Dean of University Libraries Judy Russell responds to concerns expressed by DCP Dean Chris Silver

Text of email from Dean of University Libraries Judy Russell to Dean of the College of Design, Construction, and Planning Chris Silver, dated August 24, 2011:

From: Russell,Judith
Sent: Wednesday, August 24, 2011 5:17 AM
To: Silver,Christopher
Cc: Lavelli,Lucinda; Glover,Joseph
Subject: Re: Architecture and Fine Arts Library

I am gathering data about alternatives for the for AFA Library and Music Library collections, which I will share with you as it becomes available. I do want to assure you that wherever the collections are located, you will still have the same excellent library faculty dedicated to work with your students and faculty. We place a high value on those relationships, as you do.

One option that we are evaluating is for moving low use print journals and reference materials from the 3rd floor of Library West to offsite storage, so the AFA and Music collections could be retained as a collection, with dedicated space, within the building. The AFA collection currently utilizes approximately 10,500 linear feet of shelving. Library West has over 20,000 linear feet of bound journals in the compact shelving in the center of the 3rd floor. I am still waiting for the calculation for the adjacent space occupied by the reference collection, but it is probably at least 10,000 linear feet. While not all of this material is suitable for remote storage, a substantial portion is suitable. The floor plan for the 3rd floor is available at: http://www.uflib.ufl.edu/images/floor plan3.pdf.

The floor plan for the ground floor of Library West is available at:
http://www.uflib.ufl.edu/images/first floor.pdf. The Judaica collection is in the upper left corner. This is the "model" for keeping a subcollection together, rather than interfiling it with other materials. If that option better serves the needs of the CFA and DCP faculty, then we are certainly open to that possibility, especially if it is important for your accreditation.

One part of the analysis that as been completed is a comparison of the hours for AFA Library and Library West. Right now Library West is open 13-14 hours more per week. That does not include the expanded hours in the last 12-13 days of each semester when Library West is open from 8 am to 4 am, 7 days per week.

As you know, we are also planning for a dedicated space for the architectural archives in the Smathers Library (Library East). While that is not going to replace all of the open study and collaboration space in the AFA Library, it will provide some additional seating specifically for users of those materials.

At your convenience, I would be happy to meet with you and your faculty to discuss these and other options, but I do want to assure you, and them, that whatever decisions are made about the location of the collection and the staff of the AFA Library, we will do everything possible to ensure the continuation of excellent service and maintain the close working relationships with your faculty and students.

Judy
Judith C. Russell
jcrussell@ufl.edu

DCP Dean opposes Architecture and Fine Arts Library relocation

Text of email dated August 23, 2011 from Christopher Silver, Dean of the College of Design, Construction and Planning to Judy Russell, Dean of University Libraries:

On Aug 23, 2011, at 4:17 PM, "Silver,Christopher" <silver2@dcp.ufl.edu<mailto:silver2@dcp.ufl.edu» wrote:

Lucinda and Judy:

I have had an opportunity to discuss with our College administrators (including some of the affected the faculty) the general notion of relinquishing the Architecture and Fine Arts Library for some other use, and shifting the collection and services someplace else. The overwhelming sentiment is in opposition to the concept, not just to be oppositional, but because it will create far more problems than it will solve. Let me explain. First, one of the rationales for considering shifting the AFA Library to another use is because of space concerns expressed through accreditation visits, most recently in one of the Fine Arts programs. In the case of Art History and also in the case of our School of Architecture and our School of Landscape Architecture and Planning, we are able to count that space as dedicated space for our programs, and have done so in previous accreditation visits. If the collection is shifted to the West Library and blended in with the general collection in any way, we lose the ability to count that space. In other words, our space problem with accreditation gets worse, not better. And like the programs in the Fine Arts, we are perpetually being challenged by the accrediting bodies for not enough space. So relinquishing that space will only add to our deficit, not help it. On the positive side, we generate through the availability of a dedicated collection, dedicated space, and dedicated staff significant plus points in our accreditation ranking system. Indeed, the quality of the AFA Library during the last accreditation visit for Architecture several years ago helped us to have a nearly perfect score of excellence, except of course on one criterion, namely space. But we satisfy their concerns about our inadequate square footage by employing creative ways to reorganize our space more efficiently. Indeed, we would be happy to assist the Fine Arts programs to come up with innovative space saving actions that can likely satisfy your accrediting bodies like we have done with ours. In addition, we are about to undergo an accreditation visit for our graduate Urban and Regional Planning program. That program also is able to maintain its national stature among other planning programs because like the best one, we have dedicated libraries to support research and instruction (such as at Illinois, Chapel Hill, Texas, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, Ohio State, Cornell, etc.) It is no coincidence that the lower ranked programs in planning simply draw upon the general library services to support their educational enterprise. Our planning, landscape architecture, interior design, and architecture faculty all use the AFA Library extensively, and push their students there on a regular basis.

I myself routinely use the AFA Library for my own teaching and research, and on a recent visit (first day of classes this past Monday afternoon), the place was in heavy use, and relied upon the two-decker carrels to handle the students. While I did not make any sort of scientific assessment of the spaces in the 2nd Floor of the Rudolph Weaver Building to possible areas of the West Library, I cannot imagine any spaces sufficient in size for the full collection, the reference materials, the study spaces, the service areas, and the librarians in the West Library. And in terms of the quality of the space as a place for study and research by our students and faculty, being incorporated into the mass activities of the West Library would be a very different environment, and one that would not at all be an improvement. While I have never visited the Music Library, I am told that there are significant structural challenges with that space that may warrant attention, and that the Music Library collection might be compatible with available spaces in the West Library.

Given the quality of the existing space for our library and value it holds for our programs on so many levels, any contemplated changes should be to improve the conditions. I cannot imagine how that would be accomplished by the various suggestions that have been floated regarding transferring the AFA Library to another location. I hope there are ways to meet Fine Arts needs without creating unnecessary problems with four of our DCP programs.
Thanks for your consideration.

Chris
Dean and Professor
College of Design, Construction and Planning
University of Florida
331 Architecture Building
Gainesville, FL 32611
Tel: 352-392-4836
Fax: 352-392-7266
Editor, Journal of Planning History

Survey: 92% of SAAH faculty disapproves of relocating Architecture and Fine Arts Library

From School of Art and Art History acting Director Richard Heipp:

The final result of the survey (via surveymonkey) we conducted regarding the library has been completed.  25 faculty responded.

92 % - (23 faculty responding) were NOT IN FAVOR OF THE LIBRARY RELOCATION ­
8% - (2 faculty responding) were IN FAVOR OF THE LIBRARY RELOCATION. ­

This represent a clear indication that the SA+AH faculty does not support the relocation of the library.  This in turn means we will not need to form a committee to furhter discsuss the library relocation.

However this discourse has fostered a meaning dialogue regarding renewed ideas and options surrounding the SA+AH space needs that we will continue in the very near future.

HAVE A GREAT – SAFE LABOR DAY WEEKEND!

Best,
Richard

Email addresses for Provost, deans and directors

Dr. Joseph Glover,
Provost
jglover@aa.ufl.edu

Lucinda Lavelli
Dean, College of Fine Arts
llavelli@arts.ufl.edu

Chris Silver
Dean, College of Design, Construction, and Planning
silver2@ufl.edu

Judy Russell
Dean, University Libraries
jcrussell@ufl.edu

Richard Heipp
Acting Director, School of Art and Art History
heipp@ufl.edu

John Duff
Director, School of Music
jduff@arts.ufl.edu

Gainesville Sun: UF considers closing two departments' libraries

Gainesville Sun article, appearing in the Sep. 1 2011 edition: UF considers closing two departments' libraries