Hello everyone,
The weeks are rolling along now, and Ellis’ 24/5 hours are operational. Security reports all is going well, with cooperative users, up to 50 or so per night, making use of the extended hours.
Many of you have probably noticed how crowded the first floor of Ellis has been during most days. Apparently Journalism and other locations are experiencing a high level of use, too. I’m sort of surprised we are having use this early in the semester with the weather still very nice outside, but it’s a wonderful testament to the value of the libraries.
That’s great news for us as we approach our fee vote in November. Matt and the Library Student Ambassadors, along with Shannon Cary and Cindy Cotner, are working hard to start marketing to students. This week we also started distributing our new promotional folder on the fee.
Next week we hope to have Ellis 114 back in service. A few members of the Student Fee Working Group will be setting up some informational items for students on the fee in the front of the room soon. Room 202 will be ready in another week or so.
This coming Monday, Sept. 21, from 9-11 may be your only chance to see our new Census Research Data Center in Ellis 205. Stop by for coffee and doughnuts to meet the Center’s new full-time staff member, Jake. After its official opening in October, only pre-screened, qualified researchers will be allowed inside.
The big event next week is our Centennial Kick-off on Sept 23 on the mall. Don’t miss it! Thanks to some generous library donors, we will have Shakespeare’s pizza and Buck’s ice cream for all.
Have a great week,
Ann
Information Item – Twenty-four/Five issues: No one has heard any negative issues or concerns with the first few days of the 24 hour operation of Ellis Library. On September 8th, 2015, Ellis Library started a regular semester schedule that will open the first and ground floor from 12 midnight to 7:00 a.m. Monday through Friday mornings. The upper floors of Ellis Library will be closed during those times. Ellis Library Security reports that about 49 Library users were in the building at some point during the first overnight.
Information Item – Library Space: Cyndi Curnutte of Campus Facilities Space Planning and Design reported to the Library that Room 114 Ellis Library should be available to patrons next week. The new carpet is installed. They are currently moving furniture. Work is still in process in Room 202.
Information Item – Long range planning committee: A first draft of the charge for the Libraries Long Range Planning Committee was distributed. Members of that group have been invited to serve and will be meeting soon. LMT was asked to review the drafted charge and get any suggestions back to Ann Campion Riley by next Tuesday, September 15th.
Action Item – Policy Review: Mike Holland presented Policy 25 “Policy on the Staff Suggestion and Innovation System”. The policy was last updated in 1984 and although staff suggestion and innovation is highly valued and sought after in the Libraries, the policy in question refers to a specific method that was likely trendy at the time of its adoption. Among other things it refers to forms that do not exist and mentions ways of making suggestions that predate anonymous computers suggestion pages. As far as Mike and anyone else in LMT can remember the system was never fully put into place and would not benefit the Libraries if it was attempted as written. LMT resolved to rescind the policy and encourage all employees in all departments to continue making suggestions in person and by email to supervisors and division-heads. Mike will present this topic at the next Library Assembly meeting.
Information Item – Workplace Recognition: Libraries Human Resources Manager Sheryl Cullina presented several ideas for formal and informal employee recognition programs that she would like to adopt at the Libraries. These efforts would be in line with the overall goal of creating a “recognition culture”.
On October 14th, MLA, MPLD, and MASL are asking libraries to submit images, video, and stories about what's going on in their library on this one random day in October.
Why are we doing this? Have you ever been asked why we need libraries now that we have the Internet and electronic resources like eBooks and databases? Have you ever heard that libraries are or will soon become irrelevant as people gravitate more heavily to these online resources? People, including some of our legislators, aren't aware of the vast array of services and activities we provide our communities, whether that community is a school, academic, public, or special library. On October 14th, we want to tell our story to them with video, images, and text. Show that we matter to many, many people and share your stories about the way we touch people's lives and stay relevant in the 21st century. You don't need to plan anything special for this day. Just document what's going on in your library and upload your stories to the site we are creating.
Details about where you can post your images, stories, and video will be coming out soon. Right now, you can help us by entering our contest to create the header that will become our logo on the Storify site we are creating. So, if you have a hidden (or not so hidden) graphic arts talent, get busy and create an image that will convey what MO Libraries Snapshot Day is all about! Deadline for submission is Monday, September 28th at 5:00 pm. Images should be formatted as .jpgs and should not exceed 958×200. (Anything bigger will be cropped). Submit your entry to mla@amigos. org. Questions? Contact MLA President, Christina Prucha at christina.prucha@logan.edu.
We are our own best advocates. Save the date, October 14th, for the opportunity to share what we do and get working on creating the logo that will head the campaign!
Christina Prucha
MLA President
INFORMATION ITEM: LMT reviewed the proposed agenda and made additions/adjustments.
INFORMATION ITEM: Update on 114 Ellis Library: Pat Jones reported that carpet will be installed around 9/14/15. We hope the room will open to students soon after that date.
INFORMATION ITEM: Campus Facilities Department is updating the specifications of the UMLD expansion (Phase II).Plans and cost estimates will be used to further consider the Libraries proposal to complete the expansion as originally designed.
INFORMATION ITEM: Update on the conversion of room 205 Ellis Library into a US Census Regional Data Center: Two meetings are planned with contacts from the RDC in the near future. The meetings will discuss the security needs of the room and some of the operational details. The Center is operated independent of the Libraries but everyone is eager to explore how the resources of the two entities might complement each other.
INFORMATION ITEM: Ellen and Ann Riley will meet with Risk management soon to talk about traditional insurance for the collection until the Libraries’ self-insurance fund is replenished. The self-insurance account is allocated an incremental amount of money per year. The library lets that account build-up in order to draw money from the overall pool in the event of an emergency. The pool of money was nearly all used up to deal with the mold situation. Discussion ensued about how to insure the collection going forward. More information and clarifications will be sought from Risk Management.
INFORMATION ITEM: LMT discussed specific and general issues about Ellis Library extending its hours beginning 9/8/15. The Library will stay open 24 hours during the semester. The 24 hour operation will begin Sunday at 12 Noon and extend to Friday at 12 Midnight (during a typical semester week). After Midnight, Security will ask library users to move to the ground and first floors.
INFORMATION ITEM: Library employee representation – Ann visited with Bryce McDonald who, along with others, would like to form a library staff organization as a comparable group to MULAC (MU Librarians and Archivist Council). LMT expressed support. The group would be initiated and organized by the staff.
INFORMATION ITEM: MU Libraries employees are encouraged to go to educational and training sessions, especially those offered by the Libraries. Division heads will ask supervisors to be as supportive as possible, acknowledging that coverage is sometimes an issue, especially with the reduced number of staff members. As always, supervisor permission is still required to attend.
INFORMATION ITEM: Staff Development Committee will be conducting a needs assessment survey in September.
Marie Concannon has accepted an invitation from Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin to chair the MU Student Financial Aid Committee. The term runs from September 2015 to August 2016.