Approval of Previous Minutes —

• Minutes from 10/28/2025 sent to committee ahead of time.
• There is a request for clarification on the Open Access Advisory Board from Josh Bolick.
• The Open Access Advisory Board is not suggesting revisions to the policy itself but suggesting potential revisions on the “processes to implement.”
• Josh would like to hear the committee’s thoughts on the potential revisions to the Open Access process to implement policy that the board has suggested.
• Motion to approve minutes with the clarification: Casey motions to approve. Motion seconded. Minutes approved. 

New Business —

Updates from Dean Carol Smith: 

• There is a lot going on in KU Libraries. Carol encourages following the Libraries on Social Media.
• Carol attended an “architect meeting” on Oct 29 to learn more about the future of the libraries and how it fits into the campus master plan.
• The University hired an architect from East Coast to develop a campus master plan for student success. The lead architect is Gautam Sundaram.
• Carol was able to partake in several focus groups and speak 1:1 with Gautam Sundaram, and advocate for the Libraries.
• 3 primary components of Student Success : Academic Success, Wellness, and Financial Well-being. Each of these will have a central anchor/home. For example, one part of campus is for Wellness, one part for Academic Success, and one part for Financial Well-being.
• They initially said they weren’t going to develop a plan with respect to geography, but that’s not what ended up happening:
  • They have identified the need for students to be able to readily identify “where to go” for these 3 aspects of student success.
• The concept is for the 3 aspects to have a “hub” or central anchor / home. Surrounding the central anchor/home will be a neighborhood of similar related services.
• Anschutz Library has been identified as the hub/home for Academic Success, which is what Carol hoped for. Anschutz is already a library and academic success center.
  • Something that is a little concerning to Carol is that Watson may get more left out of the campus vision.
  • The only reference to Watson during this meeting is that Watson is a node along the way to the anchor neighborhoods.
  • A "renovated" Watson would be very helpful - it's not just a stopping point. Carol wants to advocate for both - the Provost has been very supportive.
• Carol will be meeting with Provost. This plan will be shared with the campus and will be unfolding over the next decade. Carol encourages the committee to be active voices in the conversation. We have ample opportunity to contribute and Carol is excited for what lies ahead.
• One of the great challenges of KU Libraries is we don't have an "in-house" technology team.
• Libraries are digital in nature and have very complex, interrelated information architecture which needs system librarians and core programmers to develop.

• The Libraries IT team was removed from the Libraries and put with Central IT. University of MO has team of 8 “in-house IT”. K State has 7. This is very important. Libraries really needs an "in-house" technology team. Carol plans to talk to Provost about this at their last meeting and will continue to advocate for this to the new provost. 

   

• Strategic Alignment Presentations will be starting soon. In December,  the administrative heads present on where they’re at in terms of contributing to Jayhawks Rising. In January, all the academic Deans will present on they are at.
• On Jan 15 at 8:00am, Carol will be presenting the strategic alignment presentation for the Libraries. Carol feels it would be very helpful if a University Senate representative could be at this meeting. Steve would be first thought if aligns with schedule. Carol will let the organizers know about Steve and if could send a calendar invite.
• Carol will share her slides to the full committee. 

Volunteers for Chair-Elect: 

Steve shares that a Vice Chair / Chair-Elect may be helpful. Thoughts from the committee? The committee agrees this would be helpful. 

• How about a “Call for Volunteers” in January for a chair-elect?
• Steve will work with Shayla on sending out a call for volunteers and the timeline/ communication around that.
• It would be great to elect Chair-Elect in February.
• The chair-elect can assist the chair during the current year and then acquire the “chair” role the following year.
• We can put together a “description” in Teams soon that outlines the role more clearly. 

• Steve asks the group about possibly forming “subcommittees.” There are a lot of us, and we’re all passionate about the libraries. There were some great ideas mentioned in October and Steve is wondering if smaller groups could tackle some of these cool ideas.
• Maybe a “Talking Points” fact sheet? This could include ideas that have been brought up. Carol mentions she could draft a starter talking points talking sheet from her perspective within the Libraries as well.
• Carol is preparing documentation for suggestion of a student library fee. There used to be this, but it was previously exchanged for a budget increase. Student fees wax/wane with enrollment. However, it’s been recognized as unusual that F&A is not going to Libraries as a library should really be considered mandatory at a university. All universities need to have a library, so a modest student fee may help. 

• What would be useful for subcommittees?

   

• Faculty Research and AI :
  • More research and help on the faculty research side.
    • More resources to prioritize some subscriptions.
    • Focus on research in addition to construction and policies.
• "AI Workshop in Library?"
  • Carol shares there is an active working group in AI - this has moved to active application.
  • Carol has been advocating for an AI Librarian - this is a trend in many other flagship universities.
  • There are a lot of distributed activities at KU - CTE is doing things, Libraries are doing things, the College is -- but if this committee could help with "coordination."
• Space Renovation
  • Carol mentions still working on selecting an architect for Watson. Once that is done and moving forward, a subcommittee on space renovation in the libraries would be helpful. Casey and Nathan? How about a coffee shop and a café?
• Please share any other ideas for subcommittees and brainstorm. If we each give an hour a month, or whatever capable of, can do good things.
• For now, we have:
  • Talking Points Fact Sheet Group
  • Renovation Space Group
  • Faculty Research and AI Group

Nathan asks about student fees: Carol mentions this is quite modest. It used to be 1 dollar per credit hour - or it may be incorporated into a larger fee. Carol doesn't have a direct say in this but has been advocating for it.

Please be on the lookout for poll for February and March meetings. 

Meeting adjourned