From the Presidentís Reports dated September, 2002
http://www.caves.org/nss-business/reports/oct02/pres.html#NSS%20LIBRARY%20AD%20HOC
NSS LIBRARY AD HOC COMMITTEE:
Dave Luckins (Co-Chairman
Mike Hood (Co-Chairman),
Progress:
The Maine convention saw a fair amount of informal discussion on the future of the NSS Library. At the beginning of August, Dave Luckins, drafted a summary report for distribution to the Board and other interested parties. That report is included for the public record as Attachment BPlans: Two interesting approaches to maintenance of the Library have emerged. Both involve, essentially, committing the Library to the care of a third party.
One approach involves committing care of the library to the newly formed Karst Research facility in Carlsbad, New Mexico. It is proposed the NSS will retain ownership of the library with administrative responsibility in the hands of the facility. Several open issues exist with this approach, including the ability of the NSS to accept donations of private collections from its members, and the relative remoteness of the facility for access by members.
The other approach involves the creation of an independent Library Trust to administer the NSS Library, and presumably the libraries of other speleological organizations. Promoters of this concept envision a structure similar to that used by NSS founders when they created the National Speleological Foundation, Inc. Since this concept, apparently, emerged during the convention, there is a fair amount of work needed before the concept could be employed. Promoters suggest the library would remain in its current facility while money is raised; first to provide a professional librarian and then to locate the library in an appropriate, more central facility. (This concept has received some indications of financial support from a few members.) Both concepts are interesting and both have significant open issues that require resolution before action may be taken. The committee chairs note the inclusion of a motion concerning the Library on the agenda. It is our opinion the motion is premature. We suggest three actions are needed. First, the promoters of the Library Trust need to develop their concept and to identify a champion for the concept. Second, there should be a meaningful "open issues" list developed for each approach. Third, reasonable responses need to be developed that address the ěOpen Issues.î
Attachment B:Ý NSS Ad Hoc Library Committee Discussion Paper
http://www.caves.org/nss-business/reports/oct02/pres.html#Attachment%20B
This paper is being concurrently circulated to the NSS Executive Committee, NSS Board of Governors, and the NSS Ad Hoc Library Committee for review and discussion. (It should be noted, the views are those of the author and have not had prior review by members of the committee.)
The intent of this paper is to provide a summary overview of concepts that have been proposed for the future of the NSS Library; to suggest next steps; and to (broadly) identify where support may reside for future actions. The reader is cautioned that the author has provided his own summary of the merits of each concept; supporters of a particular concept may choose to provide their own input and such input would be welcomed.
The Concepts
Four basic concepts for a future NSS library have emerged. Naturally, there are permutations around each concept, but in general, they fit into the following areas:
1. Do Nothing
Supporters of the "Do Nothing" approach make three general arguments for their position
… The Library is not a significant asset of the Society and, as such, does not merit allocation of additional resources
… The Society faces other, more pressing, challenges and focusing on the Library dilutes efforts in those areas.
… The argument that we need to upgrade our library to accept donations from private collectors is overstated and there are no firm indications such donations are pending or comptemplated.
…
2. Construct a New Library facility and Improve Support for the Library.
Supporters of this approach tend to view the Library as part of a broader plan for the Society and cite the following concepts
… The Library is a significant asset of the Society supporting a fundamental objective of the Society to ěeducateÖî and to ěstudy...î
… The current status and, perceived lack of use, is the result of prior administrationsí lack of priority in developing the Library.
… Significant, private collections exist among NSS members and these members are seeking to donate their collections to an appropriate facility to ensure long-term protection of their collections.
… Donors of private collections will also provide funding to support maintance of their collections.
… A well-founded strategic plan for the future of the Society must include a viable Library.
… The current NSS Office/Bookstore/Library will become inadequate for our operations in the near term (five years?) and serious planning for replacement facilities must commence. Supporters of a new Library strongly assert outside funding would support a new library facility that could include offices and bookstore facilities.
…
3. Transfer the Library to an Outside Facility
Actually, there are two, distinct, approaches under this concept. For lack of better terms, Iíll describe one as the Karst Research Proposal and the other as the Trust Proposal.
3A. The Karst Research Proposal
Supporters of this concept have many of the same ideas as the supporters favoring construction of a new NSS Library.
… The Library is a significant asset of the Society supporting a fundamental objective of the Society to ěeducateÖî and to ěstudy...î
… The current status and, perceived lack of use, is the result of prior administrationsí lack of priority in developing the Library.
In addition they see the NSS as unwilling or unable to take necessary steps to further the development of the Library. As such, they believe an association with the Karst Research Institute will:
… Provide a safe and secure facility for the Library will retaining NSS Ownership.
… Establish a relationship with a, potentially, influential karst facility.
… Provide the potential for private collectors to donate their collections to the NSS within the agreement with the Karst Institute.
A comment may be in order at this point as to why the Karst Research Institute would want our collection. While they can point to their own rationale, there is an implicit acknowledgement of the value of our collection. It is difficult to have a research facility without suitable research materialsÖour library seems to provide that foundation.
3B. A Library Trust
Discussion of this idea emerged during the Maine Convention. The idea is to spin off the NSS Library to a non-profit Library Foundation or Trust. The model for this approach comes from the approach taken by earlier NSS leaders when they moved NSS financial assets into the National Speleological Foundation to provide long-term stewardship of NSS assets. The view would be to maintain the library, in the short-term, in our Huntsville facility while funding is developed to move the Library to a more permanent facility. There are serious indications that funding would be immediately available to provide, at least, a part-time professional librarian within the NSS facility if this approach was adopted.
Like the supporters of the Karst Research Approach, supporters of this concept cite the following:
… The Library is a significant asset of the Society supporting a fundamental objective of the Society to ěeducateÖî and to ěstudy...î
… The current status and, perceived lack of use, is the result of prior administrationsí lack of priority in developing the Library.
… In addition, supporters believe other karst organizations will, over time, see a benefit to housing their libraries within the Trust.
… Private donors are most likely to favor this approach as long-term viable repositories of their collections.
… This concept is a ěnaturalî for ěoutsideî funding.
… Control of the Library would remain with the NSS with administration in the hands of individuals who have a dedicated interest in maintaining the library.
Whatís Next?
Have we captured all of the potential ideas for the Library? My sense is there are more ideas but, within the above, we likely have the essence of a plan for the future of the NSS Library.
Do we need to act NOW? Supporters of three of the ěactionî plans will say yes, but, unless there is a compelling urgency to the Karst Research proposal that hasnít surfaced, it would appear we have sufficient time for prudent reflection and membership discussion. (This position is offered while recognizing our obligation for a timely response to the Karst Research proposal.)
Additional details are required for each concept to place them on equal footing for public discussion. I would like to undertake to change the concept of the ad Hoc Library committee to include supporters of all the of above concepts and to change the charter of the committee to require it to prepare an objective analysis of the four concepts including preliminary implementation plans for each.
Public Discussion: Assuming ěDo Nothingî is not your preferred result, Board action at this point would be premature. There is a need for public discussion, either in the NSS News or a presentation at the Congress of Grottos (or combinations of both) in order to have member input and discussion.
Who Cares?
Interesting question. In general, the three concepts involving changes seem to be supported by members who have a long-term interest in the library and by members who have enjoyed leadership roles within the society. Itís safe to say this issue seems to ělight upî our long-term influential members and is, in turn driven by their interest. Does this issue ělight-upî the general membership? Thatís a harder question to answer without a more public discussion of the issue.
The two concepts to move day-to-day operation of the library out of NSS hands generated serious discussion at the Maine Convention, but Iím not sure the supporters of either plan had an opportunity to sit down with each other to find a common ground and approach. I donít not know if the two concepts are mutually exclusive or if the supporters of each would be willing to support the other.