The (MULSA) Muse: The MU Libraries Creative Magazine
New Post: DBPL Presents Missouri State Penitentiary: A Haunted History
Staff news
Please Use Sign Form to Request New Signs
Are you going to need new signs for the fall semester? Please get your requests in a soon as possible. If you need a sign or poster created, please fill out this form. This form is also available in the Communication box on the staff web page. If you have any questions signs, posters or other print jobs, contact Shannon Cary.
Staff Corner: Info Regarding David Truesdale’s Wake
From David Truesdale’s wife: We have permission to park in the office building complex at the corner of Broadway and Pershing. It’s about 1/2 block from my house. You may use any space EXCEPT those in front of, and on the north side of, the last building (the farthest building from Broadway). On the map pictured, you may park in the green area.
MULSA Update: Website Now Password Protected
To access the MULSA website, you will need to log in with your work email and password. You can access the main site at library.missouri.edu/mulsa or from the link on the committees section of the staff website.
At the MULSA website you can find membership information, the MULSA constitution, all of the MUSE posts, and the current board member list.
Missouri Library Association Call for Proposals, Due June 14
My name is Rosie, I am a Co-Coordinator for the Missouri Library Association’s 2025 Conference, and I am writing to share our call for proposals with you.
This is our conference website: https://molib.org/Annual-Conference, and this is the link to our proposal form: https://forms.gle/GExctpBneMUYsztUA.
-Rosie Lopolito
In the News
“Federal orders shaping history preservation at Mizzou”
News Tribune, May 29,2025
Staff Corner
Death notices for June 5, 2025 – Alan Yount: June 6, 1947 – June 3, 2025
Sandy Schiefer was acknowledged in Allen Eskens’ novel Nothing More Dangerous. The lead in the novel needs to access some Columbia Missourian microfilm and is helped by a librarian named Sandy.
New MUSE Posts
LMT Meeting Notes 5/29/2025
Library Management Team (LMT) Meeting
5/29/2025 at 3:00 PM
Attendees: M. Gaunt, A. Huelsbergen, K. Peters, J. Pierce, S. Pryor, J. Thompson, K. Whatley
Support: N. Whyte
VP Updates (Kara)
Staff Development Committee Report (Kara and Kathy)
• Survey Results: Staff feel supported in pursuing training but need more curated opportunities.
• Newsletter Launch: A professional development newsletter was released, highlighting free online training options.
• Future Plans: Regular newsletters and a follow-up survey are planned. Ying led the initiative but will be stepping down; Rhonda is a likely candidate to take over.
Organizational Culture & Communication (Kara)
• Themes from Faculty Focus Group:
• Communication: Need for more transparency in decision-making and funding.
• Clarity: Clear workload expectations and promotion guidelines.
• Capacity: Concerns about staffing levels and workload distribution.
• Strategic Planning Tie-In: These issues will inform Year 1 goals under the sustainable revitalization priority.
• Concern Raised: Staff feel undervalued compared to faculty.
• Suggestions: Reframe SAG (Staff Advisory Group) as a staff-only body, with leadership roles and monthly meetings with MULAC (faculty group) leadership to improve communication and respect for staff. Weekly updates from Kara via Teams or email. Use of Teams channels (e.g., SAG) for feedback and discussion.
Facilities Feedback (Kara)
• Bookmark Café Space: Staff feedback sought on proposed overnight use. Suggestions so far include adding plants, varied seating, and vending machines. Concern raised about lack of gender-neutral restrooms on lower floor.
Action Items
• Finalize leadership for the Staff Development Committee (Kara)
• Establish regular updates via Teams or email (Kara)
• Reassess SAG’s structure and role (LMT)
Next LMT meeting is scheduled for Tues 6/10 at 2:00 PM
LMT Meeting Notes 5/15/2025
Library Management Team (LMT) Meeting
5/15/2025 at 2:00 PM
Attendees: S. Cary, M. Gaunt, A. Huelsbergen, K. Peters, J. Pierce, S. Pryor, E. Shaw, J. Thompson, K. Whatley
Support: N. Whyte
VP Updates (Kara)
Admin Office Reorganization (Kara)
• A shuffle of office spaces is planned to bring division heads closer together in the 104 Ellis office suite.
• Moving efforts are scheduled to begin in June with support from a student intern (Becca), and the actual relocations are expected in July.
Springer Nature Transformative Agreement (Kara)
• Kara attended the Springer Nature Library Advisory Board meeting 5/12-5/14.
• Issue with EBSCO delaying transition to transformative agreement until 2026.
• Springer Nature is ready to include the Libraries in the transformative agreement (TA) as early as July 2025.
• Kara will confirm with GWLA before pushing forward.
TA Manager Implementation (Kara)
• UMLC consortium is moving forward with TA Manager in ConsortiaManager.
• Benefits include that it tracks ROI on agreements, and authors can more easily check journal eligibility for open access.
• UMKC has agreed to participate.
Budget Adjustments & Staffing (Kara)
• The library will not fill the AUL for Health and Specialized Libraries position due to budget constraints.
• Diane Johnson’s role will be repurposed to Director of the Health Sciences Library.
• Canceling Portico and LOCKSS memberships is being considered to redirect funds toward wage improvements for staff. Memberships in WEST and SPARC will be maintained.
• Bookmark Café to be used as a 24-hour study space to reduce overnight staffing costs. Plans include adding printing and possibly a laptop vending machine. Security and access logistics are being worked out, including card swipe access and motion sensors.
Staffing Updates (Kathy)
• Recruitment underway for new Director of Health Sciences as well as a Library, Languages, Literatures, and Digital Humanities Librarian. Both job postings will be live momentarily. Director of HSL position will be advertised nationally.
Staff Compensation (Kara and Kathy)
• The increase in minimum wage will impact the FY26 budget.
• Reorganization and operational adjustments aim to address staff and librarian salary gaps.
Keycard Access & Facility Use (Kathy)
• Staff will retain keycard access during reduced summer public hours.
• Keycard schedules are customizable via Sheila. Supervisors should coordinate with Sheila for door schedules and access needs.
• Student access remains restricted unless granted temporarily.
• Discussions are ongoing about transitioning to mobile credentials.
Student Budgets (Kathy)
• Slight increase in student budget allocations for next year.
• Department heads should submit student budget needs to Kathy by end of next week.
Action Items
• Shannon to include a notice about upcoming committee calls in News Notes.
• Further discussion needed on student access policies and mobile credential adoption (LMT)
Next LMT meeting is scheduled for Thurs 5/29 at 3:00 PM