Humanities Hub Minutes October 3, 2012

Main Library Humanities Hub Team
Minutes
 Wednesday, October 3, 2012


  1. It was noted that, in connection with item 6 of the Team’s charge, “Draft position description for a librarian whose duties include collection development and liaison responsibilities for Classics as well as related responsibilities”, the next deadline for library position requests is November 1, 2012. The position request deadline thereafter will be sometime in spring 2013. Mark Wardecker, currently half-time Visiting Classics Librarian, is here until January 2014.

  2. Mark feels Classics is currently very isolated on the 4 Floor of Main Library, in an inadequate space. It is also a very quiet space that is thus not suitable for the varied needs of today’s patrons. Charlie noted the importance of the Classics Library for Medieval Studies, so it’s important to take the needs of medieval studies students into account in our discussions. Kirk confirmed that the emphasis for any Classics configuration should be on the collections, which are world class.

  3. Diane suggested that there is a shortage of work/study space for humanities students, especially grad students, both at IPRH and at the Main Library. Clearly the Team needs to take this into account, and be mindful of finding an appropriate balance between collections and services in any new Humanities Hub.

  4. *If* the current Classics Library could be moved down to 2 floor of Main Library, it would be acceptable for some of its materials to go into Main Stacks, which would be readily accessible from that same floor. Clearly there is little point in transferring an overcrowded library collection from 4 floor to a similar-sized location on 2 floor. A large-scale move of material to Oak Street does not seem popular; movements to Stacks would be the preferred option, especially if the material resulting from such a move could all be in the same location.

  5. Browsable collections remain important to humanities scholars. It is also important to Classics users that certain essential print resources remain within arm’s reach.

  6. Should the Stacks collections space be exclusively for the humanities and social sciences, with science materials moved elsewhere?

  7. John is to invite Jeff Schrader (the library’s Assistant Dean for Facilities and Services) to the Team’s next meeting on October 10.

John Wagstaff

October 8, 2012