September Library Office Notes

Posted on by


ANNOUNCEMENTS

IT NEWS

FACILITIES NEWS

HR NEWS

EVENTS AND TRAINING


ANNOUNCEMENTS: University Librarian Note
A little over a week of the fall semester is now behind us. I’m grateful for campus efforts to ensure safety, starting with developing COVID-19 testing last year and right on through providing safe environments in classrooms and on campus with vaccine and mask requirements. I have to say, it’s been wonderful having people back in the Library. Thanks to all of my colleagues (that includes you!) for doing what they can to ensure effective teaching, study, and research. Read more…
Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Library Building Project Update
Tom Teper, Associate Dean for Collections and Technical Services

Project Meetings for July and August 2021

As reported in last month’s update, representatives from the University Library, University Administration, and Facilities and Services met with members of our Architecture/Engineering (A/E) Team for meeting on July 20th-21st, July 28th, and August 4th. These meetings reviewed the vision and program, provided an opportunity to validate – or confirm – projected spaces, and by August 4th, verify the program (e.g., make sure that both parties are on the same page) and get a sign-off from UIUC on Gross Square Feet (GSF) and Assignable Square Feet (ASF) as well as shelving quantities.

At an August 18th meeting, the A/E presented options related to the addition of a loading dock to the east side of the renovated facility as well as accessible ramping on the building’s western side. The existing ramps are not ADA-compliant. The new ramping would seek to make a generally accessible entrance to the building. Multiple options for a potential loading dock addition were discussed at the meeting. As these plans would change the exterior appearance, project team members followed this meeting with a late-August meeting with the campus’ Architectural Review Committee and are scheduled to meet with the Chancellor’s Design Advisory Committee in early September.

Lastly, a meeting was held on August 26th in which members of the project team, F&S, and the A/E discussed various items related to building code as they intersect with this project. The attendees dedicated significant time to discuss plans related to fire detection and suppression and building occupancy. Additionally, the project team touched on issues related to bathrooms in the renovated facility.

Project-Related Meetings Scheduled for September 2021 (as of 8/27/2021)

The following meetings include both scheduled project meetings (with project designation of U20118) as well as additional meetings scheduled that involve select representatives of the A/E, F&S, and University Library.

  • 9/1/2021 – U20118: Undergraduate Library Redevelopment: Planning Options and Shelving Layout
  • 9/2/2021 – Chancellor’s Design Advisory Committee
  • 9/15/2021 – U20118: Undergraduate Library Redevelopment: Plan Selection, Coordination (MEP Systems, Envelop Consultant)
  • 9/22/2011 – Schematic Design LEED Team Meeting
  • 9/29/2021 – U20118: Undergraduate Library Redevelopment: Seating, Interior Concept, Shelving Equipment

Other Activities

While these meetings occurred, members of the Special Collection Division spent a considerable amount of time double-checking previous work they completed to assess the size of their respective collections. Additionally, a team within the division began preparing documentation related to the types of equipment that they believe will be needed in various locations throughout the renovated building. This includes recording and presentation equipment, the technology they believe will be needed for instructional and exhibit purposes, and other miscellaneous equipment. We anticipate that their work will be refined and incorporated more fully into the planning as the project moves forward.

Efforts to barcode and improve inventory management continued over the last month, and the Division is already beginning preliminary work related to their opening exhibit.

Proposed Project Schedule

The kick-off meeting included a review of the proposed project schedule from the point that “conceptualization” began on July 21, 2021, through what is called “substantial completion” of construction work. Those dates in the future become increasingly speculative. At present, the schedule is as follows:

  • Conceptualization
    07/21/2021 work session
    08/12/2021 submission date
    08/26/2021 est. Concept review meeting 
  • Schematic Design
    11/09/2021 submission date
    11/23/2021 est. SD review meeting 
  • Design Development
    01/22/2022 submission date
    02/04/2022 est. DD review meeting-BOT Preparation 
  • Construction Documents 50%
    03/31/2022 submission date
    4/14/2022 est. 50% CD review meeting 
  • Construction Documents 95%
    07/04/2022 submission date
    07/18/ 2022 est. 95% CD review meeting
    08/18/2022 100% CD completion 
  • Bidding/Award
    08/18/2022 Advertise for Bids
    08/25/2022 Pre-bid /Pre-pricing meeting
    09/30/2022 Bid Opening – To be confirmed
    01/04/2023 Notice Proceed
  • Board of Trustees approval (required on if the individual contract is over $2,500,000.) 
  • Construction – Start/End*
    01/05/2023 – 05/29/2024

Communications

Elements from last month’s LON were incorporated as news items in the new project website at: https://www.library.illinois.edu/specialcollectionsbuilding

Based on communications with Heather Murphy and Kathryn Risor-Heise, we anticipate additional items on the project appearing on both the fall and winter issues of the Friendscript.
Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: A Reminder about Business Services Operations
Susan Breakenridge, Assistant Dean – Business and Human Resources

A reminder about Business Services Operations – As we start the new fiscal and academic year off, please try to submit your purchase requests and travel request as early as possible to allow our staff time to process the paperwork so purchases don’t become urgent.  The unit is down a position with Donna Hoffman’s recent retirement so we ask for your patience as we manage through the changes.
Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: OEC Outreach and Engagement Grant
Through the Library’s Outreach and Engagement funding opportunity, the Library embodies the University’s land grant values and strengthens its commitment to Strategic Direction No. 3: Societal and global impact. Proposals will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and provide funding for up to $500 per event, up to a maximum of $500 per person per fiscal year to be used for outreach and engagement activities. Matching funds from the applicant’s unit or other sources are strongly encouraged. The Outreach and Engagement Committee (OEC) will review proposals based on the OEC Grant Funding Rubric until all allocated funds have been awarded and advance recommendations to the University Librarian. All faculty, APs, and civil service staff are eligible to apply.

Purpose of OEC Funding

  1. To allow for more outreach and engagement activities per year, and to provide for the possibility of larger or more costly events.
  2. To foster the development of collaborative, change-oriented projects that advance community research, learning experiences, and societal well-being.
  3. To advance the Library as a place of convergence and inclusivity for programs that illuminate and address real world

Application Information

If you have any questions, please contact us at OEC@library.illinois.edu or reach out to any of our committee members. There are office hours on September 15 (see below). We look forward to your applications!
Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Alma Squad Report

Alma Staff Training Page

We want to remind all about the Alma Staff Training page at https://www.library.illinois.edu/staff/alma/.

At the revamped site, there are lots of introductory videos and documentation available about working in Alma and the Primo Catalog. We have links out to Ex Libris produced training information, numerous CARLI created aids, and locally recorded Zoom sessions on basic searching and navigation in Alma, Fulfillment activity, Cataloging and Maintenance of titles/records, working in the Primo Catalog. Recently, we have collected all the Alma Tips from this summer into a new section with links to information about QR Codes, working with Host Bibliographic Records in both systems, and Advanced Searching in Alma. There is also a Contact Us section when one has questions or feedback about the Alma or Primo systems.

AlmaStats – Help running analytics in Alma/Primo

We wanted to remind everyone that we have a group ready to help with questions or running analytics work in Alma/Primo. We can help with setting up analytics widgets, running and exporting advanced queries in Alma into spreadsheets of data elements, utilizing Alma or Primo Analytics to run reports for bibliographic data or library activity (loans, requests, historical events, etc.), and pulling in data from external sources to do analysis work of library collections.

There is a library email address to help answer questions about analytics. We will help run any reports to get the data and information you need. This group of Analytics experts includes Michael Norman, BA Howe, Jen Yu, Esra Coskun, Megean Osuchowski, and Janelle Sander, and one of us will guide one through the best way to produce a report or analysis of the dataset you need.

If you have any questions about doing analytics work in Alma/Primo, please contact the Alma Stats group at: almastats@illinois.edu

Information Session on Searching and Navigating in Alma/Primo

See below for an Information Session on September 13.

A previously recorded information session on Searching and Navigating in Alma/Primo is available at this link: https:/uofi.box.com/s/ij0fsmgcictdqijrdhncbiw9blp6gw5l
Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Task Force Updates
There was one meeting of the Task Force in the past month (August 5). The next meeting is scheduled for September 8; the Year One DEIA Base Survey report will be discussed.

Co-chair and member Jessica Ballard has stepped down from the Task Force; naming a new co-chair is underway. For a list of current members, please visit the Task Force web page at https://www.library.illinois.edu/staff/committee/diversity-equity-inclusion-and-accessibility-deia-task-force/.

Minutes from all past DEIA Task Force meetings are now online on the Task Force web page.

The next Office Hours will be offered on September 3 from 11-12. Please look for an email with the Zoom link from Co-chair Joe Lenkart via LIB-NEWS. The Task Force would love to hear from colleagues in the Library!
Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Did You Know? A Monthly Factoid from Library Assessment

Since September 2019, the Library has been using Splunk (a large-scale data analysis tool) to process EZproxy logs in order to record the aggregate use of electronic resources by off-campus users. As we approach September 2021, a few trends can be seen in the data over the past two academic years. Off-campus resource use tends to peak in the middle of the Fall and Spring Semesters, especially for undergraduate and graduate students. Staff and faculty also see a higher rate of off-campus resource usage during this time, but generally remain static users throughout the year. Off-campus resource use has generally remained higher after March 2020, when alternative online course delivery started due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Immediately after alternative delivery started, April 2020 saw a peak for undergraduate and staff users. Graduate students and faculty exceeded their April 2020 use in March 2021

Notes: In January and November 2020 there were some issues with Shibboleth that affected data accuracy in Splunk. As a result, the numbers of faculty and staff users during those two months were estimated (shown in dotted lines).

Interested in more EZproxy off-campus library resource use data? Check out these previous factoids:

  • February 2020: Percentage of Students Using Off-Campus Resources by College in Fall 2019
  • March 2020: Percentage of Student Off-Campus Use by College in Fall 2019
  • April 2020: Daily EZproxy Transactions from January 2020 to March 2020
  • June 2020: Comparing Percentages of Student Off-Campus Resource Use in Fall 2019 and Spring 2020

Data visualization and text created by Library Assessment Graduate Assistant Lindsay Taylor.
Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Collection Development Committee Notes
The most recent meetings minutes of the CDC are posted at:
https://www.library.illinois.edu/staff/committee/collection-development-committee/
Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Content Access Policy & Technology Meeting Minutes
The meeting minutes of CAPT (including workgroup reports) are posted at:
https://www.library.illinois.edu/staff/committee/content-access-policy-technology-capt/
Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Recognizing Excellence

Please share your award, recognition, or grant! To initiate a request for publicity, employees (or their supervisors) should submit this Awards/Recognitions/Grants Publicity Request Form.
Back to Top


IT NEWS: Library IT Help Desk Services
Library IT Help Desk will continue offering all services via ticket, phone (217-244-4688), or email (help@library.illinois.edu).  Walk-up service will continue to be suspended until further notice, however, face-to-face appointments will be made as needed. Our service hours are 8:30 am – 5 pm Monday through Friday. Please contact us if you need IT assistance.

Reminders: 
Please update and maintain hours of service for Unit Libraries as they now appear on the Library homepage under the Libraries and Hours tab again. If you need assistance, please contact the Library IT Help Desk.

On a related note, units may want to update their Google Business profile so that it has up-to-date information as well.  If you need assistance with accessing the unit Google Business account, please contact the Library IT Help Desk.
Back to Top


IT NEWS: Assistance with Uploading COVID Vaccination Record Card
If you have received your COVID-19 vaccine, but haven’t yet uploaded your COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card to McKinley Health Center for inclusion in the Safer Illinois app, the Library IT Help Desk can assist Library faculty and staff with the technical process of uploading it. Instructions are available here. If you need additional assistance, please contact the Library IT Help Desk.
Back to Top


FACILITIES NEWS: Facilities Updates
Welcome back to campus!! As a new semester has started, the Facilities Team wanted to remind everyone of a few general procedures and policies:

  • For any facility-related request(s) such as furniture needs, key request, event setup, general maintenance, and remodel, or when not sure, please submit a ticket request. This way all of Facilities can track the request and ensure that we are providing the best customer service for you. Our ticketing system has changed to Team Dynamix. These links will help with varied ticket submissions:
  • For shipping/delivery, please bring any shipments to Shipping/Receiving the day prior.  We make daily deliveries starting at 8:00 am, as well as, multiple deliveries throughout the day.  We try to accommodate rush orders but request at least a day’s notice.  Additionally, for any packages being shipped FedEx or UPS, please have them by noon at the shipping/receiving desk at the Main Library.  Lastly, ensure that you please provide as much detail regarding the order as possible (vendor, quantity, price, etc.).

Back to Top


HR NEWS: Filled Positions

  • J.P. Goguen – Unit Spaces and Technology Support Specialist – UGL – 8/23/2021
  • Siobhan McKissic – Visiting Design and Materials Research Librarian – Ricker Library – 9/1/2021
  • Yungjin Shin – Visiting Project Conservator – Preservation Services – 9/1/2021
  • Sandi Caldrone – Research Data Librarian – Research Data Service – 10/16/2021
  • Evelyn Cordell – Dual Career E-Learning Librarian – Research Information Services – 10/16/2021

Back to Top


HR NEWS: Departures 

  • Russell Clark – Library Specialist – Grainger – 8/2/2021
  • Erika Johnsrud – Library Specialist – ACS – 8/12/2021

Back to Top


HR NEWS: Searches Completed 

  • Visiting Design and Materials Research Librarian – Ricker Library, FAC – Kirstin
    Dougan Johnson, Chair

Kick-off meeting scheduled for April 14, 2020. Vacancy Suspended until further notice.
Kick-off meeting held Nov 2, 2020. Awaiting for EC to approve JD. EC approved JD.
Live on the job board. Search closed Jan 29, 2021. Phone screenings were held on Feb 22, 23, and 24. Virtual interviews were held on March 29, April 2, April 5, and April 9. Offer extended. Siobhan McKissic’s start date will be September 1, 2021.

  • Visiting Project Conservator – Preservation Services, AP – Tom Teper, Chair

Kick-off meeting held Nov 5, 2020. JD approved by EC. Live on the job board. Search
closed Jan 22, 2021. Virtual interview held March 23, 2021. Offer Extended. Yungjin
Shin’s start date will be September 1, 2021.

  • Research Data Librarian – Research Data Service, FAC – Carissa Phillips, Chair

Kick-off meeting held February 16, 2021. Live on the job board. Closed April 9, 2021.
Phone screenings were scheduled on April 21, April 22, April 26, April 27, and April 29. Virtual interviews were held on May 17, May 18, May 27, and June 1. Sandi Caldrone’s start date will be October 16, 2021. All documents are with BOT for the next approval meeting in September.

  • Dual Career-E-Learning Librarian – Research Information Services, FAC – David Ward, Chair

Kick-off meeting held May 24, 2021. Virtual interview held June 4, 2021. Offer
Extended. Evelyn Cordell’s start date will be October 16, 2021. All documents are with
BOT for the next approval meeting in September.
Back to Top


HR NEWS: Searches in Progress or Pre-announcement

  • Associate Director for Fiscal Operations – Business & Human Resources Service Center, AP – Skye Arseneau, Chair

Kick-off meeting held June 7, 2021. EC approved JD. Awaiting IHR approval. IHR
approved JD 6/29/2021. Job live on job board. Closed July 16, 2021. Five candidates were selected, but one withdrew. Phone screenings were scheduled for Aug 16, Aug 17, and Aug 18.

  • Metadata Librarian– Acquisitions and Cataloging, FAC – Dan Tracy, Chair

The kick-off was scheduled for June 22, 2021. EC approved JD. Job live on the job board. Closing date August 20, 2021.

  • Visiting Research Specialist, Slavic Reference Service (grant-funded) – International and Area Studies Library, AP – Kit Condill, Chair

The kick-off was scheduled for August 9, 2021. Awaiting EC approved JD.

Back to Top


HR NEWS: Searches Approved but on Hold

  • ACS Cataloging Coordinator – Acquisitions and Cataloging Services, AP – Mara
    Thacker, Chair

Kick-off meeting scheduled for May 13, 2020. EC approved position. IHR approved JD Oct 7, 2020. Live on job board. Closed Nov 6, 2020. Phone screenings were held on Jan 4, Jan 5, Jan 6, and Jan 7, 2021. Virtual interviews were held on Feb 17, 23, and 26. CLOSED WITHOUT HIRE.
Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: Staff Events Calendar
To see the most up-to-date staff events calendar, please visit https://uiuc.libcal.com/calendar/staff.
Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: NISO Webinar – Data: Creation, Stewardship, Use
September 8 at 10 AM

Now, more than ever, the information community is thinking about data and how best to
support its creation, stewardship, and use Whether we are talking about content as data, research data, or data pertaining to online use and behaviors, we continue to amass ever-more data with no plan for storing it, no good way to parse it, and nothing but a vague hope of “automating” the hard work of cleaning it up, which only creates problems down the road. This webinar will assess the data needs of researchers and the response from the information community, from a variety of perspectives.

Please email training@library.illinois.edu for login credentials or recordings.
Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: September SoTL Discussion
September 9 at 3 PM

Continuation of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning series. Zoom information will be shared via LibNews closer to the event date.
Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: Information Session on Searching and Navigating in Alma/Primo
September 13 at 1 PM

On September 13, 2021, we will have a new introductory session on searching and navigating in Alma/Primo. There will be a recording of these sessions posted to the Alma Staff Training page.

Topic: Introductory session on Searching and Navigating in Alma/Primo
September 13, 2021 @ 1-2 pm Zoom Session

Join Zoom Meeting
https://illinois.zoom.us/j/87966775277?pwd=TEJWampadzRLcW1qUDJ5S2xVVGRuUT09 
Meeting ID: 879 6677 5277
Password: 709925
Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: Women in Science Lecture Series: Dr. Margarita Terán-Garcia
September 14, 12 – 1pm

Join us for the University of Illinois Archives’ monthly Women in Science Lecture. Dr. Terán, Assistant Professor of Nutritional Sciences, will share her research on obesity including genetic and environmental influences on obesity and diseases related to obesity. Please visit https://distributedmuseum.illinois.edu/about/women-in-science-lecture-series/ for more information and the registration link.
Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: Fall OEC Grant Office Hours
September 15, 2pm

The Outreach and Engagement Committee is offering Office Hours to answer questions about the Outreach and Engagement Grant. Please lookout for an email from OEC Chair Shelby Strommer with the Zoom link.
Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: Library Hangout
September 22, 10am

Mark your calendars and watch for an email (with a Zoom link) from Lucretia Williams via LIB-NEWS.
Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: Mariselle Melendez: Reading Colonial Latin America through Primary Sources in the Rare Book & Manuscript Library
September 29, 3pm

Back to Top

If you would like to submit content for the October issue of Library Office Notes, please submit it to Heather Murphy or Tom Teper by September 17, 2021.

August Library Office Notes

Posted on by


ANNOUNCEMENTS

HR NEWS

EVENTS AND TRAINING


ANNOUNCEMENTS: University Librarian Note
Check back next month for a new Note from Dean Wilkin.
Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Library Building Project Update
Tom Teper, Associate Dean for Collections and Technical Services

Phase One Architect/Engineer Selection

After many months of negotiations, the University received final approval to proceed with the Architect/Engineering firm for phase one of the Library Building Project. Officially assigned the pro9ject number and name “U20118 – Undergraduate Library Redevelopment,” the project begins with a team jointly led by Champaign-based RATIO Architects and Boston-based Shepley Bulfinch. These firms will lead a team that will embark on transforming the current Undergraduate Library building into a facility that will house the University Archives, the Illinois History and Lincoln Collections, and the Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

The winning firm’s selection culminated a rigorous competitive process. The University Library issued a Request for Proposals on October 22, 2020. We received and evaluated a total of twenty-five proposals. After narrowing the pool down to seven, and after reviewing presentations by the finalists, members of the University Library and the F&S project team strongly endorsed the selection of RATIO and Shepley Bulfinch.

This architectural and engineering team was chosen for their collective expertise and experience with similar projects, their understanding of the project requirements and schedules, their proposed approach to working with project stakeholders, their approach to designing a space that will incorporate accessibility and universal design principles, and their experiences working with similar library and archives materials. The evaluation team also devoted attention to the expertise of preservation consultants engaged by the firms and the experiences of the firms in designing and renovating facilities intended to house special collections materials.

Kick-Off Meeting and Initial Activities for July and Early August 2021

Representatives from the University Library, University Administration, and Facilities and Services met with members of our Architecture/Engineering Team for a kick-off meeting on July 15, 2021. This meeting is used to set ground rules for communication throughout the project, provides an opportunity for participants to review the project overview, scope and deliverables, and schedules for the coming months’ work. During that meeting Library personnel received a schedule of initial meetings for July and August 2021. These include the following initial meetings:

  • July 20-21, 2021 – During this 1.5-day session, project team members received facilities tours and participated in a set of meetings involving the majority of the Special Collections Division’s members. These meetings primarily focused on reviewing background information that the Special Collections Division compiled and the Library provided as part of the selection process, reviewing the vision, program (proposed square footage needs, and temperature and humidity criteria for the project. 
  • July 28, 2021 – This session will center on providing additional tours, reviewing shelving and storage needs, reviewing site programming and conditions (loading, utilities, access needs), and reviewing benchmarking.
  • August 4, 2021 – This final session will consist of a presentation to team members on the verified program (e.g., now that they confirmed the data provided over the last couple meetings, we will make sure that both parties are on the same page), and get a sign-off from UIUC on Gross Square Feet (GSF) and Assignable Square Feet (ASF) as well as shelving quantities.

Proposed Project Schedule

The kick-off meeting included a review of the proposed project schedule from the point that “conceptualization” began on July 21, 2021 through what is called “substantial completion” of construction work. Those dates in the future become increasingly speculative. At present, the schedule is as follows:

A. Conceptualization

07/21/2021 work session
08/12/2021 submission date
08/26/2021 est. Concept review meeting

B. Schematic Design

11/09/2021 submission date
11/23/2021 est. SD review meeting

C. Design Development

01/22/2022 submission date
02/04/2022 est. DD review meeting-BOTPreparation

D. Construction Documents 50%

03/31/2022 submission date
4/14/2022 est. 50% CD review meeting

E. Construction Documents 95%

07/04/2022 submission date
07/18/ 2022 est. 95% CD review meeting
08/18/2022 100% CD completion

F. Bidding/Award

08/18/2022 Advertise for Bids
08/25/2022 Pre-bid /Pre-pricing meeting
09/30/2022 Bid Opening – To be confirmed
01/04/2023 Notice Proceed

G. Board of Trustees approval (required on if individual contract is over $2,500,000.)

H. Construction – Start/End * 01/05/2023 – 05/29/2024

Communications – Website

On June 29, 2021, the Library released a new project website at: https://www.library.illinois.edu/specialcollectionsbuilding. 

Once the website became public, a news item was released, and the information was also communicated out to the following locations:

  • Added to Library’s News page (see post).
  • Submitted to Library trade journals, including C&RL News, American Libraries, Library Journal/LibraryJournal.com, Library Journal Academic Newswire, International Leads (ALA), Advanced Technology Libraries, the Illinois Library Association Reporter, Smart Libraries Newsletter, D-Lib Magazine, Library Media Connection, and School Library Journal. Also the following: the Illinois State Library, Illinois Heartland Library System, and Reaching Across Illinois Library System. And, last but not least, the Association of Research Libraries and the Chronicle of Higher Education.
  • Submitted to local media, including:  the News Gazette, Daily Illini, WILL-AM-FM-TV and The 21st, WDWS-AM, WCIA-TV, WICD-TV, WAND-TV, and Smile Politely.
  • Submitted to July 4 editions of Eweek and GradLINKS. (iNews resumes sending to undergrads on August 22.)
  • Posted to social media, including the Library’s Facebook (see post), Twitter (see post), Instagram (see post), and reddit (see post). Shared with the social media managers of other Library accounts and with the campus social media team to amplify.
  • Shared with Jodi Heckel at the campus News Bureau and with Robin Kaler and Chris Harris at Public Affairs.

Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Residence Hall Libraries’ Summer Reading Bingo
Enjoying your summer reading and other entertainment?  Why not get rewarded for it? Complete a BINGO on the Summer Reading Challenge card and bring it into the Residence Hall Libraries by Friday, Sept. 6th for your choice of a treat and to be entered in a raffle to choose an Advanced Readers Copy of a book from our stash.  Find out more about the Residence Hall Libraries, including our summer hours, here: https://housing.illinois.edu/Resources/residence-hall-libraries


Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Task Force Updates
There were two meetings of the Task Force in the past month (July 8 and 21).

New DEIA Director Victor Jones, Jr. attended his first Task Force meeting on July 21. He is currently reviewing the Assessment Team’s survey report and the Vision Statement and DEIA definition drafts. The Task Force spent time reviewing Year One goals at this meeting.

All of the Task Force teams are drafting informal, mid-Year One reports.

DEIA Task Force Chairs Jessica Ballard and Joe Lenkart offered virtual Office Hours on July 23 from 11-12 to hear from colleagues in the Library. More are planned.
Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Did You Know? A Monthly Factoid from Library Assessment

  • 86% of staff are always or often attending Hangouts.
  • Almost half (47%) never watch the recordings.
  • Almost all (99%) strongly agree or agree that Hangouts provide important information.
  • 77% strongly agree or agree that Hangouts provide a virtual environment for employees to connect.
  • 87% strongly agree or agree that recaps shared via LIB-NEWS have been helpful.

There were 33 comments to improve Hangouts (from 58.9% of survey takers). Here are a few:

  • Hangouts seem targeted to faculty; make relevant to civil service and grad students.
  • Is there a way to submit topics in advance?
  • Send an agenda beforehand; share documents to be discussed ahead of time.
  • Assign someone to watch the chat as Qs sometimes get lost.
  • More notice for Hangouts.
  • More on what other committees are doing or a team or group spotlight.
  • Provide community guidelines or chat etiquette.
  • Consider adding structured social time or more informal discussion.

Stay tuned for more on improving future monthly Hangouts.
Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Digital Humanities Listserv
Spencer D. C. Keralis, Ph.D., Digital Humanities Librarian

Do you work with faculty and students who work at the intersection of the humanities and arts with technology? Are you interested in digital scholarship and pedagogy at Illinois? If so, then please join the university’s DH community email list. All subscribers are welcome to submit news, announcements, and queries to the list.
https://lists.illinois.edu/lists/info/dhillinois
Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Collection Development Committee Notes
The most recent meetings minutes of the CDC are posted at:
https://www.library.illinois.edu/staff/committee/collection-development-committee/
Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Content Access Policy & Technology Meeting Minutes
The meeting minutes of CAPT (including workgroup reports) are posted at:
https://www.library.illinois.edu/staff/committee/content-access-policy-technology-capt/
Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Recognizing Excellence

Please share your award, recognition, or grant! To initiate a request for publicity, employees (or their supervisors) should submit this Awards/Recognitions/Grants Publicity Request Form.
Back to Top


HR NEWS: Filled Positions

  • Javonda Pelman – Assistant/Associate Director of Advancement – Advancement – 8/9/2021
  • Siobhan McKissic – Visiting Design and Materials Research Librarian – Ricker Library – 9/1/2021
  • Yungjin Shin – Visiting Project Conservator – Preservation Services – 9/1/2021
  • Sandi Caldrone – Research Data Librarian – Research Data Service – 10/16/2021
  • Evelyn Cordell – Dual Career E-Learning Librarian – Research Information Services – 10/16/2021

Back to Top


HR NEWS: Departures 

  • Jim Dohle – Director of Library IT Production Services – Library IT – 7/16/2021
  • Donna Hoffman – Administrative Assistant – BHRSC – 7/31/2021
  • Andrea Black – Library Specialist – SSHEL – 8/6/2021
  • David Morris – Assistant Professor – Literatures and Languages Library – 8/15/2021

Back to Top


HR NEWS: Searches Completed 

  • Assistant/Associate Director of Advancement, AP – Heather Murphy – chair 50/50 split with OVCIA 

Virtual interviews held June 8, June 14, and June 15. Offer extended. Javonda Pelman start date will be August 9, 2021.

  • Visiting Design and Materials Research Librarian – Ricker Library, FAC – Kirstin Dougan Johnson, Chair 

Kick-off meeting scheduled for April 14, 2020. Vacancy Suspended until further notice. Kick-off meeting held Nov 2, 2020. Awaiting for EC to approve JD. EC approved JD. 

Live on the job board. Search closed Jan 29, 2021. Phone screenings held Feb 22, 23, and 24. Virtual interviews held March 29, April 2, April 5, and April 9. Offer extended. Siobhan McKissic start date will be September 1, 2021.

  • Visiting Project Conservator – Preservation Services, AP – Tom Teper, Chair

Kick-off meeting held Nov 5, 2020. JD approved by EC. Live on the job board. Search closed Jan 22, 2021. Virtual interview held March 23, 2021. Offer Extended. Yungjin Shin start date will be September 1, 2021.

  • Research Data Librarian – Research Data Service, FAC – Carissa Phillips, Chair 

Kick-off meeting held February 16, 2021. Live on the job board. Closed April 9, 2021. Phone screenings scheduled April 21, April 22, April 26, April 27, and April 29. Virtual interviews held May 17, May 18, May 27, and June 1. Sandi Caldrone start date will be October 16, 2021. All documents are with BOT for next approval meeting in September.

  • Dual Career-E-Learning Librarian – Research Information Services, FAC – David Ward, Chair

Kick-off meeting held May 24, 2021. Virtual interview held June 4, 2021. Offer Extended. Evelyn Cordell start date will be October 16, 2021. All documents are with BOT for next approval meeting in September.
Back to Top


HR NEWS: Searches in Progress or Pre-announcement

  • Associate Director for Fiscal Operations – Business & Human Resources Service Center, AP – Skye Arseneau, Chair

Kick-off meeting held June 7, 2021. EC approved JD. Awaiting IHR approval. IHR approved JD 6/29/2021. Job live on job board. Closed July 16, 2021. 

  • Metadata Librarian– Acquisitions and Cataloging, FAC – Dan Tracy, Chair

Kick-off scheduled for June 22, 2021. EC approved JD. Job live on the job board. Closing date August 20, 2021. 

  • Visiting Research Specialist, Slavic Reference Service (grant funded) – International and Area Studies Library, AP – Kit Condill, Chair

Kick-off scheduled for August 9, 2021.
Back to Top


HR NEWS: Searches Approved but on Hold

  • ACS Cataloging Coordinator – Acquisitions and Cataloging Services, AP – Mara Thacker, Chair

Kick-off meeting scheduled for May 13, 2020.  EC approved position. IHR approved JD Oct 7, 2020. Live on job board. Closed Nov 6, 2020. Phone screenings held Jan 4, Jan 5, Jan 6, and Jan 7, 2021. Virtual interviews held Feb 17, 23, and 26. CLOSED WITHOUT HIRE.
Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: Staff Events Calendar
To see the most up-to-date staff events calendar, please visit https://uiuc.libcal.com/calendar/staff.
Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: Fostering Community and Students’ Creativity with Online Library Programming
August 3 at 1 PM

This is a CARLI-sponsored Professional Development Alliance (PDA) event. 

While college libraries have had to limit public spaces and hours in the last year, staff members at NC State Libraries adapted quickly to offer engaging programming for students online. This has included streaming over Twitch, virtual tours of the newly renovated Hill Library, virtual Makerspace workshops, the State of Sound sessions, and various exhibits to showcase student work. Learn about how they reimagined programming during the pandemic and what tools they’re using to host events. 
https://www.carli.illinois.edu/pda-event-fostering-community-and-students-creativity-online-library-programming 
Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: OEC Article Reading Group
August 9 at 11 AM

Please join OEC member Shelby Strommer to discuss the following readings about assessing outreach programming. Discussion will be inspired by the featured articles, but everyone is invited whether or not they have had a chance to complete the readings. All are welcome!

Farrell, S. L., & Mastel, K. (2016). Considering Outreach Assessment: Strategies, Sample Scenarios, and a Call to Action. In the Library with the Lead Pipe. https://www.inthelibrarywiththeleadpipe.org/2016/considering-outreach-assessment-strategies-sample-scenarios-and-a-call-to-action/

Santiago, A., Vinson, E., Warren, M., & Lierman, A. (2019). Evaluating academic library outreach to determine return on investment for student success. Journal of Library Administration, 59(4), 359-372. doi:10.1080/01930826.2019.1593709

Zoom information shared via LibNews email from Shelby Strommer on July 15.
Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: NISO Webinar – Audits and Assessment
August 11 at 10 AM

Organizations, small- and medium-sized enterprises, academic and governmental institutions all have mechanisms and plans for auditing and assessing their activities. But just thinking about what’s involved in such processes can be stressful for those involved. Where should your organization start? What data might be useful? What are the meaningful metrics needed to establish best practices and how should your organization be thinking about them as applied to productivity or workflows? Accountability is fraught with sensitive issues like these. This event will bring together a group of experts from across the information community to share their ideas and experiences regarding what works and what doesn’t.  

Please email training@library.illinois.edu for login credentials or recordings
Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: August SoTL Discussion 
August 12 at 3 PM

Continuation of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning series. 
Zoom information will be shared via LibNews closer to the event date.
Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: New Graduate Assistant General Orientation
August 16-19

Sessions are available for registration through the Library staff calendar: https://uiuc.libcal.com/calendar/staff

Day one includes sessions that will apply to all GA’s working in the Library. The sessions on the other days may or may not be relevant. GA supervisors – please work with your GAs to guide them to the sessions that are appropriate for the work they will be doing (e.g., if they will not be answering questions via LibChat, let them know they should not register for the chat reference session). Supervisors can sign the GAs up individually, or ask GAs to sign up themselves. As with prior years, all of these sessions are also open to anyone whose work relates to these areas and who would like to develop/refresh their skills. 
Back to Top

If you would like to submit content for the September issue of Library Office Notes, please submit it to Heather Murphy or Tom Teper by August 20, 2021.

July Library Office Notes

Posted on by


ANNOUNCEMENTS

FACILITIES NEWS

HR NEWS

EVENTS AND TRAINING


ANNOUNCEMENTS: University Librarian Note
On June 18, I announced the appointment of Victor Jones, Jr. as the Library’s first Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility. Victor’s first day is coming up in just a few weeks on July 16. Read more…
Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Alma Squad Report

Alma/Primo Weekly Open Office Hour
Starting July 7, 2021, we will have an Alma/Primo Open Office Hour starting on Wednesday at 11 AM each week. Michael Norman will dedicate this hour to working in Alma or Primo Library Catalog to showcase many of the different activities in the two systems. In a collaborative manner, we will discuss Alma and the Primo Library Catalog and demonstrate the various functions of both systems. There will be time for questions and comments during the hour. The Zoom session for the weekly open office hour is:
———————————————————————————————————

Topic: Alma/Primo Weekly Open Office Hour
Time: Jul 7, 2021, 11:00 AM Central Time (US and Canada)

Every week at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, until Sep 29, 2021, 13 occurrence(s):
Jul 7, 14, 21, 28
Aug 4, 11, 18, 25
Sep 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

Join Zoom Meeting
https://illinois.zoom.us/j/86406442035?pwd=SUpSVXBpNU1rS1hScEZFYitPK05LUT09
Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Task Force Updates
Teams were established to tackle various Year 1 goals on the Task Force’s charge (found here).

The Assessment Team has finished a survey to obtain a baseline of Library employee experiences and perspectives on DEIA-related issues within the Library. Results will be shared with the Library soon.

The Communication Team has added Task Force member bios to the TF web page and in an effort to communicate progress it will include regular progress updates in the monthly Library Office Notes going forward.

The Consultancy Support Team is researching DEIA consultants and will work with new DEIA Director Victor Jones to select one.

The Past Efforts Review Team has a draft report the TF is currently reviewing before sharing with the Library.

The Vision Statement Team has a draft of a Vision Statement and definitions of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility supported by the Library’s Executive Committee. These are being reviewed by the Library Staff Support Committee (LSSC) and the Library Committee of Academic Professionals (L-CAP) for feedback before being adopted.

Ultimately, each DEIA TF Team is working on reports that will be shared out with the Library.

DEIA TF Office Hours for Library colleagues will be offered soon. Watch for an announcement via LIB-NEWS.

For more information about the Library’s DEIA Task Force, please see https://www.library.illinois.edu/staff/committee/diversity-equity-inclusion-and-accessibility-deia-task-force/.
Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Collection Development Committee Notes
The most recent meetings minutes of the CDC are posted at:
https://www.library.illinois.edu/staff/committee/collection-development-committee/
Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Content Access Policy & Technology Meeting Minutes
The meeting minutes of CAPT (including workgroup reports) are posted at:
https://www.library.illinois.edu/staff/committee/content-access-policy-technology-capt/
Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Recognizing Excellence

Please share your award, recognition, or grant! To initiate a request for publicity, employees (or their supervisors) should submit this Awards/Recognitions/Grants Publicity Request Form.
Back to Top


FACILITIES NEWS: Update
With Libraries starting to open and as faculty/staff begin coming back to onsite work, Library Facilities are working hard to respond to everyone’s request. As we prioritize each request to ensure we achieve all our customer’s needs we wanted to remind everyone of the following:

1. Facility Service Requests – For all your facility needs please ensure that you submit an OTRS ticket. Even if you are in doubt, submit a ticket, as this is the way we prioritize and track all our work. Sending an email without submitting a ticket causes confusion and delays our ability to respond to your needs. The link can be found through the Library Staff Website or https://otrs-prod.library.illinois.edu/otrs/customer.pl 

2. Library Access – Note that employees with current card access will have access through the Summer. Card access guidelines for Fall are still under review.

3. Space Cleaning – As employees return to onsite work, your space may not have been cleaned. This was due to BSWs performing COVID cleaning measures across campus. BSWs focused on cleaning in public areas, such as classrooms, restrooms (twice daily), hallways, and stairs. This focused cleaning will continue through the Summer. Library Facilities has cleaning and sanitizing supplies for your use in cleaning your spaces, this includes wipes, sanitizer, 409, and Green Works solutions. To request cleaning and sanitizing supplies, please send an email to supplies@library.illinois.edu

4. Trash Emptying – BSWs will continue to NOT enter any private offices to perform any cleaning, including emptying of trash.  A private office is defined as any office that requires a key to enter, which includes cubicles that have keyed doors into them.  For emptying of trash, all employees are to place their trash can outside entry into their private office.  The BSWs will then empty the trash and place the trashcan back at your door.  If your office is in an open area with a desk or waist-high cubicle walls, then the BSWs will empty your trash without you needing to move it.  Examples of private office vs open area are:

a. Scholarly Commons – trash cans at desks within Rm 306 will be emptied by BSWs;
however, those seated in the cubicles that have doors within Rm 306 will need to
place their trash outside your doors to be emptied.
b. Acquisitions – Rm 12 trash cans within cubicles will be emptied by BSWs; however,
the person seated in the office in Rm 12 will need to place their trash outside their
door.

5. Emergencies – With returning to onsite work, please familiarize yourself with all Library Emergency Procedures, including the Building Emergency Action Plans, Fire Alarm, Tornado, and Water Leaks. All emergency procedures can be found here:
https://www.library.illinois.edu/staff/facilities/emergency/

For a complete list of projects in planning and construction, please see https://wordpress.library.illinois.edu/staff/facilities/.
Back to Top


HR NEWS: Filled Positions

  • Belinda Bolivar – Library Assessment Specialist – Library Assessment – 7/16/2021
  • Victor Jones – Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility – BHRSC –
    7/16/2021
  • Siobhan McKissic – Visiting Design and Materials Research Librarian – Ricker Library –9/1/2021
  • Yungjin Shin – Visiting Project Conservator – Preservation Services – 9/1/2021

Back to Top


HR NEWS: Departures 

  • Donna Hoffman – Administrative Assistant – BHRSC – 7/31/2021

Back to Top


HR NEWS: Searches Completed 

  • Library Assessment Specialist – Library Assessment, AP – Sara Benson, Chair

Kick-off meeting scheduled for May 4, 2020. Vacancy Suspended until further notice. Kick-off meeting held Nov 4, 2020. Still awaiting IHR JD approval. JD approved. Live on the job board. Closed date of February 19, 2021. Phone screenings held on March 15 and March 19. Virtual interviews held on April 14, April 20, April 21, and April 22. Offer Extended. Belinda Bolivar’s start date July 16, 2021.

  • Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility – Business and Human
    Resources Services, AP – Cindy Ingold, Chair

Kick-off meeting scheduled for March 5, 2020. Position description pending approval.
Vacancy Suspended until further notice. Kick-off meeting held Oct 28, 2020. Awaiting
for EC to approve JD. EC approved JD. Live on the job board. Closed February 12,
2021. Phone Screenings held on March 15, 17, 18, 22, and 25th. Virtual interviews held on May 11, May 13, and May 26. Offer extended. Victor Jones’s start date will be July 16, 2021.

  • Visiting Design and Materials Research Librarian – Ricker Library, FAC – Kirstin
    Dougan Johnson, Chair

Kick-off meeting scheduled for April 14, 2020. Vacancy Suspended until further notice. Kick-off meeting held Nov 2, 2020. Awaiting for EC to approved JD. EC approved JD. Live on the job board. Search closed Jan 29, 2021. Phone screenings held on Feb 22, 23, and 24. Virtual interviews held on March 29, April 2, April 5, and April 9. Offer extended. Siobhan McKissic’s start date will be September 1, 2021.

  • Visiting Project Conservator – Preservation Services, AP – Tom Teper, Chair

Kick-off meeting held Nov 5, 2020. JD approved by EC. Live on the job board. Search closed Jan 22, 2021. Virtual interview held March 23, 2021. Offer Extended. Yungjin Shin’s start date will be September 1, 2021.
Back to Top


HR NEWS: Searches in Progress or Pre-announcement

  • Research Data Librarian – Research Data Service, FAC – Carissa Phillips, Chair

Kick-off meeting held February 16, 2021. Live on the job board. Closed April 9, 2021. Phone screenings scheduled for April 21, April 22, April 26, April 27, and April 29. Virtual interviews scheduled for May 17, May 18, May 27, and June 1. Offer pending.

  • Dual Career-E-Learning Librarian – Research Information Services, FAC – David Ward, Chair

Kick-off meeting held May 24, 2021. Virtual interview held June 4, 2021. Offer pending.

  • Assistant/Associate Director of Advancement, AP – Heather Murphy – chair 50/50 split with OVCIA

Virtual interviews held June 8, June 14 and June 15.

  • Associate Director for Fiscal Operations – Business & Human Resources Service Center, FAC – Skye Arseneau, Chair

Kick-off meeting held June 7, 2021.

  • Visiting Metadata Librarian (2 yrs. appointment) – Acquisitions and Cataloging, FAC –Dan Tracy, Chair

Kick-off scheduled for June 22, 2021.
Back to Top


HR NEWS: Searches Approved but on Hold

  • ACS Cataloging Coordinator – Acquisitions and Cataloging Services, AP – Mara
    Thacker, Chair

Kick-off meeting scheduled for May 13, 2020. EC approved position. IHR approved JD Oct 7, 2020. Live on job board. Closed Nov 6, 2020. Phone screenings held on Jan 4, Jan 5, Jan 6 & Jan 7, 2021. Virtual interviews held Feb 17, 23, and 26. CLOSED WITHOUT HIRE
Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: Staff Events Calendar
To see the most up-to-date staff events calendar, please visit https://uiuc.libcal.com/calendar/staff.
Back to Top

If you would like to submit content for the August issue of Library Office Notes, please submit it to Heather Murphy or Tom Teper by July 23, 2021.

June Library Office Notes

Posted on by


ANNOUNCEMENTS

FACILITIES NEWS

HR NEWS

EVENTS AND TRAINING


ANNOUNCEMENTS: University Librarian Note
The spring semester is behind us and the days are getting longer and warmer. I, for one, am ecstatic…and proud. I hope you are proud of the work we’ve accomplished together despite the many challenges we’ve grappled with over the pandemic. Again, I want to express again how grateful I am to all of you. Read more…
Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Alma Squad Report

Holdings in the Primo Catalog reverting to pre-HathiTrust ETAS original locations
Starting on June 13, when the HathiTrust ETAS ends, Library Locations in the Primo Library Catalog will reflect original permanent location and holdings information for all items. We will start deleting the temporary locations for over 5 million items starting the week of June 7.

HathiTrust ETAS URL links for in-copyright materials will also cease on June 13. However, HathiTrust links will continue to show for public domain titles and items in the Catalog.

Training sessions on Searching and Navigating in Alma/Primo
On June 17, 22, and 30, we will have new introductory sessions on searching and navigating in Alma/Primo. There will be recordings of these sessions posted on the Alma Staff Training page.

Topic: Introductory session on Searching and Navigating in Alma/ Feb 2, 2021, 01:00 PM

1) June 17, 2021 @ 1-2 pm Zoom Session
Join Zoom Meeting
https://illinois.zoom.us/j/86598938314?pwd=ZVVESmh2dTc4UjdLQmdTTXRHalV6Zz09
Meeting ID: 865 9893 8314
Password: 241478

2) June 22, 2021 @ 10-11 am Zoom Session:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://illinois.zoom.us/j/86527891650?pwd=Y09tS3g0S1oyT2QxbUxTZzBwV0FCQT09
Meeting ID: 865 2789 1650
Password: 789315

3) June 30, 2021 @ 11-12 pm Zoom Session:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://illinois.zoom.us/j/83713926393?pwd=S1hCZi9QOFlZMEtaVmpKcm1KS05TUT09
Meeting ID: 837 1392 6393
Password: 013275

Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Call for Outstanding Outreach & Public Engagement Award is Open
Call for nominations for the University Library’s 2021 Outstanding Outreach & Public Engagement Award due 5 PM, Tuesday, June 8.

The Library Awards and Recognition Committee is pleased to announce the call for nominations for Outstanding Outreach & Public Engagement. This new award recognizes library employees who have demonstrated achievement in outreach and public engagement activities. One award will be given each year. Public engagement in this context is defined by a collaboration with the public outside the campus community.  Some examples include, but are not limited to, the Edible Book Festival, international film screening series, Big Read events, workshops held in collaboration with local public libraries, and many more.

Eligibility

All Library Faculty, Academic Professional, and Civil Service employees with at least a 50% appointment at the University who have demonstrated significant individual contributions to the local community, state, nation, or world through distinguished university public engagement are eligible for this award. Nominees must also have worked for the University Library for a minimum of three years in order to be eligible. For the purpose of this award, distinguished public engagement is a direct extension of an individual’s disciplinary or technical expertise to the public and non-profit sector. Individuals who have received the award in the previous 5 years are not eligible.

Engagement or service resulting in monetary gain (private consulting) is not considered public service, nor is service that is performed as a private citizen (membership in local service clubs, for example) or as an elected public official.

Criteria and How to Submit Nominations

The Awards and Recognition Committee will evaluate nominations on the degree to which a nominee meets the following criteria in performing public engagement activities:

  • Sustained leadership (minimum of three years at the University of Illinois Library) in working with the public and/or with external organizations;
  • Innovative or entrepreneurial ways of working for the well-being of citizens and communities at the local, state, national, or international level;
  • Documented excellence in extending Library knowledge, expertise, and resources to respond to societal problems, concerns, issues, or interests to contribute to the public good;
  • Evidence of the impact on the community served;
  • Demonstrated intellectual, professional, personal, and/or career growth as a result of the experience;
  • Demonstrated level of responsibility that goes above and beyond what is expected

Any member of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library can submit a nomination (self-nominations are not allowed). However, if you are not the nominee’s supervisor, the Awards and Recognition Committee strongly encourages you to reach out to and work with them to gather information that addresses each of the above criteria.  You are also welcome to work with others to develop the nomination, including gathering information from members of the public and/or the nominee to address the criteria. Strong nominations provide details and examples for every criterion.

The nomination form is located at https://forms.illinois.edu/sec/2055374645. This form will likely take 30-40 minutes to complete (there is a Save and Finish Later button).

Recognition

The winner will be recognized at the annual library employee recognition event, and their unit will receive $1,000 from the Revd. Professor Dom Bennett Hill OSB Memorial Library Fund. The unit may utilize these Advancement funds to support outreach, social, and other promotional activities to enhance and further the excellence of the Library. The Library will also forward the winning nomination to the campus-level Excellence in Public Engagement Award.

Questions and Help

The Awards and Recognition Committee will hold a virtual office hour for potential nominators to ask questions or seek guidance about developing strong nominations on Monday, May 24, from 3PM-4PM.

The Zoom link to attend office hours is: https://illinois.zoom.us/j/83498903372?pwd=MENYN0JvRWRMb3dKTlRwaGJFdTNOZz09

Questions can also be directed to Jake MacGregor at jdmac@illinois.edu.
Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Call for AP Promotion Self-Nominations is Open
The call for Academic Professional (AP) promotion self-nominations is open until 5 PM July 12.  APs can submit their self-nominations at: https://forms.illinois.edu/sec/207788334.  Supervisors may upload optional letters of support at: https://forms.illinois.edu/sec/9679402. Letters should be submitted before the candidate self-nomination period ends at 5 PM Monday, July 12. We strongly recommend that Academic Professionals interested in promotion attend office hours to ask questions and seek guidance from the AP Peer Review Promotion Advisory Committee and the BHRSC.  More details about the program, including when office hours will be held, can be found on the Library’s AP Promotional Process web page.
Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Residence Hall Libraries’ Summer Plans
RESIDENCE HALL LIBRARIES’ SUMMER HOURS—Ikenberry and ISR buildings will be closed to the public over the summer, but we will have a few regular library hours at each location as well as library access weekdays by appointment.  Anyone who is not Housing staff with building access will need to contact us for an appointment so that we can plan to escort patrons in and out of the buildings.  Our hours will be:

IKENBERRY LIBRARY SUMMER HOURS
MWF 10 am – noon
+ weekdays 9 am – 3 pm by appointment

ISR LIBRARY SUMMER HOURS
TuTh 10 am – noon
+ weekdays 9 am – 3 pm by appointment

PLEASE EMAIL hsg-rhlib@illinois.edu OR CALL 217-244-8063 AT LEAST 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE TO MAKE YOUR APPOINTMENT.

RESIDENCE HALL LIBRARIES’ SUMMER READING CHALLENGE—Take the Residence Hall Libraries’ Summer Reading Challenge!  Bring your completed RHL Summer Reading Bingo 2021 sheet to Ikenberry or ISR Library by the end of August to receive a goodie and be entered in a raffle to choose an Advanced Reader’s Copy of a book.
Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Did You Know? A Monthly Factoid from Library Assessment?


Data from the Division of Management Information 2020-2021 Campus Profile. Photos from the University Library Instagram account.
Back to Top

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Library Tip of the Month
The Library sends a monthly email to new faculty at Illinois during the fall and spring semesters. These emails introduce many of our services and resources to this important audience.

You can view the May LTOTM at emails.illinois.edu//newsletter/733067146.html.  The LTOTM emails will resume in September.

If you have ideas for future emails, please feel free to share them with Heather Murphy.
Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Collection Development Committee Notes
The most recent meetings minutes of the CDC are posted at:
https://www.library.illinois.edu/staff/committee/collection-development-committee/
Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Content Access Policy & Technology Meeting Minutes
The meetings minutes of CAPT (including workgroup reports) are posted at:
https://www.library.illinois.edu/staff/committee/content-access-policy-technology-capt/
Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Recognizing Excellence
Please share your award, recognition, or grant! To initiate a request for publicity, employees (or their supervisors) should submit this Awards/Recognitions/Grants Publicity Request Form.
Back to Top


FACILITIES NEWS: Update
For a complete list of projects in planning and construction, please see https://wordpress.library.illinois.edu/staff/facilities/.
Back to Top


HR NEWS: Filled Positions

  • Maria Emerson – Student Success Librarian – Undergraduate Library – 6/16/2021
  • Yungjin Shin – Visiting Project Conservator – Preservation Services – 9/1/2021

Back to Top


HR NEWS: Departures 

  • Tricia Lampron – Metadata Services Specialist – ACS – 6/15/2021
  • Martha Degutis – Senior Library Specialist – ACS – 6/30/2021
  • Nancy Taylor – Library Specialist – MPAL – 6/30/2021
  • Sheila McGowan – Library Operations Associate – Grainger Engineering Library – 6/30/2021
  • Bernita Brownlee – Senior Library Specialist – Undergraduate Library – 6/30/2021

Back to Top


HR NEWS: Searches Completed 

  • Student Success Librarian – Undergraduate Library, FAC – Sara Williams, Chair
    Kick-off meeting scheduled for February 19, 2020.  EC approved position. Live on job board with closing date of March 27, 2020. Closing date extended to May 1, 2020: Vacancy Suspended until further notice. Kick-off meeting held 10/29/2020. Live on job board.  Search closed Dec 11, 2020. Phone screenings held Jan 12, 14, 19, 20, 22 &25. Virtual interviews scheduled for March 1, 2, 9 and 10. Offer extended. Maria Emerson start date will be June 16, 2021.
  • Visiting Project Conservator – Preservation Services, AP – Tom Teper, Chair
    Kick-off meeting held Nov 5, 2020. JD approved by EC. Live on the job board. Search closed Jan 22, 2021. Virtual interview held March 23, 2021. Offer Extended. Yungjin Shin start date will be September 1, 2021.

Back to Top


HR NEWS: Searches in Progress or Pre-announcement

  • Visiting Design and Materials Research Librarian – Ricker Library, FAC – Kirstin Dougan Johnson, Chair
    Kick-off meeting scheduled for April 14, 2020.  Vacancy Suspended until further notice. Kick-off meeting held Nov 2, 2020. Awaiting for EC to approved JD. EC approved JD.
    Live on the job board. Search closed Jan 29, 2021. Phone screenings held Feb 22, 23, and 24. Virtual interviews held March 29, April 2, April 5, and April 9. Offer pending.
  • Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility – Business and Human Resources Services, AP – Cindy Ingold, Chair
    Kick-off meeting scheduled for March 5, 2020.  Position description pending approval. Vacancy Suspended until further notice. Kick-off meeting held Oct 28, 2020. Awaiting for EC to approve JD. EC approved JD. Live on the job board. Closed February 12, 2021. Phone Screenings held March 15, 17, 18, 22 and 25th. Virtual interviews scheduled for May 11, May 13, and May 26.
  • Library Assessment Specialist – Library Assessment, AP – Sara Benson, Chair
    Kick-off meeting scheduled for May 4, 2020.  Vacancy Suspended until further notice.
    Kick-off meeting held Nov 4, 2020. Still awaiting IHR JD approval. JD approved. Live on the job board. Closed date of February 19, 2021. Phone screenings held March 15 and March 19. Virtual interviews held April 14, April 20, April 21, and April 22. Offer Pending.
  • Research Data Librarian – Research Data Service, FAC – Carissa Phillips, Chair
    Kick-off meeting held February 16, 2021. Live on the job board. Closed April 9, 2021. Phone screenings scheduled April 21, April 22, April 26, April 27 and April 29. Virtual interviews scheduled for May 17, May 18, May 27 and June 1

Back to Top


HR NEWS: Searches Approved but on Hold

  • ACS Cataloging Coordinator – Acquisitions and Cataloging Services, AP – Mara Thacker, Chair
    Kick-off meeting scheduled for May 13, 2020.  EC approved position. IHR approved JD Oct 7, 2020. Live on job board. Closed Nov 6, 2020. Phone screenings held Jan 4, Jan 5, Jan 6 & Jan 7, 2021. Virtual interviews held Feb 17, 23, and 26. CLOSED WITHOUT HIRE

Back to Top


HR NEWS: In Memoriam

Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: Staff Events Calendar
To see the most up-to-date staff events calendar, please visit https://uiuc.libcal.com/calendar/staff.
Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: AI Infodemic Early Career Researcher Speaker Series
Please join us this summer for the AI Infodemic Early Career Researcher Speaker Series! We will be featuring several early career researchers in Communications, Information Science, and Computer Science from various universities during the months of June and July. This speaker series builds on the themes discussed in the AI Infodemic reading group during the Spring semester. We hope you will participate in this upcoming program in support of the impactful research being conducted by our speakers!

All sessions will be conducted virtually over Zoom. You must register for each individual session to receive the link to the Zoom event. Registration is open to anyone with a Zoom account. A description of each talk, as well as the link to register for each event, is available on the program website.

Join the AI Infodemic mailing list to receive email updates about the AI Infodemic Early Career Researcher Speaker Series. Questions about the speaker series can be sent to Sarah Appedu, sappedu2@illinois.edu.
Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: Teaching and Learning Series: Public Speaking and Presenting
June 3 at 1:30 PM

Join us for an exciting session on overcoming some of the challenges of public speaking and planning for successful and accessible presentations.  This session will be of particular interest to anyone engaged in teaching, presenting, offering programs, taking part in events, or other public speaking opportunities.  Organized in consultation with members of the Organizational Development and Training and Outreach and Marketing teams, colleagues will share best practices and tips from their own experiences.

Learning Objectives

Participants will:

  • Learn strategies for approaching, organizing, preparing, and delivering an engaging speaking opportunity
  • Understand what stress reactions occur during public speaking opportunities, and how to manage them in delivering an effective talk
  • Build a knowledgebase of common accessibility strategies to employ in presentation design, and pitfalls to avoid

Program:

  1. Mara Thacker– When you’re giving a presentation, you want the audience to remember your message, and not the weird way the pattern on your shirt seemed to be moving on camera. In my session, I’ll share some tips and tricks to help you avoid common pitfalls and engage your audience whether it’s in a live Zoom session, a recorded video, or at an old-fashioned lectern.
  2. Lynne Thomas and Jake MacGregor– Tips and tricks for managing the stress reactions related to public speaking.
  3. JJ Pionke– JJ will discuss how to make PowerPoint’s more accessible from the onset rather than as an afterthought. He will also briefly discuss disability etiquette with audiences.

Zoom information was shared via LibNews email from David Ward on May 20.
Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: The Application of 3D Printing Services in the Academic Library (Part 2)
June 9 at 10 AM

This is a CARLI-sponsored Professional Development Alliance (PDA) event.

Driven to democratize access to emerging technologies and the knowledge it affords, the Academic Library is well-positioned to provide access to 3D Printing services to support the design learning pedagogy in higher education. Additive manufacturing technologies allow you to design, 3D print, and test your design in real-time. In this 2-part series, you will learn about 3D Printing and develop an understanding of how the technologies can be implemented in the Academic Library.

Link to register: https://www.carli.illinois.edu/pda-series-application-3d-printing-services-academic-library-part-2
Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: NISO Webinar – Reset: What Are Our New Priorities?June 9 at 10 AM

To regain the ground lost in the wake of COVID19, we must first determine how the information community has been affected? What is the long-term outlook? Only then can we determine our priorities for rebuilding.  This roundtable discussion will bring together thought leaders from various sectors to discuss what they see as the long-term changes in the information marketplace. What critical products and services are needed? Will the workforce be on-site or home-based? Can stakeholders agree on how access should be handled moving forward? No one can be entirely sure of what the priorities will be, but a robust exchange of ideas and possibilities is a good starting point. 

Please email training@library.illinois.edu for login credentials or recordings.
Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: AP Promotion Office Hours
Members of the Academic Professional Peer Review Promotion Advisory Committee and the Business & Human Resources Service Center will hold office hours:

  • Wed, June 9 11AM-12PM
  • Tue, June 22 10AM-11AM

Zoom information for these meetings was shared via LibNews email from Susan Breakenridge on May 17.
Back to Top

If you would like to submit content for the July issue of Library Office Notes, please submit it to Heather Murphy or Tom Teper by June 18, 2021.

May Library Office Notes

Posted on by


ANNOUNCEMENTS

FACILITIES NEWS

HR NEWS

EVENTS AND TRAINING


ANNOUNCEMENTS: University Librarian Note 
Check back next month for a new Note from Dean Wilkin.
Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Alma Squad Report

Upcoming Alma/Primo Downtime – May 29-30, 2021

Ex Libris will be moving their data center on May 29-30, 2021, over the Memorial Day weekend, and all services running out of that facility will be offline for approximately 24 hours. This data center includes server NA06, which is where our instance of Alma and the Primo Catalog operate. Alma and the Primo Catalog will go offline at 10pm CDT on Saturday, May 29, and restored by 10pm CDT on Sunday, May 30.

People trying to connect to Alma/Primo services during the outage will see a message on a default-landing page about the services being temporarily unavailable due to maintenance (see copy of the message at https://knowledge.exlibrisgroup.com/@api/deki/files/114061/Cloud_maintenance.png?revision=1).

We will post information on Facebook, Twitter, and the Library web page about the downtime for the Primo Catalog. A notice about the Alma/Primo downtime will also be included in Eweek, GradLINKS, and iNews.

Alma Staff Training Page

As we move into the Summer months and more people are starting to work within Alma and the Primo Catalog, we wanted to remind all about the Alma Staff Training page at https://www.library.illinois.edu/staff/alma/. 

While we are working to revamp and consolidate multiple training sources from various pages (including the ILS Coordination Team page), there are a lot of introductory videos and documentation available here on this webpage. We have links out to Ex Libris produced trainings information, numerous CARLI created aids, and locally recorded Zoom sessions on basic searching and navigation in Alma, Fulfillment activity, Cataloging and Maintenance of titles/records, and working in the Primo Catalog. There is also a Contact Us section when one has questions or feedback about the Alma or Primo systems. 

Information sessions on Searching and Navigating in Alma/Primo

We will have new introductory sessions on searching and navigating in Alma/Primo. There will be recordings of these sessions posted on the Alma Staff Training page. We will post the Zoom session information in a separate email to LIBNEWS in May 2021.

Topic: Introductory session on Searching and Navigating in Alma/ Feb 2, 2021, 01:00 PM

  • June 17, 2021 @ 1-2 pm Zoom Session
  • June 22, 2021 @ 10-11 am
  • June 30, 2021 @ 11-12 pm

A previously recorded information session on Searching and Navigating in Alma/Primo is available at this link: https://uofi.box.com/s/ogln4cymaobxoocv8q230dkqz05ba4k6

LIB-NEWS updates to highlight Alma features

The Alma Squad team will start to include short tips of working in Alma in updates to LIBNEWS starting in mid-May. The first tip is to watch this short three-minute video about how one can setup and customize the new Alma User Interface (UI) at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXrWOVB1BNo.

AlmaStats – Help running analytics in Alma/Primo

We wanted to remind everyone that we have a group ready to help with questions or running analytics work in Alma/Primo. We can help with setting up analytics widgets, running and exporting advanced queries in Alma into spreadsheets of data elements, utilizing Alma or Primo Analytics to run reports for bibliographic data or library activity (loans, requests, historical events, etc.), and pulling in data from external sources to do analysis work of library collections. 

There is a library email address to help answer questions about analytics. We will help run any reports to get the data and information you need. This group of Analytics experts includes Michael Norman, B.A. Howe, Jen Yu, Esra Coskun, Megean Osuchowski, Janelle Sander, and Tricia Lampron, and one of us will assist in helping guide you through the best way to produce a report or analyses of the dataset you need. 

If you have any questions about doing analytics work in Alma/Primo, please contact the Alma Stats group at almastats@library.illinois.edu.
Back to Top

ANNOUNCEMENTS: AP Promotion Program Coming Soon!

The 3rd year of the Library’s new Academic Professional (AP) Promotion Program will launch this month, with the call for AP self-nominations planned for May 17, 2021. APs are strongly encouraged to discuss their interest in promotion with their supervisors.  A letter of support from one’s supervisor is not required but helps strengthen the case for promotion. New redacted samples of self-nomination statements and supervisor letters of support have been posted on the AP Promotion Process Page. In addition, virtual office hours will be held on the following dates for APs and supervisors to answer questions about the program, eligibility, and developing statements and letters:

  • Mon, May 24 1PM-2PM
  • Wed, June 9 11AM-12PM
  • Tue, June 22 10AM-11AM

Reminders about these office hours will be announced on LibNews with Zoom links as we get closer to the dates.
Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Growth in the Illinois Digital Heritage Hub
Megan Pearson, Visiting Metadata Services Specialist for the Illinois Digital Heritage Hub

The Illinois Digital Heritage Hub (IDHH) saw tremendous growth as it surpassed 400,000 total items! As a statewide initiative to bring together unique digital assets about Illinois or created by Illinoisans, the IDHH hosts 417,946 digital resources from 150 cultural heritage institutions in Illinois as of April 2021, including photographs, manuscripts, books, audio recordings, and videos.

Users can access IDHH resources in two ways: on the site home page, users can explore the collections with keyword searches or browse by categories such as topics, notable Illinoisans, format, and Partner Institutions. On the blog Illinois Highlights, the IDHH staff promote new collections, highlight older ones, and feature topics with materials relevant to Illinois and national history. In addition, ongoing projects include developing outreach initiatives and curated content (such as digital exhibits) from the items available through the IDHH.

The usage of IDHH resources has been growing as well. Since the IDHH’s website launch in June 2019, more than 6000 total users have visited the site, including 1200 users in March 2021 alone.
Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Did You Know? A Monthly Factoid from Library Assessment?

During March 2021, Library Assessment sent out the third short Library Service Satisfaction Survey, the last in a series this academic year started in October 2020 and November 2020 to assess students’ needs and attitudes towards library services during the pandemic. Among 130 responses, the most used services remained similar to what we saw in our first survey with e-book/e-journal and materials checkout being the most frequently used services (see the November 2020 factoid: https://www.library.illinois.edu/staff/assessment/did-you-know-factoids-from-library-assessment/#nov20]. However, as hours and opportunities for bookable study spaces have increased in Spring Semester 2021 (especially in response to concerns from the first round of surveys), bookable study space became the third most used library service. This time we also gave students the opportunity to upload a photo related to their perspective of the library and give it a related caption. We feature photos received in our survey in this factoid above. Respondents frequently commented that they enjoyed taking a break from studying in the library by looking out the window at campus views and enjoyed the natural lighting. Three main areas of concern have remained a theme in the survey responses also: lack of information about how to access library resources (“[I] am not fully aware of what is available or how to use it”), open physical stacks access, and more study spaces, especially for collaborative use.

Image and text created by Lindsay Taylor, Library Assessment Graduate Assistant.
Back to Top

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Library Tip of the Month
The Library sends a monthly email to new faculty at Illinois during the fall and spring semesters. These emails introduce many of our services and resources to this important audience.

You can view the April LTOTM at https://emails.illinois.edu//newsletter/1393982374.html.

If you have ideas for future emails, please feel free to share them with Heather Murphy.
Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Collection Development Committee Notes
The most recent meetings minutes of the CDC are posted at:
https://www.library.illinois.edu/staff/committee/collection-development-committee/
Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Content Access Policy & Technology Meeting Minutes
The meetings minutes of CAPT (including workgroup reports) are posted at:
https://www.library.illinois.edu/staff/committee/content-access-policy-technology-capt/
Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Recognizing Excellence

Please share your award, recognition, or grant! To initiate a request for publicity, employees (or their supervisors) should submit this Awards/Recognitions/Grants Publicity Request Form.
Back to Top


FACILITIES NEWS: Update
For a complete list of projects in planning and construction, please see https://wordpress.library.illinois.edu/staff/facilities/.
Back to Top


HR NEWS: Filled Positions

  • Maria Emerson – Student Success Librarian – Undergraduate Library – 6/16/2021

Back to Top


HR NEWS: Departures 

  • Tammie Redenbaugh – Library Operations Associate – ACS – 4/23/2021
  • Dillon Brown – Facility Operations Specialist – Facilities – 4/30/2021

Back to Top


HR NEWS: Vacancies (Closed)

  • Unit Spaces and Technology Support Specialist – Media Commons/Scholarly
    Commons – 4/16/2021

Back to Top


HR NEWS: Searches Completed 

  • Student Success Librarian – Undergraduate Library, FAC – Sarah Williams, Chair
    Kick-off meeting scheduled for February 19, 2020. EC approved position. Live on job board with closing date of March 27, 2020. Closing date extended to May 1, 2020: Vacancy Suspended until further notice.

Kick-off meeting held 10/29/2020. Live on job board. Search closed Dec 11, 2020. Phone screenings held Jan 12, 14, 19, 20, 22 & 25. Virtual interviews scheduled for March 1, 2, 9 and 10. Offer extended. Maria Emerson start date will be June 16, 2021.

  • Visiting Project Conservator – Preservation Services, AP – Tom Teper, Chair

Kick-off meeting held Nov 5, 2020. JD approved by EC. Live on the job board. Search closed Jan 22, 2021. Virtual interview held March 23, 2021. Offer Pending.
Back to Top


HR NEWS: Searches in Progress or Pre-announcement

  • Visiting Design and Materials Research Librarian – Ricker Library, FAC – Kirstin
    Dougan Johnson, Chair

Kick-off meeting scheduled for April 14, 2020. Vacancy Suspended until further notice. Kick-off meeting held Nov 2, 2020. Awaiting for EC to approved JD. EC approved JD. Live on the job board. Search closed Jan 29, 2021. Phone screenings held Feb 22, 23, and 24. Virtual interviews March 29, April 2, April 5, and April 9.

  • Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility – Business and Human
    Resources Services, AP – Cindy Ingold, Chair

Kick-off meeting scheduled for March 5, 2020. Position description pending approval. Vacancy Suspended until further notice. Kick-off meeting held Oct 28, 2020. Awaiting for EC to approve JD. EC approved JD. Live on the job board. Closed February 12, 2021. Phone Screenings held March 15, 17, 18, 22 and 25th. Virtual interviews pending

  • Library Assessment Specialist – Library Assessment, AP – Sara Benson, Chair

Kick-off meeting scheduled for May 4, 2020. Vacancy Suspended until further notice. Kick-off meeting held Nov 4, 2020. Still awaiting IHR JD approval. JD approved. Live on the job board. Closed date of February 19, 2021. Phone screenings held March 15 and March 19. Virtual interviews April 14, April 20, April 21, and April 22.

  • Research Data Librarian – Research Data Service, FAC – Carissa Phillips, Chair

Kick-off meeting held February 16, 2021. Live on the job board. Closed April 9, 2021. Phone screenings scheduled for April 22, April 26, April 27, and April 29
Back to Top


HR NEWS: Searches Approved but on Hold

  • ACS Cataloging Coordinator – Acquisitions and Cataloging Services, AP – Mara
    Thacker, Chair

Kick-off meeting scheduled for May 13, 2020. EC approved position. IHR approved JD Oct 7, 2020. Live on job board. Closed Nov 6, 2020. Phone screenings held Jan 4, Jan 5, Jan 6 & Jan 7, 2021. Virtual interviews held Feb 17, 23, and 26. CLOSED WITHOUT HIRE
Back to Top


HR NEWS: In Memoriam

Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: Staff Events Calendar
To see the most up-to-date staff events calendar, please visit https://uiuc.libcal.com/calendar/staff.
Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: Fair Use Gameshow 
CARLI-Sponsored Professional Development Alliance (PDA) Event
May 4 at 10 AM

Are you interested in fair use, but not interested in long lectures on the topic? Would you like to test your fair use knowledge and have some fun? If the answer to either or both of these questions is yes, then join us as we play the Fair Use Gameshow!

Link to register: https://www.carli.illinois.edu/pda-event-fair-use-gameshow
Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: Player Piano Virtual Demonstration
May 5 at 12-1 PM 

Please join the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Music & Performing Arts Library for our second virtual demonstration featuring the Library’s Steinway Duo-Art reproducing piano and collection of piano rolls. See and hear the piano in action and learn more about the instrument and roll collection. The demonstration will last approximately 30 minutes and there will be additional time for questions.

To register, please visit: 
https://illinois.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_5gWM_xxgSzKEI7bQ3qTnMQ  

Some of the explanatory content will be the same/similar to the last presentation, but I will be picking some new rolls to play, so hopefully, that will be worth tuning in again even if you caught the first one!

Please direct questions about this event to mpal@library.illinois.edu. For more information about the piano and the library’s collections, see:
https://www.library.illinois.edu/mpal/about/collections/specialcollections/steinway-duo-art-player-piano/
Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: Skill Up Session: Planning Large Community events
May 10 at 3 PM

Join the Outreach and Engagement Committee for a casual conversation over virtual coffee or your drink of choice with our speaker Scott Schwartz, Director of the Sousa Archives and Center for American Music and Archivist for Music and Fine Arts. Scott has created and organized many large-scale events working with multiple community partners. A few examples include the One Community Together programming for the annual Urbana Sweetcorn Festival, sponsoring and managing children’s programming for the annual Folks and Roots Festival, and America’s history through music educational programs for public and home schools with guest performers and musician. Scott also will candidly discuss what has and has not worked for organizing and managing large-scale events and working with community partners. Q&A from the audience will follow afterward.

Zoom information was shared via LibNews email from Shelby Strommer on April 22.
Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: NISO Webinar – Meaningful Metrics (Part 2 of 2) 
May 12 at 10 AM

It’s time to revisit metrics. How can they be made more meaningful and illuminative? Publishers, librarians, and their vendors use similar vocabulary (such as usage) but what they mean by their terminology (downloads, referral, etc.) and how they interpret it may differ. What data needs to be collected? How long is it retained? What are appropriate data-sharing practices? How should providers measure the use of open educational resources? Or use of open access monographs? Can we come to an agreement on the meaning of the behavioral data that may be automatically gathered in? In short, how can we make metrics more meaningful?

Participants in this two-part webinar will examine and discuss these issues and more from a variety of perspectives.   

Please email training@library.illinois.edu for login credentials or recordings.
Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: May SoTL Studio Session
May 13 at 3 PM

A series on the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL). SoTL has been defined in many ways but my favorite is this succinct definition: “systematic reflection on teaching and learning made public” (ISU, 1998-99). In other words, it might be research that is published but it can also be any other form of inquiry shared in a community of practice. Over the course of the spring semester, we’ll explore SoTL as a framework but also move towards thinking about designing and carrying out investigations. We will also possibly develop some collaborative research projects over time if the group — or a subgroup — is interested in doing that. 

Zoom information and what will be discussed during this meeting will be shared via LibNews email.
Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: Striving for Excellence, Achieving Perfection: What Went Wrong?
CARLI-Sponsored Professional Development Alliance (PDA) Event
May 18 at 10 AM

Leaders and team members aim to attain goals, to meet objectives, and please all of their stakeholders and employees along the way. This webinar will focus on a key leadership distinction: excellence versus perfection, and how a leader or team member’s overall effectiveness is influenced by how aware they are of their own inclination (and that of their team members) toward each dimension.

Link to register: https://www.carli.illinois.edu/pda-event-striving-excellence-achieving-perfection-what-went-wrong    
Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: The Application of 3D Printing Services in the Academic Library (Part 1)
CARLI-Sponsored Professional Development Alliance (PDA) Event
May 26 at 10 am

Driven to democratize access to emerging technologies and the knowledge it affords, the Academic Library is well-positioned to provide access to 3D Printing services to support the design learning pedagogy in higher education. Additive manufacturing technologies allow you to design, 3D print, and test your design in real-time. In this 2-part series, you will learn about 3D Printing and develop an understanding of how the technologies can be implemented in the Academic Library.

Link to register: https://www.carli.illinois.edu/pda-series-application-3d-printing-services-academic-library-part-1
Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: The Application of 3D Printing Services in the Academic Library (Part 2)
CARLI-Sponsored Professional Development Alliance (PDA) Event
June 9 at 10 AM

Driven to democratize access to emerging technologies and the knowledge it affords, the Academic Library is well-positioned to provide access to 3D Printing services to support the design learning pedagogy in higher education. Additive manufacturing technologies allow you to design, 3D print, and test your design in real-time. In this 2-part series, you will learn about 3D Printing and develop an understanding of how the technologies can be implemented in the Academic Library.

Link to register: https://www.carli.illinois.edu/pda-series-application-3d-printing-services-academic-library-part-2
Back to Top

If you would like to submit content for the June issue of Library Office Notes, please submit it to Heather Murphy or Tom Teper by May 21, 2021.

April Library Office Notes

Posted on by


ANNOUNCEMENTS

IT NEWS

FACILITIES NEWS

HR NEWS

EVENTS AND TRAINING


ANNOUNCEMENTS: University Librarian Note 
The first week of Governor Pritzker’s stay-at-home order kicked off on March 23 last year. It’s hard to believe we’ve been living through a pandemic for more than a year. Over the past 12 months, we’ve filled your email inbox with numerous updates about remote work and virtual services, library hours, PPE, fulfillment, non-instructional break days, and vaccinations–just to name a few. And, I’m very pleased that all of us are now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. Read more…
Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Spring Wellness Challenge
This year, as an alternative to running our wellness or pedometer challenge within the Library, the Wellness Committee encourages University Library employees to participate in the campus-level Spring Employee Wellness Challenge “Happy Habits.” This is a great way to engage in many different types of healthy activities and be part of a campus-wide health challenge! To register and participate, see the announcement below:

  • Register Now for the Spring Employee Wellness Challenge “Happy Habits”
    Improve your emotional wellness, have fun and—maybe—win a prize! It’s time for our spring wellness challenge. This year’s theme is Happy Habits. Participants can partake in a variety of activities that enhance mental and emotional wellbeing. The challenge runs April 5 – May 2. To learn more or register, go to https://go.illinois.edu/CWSChallenge.

Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Did You Know? A Monthly Factoid from Library Assessment?
With the upcoming integration of the Undergraduate Library (UGL) into the Main Library, we have been looking deeply into the data to find what our users need in a new library space. Part of this examination has been analyzing quantitative traffic data: head counts, gate counts, and Wi-Fi sessions. What is the expected capacity when two spaces are merged? Looking at pre-Covid Wi-Fi data collected during the Spring 2020 Sweeps Week, the Main Library is typically busy in the morning and that UGL is busier in the afternoon—sustaining head counts and Wi-Fi sessions even late into the night. The highest number of Wi-Fi sessions in a single hour at UGL is 820 sessions on Sunday at 3:00 p.m. and, at the Main Library, is 1,691 sessions on Wednesday at 4:00 p.m.. Throughout the week, UGL sees its peak Wi-Fi counts at 3:00 p.m. while Main has more counts during the week in the 12:00 p.m. window.

As the qualitative side of this data, undergraduate students in recent library focus groups revealed their library experience, providing answers for why does the Wi-Fi peak at 3:00 p.m.. Most participants reported that they like to use the library for study space after class, ranging from quiet solo or comfortable-volume collaborative study. Others talked about using the library as their space outside of their dorm/home, work, and class. While the Main Library has a more utilitarian vibe where one goes to checkout specific materials or expects “traditional” library experiences, the UGL is more a destination where one can collaborate, study, browse the open stacks, and meet up with friends. Students who contributed to the study would like to see more spaces for individual quiet use, but also for collaboration, as well as knowing in advance if there was a quiet or collaborative seat available for them at peak times.
Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Library Tip of the Month
The Library sends a monthly email to new faculty at Illinois during the fall and spring semesters. These emails introduce many of our services and resources to this important audience.

You can view the March LTOTM at https://emails.illinois.edu/newsletter/956322995.html.

If you have ideas for future emails, please feel free to share them with Heather Murphy.
Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Collection Development Committee Notes
The most recent meetings minutes of the CDC are posted at:
https://www.library.illinois.edu/staff/committee/collection-development-committee/
Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Content Access Policy & Technology Meeting Minutes
The meetings minutes of CAPT (including workgroup reports) are posted at:
https://www.library.illinois.edu/staff/committee/content-access-policy-technology-capt/
Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Recognizing Excellence

Please share your award, recognition, or grant! To initiate a request for publicity, employees (or their supervisors) should submit this Awards/Recognitions/Grants Publicity Request Form.
Back to Top


IT NEWS: Help Make the Library Website More Accessible
With the ongoing pandemic, users rely more on the library website than ever to find resources to meet their academic and research needs. This includes patrons with a variety of disabilities. You can help make the library website more accessible to them.

When adding an image to a library webpage, please describe the content or function of the image in the “Alt Text” field before clicking the “Insert into page” button. This will not only allow the image to be accessible to users with visual or cognitive disabilities but also help search engines determine whether an image is relevant.

Links are more useful when the link text makes sense out of context. Please try to avoid using uninformative links such as “click here”, “here”, “more”, or a non-human-readable long URL. Instead, use descriptive text, for example, W3C accessibility standards or a short human-readable URL: https://www.w3.org/WAI/.

For more web accessibility tips and exercises, please visit our Web Accessibility page.
Back to Top


FACILITIES NEWS: Update
For a complete list of projects in planning and construction, please see https://wordpress.library.illinois.edu/staff/facilities/.
Back to Top


HR NEWS: Filled Positions

  • Amy Fry – ACS Electronic Resources – 3/16/2021

Back to Top


HR NEWS: Departures 

  • Tiffany Xanos Rossi – Director of Advancement – 3/19/2021

Back to Top


HR NEWS: Vacancies (Open)

  • Research Data Librarian – Assistant of Associate Professor – Research Data Service (RDS) – Closes 4/9/2021

Back to Top


HR NEWS: Searches Completed 

  • Asst. Dean of Business and Human Resources, AP – Mary Laskowski, Chair 

Kick-off meeting scheduled for May 19, 2020. On Hold. Live on job board with closing date of August 28, 2020. Phone screenings held Oct 1, Oct 5, Oct 9 & Oct 15. Virtual interviews held Nov 18, Nov 24, Dec 3, Dec 8 and Dec 9. Offer extended to Susan Breakenridge. Start date March 16, 2021.

  • Head, Scholarly Commons – Scholarly Commons, FAC – Kyle Rimkus, Chair 

Kick-off meeting scheduled for March 24, 2020.  Interim Head position offered to Sara Benson: Phone screenings held 9/9 & 9/10. Virtual interviews held Sept 30, Oct 1, Oct 2 & Oct 6. Offer extended to Michelle Reed. Start date March 16, 2021.

  • ACS Electronic Resources, FAC – Tom Teper – Chair

Kick-off meeting scheduled for May 20, 2020.  EC approved position. IHR approved JD July 1, 2020. Live on job board with closing date of August 21, 2020. Phone screenings held Sept 30, Oct 5, Oct 6 & Oct 7. Virtual interviews held Nov 11, 16, and 17. Offer extended to Amy Fry. Start date March 16, 2021

Back to Top


HR NEWS: Searches in Progress or Pre-announcement

  • ACS Cataloging Coordinator, AP – Mara Thacker, Chair

Kick-off meeting scheduled for May 13, 2020.  EC approved position. IHR approved JD Oct 7, 2020. Live on job board. Closed Nov 6, 2020. Phone screenings held Jan 4, Jan 5, Jan 6 & Jan 7, 2021. Virtual interviews held Feb 17, 23, and 26. CLOSED WITHOUT HIRE

  • Student Success Librarian – Undergraduate Library, FAC – Sarah Williams, Chair 

Kick-off meeting scheduled for February 19, 2020.  EC approved position. Live on job board with closing date of March 27, 2020. Closing date extended to May 1, 2020: Vacancy Suspended until further notice. Kick-off meeting held 10/29/2020. Live on job board.  Search closed Dec 11, 2020. Phone screenings held Jan 12, 14, 19, 20, 22 & 25. Virtual interviews scheduled for March 1, 2, 9 and 10.

  • Visiting Design and Materials Research Librarian – Ricker Library, FAC – Kirstin Dougan Johnson, Chair 

Kick-off meeting scheduled for April 14, 2020.  Vacancy Suspended until further notice. Kick-off meeting held Nov 2, 2020. Awaiting for EC to approved JD. EC approved JD. Live on the job board. Search closed Jan 29, 2021. Phone screenings held Feb 22, 23, and 24.

  • Visiting Project Conservator, AP – Tom Teper, Chair 

Kick-off meeting held Nov 5, 2020. JD approved by EC. Live on the job board. Search closed Jan 22, 2021.  Virtual interview March 23, 2021

  • Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility – Business and Human Resources Services, AP – Cindy Ingold, Chair 

Kick-off meeting scheduled for March 5, 2020.  Position description pending approval. Vacancy Suspended until further notice. Kick-off meeting held Oct 28, 2020. Awaiting for EC to approve JD. EC approved JD. Live on the job board. Closed February 12, 2021. Phone screenings scheduled for March 15, 17, 18, 22 and 25th 

  • Library Assessment Specialist, AP – Sara Benson, Chair 

Kick-off meeting scheduled for May 4, 2020.  Vacancy Suspended until further notice. 

Kick-off meeting held Nov 4, 2020. Still awaiting IHR JD approval. JD approved. Live on the job board. Closed date of February 19, 2021. Phone screenings scheduled March 15 and March 19.

  • Research Data Librarian, FAC – Carissa Phillips, Chair 

Kick-off meeting held February 16, 2021. Live on the job board with a closing date of April 9, 2021.
Back to Top


HR NEWS: In Memoriam

Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: Staff Events Calendar
To see the most up-to-date staff events calendar, please visit https://uiuc.libcal.com/calendar/staff.
Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: Responding to Suicide with Compassion Part 4
April 1 at 10 AM

Program Description:
Nationally, 1 in 6 youth and 1 in 25 adults have thoughts of suicide. In Illinois, nearly 1500 people die of suicide each year, including nearly 100 youth. Family, friends, and professionals in the position to intervene may be limited in their understanding of suicide and may not feel comfortable or competent to provide support.

RTS/C will address these issues using strategies guided by compassion, cultural awareness, and centering the needs of those experiencing suicide. Participants will learn the scope and impacts of suicide, and risk and protective factors for suicide, including discussions of high-risk populations (youth, LGBTQ+, veterans). Participants will gain skills in asking and talking about suicide, risk screening, means safety, safety planning, connecting to services, and documentation. Teaching methods include lecture, discussion, and guided practice.

Presenter:
Kim is a suicidologist providing community-based suicide prevention services. She has a B.S. in Psychology and Sociology and completed graduate study in Sociology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Following the suicide of her 19-year-old son, she left graduate school and founded Rattle the Stars to provide suicide prevention services to families, schools, and the community. Kim is a member of the Illinois Suicide Prevention Alliance, serving on the Adolescent Suicide Prevention Ad Hoc Committee, and a member of the American Association of Suicidology, serving on the Youth Suicide Prevention Committee and the Public Health- School/Education Committee.

Learning Objectives:
1.    Increase understanding of suicide to develop compassion for people experiencing suicide.
2.    Develop confidence to talk about suicide and provide support to people experiencing suicide.
3.    Develop skills to intervene and prevent suicide.

This Event Will Cover:
1.    Means safety
•    talking about means safety
•    safety with firearms
•    safety with drugs/medications
•    creating a means safety plan
2.    Safety planning
•    effectiveness of safety planning as a prevention method
•    completing a Brown-Stanley Safety Plan
•    MY3 safety plan app
3.    Providing continuing support
•    making effective referrals
•    developing a follow-up plan
•    documenting interactions

Zoom Link: https://illinois.zoom.us/j/87432967295?pwd=NytJazJ2WlVjaDQ2TDNQWWZVN1dPQT09

Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: Hub Training 
April 6 – April 23

Zoom information was shared via LibNews email from Sara Holder on January 19.

Date & Time Topic Who should attend? Instructor(s)
Tuesday, April 6 from 2-3 p.m.

or

Friday, April 9 from 3-4 p.m.

 What are best practices for finding and using content in IDEALS and other institutional repositories? All first-year GA’s and anyone who is interested in the topic Ayla Stein Kenfield
Tuesday, April 20 from 2-3 p.m.

or
Friday, April 23 from 3-4 p.m.

 How do we evaluate and decide on vendors for our e-resources? All first-year GA’s and anyone who is interested in the topic Tom Teper

Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: April SoTL Studio Session 
April 8 at 3 PM

A series on the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL). SoTL has been defined in many ways but my favorite is this succinct definition: “systematic reflection on teaching and learning made public” (ISU, 1998-99). In other words, it might be research that is published but it can also be any other form of inquiry shared in a community of practice. Over the course of the spring semester, we’ll explore SoTL as a framework but also move towards thinking about designing and carrying out investigations. We will also possibly develop some collaborative research projects over time if the group — or a subgroup — is interested in doing that. 

We’ll meet on the second Thursday of each month at 3 pm via Zoom:

  • April 8, 3-4 pm
  • May 13, 3-4 pm

Zoom information and what will be discussed during this meeting will be shared via LibNews email.
Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: Walkin’ through Champaign-Urbana’s Music Scene with Nick Rudd
April 13 at 6-7:30pm

For those folks who have fond memories of Nick Rudd as either one of our library staff or one of Champaign-Urbana’s great local musicians, I hope you will consider attending this exciting online discussion about our local music scene and Nick’s many influences on it.  We’ve got a wonderful lineup of panelists who can speak about their experiences working with Nick over the years, and we will also play excerpts of some of his most memorable music.  For those who did not know Nick, he was quite an influence on our local music scene.  The Center is working with the Urbana Free Library to produce this event.  Complete information about the program is listed here.
Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: NISO Webinar – Meaningful Metrics (Part 1 of 2) 
April 14 at 10 AM

It’s time to revisit metrics. How can they be made more meaningful and illuminative? Publishers, librarians, and their vendors use similar vocabulary (such as usage) but what they mean by their terminology (downloads, referral, etc.) and how they interpret it may differ. What data needs to be collected? How long is it retained? What are appropriate data-sharing practices? How should providers measure use of open educational resources? Or use of open access monographs? Can we come to agreement on the meaning of the behavioral data that may be automatically gathered in? In short, how can we make metrics more meaningful?

Participants in this two-part webinar will examine and discuss these issues and more from a variety of perspectives.   

Please email training@library.illinois.edu for login credentials or recordings
Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: Solving the World’s Challenges: Exploring the Intersection of Agriculture and Health 
April 15 at 3 PM

We are pleased to announce that Funk ACES Library will host our third Solving the World’s Challenges panel.

Three experts from across campus will each discuss their research connecting agriculture and health and respond to questions from attendees. Their research includes studies on connections between diet, gut microbes and health; risks to human health from pathogens originating in livestock farms; and applications of genomics and data science tools for food safety. This panel presentation will be an opportunity for people to come together with the Funk ACES Library to learn about and discuss research exploring the intersection of agriculture and health.

Panelists:

Register here: https://tinyurl.com/yx59mmet
Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: Res. Hall Libraries’ April & May BYOB+ club meetings
April 15 at 6 PM

We’re back with a spring edition of Bring Your Own Book Club! Hosted by the Residence Hall Libraries and the Undergraduate Library, come together with others and discuss the books you’ve been reading recently. Not into books? No problem! We want to hear about TV shows, movies, documentaries, podcasts, and video games that you love or love to hate.

The final two meetings of the semester will be held April 15th @ 6pm and May 6th @ 6pm.

Sign up today: https://forms.illinois.edu/sec/31039347
Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: AI Infodemic 
April 20 at 4 PM

Artificial intelligence is increasingly shaping the future of information seeking, discovery, and curation. While AI may claim to make these practices easier, several scholars have been raising essential questions about the nature of this technology and its implications for racial justice, political polarization, and privacy in the information ecosystem.

The fifth session of the AI Infodemic: Interrogating Algorithms of Information Seeking reading group will take place via Zoom on Tuesday, April 20 at 4:00 CT and will cover the topic of online classification, focusing on algorithmic bias as described by Safiya Noble in her book Algorithms of Oppression.  The sixth and final session on Wednesday, May 5 at 12:00 CT will conclude with a discussion of information discovery, focusing particularly on library discovery systems. Additional topics will include library classification systems, with a broader discussion about how topics covered throughout the program relate to the work of information professionals.

For a complete list of materials covered in this session, view the schedule on the program website. Join our mailing list to receive the link to the Zoom meeting and regular updates about the program.

The AI Infodemic: Interrogating Algorithms of Information Seeking reading group is sponsored by the HRI Research Cluster: AI & Society: Privacy, Ethics and (Dis)Information.

Co-organizers: Sarah Appedu (MLS Student) & Lisa Hinchliffe (Library Faculty)
Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: OEC Article Reading Group 
April 27 at 2 PM 

Join OEC member Karen Huck to discuss the following two foundational reads about Outreach and Engagement. Discussion will be inspired by the featured articles, but reading is not a prerequisite. Come to the meeting having read one or both articles … or neither. All are welcome! 

  • “Librarians Across Institutions: Establishing Outreach Programs. A study of Effective Outreach Programs and Support Groups in Academic Libraries” by José F Rodriguez of Georgia State University published in the Premier edition of The Journal of Library Outreach and Engagement (JLOE) (Vol. 1 No. 1 (2020): Volume 1 no. 1). https://doi.org/10.21900/j.jloe.v1i1.467    
  • “Outreach in academic librarianship: A concept analysis and definition” by Stephanie A. Diaz of Pennsylvania State University published in The Journal of Academic Leadership (Volume 45, Issue 3, May 2019, Pages 184-194). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2019.02.012  

Zoom information was shared via LibNews email from Shelby Strommer on March 3.
Back to Top

If you would like to submit content for the May issue of Library Office Notes, please submit it to Heather Murphy or Tom Teper by April 23, 2021.

March Library Office Notes

Posted on by


ANNOUNCEMENTS

FACILITIES NEWS

HR NEWS

EVENTS AND TRAINING


ANNOUNCEMENTS: University Librarian Note 
I’ve temporarily suspended my Dean’s note for LON in light of the communications surrounding our response to COVID-19. Please see library.illinois.edu/staff/covid-19/ for the full list of notes that have come out. We will continue to adjust and respond to circumstances as they change, and I will send out notes on changes in the way we deploy our services and budget implications for the University and Library as the implications become clearer. I am ever grateful for the ways that you have all adapted and contributed to our engagement with the campus during the stay-at-home period, and I look forward to our being back in our library buildings with all of you.
Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Alma Squad Report
Michael Norman, Discovery Services Librarian and ILS Coordinator

New Alma Interface –The new Alma UI will become the exclusive user interface on March 7th. When Ex Libris released the new Alma Interface back in November 2020, one could revert to the old UI Interface. Starting on March 7th, after logging into Alma, we will only be able to work in this new Alma interface. For a short demo of the new Alma Interface (with some comparisons to the older version), see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXrWOVB1BNo

New Alma Metadata Editor – The new Alma Metadata (MD) Editor becomes the default version on March 7, 2021, as well. Users can still switch back to the Old Metadata Editor through June 6th, 2021, when the new MD Editor becomes the exclusive version. To switch back to the original MD Editor, select Old Editor on the right-hand side of the top toolbar of the new Metadata Editor. To see a demo of the new Metadata Editor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUL_N8FzFIs&feature=youtu.be

Working with Alma/Primo in Microsoft Internet Explorer browser – After March 7th, 2021, Alma and the Primo Library Catalog will no longer support the Microsoft Internet Explorer browser (including no longer fixing display or performance issues of Microsoft IE). Ex Libris certifies the following browsers: Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Apple Safari.
Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Amazon Business Purchases
Wendy Balthazor, Grants & Contracts Coordinator

The University will be moving away from using Amazon Business in March 2021. Due to this, we are asking that you no longer purchase anything using Amazon Business after Friday, February 26, 2021.

Amazon has been unwilling to agree to State of Illinois procurement terms. The university spends $2-3 million with Amazon which far exceeds the annual $100,000 bid limit for purchasing authority. We understand you may have questions or concerns, please see below for answers to questions we anticipate you may have.  If you have additional questions please email Wendy Balthazor (balthazr@illinois.edu).

  • Can I purchase directly from the vendors selling on Amazon?
    Yes, but you will need to contact them directly. You will not be able to go through Amazon.
  • Can I purchase with my personal credit card and be reimbursed?
    No. No personal reimbursements will be approved.
  • How can I send or receive supplies at a non-university location (i.e., employee’s home)?
    Orders will need to be entered in iBuy or paid with a P-Card and sent to a campus address. Arrangements can then be made for the order to be picked up.
  • Will I be able to use Amazon Web Services?
    Yes, this service is covered under a separate contract.
  • Will I be able to use Amazon e-codes?
    Yes, this will be allowed.
  • Will I be able to use Amazon MTURK for conducting research surveys?
    Yes, this service is covered under a separate contract.
  • How can we order books?
    This is still being discussed but I have been provided with a list of the available publishers we currently have IPHEC agreements with and you should use them, if possible.  Purchasing is aware of this concern and I am working with them on a solution for items we are unable to obtain from other vendors.Nebraska books – though the Union
    https://www.iphec.org/library-materials-sole-source
    https://www.iphec.org/textbooks-sole-source
    https://www.iphec.org/new-used-textbooks
  • Where can I send my concerns?
    Office of the Chancellor chancellor@illinois.edu
  • Is there any leverage to get Amazon to sign a contract?
    We are hoping discontinuing the service will trigger Amazon to reconsider their position.
  • If Amazon agrees to our procurement terms in the future will we be able use Amazon again?
    Yes

Thank you for your attention to this and please let me know if you have any questions.
Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: IOPN News
IOPN recently published A Person-Centered Guide to Demystifying Technology by Martin Wolske, one of the earliest titles that went under development with IOPN and the second open-access textbook in the Windsor & Downs Press series OPN Textbooks.
Read more at https://iopn.library.illinois.edu/2021/02/04/meet-martin-wolske-author-of-a-person-centered-guide-to-demystifying-technology/.
Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Did You Know? A Monthly Factoid from Library Assessment? 

The “Digest of Education Statistics, 2019” was published by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) this month. It contains the most recent statistical information regarding universities and libraries. The Digest examined library expenditures at degree-granting postsecondary institutions across the United States and found total library expenditures (including salaries and wages, materials, and other operating expenditures) per FTE were 25 percent lower in 2011-12 ($491, in 2018-19 dollars) than in 2001-02 ($654, in 2018-19 dollars). Total library expenditures per FTE slightly increase from 2011-12 to 2017-18, however, they were still 13 percent lower in 2017-18 ($571) than in 2001-02. Library materials expenditures, which include one-time (books, backfiles, etc.), ongoing (serial and electronic resource subscriptions), and other expenditures for collection support, showed a similar trend during the same time period. Library materials expenditures per FTE were 19 percent and 10 percent lower in 2011-12 and 2017-18 than in 2001-02, respectively.

More information is available at https://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d19/.
Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Library Tip of the Month
The Library sends a monthly email to new faculty at Illinois during the fall and spring semesters. These emails introduce many of our services and resources to this important audience.

You can view the February LTOTM at https://emails.illinois.edu/newsletter/836949789.html.

If you have ideas for future emails, please feel free to share them with Heather Murphy.
Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Collection Development Committee Notes
The most recent meetings minutes of the CDC are posted at:
https://www.library.illinois.edu/staff/committee/collection-development-committee/
Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Content Access Policy & Technology Meeting Minutes
The meetings minutes of CAPT (including workgroup reports) are posted at:
https://www.library.illinois.edu/staff/committee/content-access-policy-technology-capt/
Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Recognizing Excellence

Please share your award, recognition, or grant! To initiate a request for publicity, employees (or their supervisors) should submit this Awards/Recognitions/Grants Publicity Request Form.
Back to Top


FACILITIES NEWS: Update
For a complete list of projects in planning and construction, please see https://wordpress.library.illinois.edu/staff/facilities/.
Back to Top


HR NEWS: Filled Positions

  • Erika Johnsrud – Library Specialist ACS – February 15, 2021

Back to Top


HR NEWS: Departures 

  • Brian Clark – Library Specialist, ACS – Feb 12, 2021

Back to Top


HR NEWS: Searches Completed 

  • Dean of Business and Human Resources, AP – Mary Laskowski, Chair
    Kick-off meeting scheduled for May 19, 2020. On Hold. Live on job board with closing date of August 28, 2020. Phone screenings held Oct 1, Oct 5, Oct 9 & Oct 15. Virtual interviews held Nov 18, Nov 24, Dec 3, Dec 8 and Dec 9. Offer extended to Susan Breakenridge. Start date March 16, 2021.
  • Head, Scholarly Commons – Scholarly Commons, FAC – Kyle Rimkus, Chair
    Kick-off meeting scheduled for March 24, 2020. Interim Head position offered to Sara Benson: Phone screenings held 9/9 & 9/10. Virtual interviews held Sept 30, Oct 1, Oct 2 & Oct 6. Offer extended to Michelle Reed. Start date March 16, 2021
  • ACS Electronic Resources, FAC – Tom Teper, Chair
    Kick-off meeting scheduled for May 20, 2020.  EC approved position. IHR approved JD July 1, 2020. Live on job board with closing date of August 21, 2020. Phone screenings held Sept 30, Oct 5, Oct 6 & Oct 7. Virtual interviews held Nov 11, 16, and 17. Offer Pending

Back to Top


HR NEWS: Searches in Progress or Pre-announcement

  • ACS Cataloging Coordinator, AP – Mara Thacker, chair
    Kick-off meeting scheduled for May 13, 2020. EC approved position. IHR approved JD Oct 7, 2020. Live on job board. Closed Nov 6, 2020. Phone screenings held Jan 4, Jan 5, Jan 6 & Jan 7, 2021. Virtual interviews scheduled for Feb 17, 23, and 26.
  • Student Success Librarian – Undergraduate Library, FAC – Sara Williams, Chair
    Kick-off meeting scheduled for February 19, 2020.  EC approved position. Live on job board with closing date of March 27, 2020. Closing date extended to May 1, 2020: Vacancy Suspended until further notice. Kick-off meeting held 10/29/2020. Live on job board. Search closed Dec 11, 2020. Phone screenings held Jan 12, 14, 19, 20, 22 & 25. Virtual interviews scheduled for March 1, 2, 9 and 10.
  • Visiting Design and Materials Research Librarian – Ricker Library, FAC – Kirstin Dougan Johnson, Chair
    Kick-off meeting scheduled for April 14, 2020. Vacancy Suspended until further notice. Kick-off meeting held Nov 2, 2020. Awaiting for EC to approved JD. EC approved JD.
    Live on the job board. Search closed Jan 29, 2021. Phone screenings scheduled for Feb 22, 23, and 24.
  • Visiting Project Conservator, AP – Tom Teper, Chair
    Kick-off meeting held Nov 5, 2020. JD approved by EC.
    Live on the job board. Search closed Jan 22, 2021.  Virtual interviews TBD.
  • Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility – Business and Human Resources Services, AP – Cindy Ingold, Chair
    Kick-off meeting scheduled for March 5, 2020. Position description pending approval. Vacancy Suspended until further notice. Kick-off meeting held Oct 28, 2020. Awaiting for EC to approve JD. EC approved JD. Live on the job board. Closed February 12, 2021. Phone screenings TBD.
  • Library Assessment Specialist, AP – Sara Benson, Chair
    Kick-off meeting scheduled for May 4, 2020. Vacancy Suspended until further notice.
    Kick-off meeting held Nov 4, 2020. Still awaiting IHR JD approval. JD approved. Live on the job board. Closing date of February 19, 2021.

Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: Staff Events Calendar
To see the most up-to-date staff events calendar, please visit https://uiuc.libcal.com/calendar/staff.
Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: Student Success Librarian Presentations
March 1- March 10

The Student Success Librarian search committee has selected 4 candidates for second screening interviews.  We invite you to attend the candidate presentations, which are based on this prompt:

Describe your vision and strategy for building a cohesive library student success program.  Your presentation should address your process, program scope, student and collaborator involvement, and how you would assess the program to connect it to library and campus goals.  Your audience will include library colleagues and campus partners with a variety of experience working on student success programs.

Kristina Clement: Monday, March 1 at 11 AM
Maria Emerson: Tuesday, March 2 at 11 AM
Juliana Espinosa: Tuesday, March 9 at 11 AM
Meredith Knoff: Wednesday, March 10 at 11 AM

Zoom information was sent via LibNews email from Sarah Williams on February 15.
Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: Mikki Kendall Author Talk
March 2 at 6 PM CST

Author Talk with Mikki Kendall, author of Hood Feminism and Illinois alumna—March 2nd @ 6 pm CST.  Free and open to all University of Illinois affiliates upon registration.  (Sponsored by Bruce D. Nesbitt African American Cultural Center, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, LAS Alumni Council, Gender & Women’s Studies, Women’s Resources Center, Women & Gender in Global Perspectives, Student Affairs, and University Housing’s Residence Hall Libraries.)

Register Here: https://illinois.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_apAetqoLT023K4BfEhTEXg
Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: IlliniFest
March 7, 7pm
RSVP Here

IlliniFest will be virtual this year and stream live. The Rare Book & Manuscript Library will once again be participating!
Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: Women in Science Lecture Series: Dr. Catherine J. Murphy
March 9, 12-1pm
Virtual Event on Zoom | Register Here

The University of Illinois Archives is hosting a monthly Women in Science Lecture Series that will feature speakers from across the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s diverse and multidisciplinary scientific enterprise. The lecture series seeks to highlight the important innovations and contributions of women in the sciences at the University of Illinois, and center the importance of documenting women scientists and engineers to create a diverse and inclusive archival record.

We hope you can join us for the March lecture! Dr. Catherine J. Murphy, Larry R. Faulkner Endowed Chair in Chemistry and Head of the Department of Chemistry, will discuss her research on inorganic nanomaterials applications and the chemical interactions these nanomaterials have with their surroundings.
Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: Hub Training
March 9 – April 23

Zoom information was shared via LibNews email from Sara Holder on January 19.

Date & Time Topic Who should attend? Instructor(s)
Tuesday, March 9 from 2-3 p.m.

or

Friday, March 12 from 3-4 p.m.

 What are the best tools and techniques for finding grey literature? All first-year GA’s and anyone who is interested in the topic

 

 Jameatris Rimkus and Linda Stahnke

 
Tuesday, March 23 from 2-3 p.m.

or

Friday, March 26 from 3-4 p.m.

 How do I get started with reference questions about data? All first-year GA’s and anyone who has not attended previous sessions or needs a refresher

 

 Carissa Phillips and Jess Hagman

 
Tuesday, April 6 from 2-3 p.m.

or

Friday, April 9 from 3-4 p.m.

 What are best practices for finding and using content in IDEALS and other institutional repositories? All first-year GA’s and anyone who is interested in the topic

 

 Ayla Stein Kenfield

 
Tuesday, April 20 from 2-3 p.m.

or

Friday, April 23 from 3-4 p.m.

 How do we evaluate and decide on vendors for our e-resources? All first-year GA’s and anyone who is interested in the topic

 

 Tom Teper

 

Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: AI Infodemic
March 9 at 4PM CST
March 31 at 12 PM CST

Artificial intelligence is increasingly shaping the future of information seeking, discovery, and curation. While AI may claim to make these practices easier, several scholars have been raising essential questions about the nature of this technology and its implications for racial justice, political polarization, and privacy in the information ecosystem.

The third session of the AI Infodemic: Interrogating Algorithms of Information Seeking reading group will take place via Zoom on Tuesday, March 9 at 4:00 CT introduce the theme of data, including the politics of data collection and issues in COVID-19 data collection efforts globally. The fourth session turns to the topic of information curation and is scheduled for Wednesday, March 31 at 12:00 CT. Ideas covered during this session will include hashtag activism on social media, online identity formation, and the commodification of human behavior.

For a complete list of materials covered in this session, view the schedule on the program website. Join our mailing list to receive the link to the Zoom meeting and regular updates about the program.

The AI Infodemic: Interrogating Algorithms of Information Seeking reading group is sponsored by the HRI Research Cluster: AI & Society: Privacy, Ethics and (Dis)Information.

Co-organizers: Sarah Appedu (MLS Student) & Lisa Hinchliffe (Library Faculty)
Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: NISO Webinar – Building Trust: Credibility of Content
March 10 at 10 AM

The information community is well aware of the need to establish that content is credible, authoritative, and trustworthy. However, communicating this is increasingly challenging in a world where technology can make fake information “plausible” or when the need for rapid dissemination precludes the usual safeguards of peer review. How can we communicate these important limits and nuances to those who search for and use the information we provide? How can we best handle provenance tracking? Who is responsible for, and who should be held accountable for verification processes? Do we need better guidelines and, if so, who should be at the table negotiating those? In this webinar, experts across the information community will share their concerns and success stories.

Please email training@library.illinois.edu for login credentials or recordings.
Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: Pi Day 2021
March 14

Join the Rare Book & Manuscript Library for a brief introduction to several of its historical mathematics texts. A video will be released on RBML’s YouTube channel on Pi Day.
Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: Decentering the Canon in the Architectural Library
March 23, 5pm
Virtual Event on Zoom | Register Here

Please join the Ricker Library of Architecture and Art for a panel discussion on decentering the canon in the architectural library. The library collects materials that have filtered through such canonizing forces as higher education and the publishing ecosystem. Can the library broaden the canon, or does it merely reinforce it? What critical interventions might we make to resist our canonizing tendencies, for today and or tomorrow?

Panelists include expertise from a broad range of disciplines within architecture, including architectural history, museums, and practice.
Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: To Your Health! Love Your Larynx!: An Owner’s Guide
March 25 at 11 AM

Join us to hear Clarion Mendes from Speech and Hearing Science talk about laryngeal health.

To stay healthy, we might exercise, eat a healthy diet, or meditate – but when did you last look into your laryngeal health? This amazing structure helps us lift weights, protect our lungs, and sing in the shower! Join us to learn about how your larynx and associated structures improve our lives, and how you, too, can love your larynx.

Zoom information was sent via LibNews email from JJ Pionke on February 19.
Back to Top

If you would like to submit content for the April issue of Library Office Notes, please submit it to Heather Murphy or Tom Teper by March 19, 2021.

February Library Office Notes

Posted on by


ANNOUNCEMENTS

FACILITIES NEWS

IT NEWS

HR NEWS

EVENTS AND TRAINING


ANNOUNCEMENTS: University Librarian Note 
I’ve temporarily suspended my Dean’s note for LON in light of the communications surrounding our response to COVID-19. Please see library.illinois.edu/staff/covid-19/ for the full list of notes that have come out. We will continue to adjust and respond to circumstances as they change, and I will send out notes on changes in the way we deploy our services and budget implications for the University and Library as the implications become clearer. I am ever grateful for the ways that you have all adapted and contributed to our engagement with the campus during the stay-at-home period, and I look forward to our being back in our library buildings with all of you.
Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Alma Squad Report
Michael Norman, Discovery Services Librarian and ILS Coordinator

Analytics work in Alma – A wide range of analytics tasks can be completed directly in Alma, for example, it is possible to produce lists and sets of titles/items in Alma for collection development and maintenance work. We can do some advanced and very detailed searches in Alma and then export those searches out as Excel spreadsheets (see image below for sample search) for this sample search of Items on Loan at the Music and Performing Arts Library.

To view a recorded session on producing lists and sets in Alma Advanced Search, see this link: https://uofi.box.com/s/jimd2bvv25m4acposhfo70cfpk5y1rby

On February 2nd and 4th, we will have new information sessions on creating analytics lists and sets in Alma. Here is the Zoom information:

Topic: Creating Analytics Lists and Sets in Alma
Feb 2, 2021 01:00 PM
Feb 4, 2021 01:00 PM

Join Zoom Meeting:
https://illinois.zoom.us/j/86267819673?pwd=MVVpNVIvVk1sSkREZklFeGsvYnpIQT09
Meeting ID: 862 6781 9673
Password: 828291

Primo to discontinue certification for Internet Explorer — Ex Libris has decided to discontinue Internet Explorer (IE) browser certification by May 2021. Users can still access Primo using Microsoft IE, however it will no longer be certified and tested as part of future releases.

Sandboxes to be refreshed — Ex Libris will update the premium sandboxes for both Alma and Primo VE on February 13, 2021. There are two refreshes a year, in February and August. A snapshot of the current settings will occur and this will update the data and configurations for the Library’s sandbox versions of both Alma and Primo Catalog.

Improved Summary Holdings Display in Primo Catalog — Currently, the Primo Catalog Locations screen displays partial holdings information for a location and requires the user to open the location’s items to see its complete holdings information. We have had many complaints about this feature. The new enhancement in February will allow the user to view the complete holdings information in the Locations screen by selecting View more. The user will continue to see the holdings information in the Location Items screen, but the user will now have the ability to see partial and complete holdings information by selecting View less or View more.

Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Non-Instructional Break Days
The first non-instruction day of the semester will be on Feb 17th, and our Library locations will not be open for public services on that day.

The main intent of this day is to provide people some time for self-care and recuperation. We aren’t requiring specific professional development, training, or other activities for the staff, faculty, or GAs. You should all decide for yourselves what will best help you prepare for the rest of the semester. You don’t need to report the specific activities. They can be specific training in professional skills, if that is what you feel is most appropriate to your situation, or something a bit more informal.

If you are looking for professional development opportunities, here are some options:

  • The Library Employee Calendar lists many upcoming training, webinars, and events announced on LibNews.
  • The Training for Library Employees channel now has over 20 recordings of in-house training, including Teaching in the Remote Classroom, Library IT’s WordPress Training, Mindful Meditation, and the Stress Management series.
  • The Library has access to many recent NISO webinars covering change management, teaching and learning, data science, open access monographs, and other topics. These webinars are being shared via this Box link.
  • Many recordings of past CARLI-sponsored Professional Development Alliance offerings are available and include sessions on assessment, accessibility, communication, and self-care.
  • LinkedInLearning (formerly Lynda) has more than 1,200 online courses covering a wide array of professional development topics, including project management, business, technical skills, and many more. As university employees, we have access to LinkedIn Learning for free.

For questions regarding professional development opportunities, please consult your supervisor or reach out to training@library.illinois.edu.
Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Did You Know? A Monthly Factoid from Library Assessment? 

In October and November 2020, 315 students responded to a Library Service Satisfaction Survey. 91% of the respondents have used library services. Most used services identified by the respondents are e-books/e-journals, checking out a book/equipment, consultation with a librarian, and bookable study spaces. Library services are important for students who are fully remote – 94% of respondents who took all classes online, as well as 93% of respondents who lived outside of the Champaign, Urbana and Savoy areas, have used library services in Fall 2020.

While there are many challenges providing library services during the pandemic, many respondents shared their appreciation to the Library and library staff. The image below highlights a few encouragement and thank-yous submitted by the respondents.


Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Library Tip of the Month
The Library sends a monthly email to new faculty at Illinois during the fall and spring semesters. These emails introduce many of our services and resources to this important audience.

You can view the January LTOTM at https://emails.illinois.edu/newsletter/685619209.html.

If you have ideas for future emails, please feel free to share them with Heather Murphy.
Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Collection Development Committee Notes
The most recent meetings minutes of the CDC are posted at:
https://www.library.illinois.edu/staff/committee/collection-development-committee/
Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Content Access Policy & Technology Meeting Minutes
The meetings minutes of CAPT (including workgroup reports) are posted at:
https://www.library.illinois.edu/staff/committee/content-access-policy-technology-capt/
Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Recognizing Excellence

Please share your award, recognition, or grant! To initiate a request for publicity, employees (or their supervisors) should submit this Awards/Recognitions/Grants Publicity Request Form.
Back to Top


FACILITIES NEWS: Update
For a complete list of projects in planning and construction, please see https://wordpress.library.illinois.edu/staff/facilities/.
Back to Top


IT NEWS: Library IT Non-instructional Day Support
The Library IT Help Desk will be available on the non-instructional days during the Spring 2021 semester.  Since these are technically work days, and some faculty and staff may be pursuing professional development, research, grant writing, etc., the Library IT Help Desk will remain open for support.  The Help Desk will handle any tickets that can be handled by the first line staff on the help desk that day, and will only escalate “critical” items to other staff.  The Help Desk may still redirect tickets to other queues, but these tickets are not expected to be addressed until the next business day unless they are “critical”. In this case, “critical” means someone cannot do their work or an online public service is unavailable.
Back to Top


IT NEWS: Scholarly Commons Tools Available Virtually
By leveraging the new UIUC AnyWare Service, Library IT has been able to make the Scholarly Commons computers, with their specialized software offerings, available to University of Illinois students, faculty, and staff on a first-come, first-served basis.

Researchers can now access packages like ABBYY FineReader, ArcGIS, ATLAS.ti, SPSS, QGIS, R, RStudio, and SAS remotely via these virtual desktops.

More information about the UIUC AnyWare Service can be found in the Technology Services Knowledgebase: UIUC AnyWare: Documentation and Additional Information

To use this service, simply log in to UIUC AnyWare using a browser. Choose the Scholarly Commons desktop group to access the Scholarly Commons virtualized computers.

Please remind patrons to save all of their work to Box (the cloud) or their local desktop, as the work will not be saved on the remote desktop where they are accessing the software.

Contact the Scholarly Commons at sc@library.illinois.edu with questions.
Back to Top


HR NEWS: Vacancies (Open)

  • Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility (DEIA) – Academic Professional – Business and Human Resources Service Center (BHRSC) – Closes 2/12/2021
  • Library Assessment Specialist – Academic Professional – Closes 2/19/2021

Back to Top


HR NEWS: Vacancies (Closed)

  • Library Specialist Western European Language – Acquisitions & Cataloging Services – Closed 1/12/2021

Back to Top


HR NEWS: Searches Completed 

  • Asst. Dean of Business and Human Resources, AP – Mary Laskowski, Chair
    Kick-off meeting scheduled for May 19, 2020. On Hold. Live on job board with closing date of August 28, 2020. Phone screenings held Oct 1, Oct 5, Oct 9 & Oct 15. Virtual interviews held Nov 18, Nov 24, Dec 3, Dec 8 and Dec 9. Offer extended to Susan Breakenridge. Start date March 16, 2021.
  • Head, Scholarly Commons – Scholarly Commons, FAC – Kyle Rimkus, Chair
    Kick-off meeting scheduled for March 24, 2020. Interim Head position offered to Sara Benson: Phone screenings held 9/9 & 9/10. Virtual interviews held Sept 30, Oct 1, Oct 2 & Oct 6. Offer extended to Michelle Reed. Start date March 16, 2021.
  • ACS Electronic Resources, FAC – Tom Teper, Chair
    Kick-off meeting scheduled for May 20, 2020. EC approved position. IHR approved JD July 1, 2020. Live on job board with closing date of August 21, 2020. Phone screenings held Sept 30, Oct 5, Oct 6 & Oct 7. Virtual interviews held Nov 11, 16, and 17. Offer Pending

Back to Top


HR NEWS: Searches in Progress or Pre-announcement

  • ACS Cataloging Coordinator, AP – Mara Thacker, Chair
    Kick-off meeting scheduled for May 13, 2020. EC approved position. IHR approved JD Oct 7, 2020. Live on job board. Closed Nov 6, 2020. Phone screenings held Jan 4, Jan 5, Jan 6 & Jan 7, 2021.
  • Student Success Librarian – Undergraduate Library, FAC – Sara Williams, Chair
    Kick-off meeting scheduled for February 19, 2020. EC approved position. Live on job board with closing date of March 27, 2020. Closing date extended to May 1, 2020: Vacancy Suspended until further notice. Kick-off meeting held 10/29/2020. Live on job board. Search closed Dec 11, 2020. Phone screenings scheduled for Jan 12, 14, 19, 20, 22 & 25.
  • Visiting Design and Materials Research Librarian – Ricker Library, FAC – Kirstin Dougan Johnson, Chair
    Kick-off meeting scheduled for April 14, 2020. Vacancy Suspended until further notice. Kick-off meeting held Nov 2, 2020. Awaiting for EC to approved JD. EC approved JD. Live on the job board with a closing date of Jan 29, 2021.
  • Visiting Project Conservator, AP – Tom Teper, Chair
    Kick-off meeting held Nov 5, 2020. JD approved by EC. Live on the job board with a closing date of Jan 22, 2021.
  • Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility – Business and Human Resources Services, AP – Cindy Ingold, Chair
    Kick-off meeting scheduled for March 5, 2020. Position description pending approval. Vacancy Suspended until further notice. Kick-off meeting held Oct 28, 2020. Awaiting for EC to approve JD. EC approved JD. Live on the job board with a closing date of February 12, 2021.
  • Library Assessment Specialist, AP – Sara Benson, Chair
    Kick-off meeting scheduled for May 4, 2020. Vacancy Suspended until further notice. Kick-off meeting held Nov 4, 2020. Still awaiting IHR JD approval. JD approved. Live on the job board with a closing date of February 19, 2021.

Back to Top


HR NEWS:  Nelly Gonzales in PBS NewsHour

Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: Staff Events Calendar
To see the most up-to-date staff events calendar, please visit https://uiuc.libcal.com/calendar/staff.
Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: WordPress Training
February 4, 10 AM CT

Training for Library employees to cover the Library’s implementation of WordPress. This is introductory training required for access to WordPress.

Registration is required. https://uiuc.libcal.com/event/7371788
Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: Bringing Subject Expertise Online: BTAA E-Learning and Liaison Collaborations
February 4, 11 AM CT/12 PM ET

The E-Learning and Instruction Big Ten Academic Alliance Library Groups are pleased to announce a special panel focused on subject librarians moving instruction online. Our panel will feature three subject librarians from the University of Michigan, University of Wisconsin, and the University of Illinois who each took a different path in moving their instruction into a unique e-learning initiative. Panelists will provide an overview of the e-learning project, how they collaborated with campus or library partners, and how they plan to continue their project post-pandemic. There will be time for participants to ask questions. This will be a great opportunity to gather new ideas and strategies for delivering instruction across the disciplines.

Please register beforehand to get access to the Zoom meeting link.

Registration Link: https://uwmadison.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwvfuCvrzgjEteCl2ddhG9O4ADGDnQSffN6

If you have any questions please contact one of the following: alex.stark@wisc.edu, deeke3@illinois.edu, or nbinnie@umich.edu


EVENTS AND TRAINING: Virtual Demonstration of the Music and Performing Arts Library’s Player Piano
February 5, 12:00 PM CT

Join the Music & Performing Arts Library for a virtual lunch hour demonstration featuring the Library’s Steinway Duo-Art reproducing piano and collection of piano rolls. See the piano in action and learn more about the instrument and roll collection. The demonstration will last approximately 30 minutes and there will be additional time for questions.
For more information about the piano and the library’s collections, see: https://www.library.illinois.edu/mpal/about/collections/specialcollections/steinway-duo-art-player-piano/


EVENTS AND TRAINING: Scrap, Excerpt, List: Making Indigenous Archives, A Conversation with Dr. Kelly Wisecup
February 5, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM CT

Join the Rare Book & Manuscript Library and the Champaign Public Library as we explore the archives of Indigenous groups from the Great Lakes region. Across the nineteenth-century, Indigenous people extracted and juxtaposed printed and manuscript materials by assembling them within their own albums, scrapbooks, and even printed texts. These textual archives were experiments in translation, combination, and recirculation. They illuminate the many uses to which Indigenous people—both well-known writers and those all but absent from histories of the book and of literature—put textual material, while also providing insight into surprising histories of reading and use across the Great Lakes.

You will receive a YouTube Live streaming link via email the day of the event by registering for this livestream event. The livestream link will also be available at https://champaign.org/live, just prior to the event.

To register, please visit: https://champaign.libnet.info/event/4784368?registration=true

About the Presenters:
Dr. Kelly Wisecup is an associate professor of English and affiliate of the Center for Native American & Indigenous Research at Northwestern University. Her research and teaching focus on Native American literatures and archives, including several recent digital community archive projects, the American Indian Center Community Archives and the NAES College Digital Library Project.

Dr. Cait Coker is the co-Editor of the Women in Book History Bibliography, author of numerous essays on the history of genre, popular culture, and women in publishing.

This online event is free and open to all, and is presented in partnership with the Champaign Public Library.
Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: Designing Surveys: An Introduction
February 9, 1 PM CT

Dawn Owens from CITL will give you a basic introduction to programming and deploying surveys in Webtools or Alchemer. We will cover basic question types, skip logic, formatting issues, email campaigns, and extracting data and reports. Along the way we will touch on best practices for questionnaire design and language.


EVENTS AND TRAINING: AI Infodemic Reading Group: Session 1
February 9, 4:00 PM CT

Artificial intelligence is increasingly shaping the future of information seeking, discovery, and curation. While AI may claim to make these practices easier, several scholars have been raising essential questions about the nature of this technology and its implications for racial justice, political polarization, and privacy in the information ecosystem.

The first session of the AI Infodemic: Interrogating Algorithms of Information Seeking reading group kicks off via Zoom on Tuesday, February 9 at 4:00 CT with readings about the context under which AI has become a concern in information professions. Topics covered will include surveillance capitalism, corporate ethics, and the current state of AI technology. The second session on Wednesday, February 24 at 12:00 CT is focused on the theme of system design. Topics covered include a basic overview of AI technology, design pedagogies, and racial bias within coding practices.

For a complete list of materials covered in this session, view the schedule on the program website. Join our mailing list to receive the link to the Zoom meeting and regular updates about the program.

The AI Infodemic: Interrogating Algorithms of Information Seeking reading group is sponsored by the HRI Research Cluster: AI & Society: Privacy, Ethics and (Dis)Information.

Co-organizers: Sarah Appedu (MLS Student) & Lisa Hinchliffe (Library Faculty)
Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: NISO Webinar – Content Presentation: Diversity of Formats
February 10, 10 AM

How content is presented is critical to how frequently it gets used and understood. Technology has made a wider variety of content formats possible — data, text, video, audio — but presentation can be equally important in the more traditional formats, such as books and journals. How content is presented, emphasizing different affordances for different types of use, requires thoughtful design choices. For content providers, scalability is one major challenge. Meanwhile those charged with preservation and future use must determine how best to migrate and house different formats, and everyone is concerned about making all formats readily searchable and discoverable. The speakers on this webinar will share their experiences of wrestling with the issues from a variety of perspectives.

Please email training@library.illinois.edu for login credentials or recordings.


EVENTS AND TRAINING: CARLI Professional Development Alliance Events
February 12-26

Project Management for Libraries: Mapping Out Projects
February 12, 1 PM CT
This is the third of the six webinar series Project Management for Libraries that will introduce library staff to the concept of what a project is and the basics of project management.
https://www.carli.illinois.edu/pda-series-project-management-libraries-mapping-out-projects
Meet Harriet Tubman

February 16, 10 AM CT
If you could step back in history, with whom would you like to have a conversation and
lunch? If Harriet Tubman is your choice, please join Kathryn Harris as she presents her
first-person presentation as “Harriet Tubman.” Harriet Tubman is perhaps the most famous Conductor on the Underground Railroad and Ms. Harris tells her life story, including not only her own escape to freedom, but also the trips she made back South to free her family and others so that they could also experience the “sweet taste of freedom”.
https://www.carli.illinois.edu/pda-series-meet-harriet-tubman

Patron-Driven Acquisitions: Implementing a Transferable, Sustainable Model
February 18, 12:00 PM CT
In a continuation of the September webinar “Creating Patron-Driven Acquisitions For Your Library,” Dr. Jeffrey Waldrop, now Dean of the Mercer University Libraries, describes how he brought the PDA model originally developed at Fuller Seminary to a much larger and different institution. This webinar will discuss how to partner with faculty and other stakeholders to encourage the adoption of a PDA model, restructure budgets and staff in support of it, and reflect the diversity of changing student bodies and online education through a balance of print and e-textbooks.
https://www.carli.illinois.edu/pda-series-patron-driven-acquisitions-implementing-transferable-sustainable-model

Project Management for Libraries: Project Leadership
February 26, 1 PM CT
This is the fourth of the six webinar series Project Management for Libraries that will
introduce library staff to the concept of what a project is and the basics of project
management.
https://www.carli.illinois.edu/pda-series-project-management-libraries-project-leadership
Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: Behind the Scenes – LIS Graduate Assistants
February 18, 3 PM CT

We will have another session this year for graduate assistants who are seeking full-time
positions.

We will be giving our GAs behind the scenes look at the search process (i.e. search
committees) and hopefully, cover some of these points:

  • Position descriptions & the search committee
  • Cover letters and resumes – tips for job applicants
  • Ranking candidates and the screening process
  • Onsite interviews

Please register at https://bit.ly/3hXHrdt.
Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: Fair Use Week Gameshow
February 25, 11:00 AM CT

The Library will celebrate Fair Use Week with an interactive Fair Use Gameshow through Zoom!

Topic: Fair Use Week Gameshow

To register for the event, please go to https://go.illinois.edu/fairuseweek.
Please join us!
Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: U of I Library Blood Drive 
February 25, 11-2:30pm

Hello! On Thursday, February 25th, we’re coming together to help save lives and really need your help!

*Will you please consider taking an hour of your time to donate blood during this time of critical need?*

Remember:

  • Blood donation is safe!
  • Extra precautionary measures are in place to ensure that our donors and staff remain safe and healthy.
  • All donors are required to have an appointment and wear a mask throughout the donation process.
  • All donors will receive a voucher for a St. Patrick’s themed t-shirt or a $5 gift card
  • You’ll be a hero to the person on the receiving end of your donation!

See below for details on our upcoming blood drive, and please consider scheduling an appointment.

To see the time slots available for appointments, just click on the blood drive name, below.

University of Illinois Library
Thursday, 02/25/2021 (11:00 am – 02:30 pm)
1408 W Gregory
Undergraduate Library- Bloodmobile in Circle Drive
Urbana, IL 61801

*Don’t forget to bring a picture ID, wear a mask, drink lots of extra water and eat a meal prior to donating.*
Back to Top

If you would like to submit content for the March issue of Library Office Notes, please submit it to Heather Murphy or Tom Teper by February 19, 2021.

January Library Office Notes

Posted on by


ANNOUNCEMENTS

FACILITIES NEWS

HR NEWS

EVENTS AND TRAINING


ANNOUNCEMENTS: University Librarian Note 
I’ve temporarily suspended my Dean’s note for LON in light of the communications surrounding our response to COVID-19. Please see library.illinois.edu/staff/covid-19/ for the full list of notes that have come out. We will continue to adjust and respond to circumstances as they change, and I will send out notes on changes in the way we deploy our services and budget implications for the University and Library as the implications become clearer. I am ever grateful for the ways that you have all adapted and contributed to our engagement with the campus during the stay-at-home period, and I look forward to our being back in our library buildings with all of you.
Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Alma Squad Report
Michael Norman, Discovery Services Librarian and ILS Coordinator

Utilization of Mobile Access QR Code as Link in Primo Catalog
The December release of upgrades for Primo introduced the QR code in the catalog. The QR code appears in the upper right of any search results page. This allows users to copy QR as a link to a single record. In addition, a QR code can be produced for a canned search to promote and expose a set of records, search results, or collections. See the image below for an example with the QR button circled in the upper right of the display.

Monthly upgrades to Alma and Primo Catalog
Ex Libris pushes out upgrades to both systems the first weekend of each month. We do get access to the upgrades and changes in the UIUC Sandbox versions two weeks before the eventual roll out to our Production versions.  To see the new changes, Ex Libris posts release notes in their Knowledge Center documenting the changes and fixes coming in the next release. You can see Alma Release Notes here: https://knowledge.exlibrisgroup.com/Alma/Release_Notes/2020
and for Primo VE: https://knowledge.exlibrisgroup.com/Primo/Release_Notes/002Primo_VE/2020

Integration of InterLibrary Loan (ILL) into Primo Catalog and Alma Linkresolver Service
We continue to integrate the InterLibrary Loan service into the Primo. In Alma/Primo, the Linkresolver service is integrated and managed in Alma. Unlike SFX, when clicking on the Discover UIUC Online in the indexing and abstracting services (EBSCO, ProQuest, Scopus, Google Scholar, Microsoft Academic, PubMed, etc.), the Alma Linkresolver determines if the Library has full-text access or not. If the service does not determine the Library has access (inventory), it generates an InterLibrary Loan request link. Sometimes, the appearance of this Linkresolver page is taking 10-12 seconds to appear. Ex Libris announced there should be improvements in this lag time with the January 2021 upgrade. 

Web Browser compatibility Issues with Primo Catalog
Intermittently, there are times we are having compatibility issues with the Primo Catalog and the latest versions of web browsers when logging into one’s My Account. Primo should be compatible with these browsers, e.g. Safari, Chrome, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge (they do note issues with Microsoft Internet Explorer 11 version). If you encounter this issue, 1) check to see if the latest version of these browsers is being used and/or 2) institute a refresh of the page if results in My Account are not showing properly (Control button and F5 to refresh).
Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Progress of the Undergraduate Library/Main Library Integration Working Group
The Undergraduate Library/Main Library Integration Working Group has met a number of times and has agreed upon four sub-group topics: Consultations & Programming; Instruction; Study and Other Student Focused Spaces; and Logistics & Operations. Charges were written for each sub-group, and members have been appointed (full lists included below). There was a large group meeting of all members the Thursday before Winter Break where we talked about plans for moving forward with our work and took questions from sub-group members. The co-leads of each group have planned meetings throughout Spring, starting in January. Sub-group reports are due in April, and the final report will be due in May.

Consultations & Programming
Sara Holder – co-lead
Antonio Sotomayor – co-lead
Eric Kurt
Janis Shearer
Sara Benson
Carolyn Wisniewski
Gregg Homerding

Instruction
David Ward – co-lead
Kelli Trei – co-lead
Merinda Hensley
Alex Cabada
Jess Hagman
Alex Deeke
Joe Lenkart

Logistics and Operations
Mary Laskowski – co-lead
Tom Teper – co-lead
Cherie Weible
David Morris
Nancy O’Brien
Geoff Ross
Esra Coskun

Undergraduate Student-focused Study Space
Kirstin Johnson – co-lead
David Ward – co-lead
Paula Carns
JJ Pionke
Michelle Self-Ballard
Mara Thacker
Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Grants and Contracts: Proposal submission guidance and Principal Investigator (PI) Handbook
It is important to ensure that all projects are properly resourced either via grant funding or other institutional commitments and to comply with University and Library policies.  When developing proposals or working with proposers from other units/colleges or institutions, please consult with the appropriate partners, such as associate and assistant deans/directors, and unit heads to ensure that technology, facilities, and other project support needs have been assessed and incorporated into the budget planning. In addition, please contact Wendy Balthazor (balthazr@illinois.edu) when you or another unit are planning/considering a proposal.

Sponsored Programs Administration (SPA) has released an updated Principal Investigator (PI) Handbook.  The PI Handbook is designed to provide all investigators, especially new faculty, with guidance on sponsored project related policies and practices, to serve as a quick reference for general questions, and to identify helpful resources.  The PI Handbook is available on the SPA website: http://sponsoredprograms.illinois.edu/education-outreach/principal-investigator-handbook
Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Library Tip of the Month
The Library sends a monthly email to new faculty at Illinois during the fall and spring semesters. These emails introduce many of our services and resources to this important audience.

You can view the December LTOTM at https://emails.illinois.edu/newsletter/2139906160.html.

If you have ideas for future emails, please feel free to share them with Heather Murphy.
Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Collection Development Committee Notes
The most recent meetings minutes of the CDC are posted at:
https://www.library.illinois.edu/staff/committee/collection-development-committee/
Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Content Access Policy & Technology Meeting Minutes
The meetings minutes of CAPT (including workgroup reports) are posted at:
https://www.library.illinois.edu/staff/committee/content-access-policy-technology-capt/
Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Recognizing Excellence
Please share your award, recognition, or grant! To initiate a request for publicity, employees (or their supervisors) should submit this Awards/Recognitions/Grants Publicity Request Form.
Back to Top


FACILITIES NEWS: Update
For a complete list of projects in planning and construction, please see https://wordpress.library.illinois.edu/staff/facilities/.
Back to Top


HR NEWS: Vacancies

  • Visiting Project Conservator – Visiting Academic Professional (one year appointment) –Preservation Services Unit – Closes 1/22/2021
  •  Visiting Design & Materials Research Librarian and Visiting Assistant Professor – Visiting Assistant Professor – Ricker Library of Architecture and Art – Closes 1/29/2021
  • Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility (DEIA) – Academic Professional – Business and Human Resources Service Center (BHRSC) – Closes 2/12/2021

Back to Top


HR NEWS: Searches Completed

  • ACS Electronic Resources, FAC – Tom Teper, Chair
    Kick-off meeting scheduled for May 20, 2020. EC approved position. IHR approved JD July 1, 2020. Live on job board with closing date of August 21, 2020. Phone screenings held Sept 30, Oct 5, Oct 6 & Oct 7. Virtual interviews held Nov 11, 16, and 17. Offer Pending
  • Undergraduate Teaching and Learning Library – Undergraduate Library – Sara
    Holder, Chair Kick-off meeting scheduled for February 25, 2020. EC approved position. Live on job board with closing date of April 10, 2020. Closing date extended to May 15, 2020. Phone screenings held June 1, June 2, June 3, June 4 & June 8. Virtual interviews scheduled July 17, July 20, July 22 & July 23. Offer extended to Alex Deeke. Started Nov 16, 2020.
  • Head, Scholarly Commons – Scholarly Commons, FAC – Kyle Rimkus, Chair
    Kick-off meeting scheduled for March 24, 2020. Interim Head position offered to Sara Benson: Phone screenings held 9/9 & 9/10. Virtual interviews held Sept 30, Oct 1, Oct 2 & Oct 6. Offer extended to Michelle Reed. Start date March 16, 2021.

Back to Top


HR NEWS:  Searches in Progress or Pre-announcement

  • Asst. Dean of Business and Human Resources, AP – Mary Laskowski, Chair
    Kick-off meeting scheduled for May 19, 2020. On Hold. Live on job board with closing date of August 28, 2020. Phone screenings held Oct 1, Oct 5, Oct 9 & Oct 15. Virtual interviews held Nov 18, Nov 24, Dec 3, Dec 8 and Dec 9. Pending recommendation for hire
  • ACS Cataloging Coordinator, AP – Mara Thacker, Chair
    Kick-off meeting scheduled for May 13, 2020. EC approved position. IHR approved JD Oct 7, 2020. Live on job board. Closed Nov 6, 2020. Phone screenings scheduled for Jan 4, Jan 5, Jan 6 & Jan 7, 2021.
  • Student Success Librarian – Undergraduate Library, FAC – Sara Williams, Chair
    Kick-off meeting scheduled for February 19, 2020. EC approved position. Live on job board with closing date of March 27, 2020. Closing date extended to May 1, 2020: Vacancy Suspended until further notice. Kick-off meeting held 10/29/2020. Live on job board. Search closed Dec 11, 2020. Search committee reviewing applicants
  • Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility – Business and Human Resources Services, AP – Cindy Ingold, Chair
    Kick-off meeting scheduled for March 5, 2020. Position description pending approval. Vacancy Suspended until further notice. Kick-off meeting held Oct 28, 2020. Awaiting
    for EC to approve JD. EC approved JD. Awaiting IHR approval to post.
  • Visiting Design and Materials Research Librarian – Ricker Library, FAC – Kirstin Dougan Johnson, Chair
    Kick-off meeting scheduled for April 14, 2020. Vacancy Suspended until further notice. Kick-off meeting held Nov 2, 2020. Awaiting for EC to approved JD. EC approved JD. Live on job board with a closing date of Jan 29, 2021.
  • Library Assessment Specialist, AP – Sara Benson, Chair
    Kick-off meeting scheduled for May 4, 2020. Vacancy Suspended until further notice. Kick-off meeting held Nov 4, 2020. Awaiting IHR JD approval.\
  • Visiting Project Conservator, AP – Tom Teper, Chair
    Kick-off meeting held Nov 5, 2020. JD approved by EC. Live on job board with closing date of Jan 22, 2021.

Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: Staff Events Calendar
To see the most up-to-date staff events calendar, please visit https://uiuc.libcal.com/calendar/staff.
Back to Top


Events and Training: Annual Library Recognition Event
January 13 at 8:30 AM

This event will be held virtually. There will be an optional virtual coffee in small groups
beginning at 8:30AM until the event formally starts at 9:00AM. Our guest speaker will be Dr. Sean Garrick, Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Following Dr. Garrick’s talk, there will be a recognition of service years, new employees, and a presentation of the Library Outstanding Academic Professional and Civil Service awards. We encourage everyone to attend!

Agenda:
8:30      Optional virtual coffee in small groups
9:00      Opening comments and welcome by Dean Wilkin
9:10      Guest speaker Dr. Sean Garrick, Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
9:30      Introduction of new Library employees
9:35      Acknowledge Outstanding AP & Civil Service Award Recipients
9:40      Acknowledge Service Milestones
9:50      Acknowledge retirees
10:00    Closing
10:30    Libraries open

Service Year Recognition Recipients:

5 Years
Susanne Belovari
Clara Chu
Adam Doskey
Kirsten Feist
Krista Gray
David Griffiths
Aneitre Johnson
Hueih-Lirng Laih
Jake Metz
Chloe Ottenhoff
JJ Pionke
Tiffany Rossi
Celestina Savonius-Wroth
Rosemary Trippe
Preston Wright

10 Years
Erik Chapman
Sarah Christensen
Joseph Lenkart

15 Years
Vicki Sparks

20 Years
Stephanie Baker
Lee Galaway
Tony Hynes
Mary Laskowski
Kim Lerch
Chad Lewis
Lisa Miller
Wendy Shelburne
Ellen Swain
Elonda Towns
David Ward
Cherie Weible

25 Years
David Pherigo

30 Years
Tim Cole
Lisa Romero

40 Years
Jeff Loftiss

More information about the event and the Zoom invite were shared via a LibNews email from Skye Arseneau on December 17.
Back to Top


Events and Training: NISO Webinar – Libraries and University Publishing Operations
January 13 at 10 AM

In a variety of (mostly US) universities, presses have been brought under the auspices of the library. What insights do libraries have to offer about the processes of manuscript acquisition or production workflow? What innovations have they introduced? Is scholarly communication being changed by this shift? Is it working? This Roundtable Discussion will bring together representatives from presses and libraries to spotlight successes and lessons learned.

Please email training@library.illinois.edu for login credentials or recordings
Back to Top


Events and Training: Kaltura: Making Instructional Videos
January 13 at 1 PM

You are invited to participate in a training to learn about how to create online learning
objects, in this case, videos.

This training event will be led by Alan Bilansky (Technology Services), he is an expert in
Kaltura and MediaSpace and teaches for the Savvy Researcher.

The agenda:

  • An introduction to the Kaltura software and how to get started in making videos
  • How to upload videos to MediaSpace
  • How to share and publish the videos
  • Best practices for creating online learning objects (in this case, videos)
  • We have scheduled for 90 minutes so there should be plenty of time for questions

Registration: https://forms.illinois.edu/sec/59858644
Back to Top


Events and Training: WebTools and Alchemer: Choosing Between Survey Tools
January 15 at 1:30 PM

Dawn Owens from CITL will teach the basics of using WebTools and Alchemer (this is the new name for SurveyGizmo) for survey research. The first hour will be dedicated to WebTools and Alchemer will be presented during the second hour and you may choose what works best for you.

Registration: https://forms.illinois.edu/sec/591691269
Back to Top

If you would like to submit content for the February issue of Library Office Notes, please submit it to Heather Murphy or Tom Teper by January 15, 2021.

December Library Office Notes

Posted on by


ANNOUNCEMENTS

FACILITIES NEWS

HR NEWS

EVENTS AND TRAINING


ANNOUNCEMENTS: University Librarian Note 
I’ve temporarily suspended my Dean’s note for LON in light of the communications surrounding our response to COVID-19. Please see library.illinois.edu/staff/covid-19/ for the full list of notes that have come out. We will continue to adjust and respond to circumstances as they change, and I will send out notes on changes in the way we deploy our services and budget implications for the University and Library as the implications become clearer. I am ever grateful for the ways that you have all adapted and contributed to our engagement with the campus during the stay-at-home period, and I look forward to our being back in our library buildings with all of you.
Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Library Building Project Update – 12/1/2020
Tom Teper, Associate Dean for Collections and Technical Services

Phase One Architect/Engineer Selection
Representatives from the Library continue working with representatives from F&S to advance planning associated with the first phase of the Library Building Project. As outlined in our conceptual planning process, that first phase is the initial construction of a facility to support special collections and archives within the existing Undergraduate Library footprint.

F&S posted the program statement on the State of Illinois’ procurement portal on Thursday, October 22, 2020. The posting remained active until 4:00 PM on Thursday, November 12, 2020. The posting resulted in twenty-five (25) bids from firms interested in competing to secure the contract. Representatives of the Library met to discuss the proposals. Our collective evaluation was brought together with the evaluations from F&S, the Provost’s Office, University Administration, and Capital Programs. The insights gained from the presentation materials helped identify seven firms who will present to the selection committee in December. The proposals and presentations will be used to identify an Architect/Engineer to help translate the conceptual design work into a more concrete reality.

Communications – Website
With the initial steps in discussing the project with the campus community well-advanced, communication and outreach efforts will increasingly pivot toward communicating the vision to potential donors. John Laskowski, Heather Murphy, Tom Teper, Kathrine Risor-Heise, and Wendy Wolter discussed options for developing a new, donor-focused website for the next project phase. Wireframes are in process with a goal of posting a final site by January 16, 2021.

Committees and Working Groups – Special Collections Research Center (SCRC)
The Special Collections Research Center (SCRC) Working Group continues to meet. The working group staffed out subgroups to focus on particular aspects of the project.

The framework under which these and other working groups directly associated with this project will work is posted here: https://www.library.illinois.edu/staff/committee/the-library-as-catalyst-project-a-framework-for-working-groups-and-input-solicitation/. 

Communications

  • Monthly Updates – Monthly updates about the Library Building Project are distributed via LON. The intent is to ensure open communication of specific information related to the Library Building Project.
  • Website – The Library Building Project has a website located at  https://www.library.illinois.edu/library-building-project/. Here you can read about the vision behind this program, seek answers to many of the Frequently Asked Questions that might arise, and read about upcoming events or project news. You can also submit additional questions to the project team at librarybuildingproject@library.illinois.edu.

Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Alma Squad Report
Michael Norman, Discovery Services Librarian and ILS Coordinator

We are continuing to refine and improve both Alma and Primo systems each month. Ex Libris pushes out upgrades to both systems the first weekend of each month. We do get access to the upgrades and changes in the UIUC Sandbox versions two weeks before the eventual roll out to our Production versions.  To see the new changes,

Ex Libris posts release notes in their Knowledge Center documenting the changes and fixes coming in the next release. You can see Alma Release Notes here: https://knowledge.exlibrisgroup.com/Alma/Release_Notes/2020 and for Primo VE: https://knowledge.exlibrisgroup.com/Primo/Release_Notes/002Primo_VE/2020

With the latest upgrade in November, we encountered problems occurring with the Request functionality working properly in Primo. We did encounter a similar occurrence of requesting problems back in July 2020 as well. The Alma Squad will work to test all upcoming changes prior to new upgrades occurring in our Alma and Primo production instances. 

Alma/Primo Open Office Hours each month

To help inform about upcoming changes to Alma and the Primo Catalog, the Alma Squad will have Open Office Hours the first Monday of the 4th week of each month. Watch for an email to LIBNEWS to announce the dates and Zoom session information for these Open Office Hours on Alma/Primo. 

Alma and Primo Analytics work sessions

We gained access to the New Alma and Primo Analytics suite on November 8th and are in the process of learning the new system. We will have weekly information sessions on working in Alma Analytics each week starting on December 2nd. The weekly schedule will be each Wednesday at 1 pm:

Topic: Alma Analytics Work Sessions

Join Zoom Meeting
https://illinois.zoom.us/j/89899828282?pwd=eStmMDZUa3VqTE5uZ0l5L3hkbDBjQT09 
Meeting ID: 898 9982 8282
Password: 531383

Recording of Session on Advanced Searching and List Making in Alma

The Alma Squad held information sessions on producing lists and sets of titles/items in Alma for collection development work. In Alma, we can do some advanced and very detailed searches and then export those searches out as Excel spreadsheets (see image below for sample search). We did highlight these advanced search functionalities and exporting results. The recording of one session is accessible here: https://uofi.box.com/s/jimd2bvv25m4acposhfo70cfpk5y1rby
Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Grants: Open Office Hours & SPA Holiday Closure and Proposal Submission Deadlines
First, I want to say thank you to everyone who has welcomed me as well as those I have already had the pleasure to work with as the new Grants Coordinator in the Library’s Business and Human Resources Service Center.

Second, I will be holding Open Office Hours for Grants and Contacts on December 7, 2020, from 11:00 am – 12:00 pm, I welcome you to join me via Zoom.

Join Zoom Meeting:
https://illinois.zoom.us/j/82543520136pwd=Z1ovTE1xMUJJTEhVUFN4by9QODZKdz09
Meeting ID: 825 4352 0136
Password: 828389

Finally, please note that SPA will be closed for the Christmas holiday break starting at 5 pm Wednesday, December 23rd through and including Friday, January 1st.  They will reopen for business on Monday, January 4th at 8:00 am. All proposals that require submission between the dates of December 17th and January 1st will need to be submitted to SPA by Wednesday, December 16th at 5:00 p.m. to allow sufficient time for review and submission.  If you are planning to submit a proposal anytime between now and January 15, 2021, please contact me by Monday, December 7, 2020, to discuss the details.

Thank you – Wendy (balthazr@illinois.edu)
Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Illinois Open Publishing Network (IOPN) New Releases 
IOPN has released its first print-on-demand option for a title! The textbook, Instruction in Libraries and Information Centers: An Introduction, was published online in August and is already adopted in fall courses.

IOPN is now the publisher of the open access journal Vivliofika: E-Journal of Eighteenth-Century Russian Studies. The back issues are now available, with the first issue published through IOPN to be released shortly.
Back to Top

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Did You Know? A Monthly Factoid from Library Assessment
From the first day of class to the start of fall break, the Ask a Librarian (LibChat) virtual reference service has answered 3,791 questions from students, faculty, and the broader user community. In those conversations over LibChat, there were feelings of frustration, encouragement, gratitude, and more – and they were sometimes expressed with the use of emojis. Using emojis during a live chat can add a human touch to online conversations, help patrons feel more at ease, and improve the overall user experience. Take the September chats as an example – 615 emojis were found in the chat transcripts and 64% of the emojis were sent by the Library staff. 🙂

Image by Library Assessment Graduate Assistant Lindsay Taylor.
Back to Top

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Library Tip of the Month
The Library sends a monthly email to new faculty at Illinois during the fall and spring semesters. These emails introduce many of our services and resources to this important audience.

You can view the November LTOTM at https://emails.illinois.edu/newsletter/1507692794.html.

If you have ideas for future emails, please feel free to share them with Heather Murphy.
Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Collection Development Committee Notes
The most recent meetings minutes of the CDC are posted at:
https://www.library.illinois.edu/staff/committee/collection-development-committee/
Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Content Access Policy & Technology Meeting Minutes
The meetings minutes of CAPT (including workgroup reports) are posted at:
https://www.library.illinois.edu/staff/committee/content-access-policy-technology-capt/
Back to Top


ANNOUNCEMENTS: Recognizing Excellence
Please share your award, recognition, or grant! To initiate a request for publicity, employees (or their supervisors) should submit this Awards/Recognitions/Grants Publicity Request Form.
Back to Top


FACILITIES NEWS: Update
For a complete list of projects in planning and construction, please see https://wordpress.library.illinois.edu/staff/facilities/.
Back to Top


HR NEWS: Filled Positions

  • Genevieve Schmitt – SCaRS Software Developer – Started 11/16/2020
  • Tabby Garbutt – Digital Imaging Specialist I – Preservation – Starts 12/1/2020

Back to Top


HR NEWS: Vacancies

  • Student Success Librarian – Undergraduate Library – Open Ranked Faculty – Closes 12/11/2020

Back to Top


HR NEWS: Departures

  • Tim Cole – Mathematics Library – Retires 12/15/2020

Back to Top


HR NEWS: Searches Completed

Undergraduate Teaching and Learning Library – Undergraduate Library – Sara Holder, Chair 
Kick-off meeting scheduled for February 25, 2020.  EC approved position. Live on job board with a closing date of April 10, 2020. The closing date extended to May 15, 2020. Phone screenings held June 1, June 2, June 3, June 4 & June 8. Virtual interviews scheduled July 17, July 20, July 22 & July 23. Offer extended to Alex Deeke. Started on November 16, 2020.

Back to Top


HR NEWS:  Searches in Progress or Pre-announcement

Head, Scholarly Commons – Scholarly Commons, FAC – Kyle Rimkus, Chair 
Kick-off meeting scheduled for March 24, 2020.  Interim Head position offered to Sara Benson: Phone screenings held 9/9 & 9/10. Virtual interviews held Sept 30, Oct 1, Oct 2 & Oct 6. Offer Pending.

Asst. Dean of Business and Human Resources, AP – Mary Laskowski, Chair
Kick-off meeting scheduled for May 19, 2020. On Hold. Live on job board with a closing date of August 28, 2020. Phone screenings held Oct 1, Oct 5, Oct 9 & Oct 15. Virtual interviews scheduled Nov 18, Nov 24, Dec 3, Dec 8, and Dec 9.

ACS Cataloguing Coordinator, AP – Mara Thacker, Chair
Kick-off meeting scheduled for May 13, 2020.  EC approved position. IHR approved JD Oct 7, 2020. Live on job board. Closed Nov 6, 2020. 

ACS Electronic Resources, FAC – Tom Teper, Chair 
Kick-off meeting scheduled for May 20, 2020.  EC approved position. IHR approved JD on July 1, 2020. Live on job board with a closing date of August 21, 2020. Phone screenings held Sept 30, Oct 5, Oct 6 & Oct 7. Virtual interviews scheduled for Nov 11, 16, and 17. Fourth candidate withdrew.

Student Success Librarian – Undergraduate Library, FAC – Sara Williams, Chair 
Kick-off meeting scheduled for February 19, 2020.  EC approved position. Live on job board with a closing date of March 27, 2020. Closing date extended to May 1, 2020: Vacancy Suspended until further notice. Kick-off meeting held 10/29/2020. Live on job board with a closing date of Dec 11, 2020

Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility – Business and Human Resources Services, AP – Cindy Ingold, Chair 
Kick-off meeting scheduled for March 5, 2020.  Position description pending approval. Vacancy Suspended until further notice. Kick-off meeting held Oct 28, 2020

Visiting Design and Materials Research Librarian – Ricker Library, FAC – Kirstin Dougan Johnson, Chair 
Kick-off meeting scheduled for April 14, 2020.  Vacancy Suspended until further notice. Kick-off meeting held Nov 2, 2020

Library Assessment Specialist, AP – Sara Benson, Chair
Kick-off meeting scheduled for May 4, 2020.  Vacancy Suspended until further notice. Kick-off meeting held Nov 4, 2020

Visiting Conservator – Paula Carns, Chair 
Kick-off meeting held Nov 5, 2020. 

Back to Top


HR NEWS: In Memoriam

Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: Staff Events Calendar
To see the most up-to-date staff events calendar, please visit https://uiuc.libcal.com/calendar/staff.
Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: Hub Training
September 8 – December 4

On behalf of the Reference Management Team, I would like to invite you to attend Fall 2020 Hub Training. The sessions are included in the Staff Calendar and on the Hub Wiki Training Schedule page (login with your NetID and password).

Sessions will be held on Tuesdays from 2-3 p.m. and Fridays from 3-4 p.m. via Zoom. You can attend either the Tuesday or the Friday session. If you are new to working at one of the Hubs – please attend one session for each of the topics. Others who will be working at a Hub during the 2020-21 academic year – please attend as many sessions as you can. Even if you have learned this material before, your knowledge and experience are essential to making the most of this opportunity to learn from each other. If you are not working at one of the Hubs but are interested in the training topics being presented, you are more than welcome to attend.

Zoom details were emailed via LibNews on August 2nd from Sara Holder. Please contact Sara if you have any questions.
Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: Assistant Dean for Business and Human Resources Candidate Presentations
November 18 – December 9

The search committee for the Assistant Dean for Business and Human Resources (Skye Arseneau, Susan Edwards, Mary Laskowski, Kathryn Risor-Heise, Suzanne Rinehart) is hosting five candidates for interviews. We have asked each of the candidates to present on the following topic:

Describe how you will use your experience and expertise to ensure trust and engagement as the Library navigates challenges and opportunities in human resource development and budget management issues facing academic libraries in the next few years.

We hope this topic will generate a good discussion, and you are all invited to attend. The names, dates, and times for each presentation are below, the presentation invites are attached to this message, and the candidate information is attached as well.

  • Nichole Hemming. November 24, 2020. 11:00 – 12:00
  • Aaron Darnall. December 3, 2020. 11:00 – 12:00
  • Sonya Chambers. December 8, 2020. 11:00 – 12:00
  • Susan Breakenridge. December 9, 2020. 11:00 – 12:00

Zoom invites for these presentations were sent via a LibNews email from Mary Laskowski on November 10.
Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: Live RBML Event: Hindsight 19/20s!
Friday, December 4, 11:00 am – 12:30 pm

Join curator Caroline Szylowicz for a live virtual presentation on some literary happenings during the 1920s. Drawing on collections from the Rare Book & Manuscript Library, we’ll explore ways in which publishers and writers whose writings crossed established cultural boundaries, fostered creative collaborations across borders to foil censors and ensure that their works would reach their readers.

This event is part of a joint initiative of the University of Illinois Library’s Special Collections units celebrating “The Roaring Twenties: Illinois and the World”.

This event is free and public, but PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED; please register here:
https://illinois.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_pRYe5BfPR7qhCWdc8efiCg
Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: NISO Webinar: Change Management Webinar Series – Rethinking Spaces
December 9th at 10 am

Some organizations and institutions in the information community have now started to return to a form of face-to-face operations, requiring even more planning and adaptation on their part in order to safely bring their workforce back to an office setting. How can available spaces be re-allocated in order to accommodate social distancing? Where are plexiglass shields needed? How many workers could or should continue to work remotely and how many will only be in the office part-time? This discussion will look beyond narrow issues such as managing shelving or foot traffic, to focus on how we need to rethink the functional space and shared environments of 21st-century knowledge workers.

Please email training@library.illinois.edu for login credentials or recordings.
Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: Connecting and Collaborating with Patron Communities
Friday, December 11th, from 2-3 pm

There are many different communities of patrons whose teaching, learning, and research needs overlap with our professional expertise but it can be challenging to make meaningful connections with these groups and to build strong and lasting working relationships. Peg Burnette, Chris Bailey, Carissa Phillips, and Antonio Sotomayor will share examples of how they have developed and grown these relationships. Time for questions and group discussion will follow, including opportunities for those attending to share their own experiences.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://illinois.zoom.us/j/87590724797?pwd=Mk5MaUNkaVl5YXZwS21KbFJvSzVQQT09
Meeting ID: 875 9072 4797
Password: 376953
Back to Top


EVENTS AND TRAINING: NISO Webinar: Change Management Webinar Series – Moving into the Future
December 16 at 10 am

The impact felt by institutions and organizations in this pandemic — past, present, and future — is impossible to evaluate. In less than a year, the information community has already seen both their budgets and their workforce cut. How do we move forward? How do we plan ahead for the short and longer time frames? All information organizations must re-evaluate their mission, their offerings, and their strategies in order to continue to thrive. In this final webinar of the series, roundtable participants will look to the future. They will discuss how they and their organizations are navigating the changes and the additional adaptations that may be required or made possible as we start to think about a post-COVID world. We’re living through a pandemic, one that has caused an acceleration in community shifts that were already unfolding. How do NISO members and the broader information community navigate those changes and make the most of this opportunity to shape a better future?

Please email training@library.illinois.edu for login credentials or recordings.
Back to Top

If you would like to submit content for the January issue of Library Office Notes, please submit it to Heather Murphy or Tom Teper by December 18, 2020.