| Description | Minutes and associated papers of University of Birmingham Library committee. There is a complete set of minutes from 7 February 1901 to 4 May 1989, and a separate sequence of papers consisting of agendas, meeting papers including reports and memoranda, and correspondence, as well as copies of some minutes of meetings, which dates from March 1920 to October 1971. This sequence is likely to have been kept by the University Librarian as a personal record of business of the committee.
The Library committee was established by University Council as a committee of Senate on 30 January 1901. It was responsible for the internal management of the library, and the purchase of books up to the limit of the grants made by Council. The general affairs of the library were remitted to Senate, which appointed a Library committee, consisting of the Principal, Vice-Principal, and two members of each Faculty which would report to Senate. At first this meant two members from the Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Science, and Faculty of Medicine, but members from the Faculty of Commerce were appointed when this Faculty was established in 1902. Senate presented quarterly accounts to Council for approval and payment. The Library committee was empowered to elect its own honorary officers, and the Librarian was a permanent member of the committee.
A statement inserted in the front of the volume described at UB/COM/9/1/3 and dated January 1961 states that the Library committee was integrated into the administrative structure of Senate committees by having a representative of the Registry to take the minutes, and to assist the Librarian in the preparation of the agenda. The report of the Library committee to Senate was agreed by the Librarian with the Registry.
In the early 1970s, as a result of recommendations of the Review Body appointed to consider the University's role, constitution and functions, changes to the structure and working of the Library committee were proposed. Additional student members and research staff members joined the committee, and non-professorial staff from each Faculty and qualified Library staff were also appointed to the Library committee from October 1972
The Library committee was abolished in 1989 on the recommendation of the Working Party to Review University Committees responsible for Information Services. It was proposed that a Library Users Advisory Group be established in its place |