Ellis Library Adopts a Lab

In order to maintain excellent computer support for students of the University of Missouri, Ellis Library will temporarily adopt a DoIt computer lab. Renovations at Pershing Commons will result in the closing of a computer lab supporting several printers and about 50 computers. Until renovations are complete, Ellis Library is taking this opportunity to adopt DoIt’s displaced equipment in order to continue to provide a quiet place for students to compute, print and study on campus. The lab will take the place of the temporary Reserve and ILL offices in CPRR and will be available to studentsfrom Jan. 17th, 2011 until December 2012.

MULSA Food Drive 2011

This year’s Food Drive was a great success.  The Libraries donated a total of 325.6 pounds of food to the Central Missouri Food Bank, as well as $252 in cash.  We also donated approximately 100 pounds of food, cat litter and toys to Columbia Second Chance, along with $70 in cash.  Thanks to everyone for your generous donations!

This year, the department with the most food donations was Acquisitions, with 110 pounds; in second place was the State Historical Society, with 97.7 pounds.  Acquisitions also won for the most cash donated, with $132; in second place was Access Services with $50 donated.

For their efforts, Acquisitions is the recipient of two large trays of Holiday cookies.  Thanks again to EVERYBODY and EVERYONE that participated in this year’s food drive!!

Steve Clayton
102 Reynolds Journalism Institute

MU Librarian in the News

Marie Concannon (right) with Senator McCaskill (left) during her weekly “Coffee with Claire” discussions in Washington D.C. Missouri S&T hosts Senator Dan Brown

MU librarian visits with Senator Claire McCaskill
MU librarian and Government Documents Coordinator, Marie Concannon, visited Washington D.C. in November and had the opportunity to visit with Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO), and Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO). Her visit emphasized the importance of MU libraries and updating federal laws that dictate how government documents are stored and made available to the public.

Reminder on Group Process Training Session #3

As mentioned in News Notes 11/11/11, http://mulibraries.missouri.edu/newsnotes/?p=4129, SDC is sponsoring a two-part training series on group process methods. Session #2 will take place Dec. 20, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m., 4F51-A Ellis, and will provide the opportunity to practice the methods of Brainstorming, Affinity Diagram, and Multivoting. This format combines elements of session 2 with session 3. I’m doing this to make up for missing session 2 on Dec. 13. Sorry about that.

Space is still available. RSVP’s are requested for head count purposes; contact Leo at AgnewL@missouri.edu. Release time is available with supervisor approval.

Update on the Moves in Documents and Reference

The initial phase of the shift of materials in Documents has been completed.  This was primarily a shift of the Y4 group to UMLD2, although some libraries received parts to enhance their own collections.  Most of the shelving went to UMLD2 to house these materials, but some shelving was temporarily moved near the Reference stacks in a holding area for use later.  Additional items that were moved to open up as much space as possible included microfiche cabinets, shelflist cabinets, map cases, counter shelving and a few other Documents items.

The area now cleared for carpeting is directly north, west and northwest of the Documents office.  Carpeting of the area could begin within a week.  This is the first step in a series of stages of materials shifting, then carpeting.

There are also two minor shifts in parts of the Reference collection.  Here are the reasons for the shifts:

  1. To free up shelving that will be used after carpet has been placed.  The Reference shelving will generally be moved to the footprint of the small ranges of Documents—often referred to as “Documents lite.”
  2. The existing shelving in Reference will need to be moved anyway (for carpeting), and these empty stack ranges can easily be moved to the new footprint.
  3. If these were not used, there would be a need to identify matching supports, base units, end panels, brackets and shelves, all of which would need to be assembled.  Use of existing stack ranges saves time, labor and effort.
  4. This also consolidates the Reference collection into a more compact and cohesive unit for the time being, although this is a temporary measure.

The estimate is that this will produce about three half ranges of shelving and two mini counter shelving units.  None of these will be moved, of course, until the carpet is ready.  At least two parallel half ranges are necessary for the final shift so that they can be braced at the top for safety and stability.  After Reference materials are moved to the new location, additional open stack ranges will be produced to continue the cycle.

Wayne Barnes

Current MUSE Posts, Web Tips and December Spotlight Winner

December 2011 Spotlight Award Winner: Paula Roper
http://mulibraries.missouri.edu/muse/index.php/2011/12/14/december-2011-spotlight-award-winner-paula-roper/

Web tip of the week for Dec. 12, 2011 –  free shipping day
http://mulibraries.missouri.edu/muse/index.php/2011/12/01/web-tip-of-the-week-for-dec-12-2011-free-shipping-day/

Adopt-a-Family Haul (and Food Drive Reminder)
http://mulibraries.missouri.edu/muse/index.php/2011/12/12/adopt-a-family-haul-and-food-drive-reminder/

Web tip of the week for Dec. 19, 2011 – Zaarly.com
http://mulibraries.missouri.edu/muse/index.php/2011/12/14/web-tip-of-the-week-for-dec-19-2011-zaarly-com/