A Finding Aid for the Library Advisory Committee Records 1966-1986

Collection Summary

Collection Title: Library Advisory Committee Records

Creator: Ferris State University. Library Advisory Committee.

Dates: 1966-1986

Abstract: The Library Advisory Committee was created by President Victor Spathelf to improve library-faculty relations. The records in the collection consist of reports, membership lists, minutes and other records relating to the meetings.

Language: English

Quantity: 0.2 cubic feet; 1 Hollinger box

Identification: UA 31.4.8

Repository: Ferris State University Archives and Records Management Program

Historical Note

The Library Relations Committee was initially set up at the request of President Victor Spathelf, in 1967 to assist in the relations between faculty and staff. In the beginning, many of the issues dealt with policies and procedures relating to the new building. In September 1967, a representative from the student government was added to the committee. This student wished to consider many issues including library hours and services that were subsequently rejected by the committee. In reviewing the documentation concerning the founding of the committee showed that it was to be advisory in nature and not able to control the policies of the library or the job descriptions of library staff. They could only bring up issues and make suggestions. Since that report in April 1968, the basic goals and mission of the committee has remained the same, although the name has changed.

Early issues for the committee included: faculty status for librarians, library hours, the move into the new Timme Library, the faculty lounge and the acquisitions of appropriate books and periodicals to meet faculty needs.

Members of the 1966-1967 committee included: James Cretcher (Specialized Education), Ben Durian (General Education), James Hagedorn (Trades and Industrial Division), Donald Hecker (Counseling), Ruth Howe (General Education), Karlis Kazerovskis (Pharmacy), Goldie Nott (Library), Raymond O'Dea (General Education), George Storm (Teacher Education), Benjamin Thomas (Commerce) J.R. Schauble (Commercial Art), and Paul Braumbauch (Audio Visual Services).

In September 1970, the committee, which had become a formal RFAC advisory committee, changed their name to the Learning Resources Advisory Committee. This allowed the committee to consider the issues proposed by the new IRC building and its audiovisual services. No records exist for the period 1971-1979, and it is not known whether the committee was disbanded. It is not listed in any list of college-wide faculty committees. In the late 1970s the name was changed back to the Library Advisory committee and it reappears on the list. In 1995, the committee merged with the Historical/Archival Advisory Committee and became the Library/Historical/Archival Committee.

Chairs of the Library Advisory Committee

• 1966-1969 John R. Schauble
• 1969-1971 Karlis Kazerovskis
• 1971-1979 Unknown
• 1980-1983 Jeffrey Cross
• 1983-1985 Ben Durian, Gale Shoemaker

Scope and Content Note

The Library Advisory Committee predated the Representative Faculty Advisory Council and was created at the suggestion of the president, in order to improve faculty-library relations. It was eventually absorbed into the RFAC structure in 1969 and reported to the Vice-President for Instruction. The primary goal was communication between the faculty and library staff to make sure that it served their needs.

The records are arranged into a single series. Within the chronological files are the basic records of the committee by year- correspondence, minutes and supporting documents. In certain years, minutes may be missing. There are also annual reports. There are no records for the school years 1970-1971 to 1978-1979. Topics include library hours, fines and the classification and purchase of materials.

Arrangement

The papers are contained in a single series.

Access Information

Conditions of Access

The Library Advisory Committee Records are open to all researchers in accordance with the University Archives and Records Management access policies. All literary rights to the Library Advisory Committee Records are held by Ferris State University. All literary rights to other materials found in the collection are held by the individual author or his/her heirs. Any questions concerning rights should be directed to the University Archivist.

Conditions of Use

Requests for permission to publish material should be directed to the University Archivist. It is the responsibility of the researcher to identify and satisfy the holders of all copyrights.

Copyright interests for this collection have been transferred to Ferris State University. For more information, contact the University Archivist.

Subject Headings

Below are a list of names, organizations and subjects relating to the collection. Names have been taken from Library of Congress Authority headings whenever possible.

• Ferris State College (Big Rapids, Mich.)- History- 1966-1985
• Ferris State College- Learning Resources Committee
• Ferris State College- Library Relations Committee
• Ferris State University (Big Rapids, Mich.)- Library
• Universities and colleges-Faculty

Related Materials

Representative Faculty Advisory Council Records (UA 31.1.1).

Administrative Information

Citations

Footnotes and bibliographic references should use the following format:
[Item], Folder, Box (or url). Library Advisory Committee Records. Ferris State University Archives. Big Rapids, Michigan.

Provenance (Acquisition Information)

These records were transferred to the University Archives by an undetermined source prior to September 2002.

Processing Information

The Library Advisory Committee Records were processed to the folder level by Melinda McMartin Isler in April 2008. A finding aid was prepared in a word processing format and converted to EAD 2.0. A collection level MARC-21 record was prepared and placed in the library online public access catalog. Description based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (Chicago: Society of American Archivists, 2004).

Technical Requirements

This collection consists of paper based documents. No specialized software or hardware is required for viewing.

Content Listing

Series 1. Subject Records. 1966-1986.

This series consists of approximately 0.20 cubic feet of records. They include the records of the chair including agendas, correspondences, minutes and reports.

These materials are arranged into chronological files by academic year.

Box	Folder	Contents
1	1	Chronological files. October 1966-June 1967.
1	2	Chronological files. July 1967-June 1968.
1	3	Chronological files. July 1968-June 1969.
1	4	Chronological files. July 1969-June 1970.
1	5	Chronological file. July 1979-June 1980.
1	6	Chronological file. July 1980-June 1981.
1	7	Chronological file. July 1981-June 1982.
1	8	Chronological file. July 1983-June 1984.
1	9	Chronological file. July 1984-June 1985.
1	10	Chronological file. July 1985-June 1986.