from the group's charge: The Library Leadership Team (LLT) works together to set strategic directions for the Library and to align departmental priorities and values. LLT creates and supports an inclusive culture for both Library staff and users.
Membership as of 9/19/23:
Beth Bouloukos
Laura Evans
Martin Garnar
Mike Kelly
Susan Kimball
Missy Roser
Sarah Walden McGowan
from the group's charge: The Library Leadership Council serves as a consultative and advisory body for the Library Leadership Team on matters of policy and process within the library as well as for topics for which the Leadership Team would like a broader perspective. The Council is also a forum in which members may raise issues for consideration by the body or the Leadership Team. The goal is to have an inclusive, transparent, and participatory culture around decision-making.
Membership as of 9/19/23:
Maryanne Alos
Beth Bouloukos
Suzie Bradley
Ellis Butler
Stephanie Capsuto
Katherine Caughlin
Kelly Dagan
Bridget Dahill
Blake Doherty
Laura Evans
Martin Garnar
Mike Kelly
Susan Kimball
Alana Kumbier
Jenna Lanterman
Nick Laurel
Mariah Leavitt
Johanna Radding
Christina Raus
Missy Roser
Sarah Walden McGowan
From the group's charge: The Library’s Assessment Group serves as a resource to all library departments, strengthening our ability to be guided by data and evidence in our approach to library services, spaces, and resources. The group’s work centers library values around patron privacy and data security.
Membership as of 05/01/23
Kelly Dagan
Susan Kimball, chair
Jenna Lanterman
The Collection Development Group is a standing committee of librarians to:
Membership as of 01/06/2022
Dawn Cadogan
Stephanie Capsuto
Kelly Dagan
Blake Doherty
Sharon Domier
Laura Evans, co-chair
Martin Garnar
Rebecca Henning
Mike Kelly
Susan Kimball
Alana Kumbier
Missy Roser, co-chair
Sara Smith
Sarah Walden McGowan
The Digital Programs Group provides input on the strategic direction and development of the library’s digital program. Its immediate and future activities include:
Membership as of 09/20/2023:
Laura Evans
Martin Garnar
Kate Gerrity
Rachel Jirka
Mike Kelly
Alana Kumbier
Tim Pinault
Sara Smith
Sarah Walden McGowan, chair
From the group's charge: The Discovery Group reviews the library’s discovery ecosystem and provides input and suggestions for improving discoverability and accessibility of the library’s collections. The group will provide critical feedback about discovery needs including but not limited to: reviewing our implementation of EBSCO Discovery Service (EDS) and identifying gaps in discovery and accessibility, documenting issues, advocating for changes, integration of EDS and other discovery platforms into the library website, and generating a comprehensive understanding of discovery tool operations and intersections to ensure a holistic approach to discovery of library resources across collections and platforms.
Membership as of 09/1/23:
Johanna Radding, chair
Christina Barber
Kelly Dagan
Steve Heim
Hannah Brooks-Motl
From the group's charge: The Amherst College Library is committed to diversity, inclusion, and equity, which we see as central to fostering a work environment where everyone feels valued, and to providing the best possible services to our community. To this end, the Library Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee provides leadership and guidance on diversity and inclusion efforts in the library in accordance with the strategic plan, including:
Membership as of 8/22/2023
Katherine Caughlin, co-chair
Alana Kumbier, co-chair
Nick Laurel
Sarah Walden McGowan
A list of committee activities can be found here.
The full charge for the committee and meeting minutes on the library staff intranet (for internal use only)
From the group's charge: The Library Emergency Planning Group maintains the library’s emergency response plan and takes the lead in liaising with campus and community partners around emergency preparedness; providing information and training to library staff; and coordinating the library response in emergencies.
Membership as of 09/12/2023:
Susan Kimball
Jenna Lanterman
Nick Laurel
Mariah Leavitt, chair
Missy Roser
Sarah Walden McGowan
The Program Committee coordinates the Library's non-instructional programming, including speakers, gallery exhibits, and social events.
Contact the chair for further information.
Membership as of 10/04/23:
Blake Doherty, chair
Margaret Dakin
Kate Gerrity
Kenneth Kunes
Christina Raus
The Scholarly Communication Committee meets regularly to keep abreast of the issues shaping the communication of ideas in the world of scholarship, and who take responsibility for providing information on these issues to the broader Amherst College community. Its focus is on understanding the environment shaping scholarly communications and translating its implications helpfully and effectively to the community.
The Committee will serve a number of interrelated purposes:
Membership as of 9/20/23
Hannah Brooks-Motl
Stephanie Capsuto, co-chair
Martin Garnar
Johanna Radding
Sarah Walden McGowan, co-chair
Other members of the Amherst College community may be asked to take part in the work of the committee as need and interest suggest.
From the group's charge: The Space Group evaluates the Library’s immediate space needs and recommends strategies to address them, with a goal of creating a more welcoming, comfortable and effective physical environment for Library users and staff. The Space Group coordinates the process of setting priorities and developing projects that meet this goal.
Membership as of 09/19/23:
Suzie Bradley, chair
Laura Evans
Mike Kelly
Susan Kimball
Missy Roser
Currently on hiatus
From the group's charge: The Web Content & Integration Group provides overall leadership for the development and maintenance of the Amherst College Library’s Web presence.
Membership as of 09/18/19:
Christina Barber
Suzie Bradley
Kelly Dagan, co-chair
Bridget Dahill, co-chair
Blake Doherty
Johanna Radding
The Five College Librarians Council (FCLC) oversees the Five College Library Repository Collection, a shared automated library system, and the consortial direct borrowing arrangement. FCLC also coordinates the work of Five College library committees and task forces, and manages the Five College library budget.
See the Five College Librarians Council page for a full list of current library committees and working groups across the Five College Libraries.
From the group's charge: The purpose of the Social Committee is to create and provide social and recreational events which are geared to the interests and needs of the library staff.
Membership as of 10/31/23:
Nick Laurel, chair
Suzie Bradley
Katherine Caughlin
Clara Marino