Present: Members: Tammy Green (stand in for June DeWeese, Access Services), Laura Buck, Suzy Bent, Stephen Clayton, Stephen Stanton, Gary Cox, Mark Ellis, Bette Stuart (chair), Matt Stottle, Erin Zeller. Ex-officio: Deb Ward (LMT), Ann Riley (LMT), Jim Cogswell (Director) Felicity (MULAC), Guest: Kelli Hansen. Absent: PT Martin (Representative from LTS and SRC Chair).
Staff Web – Jim Cogswell
- Jim gave overview of library assembly’s involvement in staff web page update.
- Last Fall Jim requested Library Assembly consider taking responsibility for Staff Web Site
- Library Assembly created a subgroup to review the page, remove broken links, and try to find out who was responsible for the information posted.
- The subgroup presented recommendations at the last meeting (February 2011).
- Jim would like to propose a permanent Library Assembly Subcommittee to oversee content on staff web page.
- Discussion: No significant comments or discussion.
- Stephen Stanton officially motioned Jim’s recommendation.
- Steve Clayton seconded.
- Motion – unanimously passed.
- Jim volunteered to submit a draft charge.
- He suggested up to 3 members.
- He will rely heavily on the recommendations of the Library Assembly Staff Webpage Subgroup’s recommendations.
MU Libraries Values statement: Jim would like the Libraries to revisit the MU Libraries Values Statement. (See Appendix A for Value Statement)
- He would like to draw in the Library Diversity Action Committee into the discussion to make sure the values relate a sense of inclusion.
- Jim would also like to use Library Assembly as mechanism to get staff input on the current statement.
- Jim would like to know if staff feel the values statement:
- Is it missing anything?
- Reflects the organization’s values?
- Expresses the values of the Library personnel?
- Discussion ensued. (See Appendix B for discussion notes)
- Bette asks the representatives to take issue (questions) to constituents and promote discussion
- Bring feedback to the Library Assembly for future Library Assembly discussion.
UPDATE: 3/24/2011 12:59 PM Follow-up email: Jim and Bette ask that departmental discussions include a member of DAC, if possible. Members to contact Leo for scheduling.
o Timeline: Jim wonders if a new draft could be made available during the celebration of service. (Approximately the second week in May).
Library Elections to take place in June 2010: Three members will transition off. Bette read procedures from bylaws.
- Admin will supply list, (Bette checked with Leo Agnew – he will create ballots.)
- The departments whose representative will rotate off are: Acquisitions, Cataloging, Special Collections
- New officers will be elected the first meeting in July.
Announcements:
- Mark Ellis for Administration: Mark and Shannon (members of the Celebration of Service Committee) would like to use the Library Assembly to help with the planning and feedback process surrounding the Celebration of Service events each year. (It may be too late to have a large impact on this year’s celebration, but in the future it would be helpful to gather staff feedback through the assembly if everyone is agreeable to it.) He will send follow-up email.
- Jim: LSO Reorganization – the electronic resources function and software support will be brought under management of the MU Libraries but will continue to serve the four campuses (much like the UMLD and UMLD2). The digitization function is still under discussion.
- Kurt Kopp’s last day will be April 8th.
- Next meeting will be April 26th. Pat Jones will discuss the Library Space Planning and Advisory Group.
Appendix A
Values Statement – How we conduct ourselves
As employees of the MU Libraries, we affirm and support the core values of the University of Missouri-Columbia, including respect, responsibility, discovery, and excellence. We hold the fundamental purpose of a land-grant university as a guiding principle in all that we do.
In addition, we uphold the following values:
1. People. We value our users, regardless of their level of expertise or affiliation, as the foundation of our mission. We esteem our fellow employees, regardless of their job assignment, as our most valuable asset. We treat all people with respect and courtesy. We celebrate the diversity of our staff as one of our greatest strengths.
2. Service. Our principal goal is to provide the best quality service possible, at all times, to all our users. We recognize and celebrate excellence whenever and wherever we encounter it. We work together as a team for the greater good of the Libraries and the University.
3. Stewardship. We maintain our collections and facilities for future generations of scholars. We make the most efficient use of scarce resources. We plan for the challenges which will confront us in the future.
4. Access. Freedom of access to information in all forms and for all persons is our most cherished principle. We treasure the library ideals of free speech, open inquiry, accessibility, and equality; all of which are upheld by our collections, our services, our policies, and our procedures.
Appendix B
o Library Assembly discussion about MU Libraries Values statement – some of the suggestions/comments below:
- The values guide how the Libraries interact with the public and how staff interact with each other.
- There is a distinction between valuing all users and differentiating between levels of users. It was suggested we can value all users while prioritizing how we support different levels of users.
- Libraries have to balance values with privacy/confidentiality (Patron records & Copyright aspects).
- Some values that were suggested include:
• Honesty, integrity, and trust (People/Service)
• We build and maintain our collections … (Stewardship)
• Innovation (Service)
• Open access (Access)
• Should the statement reference ALA’s “Library Bill of Rights”, the “Freedom to Read Statement”, etc. where it refers to “library ideals”? (Access)