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Library Assembly Minutes, April 23

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Present:  Kate Anderson, Alla Barabtarlo, Jack Batterson, Rachel Brekhus, Laura Buck, Sheryl Cullina, June DeWeese  Mike Holland, Dana Houston, Libby Myre, Ashley Nelson, Sheena Waggoner, Karen Witt,

Agenda Items

Sheryl Cullina discussed the Library’s Leave Policy.

  • The Library’s current leave policy is available at http://mulibraries.missouri.edu/staff/policies/POL30.htm and was last updated 1986.
  • The Library’s policy consolidates many different MU policies, but the Library’s policy has not been revised and updated to keep up with current campus policy.
    • For example, the Library’s current leave policy:
      • Does not include FMLA.
      • Does not address part time accrual rates.
      • Tends to outline less generous policies and leave allowances than MU.
  • Sheryl recommends getting rid of the current policy because it is difficult to keep it revised and in line with MU campus policy, which often has 2-3 updates a year.
  • Mike shared the procedure for updating a policy on the Library’s policy page.
    • Mike takes recommendations from the primary, takes the recommendation to LMT, then takes LMT’s decision to Mark Ellis to update.
    • Mike agrees with this recommendation and recommends rescinding the Library’s leave policy (rescinding policy #30).
    • Mike also shared that the “Telefacsimile (FAX) Policy for Ellis and Branch Libraries, Excluding Health Sciences Library” has been rescinded.

Sheryl Cullina presented finding on the MULIBSTAFF LISTSERV.

  • Last meeting, it was found that the MULIBSTAFF LISTSERV has people on it who are not library employees.
  • By working with Mark Ellis, Sheryl identified 5 non library staff on the LISTSERV.
    • 3 long time non-emeritus employees who transferred to other departments or who retired and requested to stay on the LISTSERV.
    • One former employee who requested to stay on the LISTSERV to receive building updates.
    • Noah Heringman, chair of the Campus Library Committee. It was unclear whether he was added or if he requested to be added.
    • Rachel requested a LISTSERV with only current library employees on it.
    • The MULIBSTAFF LISTSERV does not include the Law Library, but the Law Library is subscribed to all of the MERLIN-level lists that apply to them.


Special Collections Presentation (Mike Holland and Alla Barabtarlo)

Mike Holland presented the value, history, and budget of Special Collections.

  • Special Collections is valuable to the MU Libraries (and special collections are valuable to Academic and Research Libraries in General) for three main reasons.
    • First, special collections distinguish one academic library from another.
      • As library collections become more homogenous, special collections help set libraries apart.
      • They also allow libraries to participate in exhibits (e.g. Art of the Book), symposia (e.g. Life Sciences & Society), and programs (e.g. Angels in Performance Conference).
      • Second, special collections provide research materials for faculty and students.
        • There are multiple collections in MU Special Collections that are deep enough to provide research resources.
          • Examples are the herbals and natural history collections, the Fragmenta Manuscripta collection, British religious, political and economic tracts (Howey Collection) and some of the personal papers and manuscript collections, such as the new Lanford Wilson collection and the Mary Lago collection.
          • In the previous 12 months, Special Collections had1,500 reference questions; 3,100 books paged; and 2,300 microforms utilized.
          • Thirdly, the primary purpose of special collections is to serve as a humanities laboratory.
            • Just as one would not send a microbiology student out without lab work, one should not send a humanities student out without having had exposure to special collections and primary resources.
            • Special collection serves to teach use of original and primary materials to students.
            • In the previous 12 months, Special Collections had158 classes with 1760 participants (graduate, undergraduate, and school classes).
            • Overview of the History of the Special Collections & Rare Books at the MU Libraries.
              • In Ellis Library the rare book collection began as a small collection housed in the office of the university librarian.
              • The rare materials were eventually moved to a closed shelf area within the Language and Literature Library in Ellis Library.
              • In 1962 the rare book collection was moved to its current location (Southwestern corner of the 4th floor of Ellis). At the same time the department of Special Materials was formed.
              • The Special Materials Department also became responsible for microforms and microprint materials around the same time.
              • In 1977 the Special Materials Department was renamed Special Collections Division.
              • In 2005 Special Collections and the University Archives were combined in the new division Special Collections, Archives and Rare Books (SCARAB).
              • Special Collections Budget
                • The firm order acquisitions budget for Special Collections is slightly under $3,000.
                • Receives occasional gift funds. The last sizeable one was four years ago.
                • The Adopt-a-Book program, where Friends of the Library will match donations up to $3,000 per year, has been hugely helpful.
                • The main source of funding recently has been from NEH Endowment funds. Last year, special collections received $18,000.
                • The average Special Collections acquisitions budget for an ARL library is $190,000.
                • The largest part of the MU Special Collection’s collection is donated collections.

 

 

 

Alla Barabtarlo presented on the collections and acquisitions of Special Collections.

  • Two gifts that Special Collections received this year are:
    • Lanford Wilson Collection
    • First edition Rudyard Kipling books.
    • The collection development policy of Special Collections outlines areas of interest and has been recently revisited.
      • With the rising cost of rare books, traditional collection development models need to be examined.
        • For example, the $18,000 NEH Endowment money was given to Special Collections in small increments. This can present challenges when the average cost of a rare book is $20,000.
        • Alla proposes focusing on an “as needed” and “on demand” basis (e.g. required purchases for faculty hires), with purchases of rarities on an “as available” basis.
        • Last year, Special Collections Purchased:
          • Two incunabulas (books printed before 1501).
          • A few small demonstration/replica items for teaching purposes that can be lent out to classes, including a small replica demonstrating how Medieval books used to be chained to library desks, papyrus, and a Babylonian clay tablet.
          • In relation to comic books recently bought to support a professor’s class, Rachel asked about considerations in offering more valuable materials to Special Collections to house.
            • Alla highlighted two general considerations.
              • The value of the item.
              • Mindfulness of if the material will have high usage or demand since the Special Collections materials are non-circulating and cannot be put on class reserve.
              • In this specific case, Special Collections does also have a large backlog of uncataloged comic books.

Director Announcements (Sheena reported in Jim’s absence)

  • There is no news on the Sierra update.
  • The Library Society dinner was a great success.
    • Rajmohan Gandhi, Research Professor and Grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, spoke. The room had 200 seats, and there was standing room only. Approximately 80% of the crowd was students, and even students from Rockbridge high school attended.
    • Angels in Performance Conference on Wednesday, April 24th.
      • Playwright and screenwriter Tony Kushner spoke on campus.
      • Lanford Wilson exhibit in the colonnade.

Departmental Announcements

Cataloging (Jack Batterson)

Reference (Rachel Brekhus)

  • There are three upcoming Reference retirements: Mary Ryan (date unknown), Brenda Graves-Blevins (May 31), and Nancy Myers (August 15).
  • English 1000 instruction requests and RAP appointment requests continue to come in.
  • Some attended ACRL in Indianapolis and will be coming up with ideas for future teaching forums based on things learned there.
  • Goodie made a presentation about library instruction to the Faculty Library Committee.
  • We now have two KIC scanners in the Information Commons, and all scanners are now attached to the internet. There is new software on the KIC scanner that can even save documents to your Google Drive.
  • We are preparing for database cuts as a consortium.
  • The Gov Docs unit is in the final stages of planning the annual statewide FDLP conference in June.  An agenda will be coming out shortly.
  • Marie is chairing a subcommittee of Depository Library Council which has been appointed to assist in the creation of a national plan to identify and preserve the complete historic collection of federal government publications, in accordance with a recommendation from the National Academy of Public Administrators.  The plan will include not only preservation of tangible objects, but also digitization and cataloging.  In conjunction with GPO, the subcommittee will be helping to formulate a strategy for funding this nationwide effort.
  • Marie is presenting in the GPO’s 3-day online conference “Partners in Preservation: Government Information for Future Generations.”

MULAC (reported by Kate Anderson)

  • MULAC is providing information to LMT about the Capital Improvements Committee and staffing priorities.
  • Holding open forums on evaluation of performance appraisals for Librarians and Archivists.
  • Reviewing governance documents.

Security (Dana Houston)

  • The trial for the library fire suspect is being held.
    • Update: Christopher Kelley has been convicted in federal court in Jefferson City for setting fires in Ellis Library two years ago in September.

Ellis Library Access Services (June DeWeese)

  • A lot of people are checking out lots of books now, some of them for the first time.

SCARaB (Karen Witt)

  • For upcoming events, “Beyond Words: Visual Narratives from the Block Book to the Graphic Novel” will be May 3rd.

 

Health Sciences and Veterinary Medical (Laura Buck)

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