For Information ?
SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
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S.00-49
OFFICE OF THE VICE-PRESIDENT, RESEARCH
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Memorandum
To: Members of Senate
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FROM:
Bruce P. Clayman, Chair
Senate Library Committee
Vice President, Research
SuaJEcr:
SLC -
lB
Students ?
DATE:
April 18, 2000
I am pleased to provide the attached report on the consideration by the Senate Library
Committee (SLC) of the suggestion that the SFU Library reinstate free Library privileges for
local high school students enrolled in an International Baccalaureate program.
Recruitment of excellent students, graduate and undergraduate, has always been a very high
priority of mine. As some members of Senate are aware, over the years I have visited a large
number of high schools throughout the Province, presenting more than
85
talks on low
temperature physics, with the goal of attracting the best students to SF0. I have presented
undergraduate entrance awards at high school graduation ceremonies, with that same goal. At the
graduate level, I instituted Special Graduate Entrance Scholarships and a number of other
measures in order to attract the best students to SF0.
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However, after weighing the costs against the possible benefits, I find that I agree with the
recommendation of the Librarian and the decision of the SLC not support the reinstatement of
free Library privileges to local lB students. I will be pleased to participate in discussion of this
matter at the next meeting of Senate.
c. L. Copeland
enclosure
2O-AO
Senate Library Committee
International Baccalaureate Students
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0
Background:
At the December, 1999 Senate meeting, the Library
was
asked to review the cancellation of the program
which in the past had provided free Library cards
and
Library tours to International Baccalaureate (IB)
students. Prior to August 31, 1996 this program had been in place with the goal of attracting a poten-
tially outstanding pool of students to SPU.
Previously, the Senate Library Committee (SLC) had expressed interest in extending such privileges to
other students with equivalent potential, for example Advanced Placement students. The Library con-
sulted with Mr. Nick Heath in 1994 as to the value of such a strategy. He felt that free access had not
impacted on lB students' subsequent registration at SPU. This led to reconsideration and dropping of the
suggestion of extending free privileges.
Reductions in the Library's operating budget resulted in cutbacks in staffing and services to members of
the
SFU
community; for example, Library tours were eliminated for
SFU
students. These also led to the
1996 decision to eliminate the free borrowing service and tours for lB students. The Library's operating
budget
has
not increased since that time, although the acquisitions budget has increased substantially.
The Registrar has confirmed that free access for lB students would not significantly support their re-
cruiting strategy and would create difficulties due to inequities with respect to other
highly qualified
high school students.
Members of the public, including lB students
and
other high school students, may use most, but not all,
of the Library's resources in person at no cost. If they purchase an external user's card for $50 per an-
num, they may borrow most circulating Library materials and may access on-line services in the Li-
brary.
Library Recommendation:
After reviewing the history and current situation with the lB teacher who raised the initial concerns and
with the Library Planning Committee, the Librarian, Pro Tem recommended against re-instituting a pro-
gram of issuing free Library cards to TB or other high school students.
SLC Committee Discussion and Action (March 27, 2000):
With respect to borrowing privileges, the committee noted that materials borrowed by lB students would
directly reduce the access of SFU
students, faculty and staff to those same materials and noted the lack
of evidence of benefits of providing free Library cards to lB students. The continuation of the $50 an-
nual fee for external users was considered a reasonable compromise. The committee voted unanimously
to accept the Librarian, Pro tem's recommendations.
At the SLC, there was
no discussion of Library tours for lB students, reflecting in my opinion the con-
tinued need to conserve scarce personnel resources and the inability of the Library to provide tours for
SFU
students. The specific problems raised by the teacher were dealt with separately by the Librarian,
Pro Tem.
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17
Bruce
W
Clayman,
C-0—
6ar4_^_
Chair
Senate Library Committee
C:\BPCDocumeats\SLC-1B2.doc
