Hello everyone,
There’s so much going on right now, I don’t know how to squeeze it all into an email, but here’s a try!
The MSA and GPC elections will run from 5 pm Nov. 9 to 5 pm Nov. 11. The library fee proposal will be on every ballot, and the voting will be online. Before that, we need everyone to be positive about the fee. If you can, volunteer to help hand out flyers at the library doors in the weeks before the vote. Cindy Cotner is coordinating volunteers. Matt has several more events planned, so watch for them and encourage students to attend. We had about 150 students at the forum in 114 last week, and all three MSA slates of officers running in the election have indicated support for the libraries. I’ll share the final language of the referendum when I have it.
The Provost, Vice-Chancellors, Deans and others all know how tough a situation failure of the fee will mean. Journal cuts may be avoided if they can find funds for us, but most of our other improvements will have to wait. We will proceed with the plan for the UMLD expansion no matter what.
The Kinder Institute for Constitutional Democracy now has a signed contract with the University for them to move into the northeast corner of the 4th floor of Ellis on or about July 1, 2016. The Music Listening Room is closing late this fall, and its materials will be relocated and dispersed with the help of the Music Dept. Some will go to Access Services. Most of the books in the footprint of the Institute will go to Ellis 202; some will go offsite or be otherwise handled. Thanks to Jeannette and Freddy along with Ryan and all the selectors for their hard work on this. Demolition and construction will not start until the end of this fall semester, December 20. The Nook will be re-constructed elsewhere in Ellis before that, and details on that should be ready soon. We also have other agreements in writing with campus facilities, including more money for improvements in Ellis. NewsNotes will have more details in a week or so. We want the best deal we can get!
HSL had a lovely open house for the centennial; thanks to all who planned and attended. Mike Muchow is giving wonderful tours of historic Ellis Library. His photos and other materials enrich our centennial year in a meaningful way. Special thanks to Mike and all who worked with him.
Meanwhile, it’s Open Access Week, and a great panel is planned for tomorrow at 4 pm in Ellis 114.
Mark your calendars for April 29 for Jim Cogswell’s retirement party. It’s hard to believe it’s only about 6 months away.
I hope you are all enjoying this warm weather.
More in a week or so.
Ann