Assembly reorganizes NIU libraries

By Vickie Snow

Changes for NIU libraries, such as bound periodicals into microfiche and department divisions, were top on the list of priorities for the Faculty Assembly meeting Wednesday.

University Libraries Director Steve Marquardt addressed the the possibility of increasing the number of periodicals stored on microfiche and the reorganization of some of the NIU libraries’ departments, such as the law library and Founder’s Memorial Library.

Faculty Assembly Chairman Carroll Moody said faculty have concerns over the periodical situation at the library and questioned the fact that some 1989 issues are no longer on the shelves but in storage.

Some faculty believe a problem exists with the acquisition of certain periodicals while other members are against increasing the amount of periodicals stored on microfiche rather than as bound material.

One member said a library’s nature is being changed by technology. Being able to browse and simply leaf through a book may not be as easy with the increase of microfiche and the decrease of actual texts, she said.

Marquardt said NIU has a low percentage of material stored on microfiche when compared to other university libraries.

“Four percent of the periodicals are permanently retained on microfiche,” he said. The average percentage is close to 12 percent, he said.

In related business, Marquardt explained the administrative realignment within the NIU libraries to the assembly.

The reorganization was enacted to “keep administrative numbers low in a time of staffing constraints, to meet service needs, to move ahead with technology, as well as to improve the coordination of collection development and public service activities,” Marquardt said.

The major change in the reorganization is the breakdown of the Technical Services division and the replacement of its operations into the Collection Development and the Information and Access Services divisions, he said.

The Collection Development division is a combination of the Research Services Division and the Acquisitions and Serials departments, Marquardt said. The Information and Access Services replaced the Public Services.

In other business, three members of the Steering Committee, William Monat, John De Lillo and David Graf, were randomly chosen to evaluate the Faculty Assembly executive secretary for the past six months.

Assembly members were asked to participate in interviewing candidates for vice president of student affairs and to join the newly established Presidential Commission of Persons with Disabilities.