Charter Committee Annual Report to the Shared Governance Council

Committee: University Libraries
Report Year: 2025-26

Committee Chair(s)Jose Fernandez
Committee Members
  • Bruce Ayati
  • Isabella Jimenez Rodriguez
  • Luis Munoz
  • Anthony Panos
  • Kathit Patel
  • Matthew Shadle
  • John Stevenson
  • Rebecca Wilson
  • Nicholas Yablon
  • Katherine Yu

University Libraries Staff:

  • John Culshaw
  • Jade E. Davis
  • Karen Shemanski
  • Kelly Taylor
Committee Charge
  1. The Committee shall be governed by the terms of the General Charter.
  2. In addition, the Committee shall:
    1. Advise the University Librarian on policies and strategic issues related to the resources and services the University Libraries provide;
    2. Advise the University Librarian on the needs of library stakeholders, including faculty, students, and staff;
    3. Advise the University Librarian on issues related to library collections in light of new and changing campus programs, changing patterns of faculty and student use, and specialized needs of the different disciplines; and
    4. Advise the University Librarian on the use, development, and assignment of space in library facilities, including the Main Library, the Hardin Library for the Health Sciences, the branch libraries, and the high-density archival facility.
Current Year Meeting DatesSept. 10, Oct. 22, Dec. 3, Feb. 6, March 25, April 24
Please indicate the typical frequency of meetings (e.g., first Tuesday of month at 4 pm). If there are subcommittees, please indicate the frequency of those meetings, too.

Normally, there are three meetings per semester (fall & spring). Meetings are usually held on Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m. 

Duration: one hour.

Current Year Activities
  • University Librarian updates.
  • Discussions and updates on University Libraries Strategic Plan.
  • Updates on University Libraries’ facilities remodulations.
  • Discussion of research and creativity library services. 
  • Overview of finances and history of library collections.
  • Overview and discussion of University Libraries’ web redesign project.
  • Discussion of University Libraries’ re-envision of research support services.
  • Overview and discussion of open access options for UI authors.
  • Overview of University Libraries’ student success initiatives. 
  • Committee tour of Main Library and overview of recent and ongoing renovation projects. 
Topics your committee anticipates addressing during the coming year

Evaluation of University Libraries’ journal subscriptions.

Discussion of ongoing changes in open access.

Ongoing transition from physical to electronic collections.

Other issues of concernNone.
What should we tell applicants for this committee regarding expectations of members (anticipated workload, existence of subcommittees, etc.)?Workload is light and committee is well run. The meetings are informative and congenial. There are no subcommittees.

Does your committee have a website? If so, what is the URL?

 

https://www.lib.uiowa.edu/admin/ULC/ 
What is your process for passing on previous agendas and minutes to the new committee chair(s)?All University Library Committee (ULC) minutes are included in the ULC webpage: https://www.lib.uiowa.edu/admin/ULC/
Recommendations, if any, to the shared governance groups.None