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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 02091993 - 1.45 y,_S' TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS 5...... Contra JrJ FROM: Phil Batchelor, County Administrator Costa g' s x�•�-_�_ � �� ��°¢ County DATE: February 4, 1993 � s;q cAT- '�P" SUBJECT: OPPOSITION TO CLOSING OF THE SCHOOL OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION STUDIES AT U.C. BERKELEY SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATION: Adopt a position OPPOSING the proposed closure of the School of Library and Information Studies at U.C. Berkeley and authorize the County Librarian, County Administrator and the County's lobbyist to share this position with the Administration at U.C. Berkeley and the Legislature. BACKGROUND: The County Librarian has been advised that the Academic Planning Board at U.C. Berkeley will vote on February 24, 1993 whether to advise the Chancellor to continue the School of Library and Information Studies and recruit a dean to head the school, or close it. She points out that the School of Library. and Information Studies at U.C. Berkeley is one of the top ranked schools in the field and has been a consistent source of professional staff for Contra Costa County' s Library. The Library. currently has two employees attending the school at U.C. Berkeley, working on their Masters ' degrees in Library Science. Another employee was recently graduated from the school . It is the County Librarian' s belief that the closure of the school would be a critical loss to the field in general and particularly to Contra Costa County. She therefore urges the Board of Supervisors to oppose this proposed closure. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: X YES SIGNATURE: RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE(S): ACTION OF BOARD ON February 9 . 1993 [� APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED �, OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE - �IJNANIMOUS(ABSENT ) AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. ATTESTED Contact: PHIL BATCHELOR,CLERK O THE BOARD OF CC: County Administrator SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR County Librarian. Les Spahnn, SRJ. Jackson, . Barish & Associates BY DEPUTY r The Board's support for this position is particularly important because Assemblymen Tom Bates and Bob Campbell both serve on the Assembly Committee on Higher Education and Assemblyman Campbell in addition chairs the Assembly Ways and Means Subcommittee on School Finance and is considered an influential expert on school financing issues . Additional information from the County Librarian is attached for your information. -2- FEB 02 '93 03:26PM CCC LIBRARY ADMIN. P.2J4 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY LIBRARY EVMR-OFFICE MEMO DATE: FebnYary 2, 1993 TO: Claude Van Marter, Assistant County Administrator FROM: Anne Marie Gold, County Ubraaiaa SUBJECT: Closing of School of Library and Information Studies at UC Berkeley I have just received the attached information regarding the potential recommendation to close the School of Library and Information Studies at'UC Berkeley_ The School is considered one of the top ranked schools in the field and has been a consistent source of professional staff for this library. Currently we have two employees enrolled in the school, studying for their Masters degree, both of whom are supported by scholarhips from our Riends groups; another employee has just recently graduated from the school. The loss of the school would be critical to the field in general as well as to this library. I would litre to have the Board of Supervisors at their meeting on February 9, 1993 take a position opposing the .recommendation to close the school. Should the Board take such a position, I would then like to have our lobbyist contact our state legislators, particularly Assemblyman Campbell, to convey the County's position on this critical issue. Letters about this issue need to be received by February 17, 1993 as the UC Berkeley Academic Planning Board will be voting on a recommendation on February 24 on this issue_ FED 02 '93 03=26PM CCS LIBRARY ADMIhl.aas 642 5914 p.3i491 ALUMNI � ��'v� Post-WR brand fax transmittal memo 7 3n 1#01;;;;r I SCHOOL OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION MIDIES VRi A'�'�' �'p''�`c: +�"`��' �►��+ d�+� F-V e UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA,BERKELEY c'' C���A t"� CO-u Asir 11%.t "+t ac SOUTH HALL uapa. Pu 9 0 It t-tia3 a>AF- PhD" v S ib L 4 Q -qR o BERI(ELEY,CA 94720 t " rift 64,;)-52114 ACTION ALERT Please write a tetter now, however briefs and shsrru Ws Inf orm4 ion with your frimils and colleagues. Letters an needed by February 17. A UC Berkeley campus eommitur, the Academic Planning Board, will vote Fdxuady 24 to advise the Chancellor to either continue the School and recruit a dean or close the School. This is a critical vote; now is the time to express your support fur the.Schooll CONTACT: Chancetior Chang-Lin Tien University of California Barkelcy, CA 94720 phone (5 10) 642-7464, fax (5 10) 642-5499 MESSAGE 7U WNW: o Value of the library and information profession to the economy, to educaLlon, to quality of life. v Importance of the School to California, the West. the nation. - Student demand in Califomia exceeds the combined capacity of existing programs; fewer program& nationwide create added need for 1Wkelt y's. - Availability of jobs. - The excellenco of the School and its graduates. o Nood for Berkeley to be at forefrannt of research in libraries and infasmatiolt systws now, when these are of growing national importance. o Questionable proa,ess: derision Is not the result of a careful assessment Of community nods and campus strengths. Review of School recommended strengt1honing, not clasum. o Impact of a negative docision about the School on your support for the University and the campus, which hopes to raise$1 billion from alumni and business community. FOR MORE INFORMATJON: < JAM Jo Levy, Pmsident Ruth Harter, Viet president a. SLIS Alumni Association SLIS Alumni Association pholte (415)329.2516 phone(510)527-1480 fax (415)327-7568 fax (408) 924.2701 , Posy, cVy, and disinbare this Myer! 03:2iP I QCC LIBRARY ADMIbc FarN. 642 5914 P.4!g4i uNIVF,ItSiTY OF CALiFURNU, BF.I ICELF.Y IIAM"asr•DAVIS•11RVM•1.AW Aeion=•JavallSaDU•#Aad lnir4V•UAK VDAHMSM' snadra ImANL u &srdgA uwv SCHOOL of UhRARY AND JNFORMATION STUIXfi 6U)t C19r.flV,CALWORMA 94M csioy s+ -tom 1 Febmary 1993 Fellee TaJtnnbaturn office of Senator Nick Petris State Capitol Sacramcntoj Cab Dear Ms. Tannenbaum: This is in response to your request for more information about the School of Library and Information Studies. The key pWa s are: a 'dc Academia planning Hoard, a major campus cO matittee, will vote ftlbrumy 24th on whether to rcoon imend to ettancellor Chac► Un'rten that the School of Library and information Studies be closed. o This is not the result of an overall rOv16w of the cost-effectiveness Of camPu$Programs. A review just of the School =ommendod that the campus rotain the Schaal, saying that this is an important field for XTC_ However, there-is very strong reason to believe that the APl3 will overrule this advice. o The:School is one of three in the state (the others aro UCLA axil San lose State) providing basic professional education for librarians. The existing programs cannot meet the current doanand; our School turns away two to three students for each one we admit, and job prospects remain strong despite the re=ssion. © The effect of closing this program would be fewer professioroal librarians for California. Libraries are critical to California's economy, educational system, and quality of life. Califumia is already last in the nation in Lire number of schools with profesAOnal librarians, o UC Eerkeley has a commitment to diversity_ Tote School's students are older, with families and other responsibilities. Minority students in particular cannot ardorate for library education. If they cannot commute, they do not pursue the degree. If I can be of further assistance to the Senator, ply feel free to call. SilrcrnrelY> t�ast•4t'°brggx transnoll�l memo °�,�q,6 r+F dLlb °°"`{�ir►w�v dAw acs Nancy 's Huse S�eqo■ o v7 la 1b IN o t C.Nn fsTe� �' . ,+�a Acting D= p 4ca t.164A -100 B« �►-qtr e4r fr r e° a 1