University of Virginia Library

Student Response Disappointing

The different views quoted
by Mr. Grimwood, some of
which are news to me, do not
represent to my knowledge
the Committee's formal
position at this time. We will
not report until the late spring.

References, for example, to
the recommendations of the
Sub-Committee on the
Undergraduate Library refer to
a summary of hearings that the
Library Committee held for
student and faculty on the
undergraduate library. It was
not a formal recommendation.
Mr. Crosby, chairman of the
sub-committee, made an
excellent report to the full
committee to guide its
thinking.

In addition, I know no
member of the Library
Committee from the sciences
who disputes the need for an
Undergraduate Library. I can
only wonder about Mr.
Grimwood's sources.

The President is hardly
stifling a full discussion of
different alternatives to use
Clark Hall by engaging a
prestigious library consultant
(Mr. Metcalf of Harvard) and
by having the committee and
the library staff present to him
their views, however, different
the opinions of the individual
committee members may be,
on how Clark Hall might be
used until someone can find $7
million or so for an
undergraduate library.

I hope these remarks
provide useful information that
might help the discussion of
library needs, including Clark
Hall. More importantly, I hope
that they dispel groundless
charges and innuendos that
those responsibly concerned
for building a library system
comparable to the best in the
country are either shirking
their duties or consciously
seeking to undermine the
educational effort of the
University.

***

In your March 27 issue, Mr.
Donn Kessler says that "the
Library Committee, despite
overwhelming student
opposition and a special report
by the dean of University
librarians, voted to approve
'Gar Shannon's (sic) order to
place an undergraduate library
in the Law School."

Mr. Kessler must go to
Library Committee meetings
that I haven't attended. I do
know that on November 29 the
Library Committee passed and
sent to the President the
following resolution:
"Resolved, that the University
Library Committee accepts
wholeheartedly the principles
of Mr. Metcalf's letter of
November 6 1971."

Mr. Metcalf is the "dean of
University librarians" referred
to by Mr. Kessler. Meanwhile,
many of us concerned about
library facilities and services
have been wondering where we
can find $7 million to build a
new University Undergraduate
Library—that all of us, not just
Mr. Kessler, want.

As for student participation
in thinking about an
undergraduate library and in
presenting a strong case for
one, there are grounds to be a
bit disappointed in the student
response to the Library
Committee's invitation to
present views at hearings held
in the fall.

After sending over 40 letters
to Student Council, student
organizations, and student
leaders, five students showed
up at the hearings, including
two members of the Library
Committee and (in fairness)
Mr. Kessler.