Library Website Database Software Upgraded This Weekend

The Library website database software will be upgraded this weekend.  So that our website will not be down at any time, Mathew is going to create a backup which we will use over the weekend.  This means that no changes can be made on WordPress (included News and Announcements) from 4:30 p.m. Friday through 9:00 a.m. Monday. 

WordPress does not include any of the Springshare products (LibGuides, LibAnswers, etc.).

If you have any questions, please let us know.

Thank you,

Judy and Mathew

Technical Services Librarian Interviews

Technical Services Librarian Interviews
There are two candidates scheduled to interview next week for the Technical Services Librarian.  Open meetings with candidate presentations are scheduled at the times below.  Both candidates will be speaking on ‘Next Generation Catalogs’ and the presentations will be followed by Q&A.  The presentations will be held in room114A, Ellis Library.

 

  • Tuesday, February 21, 10:45 – 11:30:  Joan Wang
  • Thursday, February 23, 10:45 – 11:30: Julie Housknecht

Please remember the following interview guidelines to keep our interview process running smoothly.

  1. Everything that happens during an interview is on the record. This includes time spent with the candidate in informal meetings, including meals and breaks, time between meetings, or tours.
  2. Candidates will want to know about you, your department, the MU Libraries, campus, and Columbia.  You can talk about your personal and professional experiences, but remember – candidates are interviewing us as much as we are interviewing them.  Please try to be both positive and honest.
  3. Remember that making an employment decision on information that is not job relevant is a violation of University policy and federal law.  Protected criteria include: race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, status as a veteran, and sexual orientation.
  4. Be sure your questions are job-relevant.  Consider what information you are trying to learn.  Is it related to the job? A list of questions that are considered inappropriate (and how to make them more appropriate) can be found in the HR policy on Interviewing, HR 110 http://www.umsystem.edu/ums/rules/hrm/hr100/hr110.
  5. Please make sure your electronic devices are on silent/vibrate and put away during the time that you are meeting with candidates.

If you have any questions or concerns as we start these interviews, please contact Sheryl Cullina. Thank you in advance for your participation in this process.

Student Services Enhancement Fee on March Ballot

Good news! MSA has confirmed that the Student Services Enhancement Fee referendum will be put on the ballot for the spring elections. Voting will take place March 6-8.

While this is great news for us, I want to remind everyone that it is not the University Libraries’ job to market this fee. This is an initiative that came out of the office of Student Affairs and the marketing campaign is being carried out by a team of Student Communication Coordinators.  I have been working closely with these groups as they’ve developed their communication strategy, and I am confident that they are representing the Libraries well and will continue to do so. If anyone from the media reaches out to you with questions about this fee, please direct them to me or Shannon Cary, our Communications Officer.

If the student body votes for this fee, MU Libraries will receive $12 per student which comes out to approximately $660,000 annually. This amount has been designated for the student priorities listed on the information website:

  • Keep Ellis Library open 24 hours a day, five days a week (all levels)
  • Extend specialized library hours to meet student demand
  • Fund collections/resources
  • Improve student learning spaces

For more information about what the Student Services Enhancement Fee will provide, please see the SSEF information page, which will be updated soon now that the “proposed” referendum is official: https://studentservicesfee.missouri.edu/

If any library staff (committees/groups or individuals) would like more information about this fee, I am happy to meet to answer any questions. I will keep you all updated as this campaign moves forward.

–Grace Atkins

Healthy for Life Update

Let’s Acknowledge Employees for Practicing Random Acts of Wellness
In week 3 of Caught in the Act, a total of 72 employees from every University of Missouri campus were acknowledged for practicing Random Acts of Wellness. Keep those submission rolling in!

Here is a sampling of nominations from week 3:

  • Creating an exercise group that meets every Monday
  • Encouraging micro breaks such as stretching and walking down the hall
  • Hosting a healthy crockpot luncheon
  • Creating a staff development program in which presenters come and present over various wellness topics such as mindfulness.

The raffle winners from week 3 are as follows:

  • Missouri S&T- Patty Reising nominated by Dorie Paine
  • UMSL –  Susan Johnson nominated by Laura Watt
  • UMKC – Alia Herman nominated by Hallie Spencer
  • Columbia – Janice Jacobson nominated by Samuel Otten
  • Hospital –  Jennifer Townsend nominated by Barbara Haslag
  • UM System- Nishant Jain nominated by Maria Barrett

Winners of the weekly raffle will receive a prize of their choice.

There are many employees out there practicing random acts of wellness, so let us know who they are.

Submit a colleagues name now for practicing a random act of wellness? http://umurl.us/CITA


Culture of Health priority area: Empower and appreciate
Each Culture of Health priority area is featured on the Wellness Website along with many programs, discounts, and resources. From the home page, you can click on each priority area to learn more. This week we are exploring ‘Empower and Appreciate’; which supports empowerment and appreciation by colleagues, yourself and the organization.

What you'll find on the website:

  • Easy action steps– These are simple action steps to help you empower yourself and appreciate others.
  • Empower yourself- Discover tools to advance your financial, educational and overall well-being.
  • Appreciate others- Find simple resources and ways to nominate someone for a staff award.

Going on now, Caught in the Act is a simple appreciation program designed to recognize employees for demonstrating random acts of wellness. Acts of wellness can be anything from taking the stairs, hosting a healthy potluck to mentoring a co-worker.  Want to find out more? http://umurl.us/CITA

Ready to explore Empower and appreciate? Click here!


NEW! United Healthcare Nurse Liaison is Coming to Campus

Caroline Murphy, United Healthcare Nurse Liaison,  is available to assist you with health education and disease management (e.g., diabetes or blood pressure management), setting personal health goals, finding in-network physicians, and more. Caroline Murphy is a registered nurse with a broad range of healthcare experience. Learn more about the services Caroline can provide by visiting the Nurse Liaison webpage.

PRESENTATION: Introduction to Services and Primary Care Providers

When: March 1, 2017

Time: 12:00 pm – 12:30 pm

Location: Memorial Union, Stotler Lounge I

Register: Visit the Nurse Liaison webpage

Wellness Incentive points: eligible for 25 points*

Caroline will also offer one-on-one appointments to discuss your health needs following the presentation. Contact Caroline to schedule an appointment following the presentation. She is also available to schedule appointments on a different day and time if you are unable to attend this session.

One-on-one Appointments

When: March 1, 2017

Time: 12:30 p.m.to 2:30 p.m.

Location: Memorial Union, Stotler Lounge I

Register: Contact Caroline at (573) 296-0158 or caroline_murphy@uhc.com

*As a Healthy for Life sponsored workshop, eligible employees may earn 25 points for attending the presentation. There are a maximum of 100 points possible for this category. Contact wellness@umsystem.edu for questions.



NEW! #KnowMoreDoMore Series
The Student Affairs Inclusion Collective invites staff to join them in a series of presentations and discussions through 2017. Through monthly discussions, participants focus on tangible ways to promote inclusion, equity, and diversity at the University of Missouri. Click here to learn more about the series, upcoming topics, and events.

February’s topic: Intersectionality

When: Wednesday, February 8, 2017

Time: 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Where: 2205 A&B MU Student Center

When: Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Time: 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Where: 123 Jesse Hall

Eligible employees can earn 10 points for participating in diversity activities, with a maximum of 100 points in this category. Employees must self-report diversity activities on the Healthy for Life Wellness Program website.


NEW! Classes on Campus
Did you know a variety of low-cost and free physical activity and stress management classes are offered on campus? View the calendar of events to find a class near you or check out a few opportunities below:

Pilates

When: Mondays

Time: 12:10 pm – 12:50 pm

Location: Townsend, Room 206

Cost: $3 per session

Contact: Tina England englandt@missouri.edu

Meditation

When: Mondays

Time: 12:15 pm – 12:45 pm

Location: Heinkel Building, Room 266

Cost: Free

Contact: David Burks dburks@gmail.com

Eligible Faculty and Staff can earn up to 100 points for engaging in physical activity. Participation in physical activity classes must be self-reported in the Cerner Wellness Portal in the ‘Engage in Activity’ category to receive incentive points. Visit www.umurl.us/Wellness to discover other activities and resources to help you Be Active.


Note from the Director

Warm weather today for February!  Every day without a blizzard is a gift this time of year.

The weather is good but the budget news is bad.  Most of you have heard that the new governor will keep back some funds for MU and other colleges this fiscal year.  He has also proposed a 9% cut to higher education in the new fiscal year.  We knew about the state budget shortfall, so this is not unexpected, and I know we all understand the need to make hard choices, but it is still discouraging.

On the other hand, I learned that the library made about $14,000 from July to December in 2016 from the BookMark Café, and most of you will have noticed its new look and new furniture.  A nice grant from the Student Fee Capital Improvement Committee and a few thousand more from the Libraries’ Admin budget to help with the electrical work made it possible. Tomorrow at 10 am is a grand re-opening celebration in the Café, so stop by for free coffee and doughnuts. 

Also tomorrow is the first meeting of the Library Assembly replacement, the Staff Advisory Group at 2 pm in Ellis 114A.  The new group is sort of a committee-of-the-whole, informal all staff meeting in a town hall style, and I hope many of you will attend.  Noah Hartsfield is the first chair/convener, and I will be there to give a report and take questions. Others will report, too, on many interesting matters.  Open communication is always important, and I think helps us all, especially when budgets are tight.

Most of you know we have several searches to fill vacancies from retirements and changes going on, and we will have an update on those at the meeting as well as in NewsNotes.  My next meeting on selling the Doughty bird collection is Wednesday morning, and I still hope to get them sold in the new few months.

Many people have been out with flu and colds, so I hope you all are staying healthy!

Ann