Rotary File for November 24, 2015

 

Carmelita Pickett-- Speaker

Kermit Shecker-- IC Noon

Lara Celeghin-- Exchange Student

 

 

Deb Dunkhase is substituting for Myrene Hoover while Myrene is in Europe visiting family.  She talked about the importance of being thankful and challenged everyone to write a note thanking someone this week.  She read a thank you note from the librarian at Coralville Central thanking the club for the book donated to their collection. 

 

Peggy Doerge reminded everyone to sign up for the chili dinner at her house set for Dec. 7 at 6 p.m.  This month opener event doubles as a fireside chat for those who are newer members of the club.

 

Mike Messier announced officer nominations during next week's meeting.  In two weeks there will be elections.

 

Deb Dunkhase announced that there would be a fund-raiser at Mellow Mushroom at the Coral Ridge Mall on January 19 for AM Rotary.  It will be a trivia contest where we can have up to 30 teams of 4 with each person paying $25 entry fee.  Mellow Mushroom will contribute hors d'oeuvres for each table and then each attendee can order drinks and food on their own.  The full $25 for each attendee will come back to the club.

 

There were many happy bucks moments shared among members.

 

 

November program chair indicated that November is literacy month and hence the focus on literacy for the programs during the month.  She introduced Carmelita Pickett of the University of Iowa who talked about the library in the 21st Century.  She talked about libraries from the standpoint of changes taking place in the 21st century.

 

The University libraries are there to support research and teaching needs of the faculty and scholars.  The level of technological support given to scholars over the years has greatly increased. 

 

One issue of concern is that of open access, or unfettered access to information.  Unfortunately, someone has to pay for access to information resources and increasingly that is the job of the university library.  The research library community tries to encourage faculty and researchers to publish textbooks using open access, but when materials are published through standard publishing houses the costs can become prohibitive especially for students on limited budgets.  Publishing houses have not yet resolved the issue of how to price electronic resources, but they continue in dialog with the academic community about the pricing issue.  For university libraries the escalating costs and budgeting for these costs continues to be a significant hurdle.