Nancy Cline, dean of the University libraries, said there will be an increased dependency on library technology in the future.

Cline, who was installed as dean last October, gave her view of Penn State's library system through the year 2000 to the Graduate Council yesterday afternoon in Kern Building.

She said the library is slowly moving toward the notion of a "library without walls," where library patrons do not have to physically present themselves at the library. Instead, users will have more access to LIAS through computer link-ups.

Cline also said LIAS, which currently includes over 3 million listings at all of the University's libraries, will be extended to include computing center records sometime this year. Audio-visual materials will be added sometime in the future.

"It is not likely Penn State will be a university that will require all students to own computers," Cline said, so there will still be heavy use of the library as it continues to be used as a work station. She cited this as a reason why the "library with no walls" concept is moving slow.

Library crowding -- both of materials and users --was cited as another problem that will continue into the future. "Space at virtually every location is a real problem," Cline said. She said expansion is needed in all facilities.

Cline said that between 10,000 and 11,000 people use the library each day. "That puts us in the league of air terminals and bus stations" in terms of traffic flow, she said.

She said the libraries, like other areas of the University, will continue to wrestle "with an underfunding and understaffing situation."

Cline said the ratio of students to librarian or professional staff member is about 567 to 1. In comparison, she cited the ratios for the University of Pittsburgh, the University of California at Davis and Cornell University, at 326 to 1, 302 to 1 and 110 to 1, respectively.

Cline described the library as "heavily dependent on part-time employees." There are currently 250 full-time employees, 100 part-time non-student workers and 300 students who work part-time. "(We're) working to address some changes in that ratio," Cline said.

When asked by Daniel Kinevel, a member of the graduate council, whether the library had a certain model in mind for future changes, Cline said there is no particular model. "Actually, in some cases Penn State is regarded as a model (for its efficiency)," she said.

Karen Schoeneman (graduate-public administration), a Graduate Student Association delegate to the council, said graduate students have indicated several problems with the library. Among those, Schoeneman said, are problems with the new vendacard copying system and change machines.

Cline said that most of the problems with the vendacard system have been worked out. The new system was installed last fall to provide better copiers at new locations, along with the capability to expand to other areas of the University.

Schoeneman also expressed appreciation on behalf of graduate students for extended library hours over the holiday break.

GSA President Ken Martin said in a phone interview that this was the first year library hours were more accommodating to graduate students. Martin said the library usually cuts back to only daylight hours during winter break because there are few undergraduates who remain to use it. However, graduate students who have day jobs and need to continue their research over break require evening hours, he added.