Minutes of the Benefits Committee
October 19, 2001

Present: Kathryn Hammond Baker, Paula Ebbitt, Michael Hopper, Zuzana Nagy, Kathy Hunter-Rutter, Enith Vardaman, Mallory Stark (minutes), Jeff Cronin, Margaret Cianfarini

Absent: Michael Hopper

Kathy reported on the meeting of the Librarians' Assembly Executive Committee.  The Librarian's Assembly meeting will be held on November 14, 2001 from 2:00-3:30.  Larry Summers will speak.  The remainder of the meeting will include reports on various projects occurring throughout the Harvard Libraries including the digital initiative, and the conversion to Aleph.  The room for this meeting has not yet been decided.

Professional Development Program

Mallory reported on the Professional Development program being planned by the committee to be held this semester.  The event has been scheduled for Tuesday, December 4, 2001 from 9:30-11:00 to be held in the Lamont Forum Room.  As planned, it will include a panel of speakers on opportunities for professional development available to Harvard library exempt staff.  The speakers will include:

Extended Professional Development Opportunity
Judy Messerle, Librarian of Countway, and on the committee that administers these awards.

Educational Assistance Fund
Joanne Doherty, Director of Human Resources for Harvard, led the review that established this offering.  She will also speak of this fund in relation to regular TAP benefits.

TAP beneficiary
Mallory will contact several suggested exempt staff who have received degrees using TAP benefits.

Scheduling
Mallory will complete the contract for reserving the Lamont Forum Room.

Publicity
Paula graciously agreed to send the email invitation for the event on HUL Info. She will distribute it to the group for comments before sending it.

Refreshments
Kathy will make arrangements for refreshments.

Margaret brought up the issue of how Harvard benefits affect recruiting efforts for librarians.  The group discussed the need for tuition benefits for children and housing subsidies to attract new librarians.

The next meeting will be on Nov. 9 at the Law School Library in the 5th floor Conference Room.  Margaret's directions are provided below:

When you enter the building you will be on the
2nd floor in front of the Circulation Desk. Use your Harvard ID to enter
the library through the turnstiles. Take the elevator to 5. The
Conference Room is the first room on the left.