The library is worth funding
Dear Dr. Wood, Dr. Lapping, and the whole USM community:
As you examine ways to cut the budget, please also look for valuable resources to sustain.
One of these resources is the library.
Librarians on all three campuses regularly collaborate with each other and with subject faculty to foster information literacy. The Association of College & Research Libraries states that information literacy “equips (students) with the critical skills necessary to become independent lifelong learners.”
Is that not the very goal of a university?
Cuts to library budgets would hamper the staff in carrying out this important work. Furthermore, the library has already been proactive in examining its practices. It has begun to implement service recommendations from the LibQUAL+ T survey, for example.
The library-like the university itself-is an investment. It needs adequate funding in order to offer the best return on the investment. Please consider alternatives to cuts.
Please support the library that supports this university.
Thank you very much!
Maureen Perry
LAC Reference Librarian
Vote for me
Hello USM Students, my name is Ben Skillings and I am running for Student Body President.
First, I would like to commend our outgoing President AJ Chalifour for his dedication to the USM Student Body, and also thank him for setting a great example for student leaders. AJ stood out as a real leader because of his ability to foster relationships between administrators, faculty, and members of student government.
If elected, I will ensure that the USM structure allows for students to participate in the decision making process of the administration. If I am president, the USM Student Senate will contribute more to USM’s operations by actively participating in university committees and have input on the management of different university offices- and reporting back to me and the Senate. This opportunity to build upon the relationship between USM students and faculty has been there for a very long time, yet it goes un-tapped.
There was a collective epiphany at Change ’08 when a listening panel of USM faculty and key administrators heard concerns from students. We agreed that we want the same things and realized we are equally invested in doing the work needed. We also agreed that students, faculty and administrators are equally valuable to the success of USM.
While it bothers me some that we needed to have a day-long conference to come to those conclusions, it provides an element I believe will be essential to our future. The shared belief or “common myth” of the absolute need to work together (or USM will fail) and will allow us to interact in a much more meaningful way.
As Student Body President:
1. I won’t give students more power- I will make they know that they already have it.
2. I will advocate for increased enrollment and retention at USM.
3. I will ensure that the Student Senate and BSO function closer to their potential.
4. Unlike years past, Division III football to USM will become a serious conversation.
Sincerely,
Ben Skillings