August 5, 2008 9 am - 10 am
Agenda
1) Review of combined overdue notices instead of receiving multiple overdue notices from different libraries. Should combined notices be instituted?
2) Schedule of activities for the security guard trial. Per direction of Library Council, CAC is asked to develop a schedule for a trial security guard. Full charge from Library Council follows:
Security Guard Trial Project
During fall semester 2008, the Library will contract with the University’s security services vendor to provide shared, late night security services for the Library. The goal will be to improve the sense of security in the libraries for both users and staff by providing a uniformed presence in the libraries. A regular routine will be established, but the guard will be expected to respond to individual library situations that might call for additional assistance. Routine duties will include providing assistance in closing at Central, Divinity and Peabody, and added support to Science and Engineering as the 24-hour facility.
Funding for this trial project will be approximately $10,000—enough to cover 16 weeks at 40 hours/ week at an hourly rate of $15.18. Funds are not budgeted and are being made available from funds anticipated to be freed up from vacancies during the year. It is not clear that there will be funds available to continue the service during spring semester. We want to get experience with and recommendations for this service in order to decide whether to incorporate this into a budget proposal for 2009-2010. Supervisory oversight for this function will fall within System-wide Public Services reporting to Sue Erickson. The new LA IV position slated for ILL and the Science & Engineering Library will also ensure that problems with service are reported and scheduled activities are being covered. Some oversight will also be expected by responsible staff in the other libraries.
Toward the end of the period, circulation supervisors in the four libraries will meet to discuss the trial service with respect to its success in meeting its goal and to review the perceived benefit to the individual libraries and any issues or concerns that have arisen. This group will report on its experience to the Circulation Advisory Committee and to the Library Council with a recommendation for future needs.
Before this program can be implemented, the scope and schedule of duties need to be established. CAC is asked to develop a proposal for how this might work to the greatest benefit for all of the library facilities.
3) VUPD recently submitted a report to Library Council that assesses security within library facilities. One of the recommendations within the report involves improved internal reporting of incidents. Library Council has asked CAC to consider the following recommendation:
It would be helpful to create either an online database or a blog with an RSS feed that could organize and save information on past security incidents. An alert feature would automatically send messages to specified individuals. A security distribution list could include library directors, circulation heads, and others.
4) Should the surrogate card form be an online form? See http://www.library.vanderbilt.edu/central/surrogate.pdf.
Minutes
1) CAC reviewed the combined notices and recommends that combined notices not be used. Combined overdue notices will not be implemented.
2) The group engaged in an in-depth discussion about a security guard. There was skepticism about the efficacy of hiring a security guard during the entire semester. Some suggested that a guard should be in place during the final 8 weeks of the semester and not the entire semester. Issues surrounding supervision and consistency of service were raised. Safety issues were raised in regards to monitoring the GLB, especially when alone, as well as exiting the GLB. Tracy asked representatives to send in days of the week and times during the day when a guard might be posted. CAC may reconvene to complete the discussion before the semester begins.
3) CAC concurs that improved internal communication about security incidents would be useful. Tracy will investigate opening a blog with an RSS feed.
4) Agenda item #4 was tabled until the next meeting.