Library and Technology Committee

Minutes for Library and Technology Committee Meeting

Date: 9/16/2025

Time: 12:15-1:45

Attendance: Jessica Jackson (Chair), Bijay Jha, Njoki Kinyatti, Abu Kamruzzaman, Magalie Alcindor, Amar

Khoukhi, Gregory Vega, Shania Sookraj (SGA), and Julian Dean (Secretary)

Elections: Jessica Jackson elected as Chair and Julian Dean as Secretary

Senate Liaison: Veronica Mariani apologizes for the President’s absence. Ms. Mariani will be in touch

with the chairs of the various senate committees.

Minutes: Minutes from past meeting are approved

Meetings: By charter, we must meet once a semester, but Chairperson suggests we meet twice a

semester and committee agrees. Next meeting scheduled for Tuesday, October 21 from 12:15-1:45. For

Spring, we will meet Tuesday, February 17 and Tuesday, April 21.

Establishing Committee Procedures: Office of Institutional Effectiveness will be distributing a survey

gauging student and faculty satisfaction. Committee can review the data from this survey and make

recommendations. Chairperson will bring past survey to next meeting.

Library Summary Report: Document provided by chairperson. Chairperson underscored the importance

of timely OTPS distribution so the library can purchase physical copies rather than the more expensive

ebooks. Chief Kinyatti stressed that open positions have not been filled in the library stressing the time

and resources of the library faculty. One faculty member and one HEO retired and that work has been

redistributed across the remaining faculty creating an unsustainable work load. Chairperson answered

questions about the new areas for eating in the library—it is going well. Chairperson answered another

question about library culture and student use of the space and resources. SGA Representative asked for

extended time for study rooms and notes that dry erase markers are dried out. Chairperson noted how

to renew a study room for up to four hours. SGA rep will bring the policy back to SGA and see if that is

long enough. SGA rep questioned why students can’t book a study room for themselves. Chairperson

responded that they have reconfigured the library to protect quiet study areas. Also, Chairperson notes

that individual students can use the space if they have a job interview on Zoom or something similar.

Chairperson notes that all things would be possible, including small study rooms for one or two people,

should the library be better funded.

Minutes for Library and Technology Committee Meeting

Date: 10/21/25

Time: 12:15-12:45

Attendance: Jessica Jackson (Chair), Gregory Vega, Abu Kamruzzaman, Amar Khoukhi,

Julian Dean (Secretary)

Approve Minutes: No quorum

Proposal to make the meeting on Tuesday, Feb 17th, 2026, in person to tour library: No

classes scheduled for this date so perhaps we should reconsider the date. Also, no

quorum.

Establishing committee processes: Committee Chair suggested the following in the

agenda:

A. The committee will meet in-person a minimum of once per year to tour the Library, with

discuss possible improvements

B. Library faculty member or in the Chief Librarian shall bring to the attention of the

department, as soon as practicable, opportunities for improvement that can be implemented at the

department level and report back as to the proposed resolution at the following meeting.

C. The committee shall use the Student and Staff & Faculty Satisfaction Survey Results (which

are conducted every three years) as a means of reviewing library services, holdings and facilities.

D. The committee shall discuss and vote on a recommendation for tech fee fund RFPs.

Other Items:

Tech Fees Committee: Website has been updated and an announcement will be going out

soon

IT Updates: Approval has come through for new computers across campus. That will begin

with the oldest computers in the library. Faculty and staff will be refreshed after. IT has

also just gotten an admin for the first time. Cyber security and AI forum in 3D01 (date

forthcoming)