Over a long period of time, the number of current periodical titles we receive in print has continually dwindled. Additionally, we have received requests from students to leave CPRR open until 2:00 a.m. because it is a very desirable location for quiet study. After weeks and months of deliberation about how long Ellis Library should continue staffing a service desk in the Current Periodicals Reading Room, a plan to close the CPRR desk has been developed and is in the process of being implemented.
The process used was collaborative and has involved working with the Library Management Team, June DeWeese, Bette Stuart, Tony Schwartz, Mary Ryan, Karen Darling, Bob Almony, Facilities Management, CDC and others to resolve questions, make decisions and assign responsibilities. Fortunately, Bette Stuart and June DeWeese provided a comprehensive list of questions and issues which would need to be decided or addressed in order to ensure a smooth transition. Currently we are in the process of implementing the necessary changes.
The last day service will be available at the CPRR desk is on Friday, March 28. When students return from spring break, the service desk will be closed but there will be appropriate signage in the area which will answer most of their common questions and direct them where to go for further help.
Much deliberation and consultation was devoted to determining where the very capable CPRR staff might be transferred to meet more critical needs within Ellis Library. Several options for positions to which Bette Stuart might be reassigned were developed by Libraries Management Team (LMT). They were discussed with Bette as were the pros and cons of closing the CPRR as a service point. Ultimately LMT decided that Bette will be relocated to the Acquisitions Department, reporting to Karen Darling, where she will be involved in serials check in, therefore allowing her to further build on her years of experience working with current periodicals. This move capitalized in her extensive knowledge of current periodicals, periodicals check in, and maintenance of the collection. It also allows her to continue to work with periodicals, which she has always enjoyed.
Finding appropriate placement for Tony Schwartz required less deliberation after some consultation. In Tony’s current evening position he spends considerable time scanning articles for ILL. This year Access Services lost an important ILL support staff position. They also lost the circulation desk supervisor who worked the late night hours until 2:00 a.m. As a result, Tony has agreed to remain in Access Services where he will report to Tammy Green. He will continue his ILL support tasks, and work a schedule that covers the desk supervision until 2:00 a.m., thus enabling Ellis Library to continue to provide late night hours for our users.
Bette and Tony will both be taking their desks, computers and telephones with them to their new units. With few exceptions, periodicals and newspapers that have kept behind the CPRR desk will be moved out for open access. Current newspapers will be placed on sticks by circulation staff. Those titles still requiring security protection will be held behind the circulation desk. DVD boxes will remain on the shelves where they are currently located, but the discs will be moved behind the circulation desk where they can be checked out. Access services will be responsible for shelving in CPRR. And Acquisitions will check in and tattle tape all materials as well as pull issues for binding. The security gate will be turned off. It is scheduled to be moved to the new Journalism Library this summer.
Bette, Shannon and June are preparing signs to inform users of the changes and to encourage users, as a courtesy, to return journals to CPRR when they are done using them. As a result they may be reshelved more quickly and will be much easier for the next user to find.
In order for this change to be made successfully, it is important that we all be aware that we may find current issues of journals and newspapers in areas of Ellis where up to now they’ve very rarely been. It is incumbent on all of us to help get these items back to the current periodicals reading room as quickly as possible. Additionally, we must be cognizant that there will be no one stationed in CPRR to answer questions or assist people in finding things. That responsibility is shifted to both Access Services and Reference.
Finally, some are no doubt curious about what will be done with the CPRR space. For now, the answer is nothing. It will be exactly as it is now but without staff at the service desk. Be assured that there have been no final decisions made. And frankly, lack of money could well delay making a decision about future use for space for the time being. Hopefully, there will be an opportunity to consider appropriate use of the space in the larger context of a space plan for Ellis. If you have questions regarding the closing of the service point in CPRR, please direct them to Sarah Cron, 882-6450, crons@missouri.edu.