LETTERS: KENT LIBRARY TO HOLD FOCUS GROUPS

To the editor:

I'm writing in response to the recent letter you published from John Patterson in which he pointed out deficiencies in Kent Library's holdings. Since beginning my position at Kent Library in July, I've been gratified that students at Southeast Missouri State University are vocal in their support for developing good library collections and services. Last year the university administration mandated that internal and external reviews be done on the library. Both resulting reports identified deficiencies in Kent Library's collections, services and facility. Addressing those deficiencies will take time, but I want to assure you the process is under way.

Space and program planners from Hidell Associates have been contracted to work with the newly established library master planning committee. Bill Hidell and Dr. Florence Mason will be on campus the week of Nov. 30 to conduct a series of focus groups to identify what those in attendance would like to see in Kent Library in the future. Open focus groups are scheduled in Kent 306 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Dec. 1 and 10:30 a.m. to noon and 5:30 to 7 p.m. Dec. 3. All university students, staff, faculty and community members are encouraged to attend one of these open sessions.

The book-cleaning operation Mr. Patterson mentioned in his letter refers to a gift of very old volumes of the government document serials sent from the Kansas City Public Library. The processing behind the library involved exposing the volumes to ultraviolet rays in order to keep them from deteriorating further. This generous gift from the Kansas City Public Library has allowed us to acquire important historical materials which we would not have been able to purchase.

I would encourage all who use Kent Library to check with the reference staff when they are unable to locate the materials they need. Frequently, we have full-text articles available through our periodicals databases which serve some users' needs when books aren't available for one reason or another.

SARAH CRON, Dean of Academic Information Services and Director of Kent Library

Southeast Missouri State University

Cape Girardeau