January Lunchtime Leadership Book Talk

The next Lunchtime Leadership Book Talk will take place Jan. 21, 2010, from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m., at 159 Ellis Library.

This is an opportunity for MU Libraries employees to gather informally over lunch and share quotes from books or articles on the topic of leadership or management that seem especially pertinent for MU Libraries right now. This is open to all library employees as it seems sensible to hear from current and emerging leaders within the organization in terms of what they are reading on the topic.

Attendance is voluntary but compensable for non-exempt supervisors since the discussion applies to the workplace. As such, schedule adjustments may be needed to offset overtime considerations. RSVP’s are not required.

But, we ask you bring a brief something to share with the group, e.g., copies of the talking points of the book or journal article. For examples of documents shared at the Nov. and Dec. sessions, go to http://mulibraries.missouri.edu/staff/committees/staffdevelopment/default.htm – this leads to a SharePoint site.

Lana Spots Valuable First Edition Among Donated Books

I would like to express my gratitude to Amy Lana: her sharp eye and a good command of Greek enabled her to spot among the books donated to the library by the Estate of the late Professor Albert Lord, a book signed by Heinrich Schliemann. This is the first edition (and the first book he published) of his famous Ithaka der Peloponnes und Troja: Archäologische forschungen, 1869.

Here is the title page with the inscription, which could be translated as:

“To the lover of the arts Mr. Erik Barren (or Henry Warren?) as a memorial. 1874. Schliemann.”

Schliemann was one of the most famous archaeologists, an amateur whose dogged effort and strong belief led to the sensational discovery of Troy in the 19 c.

Alla Barabtarlo

Announcement About the Mathematical Sciences Library

Recently, we learned that Will McCrary, Library Information Specialist-II in the Math Library, will be leaving the University at the end of December to accept a new position at Columbia College. We wish him well in his new position. Due to the current budget situation and the ongoing hiring freeze, we are unable to seek an immediate replacement for Will. However, we intend to operate the Math Library through the Spring Semester with student staffing and with some changes in collections access and services. After the end of the academic year, when next year’s budget for the campus and the MU Libraries is finalized, we will determine how best to continue library services to Mathematics faculty and students.

Beginning in January, the following changes will be implemented:

Hours of the Library. The Math Library will be open Monday through Friday, from 9am to noon, and from 1pm to 5pm. The previous evening hours of 5pm to 8pm, and the early morning hour of 8am to 9am, will be eliminated. Faculty and second-year graduate students will retain their keys for access to the Library.

Library Collections. Existing book and journal collections will remain in the Math Library, but new books and journals will be made available in Ellis Library. Unbound Math journals will be shelved in a separate area of the Current Periodicals Reading Room (CPRR) on the main level of Ellis Library. New books and newly-bound journals will be shelved in a designated stack area of Ellis Library to be determined. Arrange­ments will be made to deliver interlibrary loan requests, books and bound journals to faculty at the Math Dept Office upon request. Online access to journals will be preferred whenever possible.

Reserve Materials. Current course reserve materials will remain in the Math Library. Requests to place materials on reserve should be forwarded to Ashley Nelson NelsonAB@missouri.edu.

Library Operations. Judy Siebert Maseles, Engineering Librarian, (882-2715, MaselesJ@missouri.edu) will handle questions regarding collections and services, including book and journal order requests. One daily mail delivery and pick-up between Ellis and other campus libraries will be maintained. Video equipment currently on hand in the Math Library will be transferred to Ellis Library Circulation. General questions may be directed to a new email address, which will be made available in the next two weeks.

MU Libraries Become Independent NACO Members

The MU Libraries Catalog Department received great news at the end of December.  The MU Libraries first became NACO participants in January 2008.  Now, after a long process of training and review, we have achieved the next milestone, “independent” status as NACO members.  NACO, the Name Authority Cooperative Program, is one of four activities of the Library of Congress’ Program for Cooperative Cataloging (PCC).  NACO members create and maintain authority records that indicate the proper form for personal and corporate names and uniform titles.  Last fiscal year we contributed more than 500 records to the WorldCat and Library of Congress authority files and this year we are on track to contribute even more.  We establish forms of names and create authority records for entities in the United States and elsewhere.  We create many authority records for MU faculty advisors, Missouri geographic regions, and university departments.

Our “independent” status means that our reviewer has evaluated and determined that our skills and leadership meet the PCC standards and guidelines necessary to cooperatively maintain the integrity of the WorldCat and Library of Congress name authority files.

Our NACO Coordinator, Mary Aycock, shepherded us through the process setting up our initial training, providing additional training, reviewing our authority records, and serving as liaison to our NACO trainer, Mary Charles Lasater of Vanderbilt University.

News From Staff Development and Diversity Action Committees

SDC and DAC are assembling another year of interesting and engaging presentations and workshops for library employees. For the latest schedule information, go to http://mulibraries.missouri.edu/staff/committees/staffdevelopment/programs/2010-2011/Program_calendar.htm for SDC events; DAC events are listed at http://mulibraries.missouri.edu/staff/committees/affirmativeaction/Programs_page.htm.