Advisory Committee Report
HUGH GUNZ

The Advisory Committee to the UTM Library is a sub-committee of the Academic Affairs Committee and an advisory committee to the Chief Librarian, University of Toronto Mississauga.  Over the past academic year the Committee met 3 times (October and November 2007; March 2008) to learn about the Library’s new and ongoing initiatives and to discuss agenda items brought forward by members.

At the top of the list for our first meeting was a discussion of new measures that have been put in place to improve Sessional Instructors’ access to library resources. 

Through the year the Committee learned about the progress being made on enhancements to the award-winning HMALC facilities.  These changes included the addition of instructional technology to the Amgen Smart classroom, new services and equipment for the Astra Zeneca Canada Centre for Information and Technology Literacy, and improvements to the acoustical treatment to control sound levels within the new building.  

Library assessment results from LibQual, and LibSat surveys were reported at the October meeting.  Measures to address specific LibSat feedback about noise and space issues were brought forward for discussion to the March 2008 meeting.

In March, Peter Clinton, the Director Information Technology Services (ITS), UT Libraries, provided Committee members with an introduction to 2 new library products. Members learned about the planning for the introduction of Endeca, an information access platform that will become the main catalogue environment later in the year.  As well, Peter described the Ontario Council of University Libraries’ selection and purchase of ebrary, an e-book reader that has been added to UTL resources.

From the planning and design stages to the preparation for construction, the Committee followed the progress of the Li Koon Chun Finance Learning Centre.  Finance, Accounting, Economics, Psychology and Mathematical & Computational Sciences departments will use this now completed multi-disciplinary facility.

It has been a very productive year for the Committee, with an engaging exchange of ideas and much new information coming forward.  I encourage faculty and staff to follow the progress of this important group. Full details of the Committees activities are summarized in the Minutes for the period.

Hugh Gunz
Chair