First, I would like to make an announcement about Mizzou Advantage. Kate Anderson has been selected to serve as the Mizzou Advantage Library Liaison. She will spend 50% of her time on Mizzou Advantage and the other 50% on her former duties at the Health Sciences Library (HSL) and the Veterinary Medicine Library. Her official start date is February 1. Due to Kate’s appointment and other changes at HSL that are listed below, I will be requesting an additional librarian position for HSL.
With the loss of the Assistant Director of User Services position, several organization and staffing changes had to be made. Deb Ward has been named Interim Associate Director of the Research and Information Services Division. This new division is made up of the Ellis Library Reference Department plus the remaining branch libraries, which are Engineering, Geology, Journalism and Math. Deb is still Director of the Health Sciences Libraries, which includes HSL and Vet Med.
To enable Deb to spend time in Ellis Library involved with her new duties, two more changes have been made. Diane Johnson and Rich Rexroat also have new titles and new responsibilities. Diane is now Assistant Director of Health Sciences Library Information Services and Resources. Diane will handle more external communications with users regarding information resources and services, in addition to managing the information services department. Rich is now also an Assistant Director, and is in charge of Circulation, with Terri Hall reporting to him. Rich is also assisting with HSL facility management and administration, in addition to managing HSL cataloging and collection management.
Ann Riley will serve as the Associate Director of the Access, Collections and Technical Services Division. This new division is the former Technical Services Division plus Access Services. Ann also chairs the Collections Services Committee, and Hunter Kevil now reports to her while also retaining his role in Reference.
Mike Holland’s title is Assistant Director of the Special Collections and Rare Books Division. There are no changes to the former organizational structure that affect this division.
In addition, Duane Bittle, Lead Delivery Attendant, will go back to reporting to Ellen Blair. Al Messner has been temporarily assisting Duane since Jeremy Clark’s resignation. We have received permission to fill a part-time (50%) position to replace Jeremy.
I want to thank everyone who is adjusting their duties to make sure that the MU Libraries continues to serve patrons effectively and efficiently. Please contact me or your division head if you have any questions.
I hope to see all of you on May 19 for a Mizzou Advantage strategy meeting.
I “think” thanks is certainly in order ;o)