Letter From CCL's President | Council of Chief Librarians

CCL President, Tim Karas

Hello,

The start of a new academic year brings changes to many of our institutions and to us. I find myself transitioning to a new role at a new College. The Board has also seen changes. The Board says adieu to members with whom it has been a privilege to serve and welcome new members whose important contributions we look forward to.

Outgoing members:

Cherry Li-Bugg (Santa Rosa)
Andy Kivel (Diablo Valley)
Jean Smith- CCL-EAR Chair (Mesa)

Incoming members:

Pearl Ly (Marin)
Darrel Swarm- CCL-EAR Chair (Feather River)
Please note that we are looking for a new Representative from the SanFrancisco/East Bay Region, (Alameda, Chabot, Contra Costa, Diablo Valley, Laney, Las Positas, Los Medanos, Merritt, Ohlone, San Francisco, Berkeley City College)

We successfully completed year-one of our 2 Year Strategic Plan and we have transitioned to our year-two goals. At the Board retreat July 17-18 we finished the work plan for the current year. It is now time to develop our next 2 Year Strategic Plan for 2015-2017. The Board will be working over the next several months to formulate a draft plan to bring to the Deans and Directors Meeting in March 2015 for feedback and direction from the field.

At our retreat the Board endorsed an official submission to the FCC supporting the American Library Association’s position on Net Neutrality.

Instructional Equipment and Library Materials (IELM) has been funded again this year. However, there is a significant change. The State budget allocation put IELM and deferred maintenance funding into one line item. Local Districts have been given the flexibility to allocate funding between the two elements at their discretion. Further information can be found at: http://www.ebudget.ca.gov/2014-15/pdf/Enacted/BudgetSummary/HigherEducation.pdf

I encourage our libraries to share on the ccl-exec listserv any local developments with reference to the presence/absence of library funding within the IELM pot.

The Chancellor’s Office has launched several initiatives this year. A major initiative with millions of dollars of funding concerns College Equity Plans. To be eligible for these funds Colleges must submit plans by November 2014. College student equity plans focus on increasing access, course completion, ESL and basic skills completion, degrees, certificates and transfer for students. General information is located on the Chancellor’s Office website at http://extranet.cccco.edu/Divisions/StudentServices/StudentEquity.aspx

CCL is a solid organization that is making a difference for our colleges. We have advocates in the Community College System and the Chancellor’s Office. Board members provide a voice for the library community in many settings, including CCCCIO Executive Board, Library and Learning Resource Programs Advisory Committee (LLRPAC), and Telecommunications and Technology Advisory Committee (TTAC). These committees play a vital role in the future of libraries in California Community Colleges. We look forward to working together to provide the best opportunities for our students to learn, engage, and create.

Early in the Fall you should receive information regarding the Annual Data Survey. This is a critical survey, which informs the Chancellor’s Office and the public on the use of our facilities, collections, and programs.

Here’s to a fruitful semester. Welcome back!

Tim