LFSA Exec - Annual Report - 2025-2026

Library Governance Committee Final Report

Fiscal Year: 2026

Committee Name: Library Faculty and Staff Assembly (LFSA) Executive Committee

Committee Co-Chairs: Rebecca Schroeder and Josh Bolick

Members (with terms): Committee Members - FY 2025-2026 | KU Libraries Faculty and Staff Assembly; Syd McFadden (LSA Vice Chair/Chair Elect), Elspeth Healey (LFA Vice Chair/Chair Elect), Melissa Mayhew (LSA Secretary), Amanda Schlumpberger (LFA Secretary)

 

Standing Charges:       

  • Ensures the orderly and effective operation of LFSA
  • Is the first point of contact for matters affecting all library faculty and staff, save those which are specifically assigned to the respective assemblies or standing committees in the Code, and where appropriate, assigns such matters to standing or ad hoc committees
  • Monitors KU governance issues that may affect LFSA, including the University Senate and the University Senate Committee on Libraries
  • Takes no action contrary to the desires of the LFSA

 

Standing Charges Progress/Accomplishment Summary:

The LFSA Exec ensured the orderly and effective operation of LFSA through virtual meetings via MS Teams and by managing its own dedicated channel in MS Team.  

The LFSA Exec monitored governance issues from University Senate and University Senate Committee on Libraries via reports from these bodies that were presented during the LFSA Fall General Assembly meeting.

LFSA Exec appointed liaisons and faculty and staff membership on appointed LFSA committees.

LFSA issued no special charges to committees.

The LFA chair and LSA chair met and communicated regularly throughout the year to coordinate meeting times and topics and discuss issues of mutual relevance.

LFSA Exec met 7 times via Teams and held one General Assembly Meeting on November 17, 2025. The LFSA General Assembly included:

  • A motion to remove Salaries and Benefits as an LFSA Committee due to UAKU representing faculty in these matters. Motion sent to ballot and subsequently approved by LFSA members and Dean of Libraries. Forwarded to the Committee on the Code, who worked with the Policy Office to make the change to the Code in the Policy Library.
  • A motion for a new standing charge for the Nominating and Balloting Committee to track faculty service for a period of 5 years to assist in recruiting for LFA and LFSA committees was made and sent to ballot. It was subsequently approved by LFSA members and Dean of Libraries. Forwarded to the Committee on the Code, who worked with the Policy Office to make the change to the Code in the Policy Library.
  • Dean discussed how to prioritize what we continue doing and what we choose to stop doing. 

Special Charges:

None.

Special Charges Progress/Accomplishment Summary:

NA

Other Activities or Accomplishments: 

LFSA Exec hosted a governance committee recruiting event on April 22, 2026, in advance of nomination[SR1] [SR2] [SR3] [SR4]  and election season. Coffee and donuts were purchased with recurring funding secured by LFSA[BJ5]  and provided by the Office of the Dean to support shared governance.

Upon approval of ballot initiatives, directed and assisted the Committee on the Code to communicate with the Policy Office and make approved amendments, including removing Salaries and Benefits as an LFSA committee and the addition of a new standing charge for Nominating and Balloting.

LFSA Exec hosted a catered lunch on June 1 to thank everyone who served on any library governance committee in FY26. Catering from Taco Zone was purchased with funding provided by the Office of the Dean to support shared governance.

Potential Charges for Future Committees/Recommendations:

Consider removing or revising the “requirements” page of the CRSA web space. What is on this page does not seem to be requirements and only relates to the faculty promotion and tenure process. (Carried over from previous year due to no action taken).

Review KU Libraries Faculty and Staff Assembly site and all subpages to ensure accuracy and completeness, particularly in recent years.

Consider charging the Committee on the Code to conduct a review of the Code of Governance for instances where simple format changes (that don’t require approval by the body) can increase clarity, ensuring consistency throughout. For example, standing charges for various committees are formatted differently. 

Assuming that funding to support LFSA/LFA/LSA is continued, consider replicating the library governance appreciation lunch. 

Review all committees’ annual reports for recommendations.

Please review the Committee’s portion of the Library Governance website and the Code. Does it need updating/correcting?: Yes.

  • On the LFSA site, LFSA is repeatedly referred to as the Library Faculty and Professionals Assembly, which isn’t its name. Update all references to correctly reflect the name of LFSA.
  • “Comments, questions, or concerns for the Library Faculty and Staff Assembly (LFSA) or the LFSA Executive Committee should be submitted through our Qualtrics form. Unless it is indicated as urgent, your issue will be discussed at the next LFSA Executive Committee meeting.”
    • The underlined Qualtrics form is not monitored. This statement should be updated to direct comments/questions/concerns to members of the Executive Committee.

 

Prepared By: Josh Bolick and Rebecca Schroeder