- Hi, I'm.

- Eric Ford for made Here.

- Vermont State University.

- Students Lily Dotan - and Will Smith produced.

- The film Error 404 books - not found following.

- The university's -attempt in 2023 -to close the school's - physical libraries.

- And go entirely digital, - a decision that sparked.

- Nationwide controversy and was ultimately -rescinded.

-You can watch error 404 -Books Not Found and other great made here films - streaming on our website.

- And through the PBS app.

- Enjoy the film.

- And thanks for watching.

Welcome to the library.

- !

This evening we are discussing.

- !

The future of public libraries.

!

We have a wonderful panel of tho !

leaders and we're going to be lo !

What does a public library look !

and what are the possibilities m !

We invite you to sit back, relax and enjoy this program.

Leaders of the Vermont State.

- Colleges updated lawmakers.

- !

Today on its troubling financial.

- VSC says a controversial.

- Decision to get rid of paper - books in libraries and.

- Restructure athletics - is part of the plan to.

- Trim $5 million this year.

- It's really going to become.

- The best of both worlds.

- The colleges will move.

- From physical books - to online resources.

- At all of its main locations.

- However, the library spaces.

- Will stay open for studying, - and it will be staffed.

- If students have questions.

- Better Together - -that's the hope from.

- Vermont State University - leaders as they celebrate.

- !

The official unification today.

- !

Full-time faculty members took a.

- !

of no confidence in university I at all levels.

Now members -!

Tell me the decision to make the -!

Libraries all-digital went again !

faculty, students, and community - and they say university.

- !

Leaders aren't willing to compro - !

These are disastrous changes, an.

- !

we're going to protest them all.

Books, not bots!

Books, not bots!

Books, not bots!

Books, not bots!

Books, not bots!

Books, not bots!

!

[Rumblings from a gathering crow !

We wanted to focus it on campus.

- Since we have announced.

- These two decisions, - !

it has become more of a question.

- Answering session.

I do want it to be noted -!

That today's meeting is being he -!

While my colleagues are teaching !

And I just wanted to make you aw of how ableist this decision youre making is.

A good college library is the keystone !

and the intellectual stronghold.

-Gonna be honest with you, -!

Youve got a lot of people upset - !

A lot of people really not pleas.

- With your decision.

We need more books, not less.

- !

Why can we not have both a digit.

- !

and libraries full of physical b - I just want to say that.

- I think it's insane - we have to beg you not to.

- Take away our library.

- !

And the sub-team is not involved.

- In this decision to eliminate the print collection.

- The zero-sum game that.

- You have created here -!

by going for all of one thing, -in lieu of the other, was a poor decision.

This is a rhetorical question -!

Because I do feel that I know th -!

But I want to know why they are !

and why the chancellor is not !...history of the town of Castle !...forced to do every single thi - !...and are expected to have some.

- Of the physical resources of the library - !...that I dont believe were a p. - The decisions and the - !

continuous decisions that are ca.

- Such frustration and upset.

[Applause] - !

Thank you, everyone, for coming.

- To share your - !

Im going to say "reactions to.

- The libraries decision."

!

[Protests and chatter from audie - !

Yeah, "decision about the librar."

- lets say that.

!

[Audience member] Learn English!

I'm also deeply humiliated.

!

[Audience member] You should be.

Yeah, I know I should.

!

I should be deeply humiliated.

!

And you have accomplished that g absolutely, you have.

- Vermont as a whole struggles.

- !

With this idea of progressivenes !

and being really open and accept - not necessarily educated.

- On how to do that best.

- !

And then we have another part of.

- !

Vermont that is extremely racist - !

And I think we get a mix of that.

- As you do on most campuses, - you know, where a lot of.

- !

Blended cultures and communities.

And I think - !

there were a lot of students tha.

- !

to be open and accepting to him, - !

just didn't know how, and a lot.

- !

that were extremely racist towar I don't think that !

Castleton was as welcoming as it !

but I think it was a good reflec !

of our campus climate and where !

Vermont State University student - !

I'm writing to share with you tw.

- !

transformation decisions that ha - !

made regarding athletics and our.

- In making these decisions, - our goal is to strengthen.

- !

And expand access to our athleti - offerings and provide greater.

- !

Equity of access to our library - !

Libraries serve a crucial role.

- !

in the academic life of a univer.

- That is why I announce.

- !

Vermont State University's new -all-digital academic library, -effective July 1, 2023.

- We listened to our students.

- As we made this decision.

- !

We will transform the physical I.

- !

to respond to what works for stu - today and best supports them.

- !

Holistically on their educationa - !

This change will eliminate a sma.

- Of positions on our campuses.

-We recognize the service, -dedication, and expertise - !

they have brought to our campuse.

- And we are grateful to them.

- Thank you for your continued.

- !

Patience, dedication, and hard - work as we move toward.

- Opening the new university.

Yours, Parwinder.

- Tuesday with the email.

- !

That had gone out very late in t !

it had talked about the sports - and how we were going to be.

- !

Moving to an all-digital library.

- And so I immediately texted.

- !

A screenshot of that to, like, a - of students and friends.

- !

And said like, "Is this for real" !

If so, literally, I said, "I'm g" - !

I was one of the few that actual.

- !

received the survey for the libr !

I was one of the few that actual -!

received the survey for the libr -!

The survey was out of probably 5 - but that was across all.

- !

Of the campuses, not just Castle - !

There was only about 130 people.

- !

from Castleton that actually res to the survey out of however -!

Many Castleton students there ar.

To the survey out of however -!

Many Castleton students there ar - !

Everyone started to kind of real.

- !

it was real, that there was ment - you know, -donating all the books.

- And repurposing the library.

Thursday I met with Eva -!

And a couple other people in the -and I said, "What can we do?"

!

Started making posters, going ar -we printed fliers, -just trying to get people in, - !

and trying to engage the communi.

- !

because we found it unacceptable.

- For what the initial plan.

- That we were given was - !

which was an all-digital library.

- !

with the space being repurposed.

!

There's different ways to combat -the decision, potentially, -in making our voices known.

- And I said, "Well, why don't."

- !

We just all walk out of classes !

and make a big fuss about it?

-We've all been, -!

You know, kind of charged with - working on how we're going.

- To merge the library system for months, years.

- !

There are a lot of really good t. - That are coming out of this, !

Having one -!

Having all the instruction libra - !

in the whole system contribute.

- To instructional materials.

- !

My colleague Miranda has been on.

- !

the "sub-team theyve called it" which is the group, -!

You know, representing the diffe -!

Libraries, working on the plan.

!

She had no idea that this was ha !

At least within the library sub- - I was not aware of.

- Pressures to move to an - !

Actually, I should say I was com.

- !

unaware of any pressure to move a completely digital library.

-The president's plan, -when it was announced, - was a complete surprise to.

- Everybody on the team.

- You know, obviously it's been.

- !

Personally really painful becaus - people who I'm really close.

- !

To were laid off as part of this !

But the people making the decisi - !

listening to the professional.

- !

expertise of our staff and are k - making decisions that aren't.

- Well-informed, and don't - !

really understand the full conte.

- !

and implications of the decision.

- We were repeatedly reminded.

- !

Of the obligation to save money help with the system - meeting its mandate.

- From the legislature.

- Our libraries, across.

- All campuses, were struggling - !

with having enough staff, with h. - !

enough funding, even before this !

And at first I didn't even belie - I thought it must be a joke.

- Or a misunderstanding.

!

And then I came in to work and my boss had been crying.

- !

They had barely 15 minutes warni.

- !

before the rest of the campus kn.

- We were all kind of shocked.

- And they brought - !

the human resources director her.

- Who we'd never met before, - !

to come meet with the people who.

- !

you know, getting layoff notices - !

So I started researching other w. - People saved their libraries, !

and I went up to my boss, Stepha !

and said, "We're not going to ju."

We got the survey results.

!

It was really a superficial, bri - !

They didn't really ask the stude.

- The questions that would, - !

you know, determine whether this.

- !

was actually what they wanted.

- So that, I thought.

- That was really disingenuous.

[Chatter from crowd] Today were not quiet.

!

Were here as a sit-in protest b - !

Castleton University wants to ta.

- !

away all of -not all of the books -but most of the books, -!

And turn us into a digital libra I'm here because !

this isn't the Castleton that I !

I want to try to make a differen.

We need books.

!

They open up a whole new world f -!

Going digital, you know, we can' -!

like, how many people have read.

We don't see the journey.

We are rolling out the new, !

improved survey for our students - !

Unlike the Canvas survey that wa.

- !

hidden during the beginning of f - when students are their most.

- !

Stressed, we will have the abili - to get students input.

- Throughout the semester.

!

Sometimes people think faculty, we're here to teach, - and especially in physical.

- Education, we might not -come across as scholars, -!

But what libraries have been abl - to provide to me.

- In my development matters.

- You know, this is a process.

- That we're quickly losing and to be able - to lose this ability.

- To work with librarians, - to dive into books, to decide.

- !

If you want to use them or not.

We need these opportunities.

!

Im a professor of biology here !

also the biology program coordin and my bigger role - for two years now is.

- !

President of the Faculty Assembl -!

All those roles I just told you, -you would think - !

that I would have heard a little.

- !

something about what was coming.

- I got the email the same time.

- !

As every other person in the sys -!

So when that email hit my inbox, -!

I was as dumbfounded, I think, a - !

Key stakeholders in decision-mak.

- !

were not invited to the table.

- !

And when you make significant de.

- !

for people and they're not at th - !

that's a patriarchal approach, a.

- !

students should be angry about t I can tell you, faculty are.

!

The decision itself was disturbi !

You're attacking the very core o !

education stands for with a deci !

And so, that's why it's embarras - !

I'm embarrassed to be associated.

- !

with this university after this !

And this is not a threat or an u - !

but I can not stand up in an adm. - !

event and tell families to come if this decision stands.

-Immediately, the day after, -this made national news.

Immediately, the day after, -this made national news -!

In national educational publicat !

And what I got was texts and ema !

And what I got was texts and ema - !

from colleagues across the count.

- !

saying, "This is where you work,".

That's embarrassing.

I hope that students here !

at Castleton and across our stat - and our community members.

- And our faculty continue - to be able to have these.

- !

Memories that make a lifetime.

It's going to be different.

- Dear Vermont State.

- Students, faculty, and staff, - I want to apologize.

- About how our messaging - !

about the athletics and librarie.

- Decisions came out this week.

- !

We needed to talk with individua.

- !

directly impacted by the decisio.

Timing was delayed, -!

And the message and evening meet -!

Invitations came out too late in I am sorry.

The Vermont State University - !

senior leadership voted to be bo.

- !

and embrace an all-new digital I.

- What the cabinet didn't vote.

- !

To do was close the libraries.

- The digital generation.

- Is coming through the door - !

and we need to be prepared to se.

- !

them well with full access for e - !

These decisions are not about.

- !

achieving immediate financial sa.

- They are going to move us.

- !

Forward on a path of sustainabil - !

I stand behind the decisions, bu.

- !

decisions are not the end of the.

They are the beginning.

Thank you, Parwinder.

You judge the -!

Quality of an educational instit !

by the quality of its libraries, and they don't seem to care.

Students are already leaving, - I, myself, will transfer.

- If this goes through.

- Because as it stands.

- Right now, if I leave here -because there's no library, -!

I won't be recommending this sch - !

If we can turn this around, I'll.

- !

going to my friends and being li - !

"Look at what we did, this is."

- !

a great school, a great communit !

you want to be a part of that.

Thats our goal.

!

Id love to say that I have some -!

Great news, or really any news a !

but the board hasn't convened.

- !

I don't know if there's going.

- To be an emergency meeting, - !

I don't know if there's going to.

- !

any sort of discussion about thi.

- That has not been something.

- That has been communicated.

- In my constituency, both as.

- !

Student trustee, as president of - not necessarily as assistant.

- Box office manager, - !

but in all the positions I serve.

- !

my constituency is the student b - !

And if I'm not here for the stud.

- !

body, physically, I'm not doing -I have been, however, -in communication with -!

the president, the chancellor, -!

and the chief academic officer !

since everything has happened.

!

So, they are getting our message - they are hearing everything.

- That's being said, but I don't know -!

Exactly what the next steps are -!

From an administrative standpoin.

- By the end of today, the SGA.

- !

Will issue a formal statement.

- We address what we believe.

- !

Are the five greatest concerns - or needs for our.

- !

Student body in that statement.

- I brought it to the NAACP.

- And a lot of other members - had already seen the.

- Email and were outraged.

!

We wanted to talk about accessib - !

and how that disproportionately.

- !

affects marginalized communities - !

We wanted to really reflect on.

- !

why we're writing the statement, what we intend to say, and how it ties back into.

NAACP as a whole.

- !

A lot of us did attend the rally.

- !

and we did attend the meeting, - !

and listened to what a lot of st. - !

said before we put out our state - trying to get a general idea.

- !

Of what what the students want, - and a lot of us aligned with.

- !

What everyone else was saying.

- !

One of the things that really.

- !

seems to tie all of them togethe - is student involvement.

- In the planning process.

!

We're the ones who are paying th !

We need to have a seat at the ta !

And this is something that the p !

and I talked about, and he was e. He expressed frustration for - the transformation process.

- That he somewhat inherited, - not having students at.

- !

The table that he could talk to.

- We make it clear in our.

- !

Statement that from this point o - this was a sign, we need to.

- !

Have students at every decision.

- !

The students are the ones that w. - !

work here for, or we should be h. You are the ones that are not - only paying the money to go.

- !

Here, but our goal is to educate !

I think the students at all the !

have been just ignored and dismi.

- We had a meeting with faculty.

- !

From Castleton, the Johnson camp - !

the Lyndon campus, and both the.

- !

Randolph and Williston campuses !

The decision alone is enough to - the vote of no confidence.

- !

In many faculty members minds.

!

But as I said, the answer to it is equally as disturbing.

- !

There has been an absolute lack.

- !

leadership from the top-down sin.

It's just further eroded - our confidence in any of the.

- !

Leaders that we currently have.

Over the last two weeks, -!

We've seen an outpouring of voic -!

Concerning Vermont State Univers - !

announcement regarding changes.

- !

to the libraries and athletics.

- !

We value passionate public disco.

- And diverse viewpoints.

- !

To be clear, Vermont State Unive.

- Is not closing its libraries, !

nor is it closing any of five re - !

The state expects the Vermont.

- !

State Colleges System to bring t - !

the residential institutions int.

- !

single, multi-campus, hybrid uni !

and that the transformation resu - !

in the elimination of the $25 mi.

- !

structural deficit within five y !

Maintaining the status quo is no - !

The libraries decision is not si.

- !

about cutting costs, although it - !

to reduce the disproportionate c. - !

of maintaining the physical coll - given their current usage.

- Let us strive to communicate - !

thoughtfully and respectfully wi.

- !

each other as we work together o - !

transformation and towards the s. - !

launch of Vermont State Universi.

With best wishes, Sophie !

Our leadership made two decision - !

both with devastating consequenc.

- To our campuses, - !

and then went on a listening tou.

- !

where they have dug in their hee - and where we see no evidence.

- Of listening with the intent !

to really hear what our students.

- We've got so many kids.

- From different areas - thats bringing different.

- Cultures to this campus.

-Not just to Johnson - -!

You got VTC, you got Castleton.

- !

You've got different campuses.

- !

out here that has different vari !

and diversity of kids that want.

- And the kids that are here.

- !

Are making a change in Vermont.

!

And now you're forcing us out.

!

A physical library is not a priv it's my right.

- My documented disability.

- Requires accommodations by the ADA and Section 504.

- Paper materials are.

- One of my accommodations.

- This denial of accommodations.

- Is unprecedented.

- !

Let's take a look at the America.

- !

Library Association guidelines, the Library Code of Ethics.

!

This decision by the president, -the chancellor, the board, -!

Runs counter to six out of eight of those Code of Ethics.

- VSUs decision claims to make.

- !

The libraries books more access - !

But in reality, this decision ma.

- !

them less accessible to students.

- But the VSU has decided.

- To remove those books, - !

and they're not going to collect.

- Any sort of monetary value - from getting rid of them.

- They will be throwing away - !

a resource that has been paid fo.

- !

generations of VTC and VSU stude - !

We understand that they are the.

- !

ones who ultimately make the dec. - What we are asking for today.

- !

Is that they take into account - !

the needs of the people who are.

- !

most impacted by those decisions - !

We want the hard choices to be d. - !

away from our student experience - and we want you to center.

- The needs of our students, !

and especially our rural student -!

our students with disabilities, -!

students, low-income students, a.

These are the students - -!

These are the reason we exist as -!

Institution, and we are here to - !

When the vision of a transformed.

- !

Vermont State University becomes - !

we will have increased access.

- !

to our educational programs for.

Change is uncomfortable, !

but the fact is, change is neces - !

It is necessary for us to be edu.

- !

relevant, accessible, and afford !

It is also necessary to achieve - the financial sustainability.

- That has long eluded us.

- I have heard from many of you.

- !

Over these past several weeks, - !

and appreciate the time and effo.

- !

it took for you to make your voi - !

Even as we transition to a hybri.

- !

university with a digital librar - !

our library spaces will continue.

- !

to be the heart of our campuses.

- !

This change to library operation.

- Is estimated to achieve !$500,000 in ongoing annual savin - !

We are communicating with stakeh.

- !

including our employees and thei - I pledge to be more inclusive.

- As this work moves forward, !

and I look forward to working wi.

Parwinder Grewal !

I'm going to call this meeting t - !

We have a quorum of the trustees.

- !

and so we would like to get star.

Thank you all for coming.

We have a good crowd here -!

And we will have public comment.

!

Cutting $5 million a year for fi !

is not possible, and keep every.

- Instead of being honest.

- With the legislature and - !

saying, "We can't do this and ke."

- !

Vermont State College system ope - !

you're killing us with a thousan.

- !

And then we won't have any choic we'll be all-digital.

!

I want to make it clear to the p !

when we talk about this five mil it's not cutting.

- It can also be from investing.

- And increasing enrollment.

We cannot cut anymore.

!

We are losing students because o - !

I'm going to use some IPEDS data.

- !

because you used IPEDS data to j - !

at least in part, your decision.

- !

to go digital for the library.

- I will use the same data to.

- Show why this is a mistake.

!

Of 1,911 institutions who report !

only 21 reported they had a digi - !

20 of the 21 institutions that r. - !

that are only online institution - !

We don't have a library problem.

- In Vermont State University, !

we have an administration proble - !

The administration is ignoring.

- The biggest financial problem - that exists, which is.

- The over-administration.

!

We have 788 non-faculty and 243 !

The non-faculty make up 74% of t !

I looked at salaries greater tha !

and we had 34 positions two year !

40 positions last year, and 52 t. - In the Chancellors Office.

- !

Alone, we went from six to 11 to !

That does not sound like a reduc - !

Trust the faculty, trust the stu.

- Trust the staff, !

trust the librarians, trust the -!

and have the humility, please, -!

to completely rescind this plan.

We don't fear change per se, - !

we fear misguided change will.

- !

ruin the institutions that we lo.

Do you know that right now - students are experiencing.

- Extreme mental health issues - !

related to the recent decisions.

- !

about libraries and athletics?

!

Do you understand that faculty a !

are a huge part of our students !

I am not opposed to technology, - !

but I am opposed to the destruct.

- !

of our university step-by-step, !

and it seems insidious to start - !

with the destruction of the libr.

- !

which is the heart of the univer.

Thank you.

[Applause] - Dr. Parwinder Grewal.

- Has tendered his resignation Dr. Parwinder Grewal -has tendered his resignation -!

And is stepping down effective -!

Immediately for personal reasons - !

Dr. Grewal brought his skills an.

- !

expertise, and we appreciate his - !

We are pleased to announce that.

- !

the Board of Trustees has named - !

former Vermont Agency of Human S. - !

Secretary Mike Smith to serve as - !

He will begin next week for a te.

- !

of approximately six months and - !

focusing all efforts on the succ.

- !

launch of Vermont State Universi.

- The Board of Trustees and I.

- !

Have asked Interim President Smi - !

to pause implementation of the p. - !

initiatives around athletics and - !

pending development of a compreh.

- !

set of recommendations for conti !

transformation work in the comin - !

Strong communications, engagemen.

- !

collaboration will be our ongoin.

- Please join me in thanking.

- Dr. Grewal for his service - and in welcoming.

- Interim President Smith.

With best wishes, Sophie.

- President Grewal was.

- Not the problem.

!

I don't think the problem is sol !

He was one of few people in the !

that took the time to sit and li - I think he would have been a.

- !

Really valued person for the stu - and I wish that more students.

- !

Had the opportunity to meet him and learn more about him.

!

I think they felt it was necessa -!

To have him take the fall for a !

but I don't think that he had an - !

I'm actually more concerned now.

- !

because we don't have an educato who will be coming in.

!

We don't have a person who has w -!

With students and understands th.

- And they were appointed.

- By the Board of Trustees, !

which is who we have no confiden - I mean, this has been a very.

- !

Uncertain time for us for a long - !

and I think we can expect more o.

- !

that with this new interim presi - !

We were actually trying to just.

- !

and see what the numbers were fo - !

how much money was spent for sal.

- !

for the Chancellor's Office, for.

- And this is something called.

- A profit and loss statement.

- !

Sort of the overall view of what.

- !

the costs of the Vermont State C !

and what are the revenue sources.

- There are a few things that.

- !

Jumped out, that concerned me gr - and made me wonder if maybe.

- !

We could do better with the mone !

than getting rid of the library, So, the first thing was that -!

Half of all the money from the -!

State goes to the Chancellor's O Half of all the money from the -!

State goes to the Chancellor's O.

- That's about five times.

- !

Any of the individual campuses.

- !

They're receiving $32.5 million.

- Out of the total of 67.8 millio !

And it looks like in the data fo - !

there are a number of Chancellor.

- !

Office individuals who are actua !

charged and listed under campuse !

So, if you look at what they lis - !

it says 1.5 million, but the sal.

- !

should be five to six million, - !

depending on whether you count.

- !

those people that were hidden.

- !

So, the last one, is this catego.

- !

called "Expenses, Chancellor's O" -and you see a number here, -!

And it says $9.4 million profit.

!

So, the Chancellor's Office had - in the cost category and the.

- Campuses were charged for it.

- In the cost category and the.

- Campuses were charged for it.

So, I wrote them.

!

I asked the general counsel, Pat.

- "How can you have a."

- profit in the cost category?

- !

And she said, "Oh, yes, those."

- !

are costs that were charged to - the Chancellor's Office, but.

- Are actually campus expenses.

So, we got revenue for it.

- !

So, this is really troubling whe.

- !

you think about the library deci - you know, $500,000 that weve.

- !

Never actually seen any data for - theres millions of dollars.

- Being hidden, or mistakes.

!

Either one is equally troubling.

!

I think this is typical of big b !

and our education system becomin and not just places !

for students to get an education - !

I think people are so focused.

- !

on trying to convince leadership - !

that libraries are important, th.

- !

it's like, forget that -they are - but there's no numbers to.

- Even suggest it saves money.

!

If you lose 1% of student enroll - because you announced.

- Youre closing the libraries - -!

and that's pretty conservative, -!

That 1% of students won't want t -!

be here at a school that has no.

That costs more.

That's more loss in revenue -than the $500,000 of savings.

- It's difficult to know where.

- !

Decisions are being made and by !

And I would really be curious ab - when this decision was made.

- !

To go to an all-digital library and by whom.

!

You'll see when you read Seven D -the article in there, -President Spiro suggested the article in there, -President Spiro suggested -the decision was made even -!

Before the merger was proposed.

!

The president 'n chancellor are !

Diggin in on blunders -theyre u !

Now students dont see us as app.

B.O.T., turn the knob!

!

Its ultimately YOU who is liabl !

To preserve the colleges as viab !

The boards authoritys "complet."

B.O.T., do your job!

(Please) !

Come on, B.O.T., its rectifiabl !

Lets not aid Deloittes overrea.

Vermont needs you now.

Unpacifiable.

If you let us all down.

Youll be in breach!

Youll be in breach!

- The president 'n chancellor.

- Arent untouchable.

- Why do they think.

- Vermonters are so gullible?

-Their way would sell us out, -its undeniable.

B.O.T., stop the mob!