University of Minnesota. Senate. Library Committee.

At the University Senate meeting held June 6, 1913, nominations for Senate Committees were approved, including members for the Library Committee. The committee’s duties were approved by the University Senate at the December 4, 1913 meeting. The approved duties were:

1: It shall be the duty of the Library Committee, prior to the determination of the budget, to prepare and present to the proper authorities, in the form of recommendations, detailed estimates of the library needs of the various colleges, schools, and departments.

2: To consider and recommend to the Senate any resolutions in connection with library policy and administration that may be deemed advisable.

Meetings: The Committee shall hold stated monthly meetings, of which due notice shall be given by the Secretary through the proper University publications. Besides the usual business, the Committee will hear at this meeting, by letter or in person, any member of the University who desires to present any subject connected with the library interests.

Revisions to the University Senate By-Laws at times covered revisions to the duties and responsibilities of the Library Committee. In December 1930, a Senate By-Laws change included an outline of duties for the Library Committee, “to consider and recommend to the Senate any resolutions in connection with library policy and administration that may be deemed advisable, and, on request of the Senate, to inform it as to any matters affecting library policy and administration.” By the late 1960s, the Library Committee’s duties also encompassed serving as an “advisory body to the director of University Libraries” and evaluating “University-wide library services, facilities, and collections.” The list of committee responsibilities closed with a call for the committee to “give emphasis to the coordination of libraries on the several campuses, and shall investigate and recommend policies with respect to increasing the educational services of the total, University-wide library system.”

The Library Committee has been involved in questions, issues, and policies concerning building new library facilities and evaluating library space on University campuses, interpreting copyright law, recommending budget priorities and addressing budget reductions, and reviewing collection development and staffing.

From the guide to the Senate Library Committee records, 1910-2001, (University of Minnesota Libraries. University of Minnesota Archives [uarc])