A staff publication of the MU Libraries.
Monthly Archives: April 2009
Worlds connect @ your library: celebrate National Library Week at Columbia’s Libraries, April 12-18
(COLUMBIA, MO) – It’s National Library Week, a time to celebrate the contributions of libraries, librarians and library workers in schools, campuses and communities nationwide–and the perfect time to discover how worlds connect @ your library.
The MU Libraries are celebrating National Library Week by launching on Twitter and asking our users to send us their thoughts, ideas and suggestions for the Libraries. The MU Libraries are connecting with more users in more ways than ever. This year, 50% more patrons have walked through the doors of Ellis Library than visited last year. To accommodate these users, 35 new computers have been added to the Information Commons, two new group study rooms have been made available and additional seating has been added to the Bookmark Café. To keep up with what is happening at Ellis Library and the eight branch libraries, visit our Web site at mulibraries.missouri.edu, join us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
“The Columbia Public Library is seeing similar increases,” says Melissa Carr, Library Director. “We have added computers and services to keep up with the influx as well.”
We now have 25 new Internet-access computers, and we have added program sessions to help patrons applying for jobs online or who are working on resumés. Our virtual branch is busier than ever and features new information content to help patrons answer many commonly asked questions. You can now also subscribe to regular library news e-mails, receive our RSS feeds or follow us on Twitter.
Stafford Library at Columbia College celebrates National Library Week with patrons by providing free coffee in the library during the week. The library’s collection is highlighted with displays and informational items. “Columbia College students use the library not only to study but to prepare for class presentations and to meet with friends and classmates,” states Janet Caruthers, Library Director. “We are always striving to provide resources and an environment that are beneficial to our students’ needs.”
“Everyday, libraries in Columbia help to transform our community,” says Jim Cogswell, Director of MU Libraries. “At the MU Libraries, the Columbia Public Library and other libraries in the area, people of all backgrounds come together (in person and online) to meet up with friends and study, to attend lectures and concerts or view an exhibit, to do research with the assistance of a trained professional, to get help finding a job or to find homework help. During National Library Week we want to remind the members of our community about the valuable resources they can find at their local libraries.”
First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries across the country each April.
Meeting Effectiveness Survey
Two years ago, several open, voluntary meetings were led by the library’s Staff Development Committee in which participants were asked to identify the strengths and weaknesses of our meeting processes for library committees and department meetings. Qualitative data was collected from library employees and used to develop training on effective meetings. Another outcome of the open meetings was the generation of a list of Effective Meeting Guidelines. It seems prudent to ask ourselves – “How are we doing, today…have the training and/or guidelines made a difference?”
In a couple of days, all library employees will receive a link to a survey that asks you to provide feedback on the effectiveness of any library committee or committees on which you currently serve. This includes library appointed committees, e.g., Diversity Action Committee, as well as ad hoc library committees and task forces. It does not include an assessment of unit, department, or division meetings. Furthermore, you are not asked to identify the committee(s) you are evaluating.
Survey questions are drawn from the list of ‘Effective Meeting Guidelines.’ Participation in the survey is voluntary and anonymous.
Final results will be tabulated and shared with all library staff via a web link. Open, voluntary meetings will be held to discuss the data and share reactions. The results of this study have the potential to further the understanding of employee perception of progress made in conducting more effective committee meetings. Such knowledge will be used to recognize both areas of improvement and areas for additional training, e.g., agenda building, group processes. Final results will be tabulated and shared with all library staff via a web link.
Thanks in advance for your consideration.
Leo Agnew
Staff Development Committee, chair
March Staff Spotlight
Congratulations to Karen Witt & Hunter Kevil, our Staff Spotlight features for March! Read about Karen and Hunter on the MUSE blog.
Tech Tip
Search all of your folders (Outlook 2007) When you use Instant Search, the default option is to search only the folder you’re in. But you may not know where the message you are looking for is located. You may need to search all your folders, not just the one you’re currently in.
To search all folders:
1. On the Tools menu, point to Instant Search, and then click Search Options.
2. Under Instant Search Pane, click All folders.
Healthy for Life Update
- Image via Wikipedia
Save the Date- Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction
Helping employees manage stress effectively is a key goal of Healthy for Life, the T.E. Atkins Wellness Program. This summer, Healthy for Life will be offering an eight-week mindfulness-based stress reduction class at minimal cost to benefit-eligible employees looking to manage today’s busy lifestyles in a healthy way. For more information, please contact Lynn Rossy Ph.D. at RossyL@umsystem.edu.
Summer 2009 MBSR for Faculty/Staff at Columbia Campus and UMHC:
Orientation: Tuesday, June 2, at 5:30 pm
Classes: Tuesdays (5:00 – 7:00) June 9 – July 21
Full Day Retreat: Saturday, July 18 (9:00 am – 4:00 pm)
Earth Day Farmers Market
Mark your calendars! On April 22nd, there will be an Earth Day Farmers Market at the Lowry Mall from 12-3pm. Join in the fun by purchasing locally grown produce, meat, flowers, and more. Learn how to keep our earth and ourselves healthy be recycling, conserving electricity, biking and walking, eating well and other easy ways to do your part. Bring cash!! No credit or student charge will be accepted. Rain date- April 29th.
CIGS Race Run/Walk and Health Fair
Join us at the Quarterdeck Building on Lemone Industrial Blvd this Saturday, April 18th for a run/walk to benefit the MU’s Division of Pulmonary/Critical Care & Environmental Medicine. Kids and pets are welcome. Registration opens at 8:00am and run/walk begins at 9:00am Health Fair will follow. Cost is $25 for families and $15 for individuals. For more information please call 573-882-2105 or email Emily Perrung at peurrunge@missouri.edu.
Free Answers to Your Nutrition Questions
MU Extension has partnered with Healthy for Life by now offering FREE nutrition information and education to faculty and staff through the Show Me Nutrition Line. Contact Jessica Kovarik, R.D., L.D. at 1-888-515-0016 or kovarikj@missouri.edu. Jessica is also available for personalized, scheduled consultations over the telephone.
Weight Watchers Online
Weight Watchers Online now offers the opportunity to join at any time. Go to www.weightwatchers.com for more information on the Online Program. Healthy for Life recognizes that many off-campus employees won’t be able to join at At-Work meeting, so the wellness program is extending its 25 percent rebate to benefit-eligible employees who enroll in a three-month Weight Watchers Online course for $65 and miss no more than one weigh-in. Experience peer support from the comfort of your home or office. If you enroll online, please contact Melissa Willett to qualify for rebate. Turn in your completed log to Melissa, 205 Heinkel Building, Columbia, MO, 65211. Questions? E-mail Melissa at willettmd@umsystem.edu or call her at (573) 884-1397.
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Invitations From the MU Asian Affairs Center
Two invitations from our friends at MU’s Asian Affairs Center:
There are currently eight university students (or recent graduates) from South Korea participating in the I-Leap Program. The Asian Affairs Center is hoping the student will have the opportunity to visit an American home and have dinner during their three month stay in the United States. Would you and your family enjoy having two of these international visitors join you for supper some evening in late April? The dates are flexible at this time and we could probably accommodate your choice.
Please contact Mary Jo Herde at Herdem@missouri.edu or 882-5624, if you need more information about this opportunity to get to know two young Koreans better. Thank you very much for your kind consideration.
MU’s Asian American Association is sponsoring its first “Asian American Awareness Week.”
The Diversity Action Committee
New Posts, March 30-April 3
- Update on Construction of Cisco TelePresence Room
- English Department Reception in Bookmark Cafe Today
- April Library Anniversary Recognition
- Reminder: Survey From Diversity Action Committee
- Goodbye to Jody Webb
- MU Policy -HR 411 Voting
- City and University Support New Site for State Historical Society
- MO Documents Conference Registration Now Open!
- Update on ACT’s Recycling Program
- Filming Outside Ellis Library, April 6
- Tech Tip
Tech Tip
Preview an attachment before you open it (Outlook 2007)
When you receive an attachment in a message and want to quickly see what the attachment contains without opening it, you can preview the attachment in the Reading Pane. Just select the message that has the attachment, and in the Reading Pane, click the attachment once (not twice, which will open it). The content of the attachment, whether it’s a document, a presentation, an image, or whatever, will appear in the Reading Pane.
Filming Outside Ellis Library, April 6
The Department of Student Life is shooting a movie on campus in April. On April 6th they are scheduled to shoot at the West Ellis Library entrance around 5 p.m. and will wrap shooting at around 7 p.m. They will not film inside of building, but they will shoot people going in and coming out of the doors.
There will be three different signs up around the area in which they film to indicate that if people are walking into the area, there is a chance they may be on camera.