at this
specially-scheduled open meeting of the LAUC-B Executive Board. He
expressed his long-time interest in Berkeley's libraries, pointing out
that he worked in the Main Library during his undergraduate years. He
feels that he received a great academic benefit from the ability to
browse in the stacks, and regrets that such a large part of the
Library's collection is now stored off-campus.
Prof. Litwack explained that the Senate Committee on Library has no
executive power, but was established to advise the Chancellor on
Library-related affairs. He believes that Chancellor Tien gave a
great deal of weight to the opinions expressed by the Committee, and
he is hopeful that the new Chancellor, with his background as an
historian, will be sympathetic to the needs of the humanities
collections.
The Committee on Library's number one priority is to fight the budget
cuts that are resulting in a reduction of materials and staff. Prof.
Litwack stated that the recruitment and retention of skilled
librarians is essential in order to make campus collections
accessible. Just as the science departments insist on the importance
of modern, well-equipped laboratories in order to attract the best
professors and students, the Library should be viewed as the lab of
the humanities, and given equal support when resources are being
allotted among the various educational programs.
Prof. Litwack invited comments from the Executive Committee and from
the other LAUC-B members in attendance, and discussion ensued
concerning a variety of Library issues. Prof. Litwack welcomed the
different points of view, stressed that he was particularly
appreciative of any concerns that might be brought to his attention,
and urged LAUC members to contact him to continue the dialog initiated
by this meeting.
