Hello everyone,

Today Suzy Bent shared with me that of about 443,000 books treated for mold, about 85,000 are now re-processed and available again.  That number will grow quickly now, as we re-directed some of our Mellon grant money toward getting it done.  Thanks to Suzy, Brian and their staffs, and congratulations to all working on the project.

Construction is beginning this week on the US Census Research Data Center in Ellis 204, after some delays.

Speaking of construction, the big news for today is that a donor is funding a special project with some faculty from History, Law and Political Science from the current MU Center for the Study of Constitutional Democracy.  Libraries administration has met several times and now we know the project will begin in the fall semester to build a new space for an expanded Center, with offices and seminar areas, on the north east corner of the 4^th floor of Ellis.  More information should be available soon as Facilities shares more.  They are working with us to relocate study areas, Recorded Sound and some book stacks to accommodate the project.  No Library funds will be used. Facilities will re-do bathrooms, paint, add offices and many other amenities to that section of the library, and when the Center leaves in five years or so, all those will stay.

Please don’t share this beyond the libraries, as University Development plans an announcement soon, and they want it to be special, but you all need to know about it as construction may begin in September.  I know this raises many questions, and I will share more information on our strategies for handling this as soon as possible.  Many groups and committees will be consulted along the way for details and decisions.

Saying no to this project was not an option, and I hope we may develop good cooperation and beneficial joint activities with the new Center and its eventual staff of 23.

There may be more news, but I think that’s enough for today!  Watch NewsNotes for updates on this and all other activities in the Libraries, and keep your calendars marked for lunch time on September 23, when we kick off the Centennial celebration of Ellis, along with a general celebration of the University Libraries, with pizza and ice cream for all on Lowry Mall.

Ann

Hello everyone,

This week I’m delighted to announce that the last staffers from Jesse Hall will be leaving Ellis soon, and Room 114 will re-open before classes start on August 24.  Room 202 will not re-open until after Sept. 5 due to work on the heating pipe in the west wall. Both rooms will return to quiet study, but with many additional power outlets added.  Many details still need finalized, but the space will be back to library use.

In alignment with campus raise guidelines, the Libraries will be giving merit-based pay raises this year.  Letters via email will go out to each of you the first week of August with your new rate of pay for the academic year 2015-16. Campus HR will not let us tell anyone new amounts before then! Even supervisors don’t know, so we all have to be patient a little longer, but I thought you’d like to know. (Remember the raise pool was 2%, so most raises will be slightly more or less than that)

LMT is working to re-vitalize our library committees, so look forward to hearing more about that.  We will also be adding some subcommittees to the Student Fee Working Group.  We need a space planning group and a technology advisory group, so tell your LMT member if you are interested.

All of us were shocked to hear of SISLT’s loss of ALA accreditation for the library program.  Their appeal is underway, the Libraries have offered to help any way we can, and I know you all join me in hoping better days are ahead for them.

Finally, thanks to all who participated in the recent communications forums. Communication is an area where improvement comes when we all work together to make it better.

As always, feel free to email me questions, and please send ideas for the All Staff meeting agenda.

Ann