Notes from the Director, 8/6/16

Hello everyone,

It’s hard to believe we are another week closer to the start of school again.  On Monday, Reference training starts, and the semester isn’t far behind.  Our new User Engagement Librarian, Grace Atkins, starts Monday in Ellis, so let’s all welcome her, along with other new staff.

You all should have received your re-appointment letters with next year’s salaries. Sorry it could not have been more.  A question that’s been raised is about the percentage listed.  Remember to add any lump sum for longevity or additional assignment, etc. to your salary to get the real percentage, as those are in addition to 1 ½ % for most people. Thanks to all for your continued service to the University and the Libraries.

On the 4th floor project announced last week, it’s still confidential, but I have made the Provost aware that we didn’t want it, had way too little notice, and will need her help if we must make it happen. We need a more workable time frame, assuming it still has to be here.  Time for faculty consultation is essential, and we need a way to address the Student Fee Capital Improvement Committee funds used for the Nook. Hope with me that we can have some impact on at least the timing of the project.

The Student Fee Working Group continues to work on getting promotional material ready for when the students return. We know our Library Ambassadors, our library student group, will be effective in the peer marketing of the proposal, and our Social Media Group will be doing much marketing also.  Most of us are in a different age demographic than our students, and we have to reach them as voters. Special thanks to Matt Gaunt for all his very hard work on this.

Judy Maseles asked me to announce that our webpages will now refer to us as “Libraries”, rather than “MU Libraries”.  MU Libraries was repetitive and some felt it was confusing (University of Missouri, MU Libraries—why put MU right after University of Missouri).  The Law Library is fine with this. We will transition to using Libraries on cards and stationery too, eventually, as we use up what we have…  See upcoming NewsNotes for more details.

Please remember our all staff meeting is coming up on August 13.  Plan to attend! 

Ann