Last Friday I said I would write more on Monday, and now it’s the next Monday.  I guess I was waiting until I had some good news on the sign project, which I think I do.  Most of you know that the sign replacement project begun last year has taken a long time to come to fruition and has had some bumps along the way.  We still have some of the new signs that need replaced because or errors and some that need repositioned, and we are working with Facilities to be sure that happens soon.  The other issue is the so-called patch and paint project to cover the areas the old signs covered that the new ones don’t.  We hope that will be complete in a few months.  It’s been a rocky road, but I for one am glad to have signs to direct people to the elevators and to research help, and know new signs are worth the hassle in the end.

The door controllers at Ellis have been another challenge.  They are not behaving consistently. Security and other  staff are working to get them straightened out.  Luckily ,most of you are unaffected by this.

While we’re talking about doors, I have to mention the Ellis loading dock door area.  Campus Disability Services advises us that it is not a safe entrance by ADA standards, and strongly recommends we not allow anyone to use it except for specific business purposes.  So that is what we really have to do, for insurance purposes.  I know this is an inconvenience for some, and walking around the south wall of Ellis is annoying at times, but that is the route that is cleared when snow falls, and that’s the one we have to use.  Some have complained about the bricks on that route. The bricks can be slippery, and we need to be sure we document every time a person falls or slips, to add fuel to our arguments to have them removed or changed.  If any of you fall or slip on the bricks by either door to Ellis, notify Kathy Peters as well as your supervisor.  The loading dock door, however, cannot be used as a regular or disability-justified entrance.  No one  has permission to do that, and if you did temporarily, it’s cancelled.  (Sorry to sound like the Grinch here!)

Of course, with bad weather potentially coming sometime this winter, I encourage you all to use your own judgment and not endanger yourselves, ever.  Please stay home if you think you are at risk coming to work. Don’t be a hero; take care of yourself and your family members first.  Only a few people are judged “situationally critical” and they know who they are.  A day of leave is a small price to pay for safety and health. Coming in late is also sometimes a possible solution and I ask all supervisors to be flexible.  As I’ve stated before, so many of our library services are available online that if given a choice, the Libraries will always close when the campus does.

Here’s hoping for happy holidays for all, lots of good weather in January, and seeing you all at our All Staff Meeting on January 11 in Ellis Auditorium!  Thanks for all your work as always.

Ann

Hello everyone,

Just in case you have not heard yet, the Chancellor is closing campus and giving all full-time employees four additional days off with pay between Christmas and New Years Day (Dec. 26-29).

The University Libraries will ALL BE CLOSED as will the rest of campus. Hospitals are not included, obviously.  SHS plans to be closed along with Ellis.

To be clear, no Library staff can work during that time as we are completely closed. Part-timers and students can’t work; full-timers can’t work. Enjoy the extra time off.

More on Monday,
Ann

Hello everyone,

This morning I attended the Board of Curators meeting at which the campus capital plan including the expansion of the library depository (UMLD1) was presented.  Chancellor Cartwright talked about each item for our campus, called the deans with projects pending to microphone for questions (me included), and  all five proposed projects went through pending final financial approval at the spring (Feb. or March) Curators’ meeting.  I’ll talk more about this at next week’s Staff Advisory Group.  So expanding the depository, since we are not asking for state funds, is very close to certain now.  That’s the great news.

The good news, as you have heard before, is that the libraries have been able to make some salary adjustments as of Nov. 1.  All those receiving raises as well as their supervisors were notified this week.  There were only a few, based on excellence, market, and equity, and I’m really sorry we could not do more.  Next year we will try again for more raises for more people.  Thank you all for your hard work and patience as we try to address raising salaries overall within the limitations imposed on us by decreasing state funding, system budget cuts, and strict campus guidelines.  The budget outlook for next fiscal year is still very uncertain.

In other news, the campus Environmental Health and Safety office has issued some recommendations to us, including the restriction of access to the Ellis loading dock area to those who work there.  We want to keep everyone safe and avoid injuries.  This means when we change the door controls, which will happen by Nov. 18, that staff who use the loading dock door to enter Ellis Library will no longer be able to do so, unless they have a valid business reason, as determined by LMT.  It means a little more walking for some of you, and we’re sorry about that, and the short notice, but we can’t go against the recommendations without making ourselves liable, and the University Risk Management folks take a very dim view of that. We just have to comply.  If there is a disability access issue, talk to Sheryl, but the west doors are the official ADA-compliant entrance.  Kathy Peters will notify you if you will continue to have loading dock access, and will give access as needed.

Congratulations to the winners of the MULSA Halloween costume contest. (Laura Buck, the TARDIS from Dr. Who, looked amazing.)  And of course Thursday, the 16^th, is the Thanksgiving Lunch, we many of us really look forward to! See you there, and at the Staff Advisory Group meeting, I hope.

Thanks,
Ann

Hello everyone,

Today I received notice that the library depository addition is going to be on the Board of Curators’ agenda next week.  It’s exciting news, and I know you all join me in hoping for the best. Now the challenge is waiting for the approval.

Other than that, all the day-to-day news about the new security lights and cameras, the door project progressing, etc., pales in comparison.  In more good news, the signage throughout the building should be completed during Thanksgiving week.  Plans continue for using student fee money for new furniture for 114, which should happen in the spring.

Bad news for us was that our Provost, Garnett Stokes, is leaving to become president of the University of New Mexico on March 1, 2018.  She has been a good friend to the Libraries, and while I am happy to see her skills and value recognized, we will really miss her support.

Don’t forget that Chancellor Alex Cartwright will be visiting Ellis on this coming Monday, Nov. 6.  All are invited to meet and mingle with him in 114A at the end of his tour about three.  We will send a reminder out.  I have lots of info prepared for him, and we will give him as full a tour as time allows.

I keep spending lots of time on development work, with Matt’s wonderful help, and looking for ways to both grow and protect our library budget.  We have some good prospects, and I know that keeping up our efforts will pay off in time.

Thanks as always for all your hard work, and special thanks to all who helped with the Homecoming Open House in Ellis.  We had a good turnout despite all the construction.

Ann

Hello everyone,

Some changes are coming—next month all the library staff and faculty will need to get new ID cards.  There is NO CHARGE to anyone; the Libraries are covering cost because we are changing to a new card swipe system at all the building entry doors.  The whole campus will be changing eventually, and we are going to be one of the first buildings.  This will help with security, and will be especially important for people who come early or stay late.  We will talk more about it at coming meetings, but you all need to know it’s happening.  We will set up special times for library people and make getting a new card as easy as possible. Each person will have a new photo taken for the new card. (I hate that part but we do change in appearance over time.)

Also, we have long talked about name tags/badges for everyone.  The Libraries will be supplying OPTIONAL name badges for all full-time and part-time personnel except student workers.  Some of you will be contacted if there is question on your preferred name.  No one is required to wear a name badge, but many have asked for them.  Most staff in other areas wear them, including administrators, who really appreciate us wearing them.  Again, though, there is no requirement, just a preference.  They will be metal and held on by magnets. (You can see many people wearing the same style in Jesse Hall and we should have an example at the next Staff Advisory Group meeting).

Work continues to install additional lights and cameras outside Ellis Library as part of our commitment to safety for all our staff and users, especially during our extended hours.

Work also continues to complete the planning and paperwork needed to begin construction on the expansion of UMLD.  This will benefit the whole library system and we should have a firm date soon.

And of course Lowry Mall is still torn up; we hear that the east end will be done by Homecoming (Oct 21) but that then they will tear up the west end.

Enjoy our newly-cool fall days, and don’t hesitate to call or email with questions.

Ann

Hello everyone,

I learned on Friday that we have approval to build the replacement for U2, the second phase of our library depository, another module of UMLD on Lemone Blvd.  It will be an extension of the current UMLD, to the south of the current building.  We will pay for it with existing funds now being spent to rent and maintain U2, the old Rust and Martin furniture store near the Midway exit off I-70, as well as additional funds we will have available, with student approval, from the Enhance Mizzou fee.  Cost is estimated at $5.2M, and campus will cover that amount and the Libraries will use our income, described above, to pay it back over a term of years.

Next week I meet with Heiddi Davis, from Facilities, and we will start working on the bid process and details.  Because we are building on university-owned land, and already have an architect’s plan, we hope to move as quickly as possible and be in by next summer.

This is amazingly good news, and I hope to have more details to share with you soon.

Besides that, I want to remind you all that the Campus Climate Survey results, from the survey we took last fall, will be presented at two campus open forums in Jesse Auditorium.  The first one is tomorrow at 3:30, and the second one is Wed., also in Jesse, at 12:30 pm.  All are encouraged to attend.  The survey is nationally normed, and MU has done it several times before. It was done all across the system, and UMKC got their results today.  MU is always looking to improve climate and morale for all, and create a supportive, inclusive environment for our students, faculty and staff.  Getting survey data on how things are helps us know how to improve, so we can’t be afraid of these surveys.  Improving communication improves every organization, and I hope we can continue to work on making the Libraries an even better organization.

Ann

 

 

Hello everyone,

This morning we have some good news—we have been advised by the Provost’s Office that we will be getting funds restored to us that were cut from our collections budget for FY18, the fiscal year we are in now.  This will enable us NOT to have to make the terrible serials cuts that were planned.  We don’t know the exact amount yet, but I will share it as soon as possible. Of course we will continue to manage our collections budget to the most advantage we can to support research and scholarly work.

In other news, the Libraries are hosting some donors this Friday morning, who MAY make a major gift in the future to help us add a digital media/makerspace area.  You may see us touring around the Info Commons and West Reference.  If you’re over there at that time, be your cheerful, busy selves.

We also have the new Chancellor, Alex Cartwright, scheduled to speak at our Oct. 10 Staff Advisory Group meeting at 10 am in Ellis 114A.  Plan now to attend! Watch for the meeting notice.

I’m hoping for good news soon on building the extension to UMLD1.  Keep your fingers crossed!

Notices have gone out to those appointed to Library committees this year.  LMT did some revision to the committee structure, and the Exhibits Committee and Marketing Committee now don’t have appointees other than the people whose work relates to the groups.  We have discontinued the Faculty Lecture Series Committee also. Thanks to all who volunteered to serve on the committees we have, which help us do our work.

Information has gone out on the memorial service for Debbie Melvin.  I know you all join me in offering condolences to her family.  This has been a tough year, to lose two long-time staff.  Karla Geerlings has been gone less than six months, and of course lives on in our memories.  Work is a big part of most people’s lives, and the Libraries are very fortunate to have dedicated staff who have stayed with us for many years.  Let’s all be thankful for each other as we move into another academic year.

Ann