ANNOUNCEMENTS: Library Building Project – 10/1/2026

The project officially crossed 64% complete earlier this week, with the Archives and Special Collections Building taking shape in a very tangible manner. Nearly all of the walls in the facility have been installed, door frames are being installed on offices, and the topping slab is being poured around the rail system in the lower-level vaults, paving the way (literally) for shelving to be installed in the coming months.

Work in progress includes: Installation of rebar at north plaza trench drain; Pouring and finishing concrete topping in north vault; Plumbing, electrical, and mechanical rough-ins ongoing on all levels; Mechanical installation in shafts ongoing; Rail installation nearly complete at south vault (small west area in progress); Taping, finishing, painting of GWB in various areas; Installing aluminum storefronts and drywall reveals at north offices on upper level; Plumbing rough-in proceeding at lower level restrooms. North nearly complete, south ongoing; Preparing to install electrical outlets at courtyard sill (east side) on upper level; Insulation mockups in place for round duct on upper level.

The furniture package is scheduled to be released on September 28^th, meaning bidding on furnishings will be rolling in over the coming months.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Cheers for Peers

Library Human Resources is happy to announce this month’s Cheers for Peers submissions. The following Library employees have been cheered by their peers:

• Grace Flavin
• John Laskowski
• Eva Gellman

To view the detailed Cheers for Peers submissions, please view the Growing People blog.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Recognizing Excellence

Please share your award, recognition, or grant! To initiate a request for publicity, employees (or their supervisors) should submit the Recognizing Excellence Submission Form.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Meeting Minutes (SAT, CDC, CAPT)

Please see the following URLs for the most recent meeting minutes of these groups:

• Senior Administration Team (SAT): library.illinois.edu/committees/committees/senior-administration-team
• Collection Development Committee (CDC): library.illinois.edu/staff/committee/collection-development-committee/
• Content Access Policy & Technology (CAPT) (including workgroup reports): library.illinois.edu/staff/committee/content-access-policy-technology-capt/

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FACILITIES NEWS: Facilities Update

Tim Newman, Assistant Dean of Libraries for Facilities

For a complete list of projects in planning and construction, please visit wordpress.library.illinois.edu/staff/facilities.

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BUSINESS NEWS: Privately Owned Vehicle (POV) for University Official Business

Kim Johnson, Associate Director of Fiscal Operations

University employees should be aware that their personal liability insurance will be responsible for any accidents or damage, and it is likely the state’s motor vehicle liability plan will not be available when a POV is used.

University of Illinois System does not prohibit non-employee passengers while utilizing a POV for official business.

Prior to choosing a privately owned vehicle for university business travel, consider the following. These factors are pursuant to the State of Illinois Self-Insured Motor Vehicle Liability Plan. 

• In the event an employee is involved in an accident while driving their privately owned vehicle (POV) on university business, the traveler’s personal auto-liability coverage will be the primary policy to cover any damage to 3rd parties. The State of Illinois Self-Insured Motor Vehicle Liability Plan will cover excess damage to 3rd parties that exceed the traveler’s coverage amount, up to $2 million. The State of Illinois plan excludes non-employee passengers. 
• Any damage to POVs incurred while on university business will always be the responsibility of the employee and must be processed through the employee’s personal insurance coverage first. 
• If an employee is injured in an accident while on official travel, they may be eligible for coverage through the State of Illinois Workers’ Compensation program.

Recommended Alternatives 

When a U of I System vehicle is chosen for official travel, and an accident occurs, the State of Illinois Self-Insured Motor Vehicle Liability Plan is primary, and the university employee’s personal auto insurance is secondary. 

When the System’s car rental agreement with Enterprise Holdings, Inc. is chosen for business use, and an accident occurs, damage waiver and liability are included in the discounted rates, and the rental insurance is primary. The State of Illinois Self-Insured Motor Vehicle Liability Plan is secondary. If the State Plan denies coverage for any reason, the employee’s personal auto insurance would apply.

Additional information is located under Business & Finance Policies & Procedures Section 15: How Personal Insurance Becomes Involved in a Claim and Motor Vehicle Accidents.

Contact

If you have questions, please submit a Service Request Form to University Payables.

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HR NEWS: Filled Positions

• Charlene Mandimutsira – Visiting Open Educational Resources Librarian – SCP – started September 16, 2026
• Thomas Gerrish – Bioengineering and Engineering Medical Innovation Librarian – Grainger Library – started September 21, 2026

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HR NEWS: Departures

• Olga Makarova – Visiting Research Specialist – Slavic Reference Service – International and Area Studies Library

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HR NEWS: Civil Service Vacancies

• Senior Library Specialist – Funk ACES Library – Interviewing
• Accountant I – BHRSC – Interviewing

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HR NEWS:  Academic Professional and Faculty Open Postings

• Engineering Instruction and Outreach Librarian – Grainger Library – Finalizing Search

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HR NEWS: In Memoriam

• JJ Pionke

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Staff Events Calendar

To see the most up-to-date staff events calendar, please visit libcal.library.illinois.edu/calendar/staff.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Library Friends Exhibit: Celebrating Pride: 50+ Years of LGBTQ+ History at Illinois

September 28–October 30
More information

Celebrate LGBTQ+ History Month by exploring 50+ years of LGBTQ+ student history at the University of Illinois! This exhibit brings together photographs, posters, newspaper clippings, archival records, and artifacts that tell the story of LGBTQ+ community, culture, and activism at Illinois.

Discover the history of the Gay Illini, formed in 1975 and later recognized as an official Registered Student Organization, and learn about the continued legacy of LGBTQ+ communities at Illinois, including the launch of the University of Illinois Pride Alumni Network in 2025.

During the week of Champaign-Urbana Pride Fest 2026, on October 16 at noon, join the University of Illinois Library and the University of Illinois Pride Alumni Network for a special Library Friends Webinar reflecting on 50 years of LGBTQ+ community, culture, and activism on campus and in the local community, find more information here.

This webinar will feature Larry Cohen and Curtis McKay of the Illinois Pride Alumni Network; Siobhan B. Somerville, Associate Professor of English and Gender & Women’s Studies; and Ellen D. Swain, Professor and Archivist for Student Life and Culture, University Library.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Cataloging Conversations: Theoretical Framework of Official RDA

October 2 at 12:00–1:00 p.m.
More information

This session introduces the conceptual foundations of Official RDA, focusing on its entity relationship model (IFLA LRM) and core principles. We will examine how these theoretical shifts differ from Original RDA, why the vocabulary and structure have evolved, and what these changes mean for modern cataloging workflows and resource discovery.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: University Archives Trivia: Homecoming Edition

October 2 at 2:00–3:00 p.m.
More information

Join us for our Homecoming edition of Ultimate Archives Trivia and discover how much you know about the history, traditions, people, and innovations that make the University of Illinois unique.

What year was the University of Illinois founded? Who created the Alma Mater statue? Who was the 5th president of the University?

Questions will focus on the history of the University of Illinois, including academics, athletics, inventions, events, faculty, and alumni. Individual competition only (no team registration). Space is limited. Registration is required. Please RSVP by 12 p.m. on Wednesday, September 30, 2026.  

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Introduction to LibGuides Training (Hybrid)

October 5 at 1:00–2:00 p.m.
More information

This hands-on training session is intended for anyone who has, or will have, responsibility for creating and maintaining LibGuides in their library unit, including those new to LibGuides and those looking to refresh LibGuides skills. Access to your unit’s LibApps account is required for this session, and is open to all library staff and GAs. 

In this session, participants will…

• …learn what LibGuides are and best practices
• …learn how to access, create, edit, and maintain accessible unit LibGuides
• … learn where and how to receive LibGuides help and support

Questions about this session, and other LibGuides queries, may be directed to libguides@library.illinois.edu. *Hybrid: Join us on Zoom or in room 323c. 

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Assessing, Maintaining, & Deleting Your LibGuides (Hybrid)

October 6 at 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
More information

This workshop session is intended for people with existing LibGuide experience and is a follow-up to the Introduction to LibGuides Training session.

During this workshop you will learn:

• The current state of LibGuides at the University Library
• How to create a review cycle
• How to implement a workflow for assessing, maintaining, and deleting LibGuides

Questions about this session, and other LibGuides queries, may be directed to: libguides@library.illinois.edu. *Hybrid: Join us on Zoom or in room 323c.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: American Library Association’s 150th Birthday Open House

October 6 at 12:00–3:00 p.m.

October 6th is the American Library Association’s 150th birthday! The ALA Archives will be celebrating with an open house over at the Archives Research Center from 12-3 p.m. on Tuesday, October 6th.

We’ll have birthday treats for the open house, and if you missed our exhibit at the ALA Annual Conference in June, we have it installed in our lobby. We’ll also have additional materials on display, including a scrapbook of letters planning the first ALA conference in 1876, a contract with David Bowie’s signature, and other items we had on display for ALA’s big 150th anniversary party in the summer.

Never been to the Archives Research Center? Here is a link with information about our location, including parking and bus stops: library.illinois.edu/ala/plan-a-visit/. If you want to enjoy a fall walk, it is about a 25-minute walk to our building from the Main Library.

View the timeline on ALA’s anniversary site: ala150.org. It highlights over 50 events and people in ALA history and heavily utilizes materials from the archives.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: PTAC Dossier Deep Dive

• Research Statement: October 6 at 2:00–3:00 p.m. | Facilitators: Kirstin Johnson and Dan Tracy
• Service Statement: October 13 at 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. | Facilitators: MJ Han and Lisa Romero

Promotion and Tenure Advisory Committee (PTAC) is hosting “Dossier Deep Dive” sessions. The sessions are open to anyone at any stage of the promotion and tenure process as well as unit heads, mentors, etc. Additional members of PTAC will be on sight to answer questions and there will be plenty of time for group discussion and questions. Feel free to attend any or all of the sessions and bring your dossiers. All sessions will be in Room 106 Main Library and via Zoom

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: LibGuides & Title II: Making Your LibGuides Accessible (Hybrid)

October 7 at 1:00–2:00 p.m.
More information

Learn how to make your LibGuides compliant with Title II requirements.

Questions about this session, and other LibGuides queries, may be directed to: libguides@library.illinois.edu. *Hybrid: Join us on Zoom or in room 323c

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: America’s Banjo Legacy with Dom Flemons

October 7 at 5:00–6:30 p.m.
More information

Dom Flemons, one of the country’s leading banjo scholars and performing artists, will provide a spell-binding performance discussion about America’s rich black banjo legacies to help kick off this year’s CU Folk and Roots Festival. He is a musician based in the Chicago area and famously known as “The American Songster®” because his repertoire covers over one hundred years of American roots music – everything from country, folk, and bluegrass to Americana and the blues.

This program is sponsored by the University of Illinois Library’s Sousa Archives and Center for American Music and the Music and Performing Arts Library. MPAL is located in the Music Building (1114 W Nevada St., Urbana). See our website for accessibility information and how to get to MPAL.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: The Librarians: Conversation and Film Screening with Becky Calzada

• Brown Bag: October 9 at 12:30–1:30 p.m.
• Film Screening: October 9 at 5:00–8:15 p.m.

Join us for a hybrid Brown Bag at the iSchool with special guest, Becky Calzada, a librarian featured in the film, The Librarians.

Becky Calzada is a District Library Coordinator in Leander, Texas and a co-founding member of Texas #FReadom Fighters, a grass-roots led group of librarians launched back in October 2021. She was the 24/25 American Association of School Librarians President, has served on the ALA Intellectual Freedom Committee, is a member of ALA Policy Corp Book Ban Cadre and is on the Legislative Advocacy Committee for the Texas Library Association. She is the recipient of several intellectual freedom awards and is the co-author of Prepared Libraries, Empowered Teams: A Workbook for Navigating Intellectual Freedom Challenges Together published in June 2024. She is also featured in The Librarians documentary, an award-winning film by Oscar-nominated Director/Producer Kim A Snyder which spotlights brave school librarians who are on the front lines in the fight against censorship. 

Join us for a screening of The Librarians. Special guest, Becky Calzada, a librarian featured in the film, will be present after the screening for a fireside chat with Emily Knox, interim Dean of the School of Information Sciences (iSchool), followed by a live audience Q&A. Space is limited. RSVP by October 7 at noon. 1 RSVP per person. 

More information on the film: The Librarians Film | Official Site

In Collaboration with: Champaign Public Library | Illinois Heartland Library System | Parkland College Library | School of Information Sciences | Urbana Free Library  

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Explore Your University Library at IlliniFest!

October 12 at 12:00–4:00 p.m.
More information

The Library has several locations open to welcome prospective students. Stop by to learn more about the libraries at Illinois. Find locations and hours at library.illinois.edu/library-hours. Join us at the Main Library for tours—plus, grab some free swag! The Main Library building will be open from 8:30am to 12:00am with self-guided tours and a Welcome table on the first-floor Library Gallery between 12:00pm and 4:00pm.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Women in Science Lecture: Kelli Trei

October 13 at 12:00–1:00 p.m.
More information

Kelli Trei (B.S. Microbiology, 1999, and MLIS, 2012), Associate Professor and Biosciences Librarian, University of Illinois Library, will discuss her background in microbiology and work as liaison to the Schools of Life Sciences: Molecular & Cellular Biology (MCB) and Integrative Biology, (IB) as well as to the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Increasing Productivity – Virtual Professional Development Series

October 14 at 1:30–3:00 p.m.
More information

We will draw upon productivity systems like Getting Things Done and Pomodoro method to explore tools and strategies to manage your time effectively.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Wellness Committee: Puzzles & Sweet Treats

October 15 at 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
More information

Bring your lunch and work on a jigsaw puzzle with colleagues. We’ll provide dessert! Stop by for a little or stay for a while.

Bonus: Bring a puzzle to swap with a colleague!

Working remotely? Join the online puzzle room at: go.library.illinois.edu/Puzzle

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Purchasing App Training

• October 15 at 2:30–3:30 p.m.
• October 28 at 2:30–3:30 p.m. (Special focus on the ILA conference)

Please join us to learn how to better use the purchasing app.  A representative from the Business Office will walk you through the process for using the purchasing app.

If you have questions, please reach out to Melanie Kuehn at mkuehn@illinois.edu.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Women of Valor Exhibit Opening

October 15 at 3:00–4:50 p.m.
More information

Please join us for the opening of the Illinois History and Lincoln Collection’s exhibit, Women of Valor: Creating Sisterhoods in Central Illinois.

Jewish women in Central Illinois have been organizing for centuries. After uniting under the organizing arm of the National Federation of Temple Sisterhoods in 1920s, these women ushered in a century of community building and activism. The exhibit showcases the ways these women shaped their communities through the stories from three different Central Illinois cities. Join us to view the exhibit and highlights from the collections. 

Refreshments and exhibit-themed coloring pages will be provided. 

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Cataloging Conversations: Getting Started with Official RDA

October 16 at 12:00–1:00 p.m.
More information

This session will offer an overview of the shift from Original RDA to Official RDA. We will discuss navigation challenges in the Toolkit, highlight practical workarounds, and demonstrate shortcuts to make the Toolkit more manageable in everyday practice.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: The Long History of Amanuenses in Europe, from Antiquity to the Digital Age

October 27 at 3:00–5:00 p.m.
More information

The techniques for making texts have changed across multiple media and historical contexts since antiquity, but a regular feature of the work of authors and scholars through all those changes is the reliance on helpers or amanuenses. Dr. Ann Blair (Harvard) will discuss the factors that have made them both invisible and occasionally visible, the kind of work they did, and offer some examples of their trajectories in a few different periods. We can ponder together how various kinds of assistance have changed in the digital age. The author’s recent book will be available for purchase and signing. Dr. Blair’s visit is co-sponsored by the iSchool.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Creating Focus – Virtual Professional Development Series

October 29 at 10:00–11:30 a.m.
More information

We will explore recent research findings by Dr. Gloria Mark about how an increasingly virtual world can affect attention span, as well as tools and techniques for restoring balance and helping us focus and manage our time better.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Library Assessment Office Hours – LibInsight: Creating Dashboards

October 30 at 1:30–2:00 p.m.
More information

Library Assessment will be holding monthly topical office hours on different topics. This month is LibInsight: Creating Dashboards.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Thank You!

A moment to recognize the people behind the Library’s work. Thank you to all of our employees for the talent, commitment, and collaboration you bring every day.

This photo was taken at the 2025 Summer Social in front of the Main Library’s east entrance. It was included in the time capsule installed in the building’s cornerstone this summer. See additional time capsule installation photos here.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Library Building Project Update

Tom Teper, Associate Dean and Associate University Librarian for Collections and Technical Services

Just a brief update this month. The project continues apace with work nearing the 60% completion point. There is, honestly, little to report as we continue to hit milestones that bring us closer to project completion.

The big news is that the University recently executed a contract with Hallett Movers to begin planning the move of collections starting in late summer/fall 2027. With that contract in place, meetings are starting with the firm to give them an understanding of the environment, us an intimate understanding of their workflow and procedures, and everyone an opportunity to begin building the working relationship necessary to ensure we are able to effectively relocate the collections once construction is completed.

There are no new photos this month, but we will have a large batch for October 1^st.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Illinois Data Bank Celebrates 10 Years

The Illinois Data Bank, a public access repository for publishing research data from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, is celebrating its 10-year anniversary. 

Managed by the Research Data Service at the University Library, the Illinois Data Bank leverages the Library’s digital preservation system and operates within a robust policy framework that articulates the University’s commitment to providing persistent and reliable access to research data. The Illinois Data Bank has collected more than 1,200 datasets since 2016. Read more…

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Popular Culture Collections

Explore the Library’s growing Popular Culture collections! From cookbooks, comics, and Manga to movies, bestselling fiction and non-fiction, tabletop games, television series, video games, game consoles, and zines, there’s something for every interest. Browse materials from libraries and locations across campus and discover your next favorite read, watch, play, or creative inspiration.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Cheers for Peers

Library Human Resources is happy to announce this month’s Cheers for Peers submissions. The following Library employees have been cheered by their peers:

• Adrienne Esserine

To view the detailed Cheers for Peers submissions, please view the Growing People blog.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Recognizing Excellence

Please share your award, recognition, or grant! To initiate a request for publicity, employees (or their supervisors) should submit the Recognizing Excellence Submission Form.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Meeting Minutes (SAT, CDC, CAPT)

Please see the following URLs for the most recent meeting minutes of these groups:

• Senior Administration Team (SAT): library.illinois.edu/committees/committees/senior-administration-team
• Collection Development Committee (CDC): library.illinois.edu/staff/committee/collection-development-committee/
• Content Access Policy & Technology (CAPT) (including workgroup reports): library.illinois.edu/staff/committee/content-access-policy-technology-capt/

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FACILITIES NEWS: Facilities Update

Tim Newman, Assistant Dean of Libraries for Facilities

For a complete list of projects in planning and construction, please visit wordpress.library.illinois.edu/staff/facilities.

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BUSINESS NEWS: Library Purchasing Process

Kim Johnson, Associate Director of Fiscal Operations

The University Library has 3 primary areas that make the bulk of the Library’s non-collection purchases: the Library Business Office, the Library Stores/Facilities, and Library IT.

Non-technology related purchases (items and services)* that have typically gone through the Library Business Office or the Library Stores/Facilities should be entered into the Purchasing App (my.library.illinois.edu/purchasing/), which is part of the My.Library portal. After using the Illinois Login, “Purchasing” is located under the Finance toolbar.  Once in the system, the request will be directed to the correct area (Business Office or Library Stores/Facilities) to process the order.

The Purchasing application provides a better process for sending requests through the approval queues, as well as tracking requests.  Requesters can see where their transaction is in the process.  Once the transaction/order has been processed, the application will be updated with the transaction number, and an email will be sent to the requester.

*Non-technology items include but are not limited to: office supplies, including paper, toner, ink; specialty department supplies; and office equipment. Services include but are not limited to: business cards; printing; transcription; contracts/service contracts; catering; travel/lodging for events; room rentals; sponsorships; writing services; advertising/marketing; travel awards; software usage licenses (paid on funds other than Library IT); conference registration; graphic design; employee reimbursements; bus rentals; and proofreading.

All technology-related purchases (equipment and software)** should go through Library IT.  Purchase inquiries should be directed to Library IT via the Library IT Help Desk, help@library.illinois.edu, TDX Ticket, or 217-244-4688.

**All information technology equipment (computers, laptops, scanners, printers, bar code readers, cameras, etc.) and software paid for with Library IT funds (software licenses, software as a service subscription, etc.)

The exceptions to the technology purchases are:

• Standard meeting/phone devices for individual users on the predefined list may be ordered by Library Stores/Facilities through the Purchasing App.
• Staff printer supplies (paper, toner, ink, etc.) may be ordered by Library Stores/facilities through the Purchasing App using your Unit’s C-FOP.
  • For Public Printers, please submit a ticket to Library IT to request toner.
• Media Commons and IDEA Lab related purchases should be ordered by Business Office through the Purchasing App.
• Personal purchases can be made on the WebStore by individuals.

Any Library Collection item will continue to be purchased through Acquisitions/Collections. See the Acquisitions page for additional information: library.illinois.edu/staff/acquisitions/

Directions on how to submit a request in the Purchasing App can be found on the Library Business Office website: library.illinois.edu/staff/bhrsc-business-services/.  If you have questions on how to use the Purchasing App, please contact the Business Office (bhrsc@library.illinois.edu).

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HR NEWS: Filled Positions

• Sara Ostermeier – Visiting Music & Performing Arts Special Collections Librarian – MPAL – started August 16, 2026
• Amahlia Su – Library Specialist, Overnights – GELIC – starting August 25, 2026

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HR NEWS: Departures

• Susanne Belovari – FAC – University Archives – Retiring, last day September 25, 2026
• Christina Bonse – Office Support Associate – Main Library Amin – Resigned, Last day August 28, 2026
• Hannah Burnett – Library Specialist – Funk ACES Library – Resigned, last day August 14, 2026
• Victor Riveros Silvero – Sr Web App Developer – Library IT – Resigned, last day August 14, 2026 

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HR NEWS: Civil Service Vacancies

• Senior Library Specialist – Funk ACES Library – Interviewing
• Accountant I – BHRSC – Interviewing

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HR NEWS:  Academic Professional and Faculty Open Postings

• Engineering Instruction and Outreach Librarian – Grainger Library – Finalizing Search

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HR NEWS: In Memoriam

• D’Anne Winston

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Staff Events Calendar

To see the most up-to-date staff events calendar, please visit libcal.library.illinois.edu/calendar/staff.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Word for Intermediates – Microsoft 365

September 1 at 1:00–2:00 p.m.
Registration/More Information

CARLI PDA Event. This session is part of the Microsoft 365 for SEFLIN Libraries Series, an 8-week professional development program for SEFLIN librarians, educators, and library staff. Designed to enhance productivity and service delivery, each 60-minute session combines direct instruction with hands-on practice. Hosted by SEFLIN. Presenter: Jonathan Gordon

Week 8: Word for Intermediates

• Focus: Building complex documents and streamlining repetitive tasks.
• Styles and Themes: Using styles and generating a Table of Contents.
• Structural Layout: Using Section Breaks.
• Mail Merge: Creating personalized outreach communications.
• Collaboration: Track Changes and Comments.
• Practice (15 mins): Apply heading styles and insert an automatic Table of Contents.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Preparing for April: Developing Workflows & Quick Wins with Web Accessibility

September 2 at 1:00–2:00 p.m.
Registration/More Information

The April 2027 digital accessibility deadline is approaching quickly. If you are feeling overwhelmed by compliance requirements, you aren’t alone. The secret to meeting accessibility standards without burning out your staff is shifting from a mindset of panic to one of sustainable progress. Web accessibility isn’t a one-and-done project; it is an ongoing process built on small, manageable habits.

Designed specifically for public libraries and smaller academic institutions operating with limited staff and resources, this session breaks down daunting standards into clear, bite-sized action plans. You will learn how to audit your current digital footprint, establish realistic workflows, and secure early “quick wins” that make an immediate impact for your patrons.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the core principles of accessibility in The POUR Framework (Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, Robust) in plain, practical terms:
• Shift your organizational mindset to focus on incremental improvements that prevent compliance panic.
• Discover strategies to build team-wide buy-in and share the responsibility across departments.
• Learn how to audit your website’s content and build workflows that keep future content accessible.
• Get introduced to free and low-cost tools to simplify testing and streamline your everyday tasks.

Presenter: Craig Hayward. Hosted by NC LIVE. CARLI PDA Event

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Devi S. Laskar presents Midnight at the War

September 9 at 4:00–5:30 p.m.
Registration/More Information

Join us for a lively and timely talk with award-winning author and Illinois’ alumna Devi Laskar on her new novel Midnight, At the War. Set in the immediate aftermath of 9/11, an event which had a profound impact on U.S. engagement and policy in the Middle East and South Asia, Laskar’s novel is informed by her own experiences as a journalist in the 1990s and early aughts. Her newest novel follows the story of Rita Das, a foreign correspondent working in the Middle East who must grapple not only with the cultural and political changes sweeping through the United States at that time, but also with her own complicated relationships with family and grief. 

This talk will be featured in person and on Zoom. There will be a reception and book signing following the talk. For those who can’t attend in person, you can join us on Zoom for a live stream of the lecture portion of the event. This event is free and open to the public.

We welcome walk-ins and encourage registrations so we can plan accordingly: RSVP here to attend in person or join on Zoom. This program was made possible thanks to the support of the Center for South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies and the Asian American Cultural Center.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Coffee for 5 with Claire

• September 10 at 9:00–10:00 a.m.
• September 23 at 4:00–5:00 p.m.

Let’s have a chat! This gathering is designed for casual, small-group conversations. These will be held virtually on Zoom. 

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Training that Sticks – Improving Onboarding for Staff Online

September 10 at 12:00–1:00 p.m.
Registration/More Information

This program will examine the successes and failures of training new employees. Attendees will learn barriers to training, common mistakes to avoid, effective training strategies to implement, appropriate training timelines, and how to create a more effective training program for their library staff.

Presenter: Madeline Sims. Hosted by FLVC. CARLI PDA Event.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Storytelling with Impact: Using Data and Community Voices to Strengthen Your Library

September 10 at 1:00–2:00 p.m.
Registration/More Information

Libraries collect meaningful data every day, but data alone rarely inspires action. This webinar explores how to combine quantitative evidence with authentic community stories to communicate your library’s impact, advocate for resources, build partnerships, and engage stakeholders. Drawing from real-world examples from libraries and community initiatives across North Carolina, participants will learn a practical framework for identifying compelling stories, incorporating publicly available and local data, and tailoring messages to different audiences – from funders and policymakers to community members and staff. Whether you’re writing a grant, presenting to a board, or sharing your library’s successes, you’ll leave with strategies for creating stories that are both evidence-based and memorable.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize opportunities to use storytelling to strengthen advocacy, strategic planning, community engagement, and partnership development.
• Identify the essential elements of an effective, data-informed story that communicates library impact.
• Locate and incorporate meaningful data sources, including library metrics, community data, and publicly available datasets, to strengthen storytelling.
• Develop audience-specific messages that resonate with funders, policymakers, community partners, library boards, staff, and patrons.
• Apply a practical storytelling framework to create a compelling story that highlights a program, service, or community partnership from their own library.

Presenter: Erin Huggins. Hosted by NC LIVE. CARLI PDA Event.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Purchasing App Training

September 10 at 2:30–3:30 p.m.
Registration/More Information

Please join us to learn how to better use the purchasing app. A representative from the Business Office will walk you through the process for using the purchasing app. If you have questions, please reach out to Melanie Kuehn at mkuehn@illinois.edu.

Upcoming Trainings

• Wednesday, October 14, 2026 at 2:30–3:30 p.m. – Main Library 314
• Wednesday, October 28, 2026 at 2:30–3:30 p.m. – Online. This training will have a special focus on the ILA conference.
• Tuesday, November 10, 2026 at 2:30–3:30 p.m. – Online

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Global CU: Neighbors Connecting Through Cultures and Stories

September 13 at 2:00–4:30 p.m.
Registration/More Information

Explore the World Through Conversations and Fun! Inspired by the Human Library®, have a conversation with international neighbors and celebrate the diverse origins of everyone in our community! Neighbors at this event will be sharing various aspects about their personal stories and heritage cultures. Adults and kids are welcome to learn about different countries’ culture, language, cuisine, and more!

Join us for this free event co-sponsored by the Mortenson Center for International Library Programs; Illinois International: Office of Global Relations; Urbana Free Library; and New American Welcome Center, University YMCA as part of Welcoming Week 2026.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Library Friends Webinar – The Alchemy of Preservation: The Journey of Sir Isaac Newton’s Alchemical Manuscript at Illinois

September 17 at 12:00–1:00 p.m.
Registration/More Information

Join Lynne M. Thomas, Head of the Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Ruthann Mowry, Curator of Rare Books and Manuscripts, and Quinn Ferris, Senior Conservator in the department of Library Preservation, for a roundtable discussion of the historical context, acquisition and intensive conservation process for Sir Isaac Newton’s manuscript translation of an alchemical text, Opus Galli anonymi, (ca. 1650), held in the Rare Book & Manuscript Library. In addition to this object requiring a chemically complex intervention to stabilize the degradation of Iron Gall Ink, Conservation staff planned, scripted, filmed, and edited the treatment into a feature-length documentary, which is now freely available on The University of Illinois Preservation’s YouTube page.

By valuing both creativity and preservation, universities can ensure their stories endure. Attendees will leave with ideas for fostering partnerships that not only document the present but also preserve it for the future.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Archives and Special Collections Building Tour

• September 17 at 3:00–4:00 p.m.
• September 29 at 10:00–11:00 a.m.

Tom Teper and Tim Newman are leading a series of tours for Library employees to view the new Archives and Special Collections Building. Attendees will meet in the Library Gallery to begin.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Flying by the Seat of Our Pants: Assessing Early Career Librarians’ Readiness for Management Roles

September 22 at 2:00–3:00 p.m.
Registration/More Information

As academic libraries face ongoing retirements and organizational restructuring, early career librarians are increasingly assuming supervisory or managerial responsibilities earlier in their careers. Yet questions remain about how prepared they feel for these roles and what kind of support contributes most to their confidence and effectiveness. This presentation reports the results of a national survey conducted in 2024 exploring early career academic librarians’ perceptions of their readiness for management. The survey gathered quantitative and qualitative data from over 70 respondents with fewer than ten years of professional experience across a range of academic library settings. Findings suggest that while many early career librarians find themselves in management positions, fewer feel adequately equipped to take them on.

This presentation will share key data themes on how library managers did and did not feel prepared, highlight respondent narratives, and discuss possible implications for library administrators, professional associations, and LIS programs. There will also be opportunities for participants to discuss their own management situations and brainstorm how to best support new incoming managers. Attendees will gain insight into how institutions can better support leadership development for early career professionals and foster more intentional management onboarding within academic libraries.

Presenters: Cathy Austin & Lauren Geiger. Hosted by FLVC. CARLI PDA Event.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Plain Language Toolkit for Librarians: Practical Tools to Improve Understanding, Engagement, and Trust

September 24 at 12:00–1:00 p.m.
Registration/More Information

Effective communication is at the heart of every library service. This webinar explores practical plain language strategies and introduces librarians to tools that support clear, accessible communication across programs, instruction, outreach, and resource development. Participants will learn how to transform complex information into user-friendly content, enhance the readability and visual design of library materials, and foster a culture of clear communication among staff. Through real-world examples and actionable techniques, attendees will discover how plain language promotes equity, improves user experiences, and strengthens the library’s role as a trusted community resource.

Learning Objectives:

• Define the principles of plain language and explain its role in improving access, engagement, and trust in library services.
• Apply practical strategies to simplify complex information while maintaining accuracy and meaning.
• Evaluate and enhance the readability and visual design of library materials, programs, and communications.
• Identify tools and techniques that support staff training and the integration of plain language into library instruction, outreach, and resource creation

Presenter: Jessica Daly. Hosted by FLVC. CARLI PDA Event.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Exhibit Opening — “I could people the hours with creations”: Celebrating Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein

September 24 at 3:00–5:00 p.m.
Registration/More Information

Please join us for an opening reception to celebrate the acquisition of the first edition of Frankenstein and explore the life and career of Mary Shelley. Exhibit curator Lynne Thomas will give brief remarks, and refreshments will be served. This exhibit will be on display through Summer 2027.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: 36th Annual Mortenson Distinguished Lecture

September 26 at 1:00–3:00 p.m.
Registration/More Information

Jeff Chiba Stearns, Animation and Documentary Filmmaker, Author and Illustrator, will present the 36th Annual Mortenson Distinguished Lecture, Animation Meditation: 25 Years of Exploring Mixed-Race Identity and Japanese Canadian History Through Visual Storytelling. This year’s Lecture also serves as the keynote speech for the Youth Literature Festival community day. This is a hybrid event; please join us at the I Hotel or online via Zoom.

Also, don’t miss a film screening of “One Big Hapa Family” and a discussion on September 24 at 5:45 p.m. at the School of Information Sciences.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Youth Literature Festival Community Day

September 26
Registration/More Information

The Youth Literature Festival, co-sponsored by the University Library, brings award-winning authors of youth literature to area schools in a three-day event, culminating in a Community Day Celebration on September 26 with author panels, activities for kids, and performances to share with the whole family. A biennial event, the Festival is provided without cost to participants or school districts thanks to volunteers and generous sponsors.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: New Time Capsule Installed

A new time capsule has been installed behind the Main Library’s 1924 cornerstone. See more photos on the University Library’s Facebook page. 

The capsule’s contents offer a snapshot of the Library in 2025, documenting its people, priorities, celebrations, and challenges. Included are reflections from library employees, records of major milestones such as the Library’s 100th Anniversary and 15 Millionth Volume celebration, examples of campus life and student engagement, and materials related to emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. The capsule also preserves evidence of the social and political issues shaping higher education at the time, including federal funding uncertainties, diversity initiatives, immigration concerns, and intellectual freedom. Lighter touches, such as “Love Letters to the Library,” a photo of library employees, squirrel stickers, and a Conservator Barbie Instagram post, help capture the personality, creativity, and community spirit of the Library in this moment.

The previous time capsule from 1924 was opened in celebration of the building’s 100th anniversary in 2024.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Library Building Project Update

“Whoa, we’re halfway there….” The Archives and Special Collections Building’s renovation has officially crossed the 50% threshold with our project architect reporting that the work is now 53% complete as of July 23, 2026. Per the report of that day, brick installation continues at the southeast plaza walls, forms for walls along the north side of the plaza are prepared; upper level wall framing, insulation, and wall board are being installed; plumping, electrical, and mechanical rough-ins continue throughout the building; duct work is being installed and its insulation is partially installed; the generator pad is being prepared; masonry walls are being installed at the east side of the lower level; final preparations are being made to close remaining floor openings on the lower level; and the loading dock is being prepared for concrete pouring. Additionally, the concrete base for the west ramp has been poured, and the electrical rough-in is complete for that entryway; application of an additional protective coating to the plaza deck is underway; the elevator door frames have been installed on the west elevator; the south mechanical room units were installed; and the masonry walls were installed at the generator enclosure on the northeast corner of the building.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Cheers for Peers

Library Human Resources is happy to announce this month’s Cheers for Peers submissions. The following Library employees have been cheered by their peers:

• Alfredo Guadarrama
• Rachael Johns
• Shelby Strommer
• Jake MacGregor
• Zoe Revell
• Quinn Ferris
• Julie Bumpus
• Laura Poulosky
• Stuart Albert
• JP Goguen

To view the detailed Cheers for Peers submissions, please view the Growing People blog.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Recognizing Excellence

• Spring 2026 Presentations by Library Faculty and Academic Professionals
• Spring 2026 Publications by Library Faculty and Academic Professionals
• Spring 2026 Professional Service by Library Faculty and Academic Professionals
• Rachel Scott Receives Johns Hopkins University Press Award for Best Article

Please share your award, recognition, or grant! To initiate a request for publicity, employees (or their supervisors) should submit the Recognizing Excellence Submission Form.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Meeting Minutes (SAT, CDC, CAPT)

Please see the following URLs for the most recent meeting minutes of these groups:

• Senior Administration Team (SAT): library.illinois.edu/committees/committees/senior-administration-team
• Collection Development Committee (CDC): library.illinois.edu/staff/committee/collection-development-committee/
• Content Access Policy & Technology (CAPT) (including workgroup reports): library.illinois.edu/staff/committee/content-access-policy-technology-capt/

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FACILITIES NEWS: Facilities Update

Tim Newman, Assistant Dean of Libraries for Facilities

For a complete list of projects in planning and construction, please visit wordpress.library.illinois.edu/staff/facilities.

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BUSINESS NEWS: International Travel

Kim Johnson, Associate Director of Fiscal Operations

Travel Insurance:

Before requesting a meeting with the Business Office to arrange payment for international travel, the employee must first enroll in international travel insurance and provide proof of enrollment to the travel arranger during the travel arranging meeting. Payables now requires that this proof of insurance be uploaded when submitting travel charges through Emburse Enterprises.

Reimbursements for travel expenses will NOT be paid if the traveler did not sign up for the University-provided insurance coverage.

Travel Grants:

The Business Office receives notification for Scholars’ Travel Funds; however, for other grants or travel funds, we are not notified. If you have received any of the following (or something else not listed), please send the funding approval to the Business Office for tracking and requesting funds:

• International Conference Travel Grant: international.illinois.edu/awards-funding/conference-travel.html
• Staff Professional Development Fund: humanresources.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/SPDF-Application-Criteria.pdf
  • In the application, under “Business Department Contact Name,” enter: Kimberly Johnson. Under “Business Department Contact Email,” enter bhrsc@library.illinois.edu
• Future World Changers Matching Grant: provost.illinois.edu/faculty-affairs/seminars-workshops/fwca/

FAQs:

• When can I expect to be reimbursed?
  • University Payables processes expense reports for the whole system, meaning Chicago, Springfield, Champaign, and all the extension offices. It could take from 2 to 5 weeks to receive your reimbursement.
• I’m going to a conference/research trip; can I go before and/or stay longer for vacation?
  • Yes. A comparable itinerary is required. The Business Office will not pay for travel and/or hotels; the employee must seek reimbursement and will only be reimbursed for the time that is deemed University travel time. (library.illinois.edu/staff/bhrsc-business-services/booking-travel-in-a-nutshell/)
• I’m going on a day trip; can I get per diem?
  • No, per diem is not allowed for a day trip. (library.illinois.edu/staff/bhrsc-business-services/per-diem/)
• How do I request carpool vehicles?
  • Please complete the Carpool Request Form
• Do I have to enroll in University travel insurance for international travel?
  • Yes. Payables will not let us arrange travel without the insurance and will refuse to reimburse travel if they do not have the University-provided insurance coverage.

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BUSINESS NEWS: Membership Dues

Kim Johnson, Associate Director of Fiscal Operations

To request payment or reimbursement of membership dues, first complete the Professional Development Funding and Travel Form.

• Once the form is submitted, the form will be automatically emailed to the Business Office via email (BHRSC@library.illinois.edu)
• The Business Office will review the form, and if funding is approved, the requester will receive an approval email with directions, and then they can either:
  • Enter the request into the Purchasing and Reimbursement App with the following wording in the “Comments/Special Instructions” in the Delivery Section: “Requesting Business Office to pay.”
  • Or the employee pays and seeks reimbursement.

If seeking reimbursement, please submit a request in the Purchasing and Reimbursement App.

• In the approval email from the Business Office, a C-FOP will be provided for the funding source, and the instructions will be attached to the email. (Please see the Reimbursements policy for further directions)
• Requests are typically processed within 3 business days of us receiving the approval from the Purchasing App
• Per University policy, all employee reimbursements will be processed through Chrome River. Please assist the Business Office staff and reply promptly to any correspondence regarding Chrome River access.
• Requests for reimbursement over 60 days old are taxable per IRS tax rules
• Reimbursements could take up to 4 to 6 weeks from the time it’s submitted, due to Payables workload
• Returned expense reports will be made the priority to complete

Located: library.illinois.edu/staff/bhrsc-business-services/membership-dues/

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HR NEWS: Departures

• Jennifer Gavel – CS – BHRSC – Resigning, last day August 31, 2026
• Susanne Belovari – Faculty – University Archives – Retiring, last day September 25, 2026 

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HR NEWS: Civil Service Vacancies

• Library Specialist, Overnights – GELIC – Finalizing Search
• Senior Library Specialist – Funk ACES Library – Interviewing
• Accountant I – BHRSC – Closed July 27, 2026

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HR NEWS:  Academic Professional and Faculty Open Postings

• Bioengineering and Engineering Medical Innovation Librarian – Grainger Library –Finalizing Search
• Engineering Instruction and Outreach Librarian – Grainger Library – Finalizing Search

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Staff Events Calendar

To see the most up-to-date staff events calendar, please visit libcal.library.illinois.edu/calendar/staff.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Altgeld Math Models Exhibition

June 22–September 25
More Information
Location: Simons Center for Geometry and Physics, Stony Brook University, New York

In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, mathematical models were created—primarily in Germany—to visualize complex geometric forms and abstract mathematical concepts. Crafted from plaster, wood, metal, string, and even cardboard, these objects were used for research and university instruction. The models transformed abstract mathematical principles into visual teaching tools, reflecting an era that valued visualization for scientific understanding.

Although Germany dominated the production of mathematical models, important collections were subsequently acquired by universities throughout Europe and the United States. Among the most significant is the collection of almost 400 models at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Twelve models from that collection are featured in this exhibition at the Simons Center, where they are being presented to the public for the first time. Today, they stand not only as artifacts of mathematical inquiry, but also as remarkable examples of the intersection of science, craftsmanship, and art.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Archives and Special Collections Building Tour

• August 3 at 2:30–3:30 p.m.
• August 26 at 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

Tom Teper and Tim Newman are leading a series of tours for Library employees to view the new Archives and Special Collections Building. Attendees will meet in the Library Gallery to begin.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Purchasing App Training

August 11 at 2:30–3:30 p.m.
Registration

Please join us to learn how to better use the purchasing app. A representative from the Business Office will walk you through the process for using the purchasing app. If you have questions, please reach out to Melanie Kuehn at mkuehn@illinois.edu.

Upcoming Trainings

• September 10, 2026 at 2:30–3:30 p.m. – Virtual
• Wednesday, October 14, 2026 at 2:30–3:30 p.m. – Main Library 314

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Fall 2025 Library-wide Graduate Assistant Orientation

August 17: Main Library

• 9:15 a.m.: Welcome & Emergency Procedures
• 10:45 a.m.: Working in the Library
• 12:00 p.m.: Group Lunch and 2nd Year GA Panel
• 1:45 p.m.: Fire Extinguisher Training & Practice
• 2:45 p.m.: Main Library Building Tour
• 2:45 p.m.: Main Stacks Tour
• 3:30 p.m.: Main Library Building Tour
• 3:30 p.m.: Main Stacks Tour
• 4:15 p.m.: GEO Orientation Session – Presentation for New Graduate Assistants

August 18: Grainger Engineering Library Information Center

• 9:00 a.m.: Introduction to Library Web Strategy and Development
• 10:00 a.m.: Introduction to Catalog Tools
• 11:15 a.m.: Tour of Grainger Library
• 1:00 p.m.: Alma Fulfillment
• 2:30 p.m.: Alma Cataloging
• 3:30 p.m.: Alma Acquisitions

August 19: Funk ACES Library

• 9:15 a.m.: Introduction to Library Database Searching
• 11:00 a.m.: Tour of Funk ACES Library
• 12:45 p.m.: Reference Interview and Instruction in Reference
• 2:45 p.m.: Chat Reference and Referrals + Overview of LibInsight

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Cheers for Peers

Library Human Resources is happy to announce this month’s Cheers for Peers submissions. The following Library employees have been cheered by their peers:

• Paul Gouwens
• Kestrel Ikar
• Gabi Fisher
• Joanne Miller
• Grace Flavin

To view the detailed Cheers for Peers submissions please view the Growing People blog.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Recognizing Excellence

• Bethany Anderson Receives Campus Distinguished Promotion Award

Please share your award, recognition, or grant! To initiate a request for publicity, employees (or their supervisors) should submit the Recognizing Excellence Submission Form.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Meeting Minutes (SAT, CDC, CAPT)

Please see the following URLs for the most recent meeting minutes of these groups:

• Senior Administration Team (SAT): library.illinois.edu/committees/committees/senior-administration-team
• Collection Development Committee (CDC): library.illinois.edu/staff/committee/collection-development-committee/
• Content Access Policy & Technology (CAPT) (including workgroup reports): library.illinois.edu/staff/committee/content-access-policy-technology-capt/

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FACILITIES NEWS: Facilities Update

Tim Newman, Assistant Dean of Libraries for Facilities

For a complete list of projects in planning and construction, please visit wordpress.library.illinois.edu/staff/facilities.

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BUSINESS NEWS: Is it a Contract or Honorarium?

Kim Johnson, Associate Director of Fiscal Operations

A contract is an agreement between the system and one or more other parties, creating obligations that are legally recognizable or enforceable. An honorarium is a one-time payment of $5,000 or less, made to an individual who is not an employee of the University of Illinois System for a special and non-recurring activity or event for which no remuneration is collectible by law. Contracts are always negotiated prior to the service, while honoraria are issued after the service with no prior commitment.

Honoraria cannot be paid to a University employee or to an organization. If an organization requires payment, then the payment will need to be processed as a contract. Notably, speaker fees are considered a payment for professional services, not an honorarium, and will need to be processed as a contract.

Contract Process:

• Contracts need to be completed through the University Purchasing department and requested through the Purchasing App.
• A purchase order (PO) must be issued prior to services beginning. The guest must have an active profile in the system for a PO to be issued
• If the PO is not issued before services begin, the transaction is then considered non-conforming
• Non-conforming transactions require approval from the Assistant Dean of Business and HR and additional paperwork from the vendor prior to payment being issued.

Honorarium Process:

• Honoraria are requested through the Library Non-Employee Honorarium/Award Request.

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BUSINESS NEWS: Grants

Kim Johnson, Associate Director of Fiscal Operations

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HR NEWS: Filled Positions

• Mandi Arlain – Humanities Librarian (African American Studies and English Literature) – HPNL – Started June 16, 2026

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HR NEWS: Departures

• Gregg Homerding – CS – TLAS – Retiring, last day July 31, 2026
• Jennifer Gavel – CS – BHRSC – Resigning, last day August 31, 2026
• Susanne Belovari – Faculty – University Archives – Retiring, last day September 25, 2026

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HR NEWS: Civil Service Vacancies

• Library Specialist, Overnights – GELIC – Interviewing
• Senior Library Specialist – Funk ACES Library – Closed June 30, 2026

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HR NEWS:  Academic Professional and Faculty Open Postings

• Bioengineering and Engineering Medical Innovation Librarian – Grainger Library –Finalizing Search
• Engineering Instruction and Outreach Librarian – Grainger Library – Finalizing Search

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Staff Events Calendar

To see the most up-to-date staff events calendar, please visit libcal.library.illinois.edu/calendar/staff.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Archives and Special Collections Building Tour

• July 6 at 3:00–4:00 p.m.
• July 22 at 10:00–11:00 a.m.
• August 3 at 2:30–3:30 p.m.

Tom Teper and Tim Newman are leading a series of tours for Library employees to view the new Archives and Special Collections Building. Attendees will meet in the Library Gallery to begin.

Register via links above.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Virtual Library Professional Development Series – Preparing to Give Feedback

July 8 at 10:00–11:30 a.m.
Registration

Do you struggle with how to approach a feedback conversation? Or do you find yourself having the same conversation over and over? In this session, we will use Crucial Conversations to discuss how to decide which feedback conversation to have and what your goals are for that discussion.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Digital Possibilities Series: Digital Realities and Possibilities for a Sousa Archives Researcher

July 8 at 1:00–2:00 p.m.
Registration

The University of Illinois’ Sousa Archives and Center for American Music is both a special collections music archives and museum whose historical collections document diverse music cultures, legacies, and technologies in North, Central, and South America as well as portions of Europe, Africa, and Asia. Our collections are meant to be actively engaged by people of all ages and music backgrounds and abilities. Our philosophy is grounded in providing access to our music collections using all available resources and technologies to enable our visitors to engage with our collections physically, intellectually, and actively. In this presentation, Scott Schwartz will highlight how the Sousa Archives approaches on-site and online public engagement to its music collections using some of today’s digital technologies.

Hosted by CARLI

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Digital Possibilities Series: Meet the Chicago Collections Consortium and Revs Institute

July 15 at 10:00–11:00 a.m.
Registration

The Chicago Collections Consortium (CCC) is a membership organization of 60+ institutions composed of public and private universities, public libraries, special libraries, museums, and other repositories with collections that chronicle the rich history of Chicago. Its portal, EXPLORE Chicago Collections, is its flagship initiative, providing “one stop shopping”: a site for researchers, teachers, students, and the public to find digital images and locate archival holdings on Chicago topics without searching individual institutions’ online catalogs one at a time. Founded in 2012 with twelve governing members, CCC has since grown to 60+ members. Ellen Keith, Executive Director, will discuss the portal, the organization’s other outreach activities, and the organization’s next steps in its second decade.

Revs Institute will share how they are embracing emerging technologies and digital dissemination to expand access, enhance discovery, and preserve specialized knowledge.  Arthur Carlson, Director of Archives and Research Center – Revs Institute, will highlight current projects at Revs Institute including a machine learning metadata generation project, the development of a specialized large language learning model to support research, and efforts to document and share specialized at-risk knowledge and share that with the world.

Hosted by CARLI

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: RACI Matrix Overview

July 16 at 1:30–3:30 p.m.
Registration

An in-person overview of the RACI matrix, a simple but powerful tool for creating clarity around roles and responsibilities to support effective collaboration. 

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Purchasing App Training

July 21 at 2:30–3:30 p.m.
Registration

Please join us to learn how to better use the purchasing app. A representative from the Business Office will walk you through the process for using the purchasing app. If you have questions, please reach out to Melanie Kuehn at mkuehn@illinois.edu.

Upcoming Trainings

• August 11, 2026 at 2:30–3:30 p.m. – Main Library 314
• September 10, 2026 at 2:30–3:30 p.m. – Virtual
• Wednesday, October 14, 2026 at 2:30–3:30 p.m. – Main Library 314

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Virtual Library Professional Development Series – Giving Feedback

July 22 at 10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Registration

Explore key lessons and practices from Douglas Stone & Sheila Heen (authors of Thanks for the Feedback) on how to effectively give feedback—fostering stronger relationships, trust, and collaboration.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: An Open Conversation: Building Accessibility into Vendor Relationships Under ADA Title II

July 22 at 1:00–2:00 p.m.
Registration

In this virtual, open conversation on building accessibility into vendor relationships under ADA Title II, discuss with library and consortial colleagues what the recent deadline extension means for you, share your experience setting content priorities, compliance workflows, and adding accessibility clauses into contracts, and consider how we can work together in these efforts. Discussion facilitators include Amy Coughenour, Orbis Cascade Alliance; Rebel Cummings-Sauls and Rachel Erb, Florida Virtual Campus Library Services (FLVC); and Jenny Taylor, Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Illinois (CARLI)

Hosted by CARLI

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Digital Possibilities Series: Strategic Approaches to Transcription

July 29 at 1:00–2:00 p.m.
Registration

Liz Bloodworth, Illinois Wesleyan University, will discuss the use of AI tools for transcription of both oral history interviews and handwritten text documents. With increasing demands on staff time, especially in small shop archives, AI offers an opportunity to enhance the discoverability of archival materials through efficient transcription. Liz will share tips for using AI tools ethically and responsibly, stressing the importance of human review throughout the process. 

Then, Chris Levesque will discuss digital engagement in the University of West Florida’s Citizen Archivist Projects. During Library Week 2025 and 2026, the UWF University Libraries hosted participatory transcription events of letters and ship logs from their Digital Archives. This effort built on the well-known National Archives’ Citizen Archivist model to engage students, faculty, and the larger UWF community. This talk will discuss selection of materials, implementation of the project, and lessons learned.

Hosted by FLVC

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Library Building Project Update

Tom Teper, Associate University Librarian for Collections and Technical Services

Construction continues apace, with our most recent site observation from the architect estimating that the project is approaching 41% completed. As of May 28^th, the following work was completed in the last week: Electrical/Plumbing below Slab Roughin, Hot Fluid Applied Waterproofing, Upper Level Framing/Backing/Insulation/Drywall/Taping, Upper Level Paint, Upper Level Plumbing/Electrical/Mechanical Rough in, Exposed Square duct Installation, Area Well Brick Install, Roller Shade Pocket Installation, Patching/Finishing Columns, Lower Level Electrical/Mechanical Rough in, Installation of Air Handler Unit #1, Underground Plumbing, Addition Parapet Extension, Painting Beans, 6” Water Main, and Knee Wall Brink Installation.

In the coming weeks, we should see progress on these and additional aspects of the overall project.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Staff Nametags for Events and Conferences

Heather Murphy, Chief Communications Officer

Do you represent the University Library at tabled events or attend conferences on behalf of the Library? We will be placing an order of nametags for employees who need them. Each employee may request one nametag with their first and last name. Additional or replacement nametags will be at the expense of the employee’s unit. Please complete and submit this form by Thursday, June 18, to receive a nametag before the start of the fall semester: forms.illinois.edu/sec/1151801193

NOTE: these are hard plastic nametags that have magnetic backings (no pin)

Alternatively, buttons are readily available to those who wish to self-identify as a Library employee at events, but do not wish to include their name. If you would like one of these buttons, please send an email to events@library.illinois.edu

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: New IOPN Publications

Daniel Tracy, Head of Scholarly Communication and Publishing

IOPN has published the latest entry in the AFRO-PWW series, Evoking the Complexity of Black Lives in the US South: Excavating the Untold Stories, edited by Amanda Concha-Holmes. This book confronts the erasure of interconnected histories of African descendants in the South with what Concha-Holmes terms “evocative ethnography,” an interdisciplinary methodology blending art, scholarship, and deep collaboration. Drawing on extensive research and driven by creative practice, she works with a “collaboratory” of scholars, artists, journalists, students, and community leaders to create a collection that explores history, the present, and imagined alternatives.

Also under the Publishing Without Walls imprint, IOPN has published Agency Through Otherness: Portraits of Performers in Circus Route Books, 1875-1925, edited by Angela Yon. This peer reviewed volume is a historical study of the complex lives of circus performers in the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries. Drawing on collections digitized with funding from the Council of Library & Information Resources (CLIR) Digitizing Hidden Collections program, this multimodal publication features essays, archival documents and images, dynamic interactive timelines, and robust map data visualizations, including circus routes integrated with Native lands, historical railroads, and population data.

You can read more about these titles and other recent publications on the IOPN News blog.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Cheers for Peers

Library Human Resources is happy to announce this month’s Cheers for Peers submissions. The following Library employees have been cheered by their peers:

• Christina Bonse
• Michael Cleveland
• Norris Purdy
• Ben Riegler
• Brian Lindstrand
• Jacob Culbertson
• Xavier Sanchez
• Paul Foster
• Steve Bermingham
• Rachael Johns
• Alfredo Guadarrama
• Melanie Kuehn
• Henry Borchers
• Grace Flavin

To view the detailed Cheers for Peers submissions please view the Growing People blog.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Recognizing Excellence

• Lisa Janicke Hinchliffe Speaks at United Nations General Assembly
• “Parthenon at Illinois” Digital Humanities Project Launches with Support from the Campus Research Board
• Krista Gray Receives Chancellor’s Staff Excellence Award

Please share your award, recognition, or grant! To initiate a request for publicity, employees (or their supervisors) should submit the Recognizing Excellence Submission Form.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Meeting Minutes (SAT, CDC, CAPT)

Please see the following URLs for the most recent meeting minutes of these groups:

• Senior Administration Team (SAT): library.illinois.edu/committees/committees/senior-administration-team
• Collection Development Committee (CDC): library.illinois.edu/staff/committee/collection-development-committee/
• Content Access Policy & Technology (CAPT) (including workgroup reports): library.illinois.edu/staff/committee/content-access-policy-technology-capt/

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FACILITIES NEWS: Facilities Update

Tim Newman, Assistant Dean of Libraries for Facilities

For a complete list of projects in planning and construction, please visit wordpress.library.illinois.edu/staff/facilities.

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BUSINESS NEWS: Professional Development Funds

Kim Johnson, Associate Director of Fiscal Operations

library.illinois.edu/staff/bhrsc-business-services/basic-travel-support/

The last date that the Business Office will make travel arrangements is June 12, 2025. Please make sure you have your Professional Development form submitted, approved and a travel arrangement meeting scheduled before June 12.

To request use of Professional Development fund, please submit a Professional Development Funding and Travel Form.

Please note that the Business Office only approves the funding source and amount of the funds, we are not approving the actual travel and time away from the office. Travel should be approved by your supervisor prior to submitting the Professional Development Funding and Travel Form.

Borrowing from future funds is not allowed.

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BUSINESS NEWS: International Travel

For international travel commencing on or after July 1, 2026, when travel insurance was not obtained prior to the trip, a request for reimbursement WILL NOT be approved.  If the travel was purchased with a university TCard, a noncompliance will be issued to the cardholder.

This is a follow up to the January reminder about the University of Illinois System’s requirement to enroll in international travel insurance prior to travel. This policy has been in place since 2024. Exceptions will no longer be approved. 

System policy 15.1.5 International Travel Insurance Requirements and the Business & Finance International Travel Insurance web page have been updated with this information. 

Prior to booking international travel, please review the following for university-specific information and enrollment: 

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and System Office: Enrollment and Fees

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BUSINESS NEWS: SPA Subaward Tracker

Subaward invoices are now managed in the SPA Subaward Tracker. This new functionality streamlines how invoices are submitted, reviewed, and approved, ensuring a transparent, consistent process for Units, PIs, and SPA. 

Within the system, Units will enter payment details and complete their review, while PIs will certify subrecipient performance and approve invoices for payment. If concerns arise, Units or PIs can return an invoice to SPA for review; SPA will determine if it must be sent back to the subrecipient. Units and PIs will be notified by email when an invoice requires their action and can also view pending invoices directly in their Subaward Tracker queues. 

Visit the Subaward Invoicing topic on the SPA website.

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BUSINESS NEWS: New Research Security Training Requirement

Overview

• Online training that provides recipients of federal research funding with information on risks and threats to the global research ecosystem.
• Federal research funding agencies are required to implement Research Security Training program.

Requirement:

• Research Security Training required began February 1, 2026
• For all federal awards, anyone, regardless of title or position, who participates in the purpose, design, conduct, or reporting of the federally funded research or who proposes federally funded research.
• Required within the 12 months prior to proposal submission to a federal sponsor and/or within 30 days of joining a federally funded sponsored research project.
• Renewal is required annually and consists of repeating the RST course in the Portal.
• To complete, go to the Portal at go.illinois.edu/ResSecTraining

If the Research Security Training is not completed, proposals will not be submitted and/or awards will not be set up.  This also applies to collaborators, consultants, and subawardees on federal proposals and awards.

If you have any questions, please contact Chad Lewis at lewis2@illinois.edu (217-333-0380) or reach out to researchsecurity@illinois.edu.

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HR NEWS: Filled Positions

• Jordan James – Administrative Assistant – Library Advancement – Started May 11, 2026
• Leon Wilson – Manager, Workstation, and Network Support (WNS) – Library IT – Starting June 1, 2026
• John Bennett – Library Operations Associate – Funk ACES Library – Starting June 1, 2026
• Jeni Lamb – Accountant I – BHRSC – Starting June 8, 2026
• Alexandra Watson – Library Specialist for Slavic Cataloging w/ Language Specialty – Acquisitions & Cataloging Services – Starting June 8, 2026

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HR NEWS: Departures

• Peggy Nzomo – AP – Mortenson Center – Resigned, last day May 15, 2026
• Serenity Orengo – CS – Senior Library Specialist – Intl & Area Studies Library – Resigned, last day May 26, 2026
• Jenny Johnson – Faculty – Map Library – Retired, last day May 31, 2026
• Lisa Hinchliffe – Faculty – Retiring, last day June 30, 2026 
• Jennifer Gavel – CS – BHRSC – Resigning, last day August 31, 2026
• Susanne Belovari – Faculty – University Archives – Retiring, last day September 25, 2026 

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HR NEWS: Civil Service Vacancies

• Library Specialist, Overnights – GELIC – Closed May 25, 2026

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HR NEWS:  Academic Professional and Faculty Open Postings

• Humanities Librarian (African American Studies and English Literature) – HPNL – Pending Offer
• Bioengineering and Engineering Medical Innovation Librarian – Grainger Library – Finalizing Search
• Visiting Music & Performing Arts Special Collections Librarian – MPAL – Finalizing Search
• Engineering Instruction and Outreach Librarian – Grainger Library – Finalizing Search

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Staff Events Calendar

To see the most up-to-date staff events calendar, please visit libcal.library.illinois.edu/calendar/staff.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Library Teaching Retreat: Instruction Showcase

June 1 at 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Registration

The first day of the 2026 Library Teaching Retreat is an instruction showcase featuring Nancy O’Brien, Mary Ton, Ruthann Mowry, María Emerson, and others from across the library! Each person will give a demonstration of an activity or approach they use when teaching in their subject area. Breakfast snacks and coffee will be provided. This is a hybrid event that will take place in Main 314 and online via Zoom.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Library Teaching Retreat: Teaching Menu Workshop

June 2 at 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Registration

The second day of the 2026 Library Teaching Retreat is a workshop on creating a teaching menu. Teaching menus allow library instructors to share their teaching expertise with course instructors and students in a manner that promotes sustainable teaching practices and expectations. Attendees will learn teaching menu best practices, learn from Emilee Matthews’ experience creating a teaching menu, and brainstorm ways to offer E-Learning options within a teaching menu. Breakfast snacks and coffee will be provided. This is an in-person event that will take place in Main 314.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Archives and Special Collections Building Tour

• June 2 at 3:00–4:00 p.m.: Registration
• June 16 at 1:00–2:00 p.m.: Registration
• July 6 at 3:00–4:00 p.m.: Registration
• July 22 at 10:00–11:00 a.m.: Registration

Tom Teper and Tim Newman are leading a series of tours for Library employees to view the new Archives and Special Collections Building. Attendees will meet in the Library Gallery to begin. 

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Coffee for 5 with Claire

June 2 at 4:00–5:00 p.m.
Registration

Let’s have a chat!

Coffee for 5 with Claire (small group)

This monthly gathering is designed for casual, small-group conversations. These will be held virtual on Zoom. 

Calendar invitation will follow.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Digital Possibilities Webinar Series: Tending the Community – Building and Sustaining a Crowdsourced Transcription Project

June 3 at 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Registration

Newberry Transcribe invites volunteers to help unlock the Newberry Library’s handwritten historical collections — one document at a time. In this webinar, Digital Services Librarian Jen Wolfe discusses the philosophy behind the project, the outreach strategies that have built an active volunteer community, and the ongoing work of sustaining a transcription program after launch. Attendees will come away with a framework for thinking about crowdsourced transcription not as a technical problem but as a community relationship — one that remains meaningful even in an age of AI. Hosted by CARLI.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Purchasing App Training

• Monday, June 8, at 2:00–3:00 p.m. on Teams. This will have a special focus on ALA.
• Wednesday, June 10, at 2:00–3:00 p.m. in the Main Library, Room 314. This will have a special focus on ALA.

The Business Office is offering Purchasing App training online and in person. We’ll walk through the process together, provide links to resources, and answer your questions.

Registration is required.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: CARLI Emotional Labor in the Archives: Supporting Archivists Mental Health in Donor Relations

June 9 at 1:00–2:00 p.m.
Registration

Archivists often encounter tremendous emotional labor in archival repositories. Experiences can include processing sometimes traumatic collections, assisting researchers who are exploring community trauma, and working with donors experiencing a ‘trigger event’ such as suffering a loss, a health crisis, or other life-changing circumstances. April Anderson-Zorn will explore emotional labor, how it manifests in archival work, and suggest ways to implement mental health wellness practices into daily life. Hosted by FLVC.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Digital Possibilities Webinar Series: Strategies for the Digitization of Municipal Archives: The Chicago City Council Audio Recordings, 1970-2012

June 10 at 1:00–2:00 p.m.
Registration

In 2024 Chicago’s Office of the City Clerk was awarded a Recordings at Risk grant by the Council on Library and Information Resources to digitize a collection of City Council meeting audio recordings that span 40 years of Chicago political history. In this webinar, Matt Messbarger will explain the specific challenges faced and strategies developed to plan and complete this large-scale project with a focus on access and preservation of a unique record of Chicago history. Hosted by CARLI.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Undocumented Ally Training for the University Library

June 17 at 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Registration

Students and employees who are undocumented, DACA or other temporary protected status experience unique challenges in educational and workplace settings. Ross Wantland from the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Access, Civil Rights & Community will lead an interactive session to learn to better support undocumented students and employees at Illinois. This workshop will also discuss campus protocols for responding to campus immigration enforcement. Questions, contact Victor Jones vjones7@illinois.edu.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Virtual RACI Matrix Overview

June 23 at 10:00–11:30 a.m.
Registration

A virtual session that provides an overview of the RACI matrix, a simple but powerful tool for creating clarity around roles and responsibilities to support effective collaboration.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Digital Possibilities Webinar Series: Digitization in a Box – Imagine the Possibilities!

June 23 at 1:00–2:00 p.m.
Registration

The FLVC Digital Services + OER team, led by Rebel-Cummings-Sauls, will describe the “Digitization in a Box” Program — its origin, development, launch, and progress. Windy Gamble, of North Florida College, will share her institution’s journey in using the equipment, learning from FLVC’s training, and succeeding in digitization as a newbie. Hosted by FLVC.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Building Project Update – 5/1/2026

Tom Teper, Associate Dean and Associate University Librarian for Collections and Technical Services

Construction continues apace, with our most recent site observation from the architect estimating that the project is approaching 40% completed. As of April 30^th, the following work was completed in the last week: Electrical/plumbing below slab rough in at addition, footings in addition, hot fluid applied waterproofing, CMU and frame install in East Pavillion, Upper level framing/backing/insulation/drywall/taping, Painting waffle deck and CMU walls on lower level, miscellaneous paint on upper level, upper level plumbing/electrical/mechanical rough in, lower level electrical/mechanical rough in, CMU top of wall angles, pipe lining.

In the coming weeks, we should see progress on: interior footings, generator pad, dock leveler installation, CMU walls, and painting of steel in East Pavilion, completing waterproofing, installation of brick in area wells, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical rough in, and construction of walls in the upper level

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Coffee Cart Pilot Ends May 15

The Espresso Royale R&D Lab pilot initiative will conclude on May 15. The coffee cart operates inside the Orange Room (northwest corner closest to the north building entrance facing Wright/Armory) Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., serving all faculty, staff, students, and visitors.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: IOPN: New Titles

Angela Watters, Digital Publishing Specialist

First, join us in celebrating Windsor & Downs Press’s newest addition to the OPN Textbooks series, Principles of Epidemiology: A Primer by Department of Health and Kinesiology faculty, Christy N Bazan, Pedro Curi Hallal, Rachel A. Hoopsick, Sheena Martenies, Andiara Schwingel, and Rafael M. Tassitano. Written for students and professionals alike, this peer‑reviewed textbook introduces readers to the history of epidemiology and includes chapters on research methods and the investigation of disease spread, before concluding with a chapter on careers. This title was funded by our grant from the State Library of Illinois and by the University Library and the Office of the Provost’s 2024 Faculty OER Incentive Program.  (Read more about Principles of Epidemiology: A Primer on the IOPN news blog.) 

Next, from our Publishing Without Walls imprint, we are pleased to introduce two new digital humanities projects from our AFRO-PWW series. 

• In Reading Black Life in Eighteenth-Century Canada and Lawrence Hill’s “The Book of Negroes,” Sherry R. Johnson, an associate professor of English at Grand Valley State University, draws on her years of experience as a literary historian researching Black writing in Canada and the United States to reveal little-understood and understudied histories of black life in Canada. Centered on Lawrence Hill’s The Book of Negroes (2007) alongside other works, she explores how literature shines a light on “forgotten facts” that stand in opposition to a wide-spread romanticized vision of Canada that ignores the historical contexts Black people encountered, dashing their hopes for lives free from racial oppression. (Read more about  Reading Black Life on the IOPN news blog.) 
• In Walking on the Tightrope of Words: Langston Hughes’s Soviet Writings, Letitia Guran, a professor in the Department of Romance Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, examines Langston Hughes’s prominent role in the global struggle for racial equality and social justice leading up to the Civil Rights Movement. This digital humanities project enables readers to engage directly with Hughes’s A Negro Looks at Soviet Central Asia (1934), a revolutionary, complex text, bearing the author’s handwritten revisions, originally published in the USSR, and reissued in the US only in revised, little-circulated versions. (Read more about  Walking on the Tightrope of Words on the IOPN news blog.) 

Stay tuned for other IOPN publications coming soon! 

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Cheers for Peers

Library Human Resources is happy to announce this month’s Cheers for Peers submissions. The following Library employees have been cheered by their peers:

• B.A. Davis-Howe
• Anna Smith
• Ana Rodriguez
• Johna Von Behrens
• Elisabeth Paulus
• Melanie Kuehn
• Grace Flavin
• Jenna Bayler
• Jennifer Vargo

To view the detailed Cheers for Peers submissions please view the Growing People blog.

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

At the Outreach and Engagement Committee Retreat on February 26, library faculty and staff shared outreach and engagement programs designed for a wide range of audiences — from Indigenous university students, to anyone with an i‑card, to everyone in our broader community. These programs took place online and across campus and beyond, from library spaces to the Illini Union, the Idea Garden, the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, and many more.

In fiscal year 2025 alone, the Library organized 823 outreach and engagement activities, including exhibits, public lectures, tours, and workshops. Together, these efforts brought library collections, knowledge, and learning opportunities to more than 25,000 people.

To learn more about the programs featured at the Outreach and Engagement Retreat, please visit the committee website.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Recognizing Excellence

Please share your award, recognition, or grant! To initiate a request for publicity, employees (or their supervisors) should submit the Recognizing Excellence Submission Form.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Meeting Minutes (SAT, CDC, CAPT)

Please see the following URLs for the most recent meeting minutes of these groups:

• Senior Administration Team (SAT): library.illinois.edu/committees/committees/senior-administration-team
• Collection Development Committee (CDC): library.illinois.edu/staff/committee/collection-development-committee/
• Content Access Policy & Technology (CAPT) (including workgroup reports): library.illinois.edu/staff/committee/content-access-policy-technology-capt/

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FACILITIES NEWS: Facilities Update

Tim Newman, Assistant Dean of Libraries for Facilities

For a complete list of projects in planning and construction, please visit wordpress.library.illinois.edu/staff/facilities.

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BUSINESS NEWS: Professional Development Funds

Kim Johnson, Associate Director of Fiscal Operations

The last date that the Business Office will make travel arrangements is June 12, 2025. Please make sure you have your Professional Development form submitted, approved, and a travel arrangement meeting scheduled before June 12.

To request use of the Professional Development fund, please submit a Professional Development Funding and Travel Form.

Please note that the Business Office only approves the funding source and amount of funds; we are not approving the actual travel or time away from the office. Travel should be approved by your supervisor prior to submitting the Professional Development Funding and Travel Form.

Borrowing from future funds is not allowed. More information: library.illinois.edu/staff/bhrsc-business-services/basic-travel-support/

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BUSINESS NEWS: International Travel

For international travel commencing on or after July 1, 2026, when travel insurance was not obtained prior to the trip, a request for reimbursement WILL NOT be approved.  If the travel was purchased with a university TCard, a noncompliance will be issued to the cardholder.

This is a follow-up to the January reminder about the University of Illinois System’s requirement to enroll in international travel insurance prior to travel. This policy has been in place since 2024. Exceptions will no longer be approved. 

System policy 15.1.5 International Travel Insurance Requirements and the Business & Finance International Travel Insurance web page have been updated with this information. 

Prior to booking international travel, please review the following for university-specific information and enrollment: 

• University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and System Office: Enrollment and Fees

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BUSINESS NEWS: SPA Subaward Tracker

Subaward invoices are now managed in the SPA Subaward Tracker. This new functionality streamlines how invoices are submitted, reviewed, and approved, ensuring a transparent, consistent process for Units, PIs, and SPA. 

Within the system, Units will enter payment details and complete their review, while PIs will certify subrecipient performance and approve invoices for payment. If concerns arise, Units or PIs can return an invoice to SPA for review; SPA will determine if it must be sent back to the subrecipient. Units and PIs will be notified by email when an invoice requires their action and can also view pending invoices directly in their Subaward Tracker queues. 

Visit the Subaward Invoicing topic on the SPA website.

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BUSINESS NEWS: New Research Security Training Requirement

Overview

• Online training that provides recipients of federal research funding with information on risks and threats to the global research ecosystem.
• Federal research funding agencies are required to implement Research Security Training program.

Requirement:

• Research Security Training required began February 1, 2026
• For all federal awards, anyone, regardless of title or position, who participates in the purpose, design, conduct, or reporting of the federally funded research or who proposes federally funded research.
• Required within the 12 months prior to proposal submission to a federal sponsor and/or within 30 days of joining a federally funded sponsored research project.
• Renewal is required annually and consists of repeating the RST course in the Portal.
• To complete, go to the Portal at https://go.illinois.edu/ResSecTraining

If the Research Security Training is not completed, proposals will not be submitted and/or awards will not be set up.  This also applies to collaborators, consultants, and subawardees on federal proposals and awards.

If you have any questions, please contact Chad Lewis at lewis2@illinois.edu (217-333-0380) or reach out to researchsecurity@illinois.edu.

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HR NEWS: Departures

• Jenny Johnson – Faculty – Map Library – Retiring, last day May 31, 2026
• Susanne Belovari – Faculty – University Archives – Retiring, last day September 25, 2026
• Jennifer Gavel – CS – BHRSC – Resigning, last day August 31, 2026

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HR NEWS: Civil Service Vacancies

• Administrative Assistant – Library Advancement – Finalizing Search
• Manager, Workstation and Network Support (WNS) – Library IT – Interviewing
• Library Operations Associate – Funk ACES Library – Interviewing
• Library Specialist – Slavic Cataloging w/ Language Specialty – Acquisitions & Cataloging Services – Interviewing
• Accountant I – BHRSC – Interviewing

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HR NEWS:  Academic Professional and Faculty Open Postings

• Humanities Librarian (African American Studies and English Literature) – HPNL – Pending Offer
• Bioengineering Librarian – Grainger Library – Finalizing Search
• Visiting Music & Performing Arts Special Collections Librarian – MPAL – Finalizing Search
• Engineering Instruction and Outreach Librarian – Grainger Library – Interviewing

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HR NEWS: In Memoriam

• Ya’aqoub Ziso
• Yvette Scheven

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Staff Events Calendar

To see the most up-to-date staff events calendar, please visit libcal.library.illinois.edu/calendar/staff.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Women in Science Lecture: Dr. Samar Hegazy

May 6 at 12:00–1:00 p.m.
Registration

Dr. Samar Hegazy, Teaching Associate Professor of Biomedical and Translational Sciences, will discuss her research on pathologies in female reproduction and her work on improving pathology education.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: CARLI Protecting Collections: Proactive and Responsive Strategies for Environmental Damage

May 6 at 1:00–2:00 p.m.
Registration

Stay informed on all the ways you can prepare your organization and protect your materials from disaster or poor climate conditions. Water, mold, pests and unstable climates can threaten irreplaceable archival and library collections. Join Matt DeCirce, Polygon, to discuss how institutions can better prepare for environmental risks and implement effective recovery strategies to protect valuable materials and minimize long-term damage.

Attendees will learn how to:

• Identify the most common threats to archival and library collections
• Implement preparedness strategies that reduce risk and improve response
• Prioritize stabilization and response actions following environmental damage
• Understand the specialized recovery services that are currently available
• Develop practical emergency preparedness and recovery plans

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Purchasing App Training

May 7 at 2:00–3:00 p.m.
Registration

The Business Office is offering Purchasing App training online and in person. The May training will take place in person. We’ll walk through the process together, provide links to resources, and answer your questions.

Registration is required. Additional dates:

• Monday, June 8, at 2:00–3:00 p.m. on Teams. This will have a special focus on ALA.
• Wednesday, June 10, at 2:00–3:00 p.m. in the Main Library, Room 314. This will have a special focus on ALA.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Peer Instruction Shadowing Program: Wrap-Up & Reflection Session

May 12 at 10:00–11:00 a.m.
Registration

Join the Library Instruction Collective for a wrap-up session on the Peer Instruction Shadowing Program. This session will include a brief overview of the program, highlights from participant feedback, and short reflections from those who participated as observers and instructors.

The session will also include an open discussion on experiences, takeaways, and ideas for future iterations of the program. Whether you participated or are simply interested in learning more, all are welcome. Snacks will be provided, and the session will be in a hybrid format.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: CARLI Supporting Student Well-Being: De-Stress Programming in Academic Libraries

May 13 at 10:00–11:00 a.m.
Registration

This panel discussion will explore how academic libraries can support student well-being through intentional de-stress programming. Panelists will highlight practical programs such as Welcome Week initiatives, scavenger hunts, crafting events, low-stakes social events, Finals Week activities, and more. Attendees will leave with adaptable ideas for implementing effective, inclusive de-stress programs in their own libraries and learn more about contributing to a healthier campus environment.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Main Library Spaces Task Force Open Forum #3

May 13 at 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Registration

This is the third open forum for Library employees to discuss, ask questions, and provide feedback on the Main Library Spaces Taskforce Report: wordpress.library.illinois.edu/staff/administration/library-strategic-planning/main-library-spaces-task-force/

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Coffee for 5 with Claire

May 14 at 9:00–10:00 a.m.
Registration

This monthly gathering is designed for casual, small-group conversations. These will be held virtually on Zoom. 

Upcoming date: June 2 at 4:00–5:00 p.m.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: REI Phase 1 Training

May 19–20 at 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Registration

Racial Equity Institute’s (REI) two-day Phase 1 training is designed to develop the capacity of participants to better understand racism in its institutional and structural forms.

Moving away from a focus on personal bigotry and bias, this workshop presents a historical, cultural, and structural analysis of racism. Topics covered include our fish/lake/groundwater analysis of structural racism; understanding and controlling implicit bias; race, poverty, and place; markedness theory; institutional power arrangements and power brokers; importance of definitions of race and racism; history and legacy of race in American economic and policy development; racial identity and its interaction with institutional culture. With shared language and a clearer understanding of how institutions and systems are producing unjust and inequitable outcomes, participants should leave the training better equipped to begin to work for change.

Engaging in DEIA work is essential to the strong and just future we all strive for together, and participating will help us build a strong foundation of shared understanding, vocabulary and focus on which to build.

If you have attended the Phase 1 training, you are able to attend as one of five Alumni, please email Christina Bonse at bonse2@illinois.edu. This is an online event. Event URL will be sent via registration email.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: 2026 Library Summer Social

May 20 at 5:00–9:00 p.m.
Registration Required by May 10

We are thrilled to invite all permanent Library employees to the ultimate Library after-hours hangout! Employees are requested to register and are welcome to bring their immediate family members or plus-ones to join the fun. Drop in any time between 5-9 p.m., mingle with your fellow colleagues, and celebrate the end of the semester. This is a family-friendly social event with kid-friendly activities, goats, games, and beverages. A full buffet-style meal will be provided and refreshed, so come hungry and plan to enjoy dinner with us. There will be no formal program—just a chance to relax and spend time together.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Library Teaching Retreat: Instruction Showcase

June 1 at 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Registration
The first day of the 2026 Library Teaching Retreat is an instruction showcase featuring Nancy O’Brien, Mary Ton, Ruthann Mowry, María Emerson, and others from across the library! Each person will give a demonstration of an activity or approach they use when teaching in their subject area. Breakfast snacks and coffee will be provided. This is a hybrid event that will take place in Main 314 and online via Zoom.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Library Teaching Retreat: Teaching Menu Workshop

June 2 at 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Registration

The second day of the 2026 Library Teaching Retreat is a workshop on creating a teaching menu. Teaching menus allow library instructors to share their teaching expertise with course instructors and students in a manner that promotes sustainable teaching practices and expectations. Attendees will learn teaching menu best practices, learn from Emilee Matthews’ experience creating a teaching menu, and brainstorm ways to offer E-Learning options within a teaching menu. Breakfast snacks and coffee will be provided. This is an in-person event that will take place in Main 314.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Undocumented Ally Training for the University Library

June 17 at 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Registration

Students and employees who are undocumented, DACA or other temporary protected status experience unique challenges in educational and workplace settings. Ross Wantland from the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Access, Civil Rights & Community will lead an interactive session to learn to better support undocumented students and employees at Illinois. This workshop will also discuss campus protocols for responding to campus immigration enforcement. Questions, contact Victor Jones vjones7@illinois.edu.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Library Reorganization Project: Feedback Needed

The Reorganization Project Team is continuing to gather feedback.

There are four possible organizational models developed by the Reorganization Project Team now available as Activity 5 on our reorganization website. 

1.  Please complete the survey to provide feedback on these models. We would love to get additional responses by Wednesday, April 8.

2.   View a recorded tour of the four models:

• Thursday, March 19, 10:00–10:45 a.m. link to Zoom recording
• Tuesday, March 24, 4:00–4:45 p.m. link to Zoom recording
• Four Model Tour – presentation slides

3.   Join a drop-in office hours session:

• Thursday, April 2, 9-10 AM hosted by Mary Laskowski and Jenny Maddox Abbott on Zoom
• Friday, April 3, 11-Noon hosted by Mary Laskowski and Tracy Tolliver at the Grainger Engineering Library Room 329

As always, general comments, questions, alternative org chart designs, and other information can always be sent to the LibAdmin@illinois.edu email account, where it will be compiled by the administrative support team and shared to the Reorganization Project Team. 

Please see Dean Stewart’s emails to the lib-perm-employees listserv for additional information not included above.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Building Project Update – 4/1/2026

Tom Teper, Associate Dean and Associate University Librarian for Collections and Technical Services

Construction continues apace, with our most recent site observation from the architect estimating that the project is 32% completed. As of March 26th, the following work was in progress: Installation of hot fluid applied waterproofing at plaza ongoing. Wood walkway installed to west pavilion doors to protect waterproofing; upper-level wall framing ongoing and one side of walls being topped out with GWB; wall framing and door frames being installed at upper-level west corridor; MEP rough-ins ongoing throughout; ductwork being installed throughout upper level; lower-level plumbing work (below slab) ongoing; conduit installation at lower-level progressing; drilling for new east elevator piston; roof work started on west pavilion; site cleanup and rough grading ongoing; CMU installation at east elevator area, upper level.

Progress of the Work: Additional hot fluid applied waterproofing installed at southwest corner of plaza and between west pavilion & courtyard; Temporary protective walkway installed to west pavilion entry; terrazzo demolished at upper level elevator lobby and west corridor; Framing walls and installing door frames; metal stairs partially installed at east pavilion (new south egress stairs); CMU wall installed at east pavilion stair (north wall); cold fluid applied waterproofing complete except for various tie-ins; formwork installed for equipment pads at north lower level mechanical room.

Below is an assortment of photos taken by JP Goguen on March 26, 2026.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: April 2026: Accessibility Steering Committee Update

Work is continuing at both the Library and the campus level. Below is an update on these efforts: 

1. Digital Accessibility and Excellence Roadmap
   We’re excited to share the Year Two Roadmap, including guidance on making content accessible, including LibGuides:
   library.illinois.edu/committees/wp-content/uploads/sites/89/2026/04/University-Library-Digital-Accessibility-and-Excellence-Roadmap-Year-Two.docx
   If you would like to review the Year One Roadmap, you can find it here: uofi.box.com/s/23qx8tjx3g3g7zjathujv5z10j4p155d 
2. Questions About Digital Accessibility?
   Making digital content accessible can be challenging (for example, writing alt text)—but we’re here to help. Send us your questions, and we’ll provide guidance using real-world examples. Your question may help address challenges others in the Library are facing as well. Submit your questions here: go.illinois.edu/digitalaccessibilitysurvey 
3. Weekly Office Hours for Digital Accessibility  
   For anyone who has questions about digital accessibility efforts, or would like assistance with a specific issue, John Laskowski, User Experience & Web Strategy Coordinator, will be hosting weekly office hours every Thursday from 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. on Teams. Please reach out to John with any questions (jdlasko@illinois.edu).  

The Library Accessibility Steering Committee was created to address accessibility improvements throughout the Library’s digital presence. This Committee seeks to guide efforts toward identifying needs, setting priorities, and making decisions regarding this accessibility effort.  

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: MPAL Renovations

Kirstin Johnson, Head of the Music and Performing Arts Library

The first floor of the Music and Performing Arts Library is getting some updates this summer! We will be replacing the ceiling and lights as well as painting. There may be additional improvements to flooring and furniture, so stay tuned to this page for the latest news.

Project Timeline: The full timeline is available on MPAL’s website. These dates are estimates and we will update this page if these targets change.

• April 6: First-floor collections begin move to the Main Stacks in the Main Library and can be used or requested from there
  • The move of the 1st floor collections will take 6 weeks on either side of the renovation work, with additional time needed to remove and reconstruct shelving.

• April 6-May 22: Services and study spaces on both floors and second floor collections available to patrons as normal

If you have questions about the renovation or are having issues finding or locating materials during it, please send an email to mpal@library.illinois.edu.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Cheers for Peers

Library Human Resources is happy to announce this month’s Cheers for Peers submissions. The following Library employees have been cheered by their peers:

• Scott Mann
• Erik Chapman
• Alfredo Guadarrama
• Skye Arseneau
• Jenna Bayler

To view the detailed Cheers for Peers submissions please view the Growing People blog.

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

Check back next month for a factoid from Library Assessment!

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Recognizing Excellence

• Teaching, Learning, and Academic Support Team Receives Recognition for Student Success and Campus Partnerships
• Ruthann Mowry Awarded BRIDGE Seed Grant

Please share your award, recognition, or grant! To initiate a request for publicity, employees (or their supervisors) should submit the Recognizing Excellence Submission Form.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Meeting Minutes (SAT, CDC, CAPT)

Please see the following URLs for the most recent meeting minutes of these groups:

• Content Access Policy & Technology (CAPT) (including workgroup reports): library.illinois.edu/staff/committee/content-access-policy-technology-capt/
• Senior Administration Team (SAT): library.illinois.edu/committees/committees/senior-administration-team
• Collection Development Committee (CDC): library.illinois.edu/staff/committee/collection-development-committee/

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FACILITIES NEWS: Facilities Update

Tim Newman, Assistant Dean of Libraries for Facilities

For a complete list of projects in planning and construction, please visit wordpress.library.illinois.edu/staff/facilities.

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BUSINESS NEWS: Paying Participants in a Research Study

Kim Johnson, Associate Director of Fiscal Operations

If you will be paying individuals to participate in a research study, first a determination needs to be made to find out if the study is a human subject study or a program improvement study.

An human subject study is when aliving individual about whom an investigator conducting research obtains data through intervention or interaction with the individual, or identifiable private information.

A program improvement study (or program evaluation) is a systematic method for collecting, analyzing, and using information to answer questions about projects, policies, and programs, particularly about their effectiveness and efficiency

The main difference between the two types of study is that a human subject study requires review from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Institutional Review Board (UIUC IRB). If you need help with whether you project meets the definition of Human Subject Research or a Clinical Investigation, please contact the Office for Protection of Research Subjects (OPRS).

To request an IRB, please use the IRBOnline system. The approval of the application will be needed by the Library Business Office for any payments to human subjects.

Once a determination has been made on if you need an IRB, the next step would be to determine if a cash payment or a gift card will be given to the participants.

For each of the following payment methods, the Business Office will need documentation with the following information:

• IRB Number (if applicable)
• Amount paid to each recipient
• Name or Recipient Identifier
• UIN (if applicable)
• Email address
• Date received by recipient
• Signature of recipient

*Before requesting a Program Advance, please make sure you have access to Chrome River and have setup the Business Office staff as delegates.

Cash Payment (No Program Advance)

Cash payments can be made without a cash advance through the Business Office. Please provide documentation with the information above and the Business Office will process the payment to the individuals as per university policies.

Cash Payments with Program Advance

Please request a Program Advance. Once the Program Advance is received by the Business Office, it will be processed. The funds will be deposited into the requestor’s bank account.

To distribute the payments, the Requestor will need to document each payment given out with the documentation listed above (***see below for international payments). Any unused advance money will need to be returned to the University in the form of a check made payable to “University of Illinois” and give the check (if applicable) and the documentation to the Business Office to close out the Program Advance.

Gift Card payments with Program Advance (ONLY)

Please request a Program Advance. Once the Program Advance is received by the Business Office, it will be processed. The funds will be deposited into the requestor’s bank account.

To distribute the payments, the Requestor will need to document each payment given out with the documentation listed above (***see below for international payments). Any unused advance money will need to be returned to the University in the form of a check made payable to “University of Illinois” and give the check (if applicable) and the documentation to the Business Office to close out the Program Advance.

Amazon eCodes

Another way to request payments is by requesting Amazon eCodes. Using this method, funds will be deducted from your designated C-FOP as codes are issued (***see below for international payments). To get started:

1. Complete the Amazon eCode Setup form.
2. In the form under the Business Manager and CFOAP approver’s name, enter Kimberly Johnson
3. Email for Business Manager and CFOAP approver, bhrsc@library.illinois.edu
4. When you receive email “Amazon eCode Setup Form,” please email that to bhrsc@library.illinois.edu for the Business Office to retain record of the request
5. Instructions will be sent to the principal investigator or designee on how to issue eCodes.
6. If you have any questions completing the form, please contact the Library Business Office at bhrsc@library.illinois.edu.

***International individuals are not allowed to receive gift cards and must be processed through the Library Business Office. Please provide documentation with the information above and the Business Office will process the payment to the individuals as per university policies and IRS regulations.

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BUSINESS NEWS: International Travel

For international travel commencing on or after July 1, 2026, when travel insurance was not obtained prior to the trip, a request for reimbursement WILL NOT be approved.  If the travel was purchased with a university TCard, a noncompliance will be issued to the cardholder.

This is a follow-up to the January reminder about the University of Illinois System’s requirement to enroll in international travel insurance prior to travel. This policy has been in place since 2024. Exceptions will no longer be approved. 

System policy 15.1.5 International Travel Insurance Requirements and the Business & Finance International Travel Insurance web page have been updated with this information. 

Prior to booking international travel, please review the following for university-specific information and enrollment: 

• University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and System Office: Enrollment and Fees

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BUSINESS NEWS: SPA Subaward Tracker

Subaward invoices are now managed in the SPA Subaward Tracker. This new functionality streamlines how invoices are submitted, reviewed, and approved, ensuring a transparent, consistent process for Units, PIs, and SPA. 

Within the system, Units will enter payment details and complete their review, while PIs will certify subrecipient performance and approve invoices for payment. If concerns arise, Units or PIs can return an invoice to SPA for review; SPA will determine if it must be sent back to the subrecipient. Units and PIs will be notified by email when an invoice requires their action and can also view pending invoices directly in their Subaward Tracker queues. 

Visit the Subaward Invoicing topic on the SPA website.

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BUSINESS NEWS: Grants: New Research Security Training Requirement

Overview

• Online training that provides recipients of federal research funding with information on risks and threats to the global research ecosystem.
• Federal research funding agencies are required to implement Research Security Training program.

Requirement:

• Research Security Training required began February 1, 2026
• For all federal awards, anyone, regardless of title or position, who participates in the purpose, design, conduct, or reporting of the federally funded research or who proposes federally funded research.
• Required within the 12 months prior to proposal submission to a federal sponsor and/or within 30 days of joining a federally funded sponsored research project.
• Renewal is required annually and consists of repeating the RST course in the Portal.
• To complete, go to the Portal at go.illinois.edu/ResSecTraining

If the Research Security Training is not completed, proposals will not be submitted and/or awards will not be set up.  This also applies to collaborators, consultants, and subawardees on federal proposals and awards.

If you have any questions, please contact Chad Lewis at lewis2@illinois.edu (217-333-0380) or reach out to researchsecurity@illinois.edu.

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HR NEWS: Civil Service Vacancies

• Manager, Workstation and Network Support (WNS) – Library IT – Interviewing
• Administrative Assistant – Library Advancement – Interviewing
• Library Operations Associate – Funk ACES Library – Interviewing Soon
• Library Specialist – Slavic Cataloging w/ Language Specialty – Acquisitions & Cataloging Services – Interviewing Soon
• Accountant I—BHRSC – Closed March 31, 2026

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HR NEWS: Academic Professional and Faculty Open Postings

• Bioengineering Librarian – Grainger Library – Finalizing Search
• Visiting Music & Performing Arts Special Collections Librarian – MPAL – Interviewing
• Visiting Open Educational Resources Librarian – SCP – Finalizing Search
• Humanities Librarian (African American Studies and English Literature) – HPNL – Interviewing
• Engineering Instruction and Outreach Librarian – GELIC – Interviewing

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Staff Events Calendar

To see the most up-to-date staff events calendar, please visit libcal.library.illinois.edu/calendar/staff.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: 20th Annual Edible Book Festival

April 4 at 11:30 a.m.
Registration

Around April 1st, bibliophiles, book artists, and food lovers around the world gather to celebrate the book arts and the (literal!) ingestion of culture. Participants create an “edible book,” which can be inspired by a favorite tale, involve a pun on a famous title, or simply be in the shape of a book (or scroll, or tablet, etc). Photographs of all edible books will appear in the Edible Book Festival gallery.

The Champaign-Urbana Edible Book Festival is sponsored by the University Library, and supported by the generous help of campus and community volunteers and prize donors. It is a fundraiser to support the crucial work of the Wesley Food Pantry.

Join us to celebrate 20 years of the Edible Book Festival!

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: World Poetry in Translation

April 9 at 3:00 p.m.
More information

Come celebrate National Poetry Month (April) with the Literatures and Languages Library by reading or listening to poems from around the world in the original language and English translation. Readers will have 5 minutes to present poems and there will be open mic at the end. To read a poem(s), please send the title/ language of the poem(s) by March 25, 2026 to Paula Carns at pcarns@illinois.edu and Marek Sroka at msroka@illinois.edu. All are welcome!

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Player Piano Demonstration

April 10 at 4:00–5:00 p.m.
More information

Enjoy a free concert featuring the Music & Performing Arts Library’s Steinway Duo-Art Reproducing Piano! See the piano in action and learn more about the instrument and roll collection. This is an informal event and all are welcome!

This event will take place in the Music & Performing Arts Library’s player piano room, which is located on the second floor of the library. MPAL is located in the Music Building (1114 W Nevada St., Urbana). See our website for accessibility information and how to get to MPAL.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Introduction to LibGuides Training (Hybrid)

April 13 at 1:00–2:00 p.m.
Registration

*Hybrid: Join us on Zoom or in room 314. 

This hands-on training session is intended for anyone who has, or will have, responsibility for creating and maintaining LibGuides in their library unit, including those new to LibGuides and those looking to refresh LibGuides skills. Access to your unit’s LibApps account is required for this session, and is open to all library staff and GAs. 

In this session, participants will…

• learn what LibGuides are and best practices
• learn how to access, create, edit, and maintain accessible unit LibGuides
• learn where and how to receive LibGuides help and support

Questions about this session, and other LibGuides queries, may be directed to libguides@library.illinois.edu.

Related LibGuide: Getting Started with LibGuides by Teaching, Learning, and Academic Support Library

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Assessing, Maintaining, & Deleting Your LibGuides (Hybrid)

April 14 at 1:00–2:00 p.m.
Registration

*Hybrid: Join us on Zoom or in room 314.

This workshop session is intended for people with existing LibGuide experience and is a follow-up to the Introduction to LibGuides Training session.

During this workshop you will learn:

• The current state of LibGuides at the University Library
• How to create a review cycle
• How to implement a workflow for assessing, maintaining, and deleting LibGuides

Questions about this session, and other LibGuides queries, may be directed to libguides@library.illinois.edu.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Purchasing App Training

April 14 at 2:00–3:00 p.m.
Registration

The Business Office is offering Purchasing App training online and in person. The April training will take place on Teams. We’ll walk through the process together, provide links to resources, and answer your questions.

Registration is required. Additional dates:

• Thursday, May 7, at 2:00–3:00 p.m. in the Main Library, Room 314
• Monday, June 8, at 2:00–3:00 p.m. on Teams. This will have a special focus on ALA.
• Wednesday, June 10, at 2:00–3:00 p.m. in the Main Library, Room 314. This will have a special focus on ALA.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Open Forum on the University Library

April 16 at 3:30–5:00 p.m.
Registration

Students, faculty, and staff are invited to an Open Forum co-sponsored by the Senate Library Committee and the University Library. The Forum will cover a variety of topics, including Main Library space planning, with remarks from Dean of Libraries and University Librarian Claire Stewart about the state of the Library and other library initiatives. Attend in person or register here to attend via Zoom.  

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Global Book History Lecture: Textual Materiality in the Medieval World

April 17 at 3:00–5:00 p.m.
More information

This public event will begin with a lecture by Dr. Warren C. Brown (California Institute of Technology discussing medieval textuality and materiality. A reception and open house will follow, where visitors may view our recently acquired Merovingian manuscript and Greek papyrus. All are welcome, and refreshments will be served.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: LibGuides & Title II: Making Your LibGuides Accessible (Hybrid)

April 20 at 1:00–2:00 p.m.
Registration

*Hybrid: Join us on Zoom or in room 314.

Learn how to make your LibGuides compliant with Title II requirements. 

Questions about this session, and other LibGuides queries, may be directed to: libguides@library.illinois.edu.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Solving the World’s Challenges: Invasive Species

April 21 at 2:30–3:30 p.m.
More information

Three experts from across campus will each discuss their work related to Invasive Species and respond to questions from attendees during the #FunkPanel2026. Their work focuses on Illinois invasive species issues with an emphasis on management and prevention; threats to Illinois agriculture, forestry and the environment; as well as ongoing research on biological invasions. This in-person and online panel presentation on Tuesday, April 21, 2026 from 2:30-3:30 p.m. (Central) will be an opportunity for people to come together with the Funk ACES Library to learn about and discuss Invasive Species research and initiatives led by members of our campus community.

We invite you to attend the panel in-person on the 2^nd floor of the Funk ACES Library for an opportunity to talk with the panelists and other attendees during the 30-minute reception following the presentation. Also, for in-person attendees, we will have a raffle for two books related to Invasive Species. We are providing a Zoom option for virtual attendees.

Panelists

• Karla Griesbaum, Extension Educator, Natural Resources, Environment, & Energy
• Kelly Estes, State Survey Coordinator, Illinois Natural History Survey
• Andy Suarez, Professor, Integrative Biology

This virtual event is free and open to the public. If you will need an accommodation to participate or would like more information, please contact jshearer@illinois.edu. Early requests are encouraged to allow sufficient time for meeting access needs. If attending via Zoom, live transcription will be available and the event will be recorded. For more details, visit our Solving the World’s Challenges Panel Presentation Exhibit or learn about our past panel events.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Coffee for 5 with Claire

April 22 at 4:00–5:00 p.m.
Registration

Let’s have a chat! This monthly gathering is designed for casual, small-group conversations. These will be held virtually on Zoom. Calendar invitation will follow.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: REI Phase 1 Training

May 19–20 at 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Registration

Racial Equity Institute’s (REI) two-day Phase 1 training is designed to develop the capacity of participants to better understand racism in its institutional and structural forms.

Moving away from a focus on personal bigotry and bias, this workshop presents a historical, cultural, and structural analysis of racism. Topics covered include our fish/lake/groundwater analysis of structural racism; understanding and controlling implicit bias; race, poverty, and place; markedness theory; institutional power arrangements and power brokers; importance of definitions of race and racism; history and legacy of race in American economic and policy development; racial identity and its interaction with institutional culture. With shared language and a clearer understanding of how institutions and systems are producing unjust and inequitable outcomes, participants should leave the training better equipped to begin to work for change.

Engaging in DEIA work is essential to the strong and just future we all strive for together, and participating will help us build a strong foundation of shared understanding, vocabulary and focus on which to build.

If you have attended the Phase 1 training, you are able to attend as one of five Alumni, please email Christina Bonse at bonse2@illinois.edu. This is an online event. Event URL will be sent via registration email.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: New Coffee Spot in the Main Library Opens 

The Espresso Royale R&D Lab opened in the Main Library on Monday, March 2, launching a pilot initiative that runs through May 15. The coffee spot will operate inside the Orange Room (northwest corner closest to the north building entrance facing Wright/Armory) Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., serving all faculty, staff, students, and visitors. Stop by for fresh dark and medium roast drip coffee, creamy vanilla cold brew, and coffee with hazelnut and cream, along with muffins, croissants, danishes, scones, fresh fruit parfaits, and a variety of salads—including vegan and gluten-free options. Note: the R&D Lab will pause service during Spring Break (March 14–22).

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: March 2026 Update: Library Accessibility Steering Committee

Over the past several months, work has continued both at the Library and the campus level. Below is an update on these efforts: 

1. Questions About Digital Accessibility?
   Making digital content accessible can be challenging (for example, writing alt text)—but we’re here to help. Send us your questions, and we’ll provide guidance using real-world examples. Your question may help address challenges others in the Library are facing as well. Submit your questions here: https://go.illinois.edu/digitalaccessibilitysurvey 
2. Forthcoming Digital Accessibility and Excellence Roadmap 
   Year Two of the Roadmap is nearing completion. This will include guidance on making content accessible, including LibGuides. If you would like to review the Year One Roadmap, you can find it here: https://uofi.box.com/s/23qx8tjx3g3g7zjathujv5z10j4p155d
3. Weekly Office Hours for Digital Accessibility 
   For anyone who has questions about digital accessibility efforts, or would like assistance with a specific issue, John Laskowski, User Experience & Web Strategy Coordinator, will be hosting weekly office hours every Thursday from 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. on Teams. Please reach out to John with any questions (jdlasko@illinois.edu).  

The Library Accessibility Steering Committee was created to address accessibility improvements throughout the Library’s digital presence. This Committee seeks to guide efforts toward identifying needs, setting priorities, and making decisions regarding this accessibility effort.  

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Cheers for Peers

Library Human Resources is happy to announce this month’s Cheers for Peers submissions. The following Library employees have been cheered by their peers:

• Damian Behymer
• Grace Flavin
• Amy Dannowitz
• Zoe Revell
• Jake MacGregor
• Maddy Hardy
• Kristen Blankenship
• Paul Gowens
• Sara Benson
• Megean Osuchowski
• Alissa Marcum
• Sara Kiel
• Dulcie Vermillion

To view the detailed Cheers for Peers submissions please view the Growing People blog.

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

Belinda Bolivar, Library Assessment Specialist

The Main Library is a hub of activity for students at all hours of the day. But which hours are the busiest? As part of Fall 2025 Sweeps Week (October 13–19, 2025), we collected Visitor Counts from Main Library Study Spaces (Social Sciences, Health and Education Library (SSHEL), The Orange Room, Shebik Family Reading Room, Central Access Services, Media Commons, Literature & Languages, History, Philosophy, & Newspaper, and Map Library) and found that students visit the Main Library at all hours. While visits peaked between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., students continued to use the Main Library from the morning hours into the night.

Check out all Library Study Spaces: Study Spaces Throughout the University Library

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Recognizing Excellence

• Laila Hussein Moustafa Receives Ph.D. in Information Studies
• Fall 2025 Presentations by Library Faculty and Academic Professionals
• Fall 2025 Publications by Library Faculty and Academic Professionals
• Fall 2025 Professional Service by Library Faculty and Academic Professionals

Please share your award, recognition, or grant! To initiate a request for publicity, employees (or their supervisors) should submit the Recognizing Excellence Submission Form.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Meeting Minutes (SAT, CDC, CAPT)

Please see the following URLs for the most recent meeting minutes of these groups:

• Senior Administration Team (SAT): library.illinois.edu/committees/committees/senior-administration-team
• Collection Development Committee (CDC): library.illinois.edu/staff/committee/collection-development-committee/
• Content Access Policy & Technology (CAPT) (including workgroup reports): library.illinois.edu/staff/committee/content-access-policy-technology-capt/

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FACILITIES NEWS: Facilities Update

Tim Newman, Assistant Dean of Libraries for Facilities

For a complete list of projects in planning and construction, please visit wordpress.library.illinois.edu/staff/facilities.

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BUSINESS NEWS: 2026 ALA Conference: Tips & Tricks

Kim Johnson, Associate Director of Fiscal Operations

Save Money! Register by the early cutoff date: April 24. View registration rates here: ALA Annual Registration Rates

Funding Information: Professional Development funding can be used for:

• Membership dues
• Direct conference expenses (travel, registration, hotel, per diem)

Important Fiscal Year Details: The ALA Conference runs June 25–June 29, which coincides with the University’s fiscal year-end. Per University policy:

• Travel expenses will be charged to the fiscal year in which the trip begins.
• For the 2026 ALA Conference, this means FY26 funds only.
• FY27 funds cannot be used for this trip.

Reimbursement Deadline: Because the conference ends near the fiscal year close, there will be a tight turnaround for expense processing.

• All reimbursement requests must be submitted in the Purchasing App by July 3.
• This ensures processing and payment before the final FY26 deadline.

View the ALA Conference Travel FAQ.

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BUSINESS NEWS: Grants

Starting Monday, February 23, 2026, subaward invoices will be managed in the SPA Subaward Tracker. This new functionality streamlines how invoices are submitted, reviewed, and approved, ensuring a transparent, consistent process for Units, PIs, and SPA.

Within the system, Units will enter payment details and complete their review, while PIs will certify subrecipient performance and approve invoices for payment. If concerns arise, Units or PIs can return an invoice to SPA for review; SPA will determine if it must be sent back to the subrecipient. Units and PIs will be notified by email when an invoice requires their action and can also view pending invoices directly in their Subaward Tracker queues.

On the go-live date, complete resources and guidance will be available within the SPA website’s Subawards topic. These materials include step-by-step processes, invoice lifecycle details, and FAQs

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BUSINESS NEWS: New Research Security Training Requirement

Overview:

• Online training that provides recipients of federal research funding with information on risks and threats to the global research ecosystem.
• Federal research funding agencies are required to implement Research Security Training program.

Requirement:

• Research Security Training required began February 1, 2026
• For all federal awards, anyone, regardless of title or position, who participates in the purpose, design, conduct, or reporting of the federally funded research or who proposes federally funded research.
• Required within the 12 months prior to proposal submission to a federal sponsor and/or within 30 days of joining a federally funded sponsored research project.
• Renewal is required annually and consists of repeating the RST course in the Portal.
• To complete, go to the Portal at go.illinois.edu/ResSecTraining

If the Research Security Training is not completed, proposals will not be submitted and/or awards will not be set up.  This also applies to collaborators, consultants, and subawardees on federal proposals and awards.

If you have any questions, please contact Chad Lewis at lewis2@illinois.edu (217-333-0380) or reach out to researchsecurity@illinois.edu.es, invoice lifecycle details, and FAQs

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HR NEWS: Filled Positions

• Kyle McCafferty – Library Specialist for Monographic & Media Acquisitions – Acquisitions & Cataloging Services – Starting March 2, 2026

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HR NEWS: Departures

• Jafar Muhammad– Accountant I – BHRSC – Resigned, last day February 13, 2026

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HR NEWS: Civil Service Vacancies

• Manager, Workstation and Network Support (WNS) – Library IT – Interviewing soon
• Administrative Assistant – Library Advancement – Closing March 3, 2026
• Library Operations Associate – Funk ACES Library – Closing March 5, 2026
• Library Specialist – Slavic Cataloging w/ Language Specialty – Acquisitions & Cataloging Services – Closing March 12, 2026

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HR NEWS:  Academic Professional and Faculty Open Postings

• Bioengineering Librarian – Grainger Library – Finalizing Search
• Visiting Music & Performing Arts Special Collections Librarian – MPAL – Interviewing
• Visiting Open Educational Resources Librarian – SCP – Interviewing
• Humanities Librarian (African American Studies and English Literature) – HPNL – Interviewing Soon
• Engineering Instruction and Outreach Librarian – GELIC – Closing March 6, 2026

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Staff Events Calendar

To see the most up-to-date staff events calendar, please visit libcal.library.illinois.edu/calendar/staff.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: CARLI Open Pedagogy Workshop

March 4 at 11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Registration

When you use open pedagogy in your classroom, you are inviting students to be part of the teaching process, participating in the co-creation of knowledge. In this online workshop, you will learn the definition and context of Open Pedagogy, view innovative examples being applied in a variety of subjects and formats, and work with other attendees to create an assignment that you can use in your own class. Sponsored by the CARLI OER Committee.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Building Strong Instruction Partnerships on Campus

March 4 at 2:00–3:00 p.m.
Registration

This discussion-based session is designed for library instructors interested in building and sustaining instructional partnerships with instructors and campus partners.

Invited participants with experience across e-learning initiatives, programmatic instruction, and subject-based teaching will respond to guided questions and engage in open conversation with attendees. The session will highlight practical strategies for communication, relationship-building, and collaboration, and is intentionally designed to be low-prep and conversational.

Snacks will be provided. Registration is not required, but it will help us plan for space and refreshments.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Better Decision Making – Professional Development Series

March 10 at 10:00–11:30 a.m.
Registration

Explore key lessons from Daniel Kahneman’s Thinking, Fast and Slow on how we make judgments and choices—and practical ways to slow down, think more deliberately, and reduce common thinking traps. We’ll also look at everyday biases (like anchoring, availability, and framing) and how to recognize them to make more informed decisions.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Assess and Connect: 2026 Library Assessment Forum Presentation

March 11 at 1:00–2:00 p.m.
Register to attend online

The Library Assessment Committee invites you to join the 2026 Library Assessment Forum. Two Library Assessment Committee Grant (LAC Grant) recipients will discuss their experience with assessment and lessons learned.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Love Letter/Breakup Letter: An Assess and Connect Workshop

March 11
Online at 2:10–3:00 p.m.
Main Library Room 106 at 3:10–4:00 p.m.

“Love Letter/Breakup Letter” is a method used to gather insight into what users like and dislike about libraries. Participants will receive breakup letters—remixed from real feedback—and use them as prompts for reflection. In response, participants will write a “love letter” and brainstorm about ideas and tools for service improvement.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Purchasing App Training

March 18 at 2:00–3:00 p.m.
Registration

The Business Office is offering Purchasing App training online and in person. The March training will take place in the Main Library, Room 314. We’ll walk through the process together, provide links to resources, and answer your questions.

Registration is required. Additional dates:

• Tuesday, April 14, at 2:00–3:00 p.m. on Teams
• Thursday, May 7, at 2:00–3:00 p.m. in the Main Library, Room 314
• Monday, June 8, at 2:00–3:00 p.m. on Teams. This will have a special focus on ALA.
• Wednesday, June 10, at 2:00–3:00 p.m. in the Main Library, Room 314. This will have a special focus on ALA.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: From Memorization to Critical Thinking: An Embedded Librarian’s Guide to Designing Higher-Order Assessments

March 24 at 2:00–3:00 p.m.
Registration

Library instructors often rely on multiple-choice questions due to course access, grading, and time constraints, but these questions aren’t limited to assessing knowledge and comprehension. This webinar will show how instruction librarians can design assessments that foster higher-order thinking (yes, even with multiple choice questions) and align with meaningful learning objectives. Using Bloom’s Taxonomy, Backward Design, and real instruction examples, we’ll explore strategies for crafting application-level and above questions, connecting them to instructional content, and creating engaging, application-based activities. CARLI – Sponsored by FLVC.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Coffee for 5 with Claire

March 25 at 4:00–5:00 p.m.
Registration

Let’s have a chat! This monthly gathering is designed for casual, small-group conversations. These will be held virtual on Zoom. Calendar invitation will follow.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Increasing Productivity – Professional Development Series

March 26 at 1:30–3:00 p.m.
Registration

We will draw upon productivity systems like Getting Things Done and Pomodoro method to explore tools and strategies to manage your time effectively.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Of Colored Glass: Luxury, Loss, and Imitation from Antiquity to Byzantium

March 26 at 3:00–5:00 p.m.
More information

From its invention in the Bronze Age, glass was conceived as “molten stone” and continuously used to emulate gems, gold, and rare marbles. Drawing on archaeological finds, representations in art works, and written sources, Dr. Anastasios Antonaras (Museum of Byzantine Culture, Thessaloniki,) places Byzantine glass in context to a wider Mediterranean tradition where it emerges as a powerful medium of splendor, authority, and sacred presence. 

This talk is sponsored by the Department of Classics, and hosted in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library. It is free and open to all audiences, and refreshments will be served.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Restringing Altgeld’s Mathematical Models: Touching, Tying, and Understanding Mathematics

March 27 at 2:00–3:00 p.m.
More information

The Department of Mathematics and the University Library have been collaborating to build a digital library collection for Altgeld Hall’s historic mathematical models. This work includes creating descriptive metadata, assessing physical condition, and cleaning and conserving the models. Because every line and surface of these models represents a mathematical expression, their care and interpretation require expertise from two worlds: mathematics and preservation.

To highlight this interdisciplinary collaboration, the event will feature Professor Jared Bronski (Department of Mathematics) and Professor Jennifer Hain Teper (Head of Preservation Services, University Library). Together, they will discuss how mathematical models are interpreted, handled, and preserved, followed by a hands-on demonstration of restringing a string model.

A reception will be held in 300 Harker Hall (Math Common Room) following the event, in conjunction with the Department of Mathematics’ Monthly Cake & Tea.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Updated Event Planning Resources and Call for Spring Semester Events

Sara Berthier, Events Administrator Associate

Following up on our Event Planning Open Listening Sessions in November, we have updated some of our event planning resources. In planning for your Spring semester events, please check out the updated University Library Events webpage where you will find:

• A step by step Event Planning Checklist with the official process.
• An Event Planning Flowchart that will help you verify if your event needs to be communicated to us through the Event Planning Form.
  • Upon submission of the form, you will receive a copy of the results from Webtools. If you need to edit your form after submitting, you can do so by modifying your submission. The Events team is automatically notified of any edits you make.

We have taken into account the feedback from both Open Listening Sessions and the results from the September Pulse Survey. Our next steps will be to improve and streamline the events form, provide clear guidelines on sponsorships, provide employees with a better internal interface to view planned Library events and creating an online platform for event items that can be loaned (tablecloths, banners, etc.).

If you have further questions, please reach out to events@library.illinois.edu.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Illinois Open Publishing Network: New Titles

IOPN is excited to announce the publication of The Design of the Built Environment: The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Campus and Its Context by School of Architecture professor Kevin J. Hinders. Hinders, an architect, educator, and urban designer produces a work that both explains and demonstrates key architectural principles through experiential learning. This open educational resource (OER) explores the architectural, cultural, and historical development of the Urbana campus and its surroundings. Published under the Windsor & Downs imprint, this textbook was partially funded by the University Library and the Office of the Provost’s 2025 Faculty OER Incentive Program. Accessibility improvements for this publication were supported by The Robert and Kay Merrick Family Endowment Fund. (Read more about this title on the IOPN news blog.)

The following IOPN supported journals have also published new issues recently:

• SourceLab
• ВИВЛIОθИКА / Vivliofika 

Stay tuned for other publications coming soon! 

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FACILITIES NEWS: Library Building Project – 2/1/2026

Tom Teper, Associate Dean and Associate University Librarian for Collections and Technical Services

Construction continues apace, with our most recent site observation from the architect estimating that the project is over 25% completed. As of January 15^th, the following work was in progress: Existing sloping stone sills at courtyard (removed for cleaning and new flashing installation) are being reinstalled; Mockup of acoustic ceiling panel installed in waffle ceiling (upper level) for review; Ductwork installation along south side of upper level has started (ductwork sitting on floor, ready for installation); Additional ductwork scattered around upper level, ready for installation; Priming/painting waffle slab near east side of upper level; CMU wall installation underway in upper level below east pavilion; and waterproofing work continues at north side of plaza. Flashing installed on perimeter walls and some raised square benched.

Due to current weather conditions, most work moved inside. Over the next three weeks, we should see the following on the exterior (weather permitting): elevator shaft forming and pouring; forming and pouring roof curbs on pavilions, hot fluid applied waterproofing, flashing/reinstalling limestone. On the interior, the lower level should see framing and wall installation while the upper level should see electrical, plumbing, and mechanical rough-in; painting of the waffle ceiling, installation of decking and structural steel, and framing. Below is an assortment of photos taken by JP Gugoen on January 14, 2026.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Cheers for Peers

Library Human Resources is happy to announce this month’s Cheers for Peers submissions. The following Library employees have been cheered by their peers:

• Dulcie Vermillion
• Skye Arseneau
• Kestrel Ikar

To view the detailed Cheers for Peers submissions please view the Growing People blog.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Recognizing Excellence

• Sotomayor Publishes New Book About Family and Power in Early Spanish Puerto Rico

Please share your award, recognition, or grant! To initiate a request for publicity, employees (or their supervisors) should submit the Recognizing Excellence Submission Form.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Meeting Minutes (SAT, CDC, CAPT)

Please see the following URLs for the most recent meeting minutes of these groups:

• Senior Administration Team (SAT): library.illinois.edu/committees/committees/senior-administration-team
• Collection Development Committee (CDC): library.illinois.edu/staff/committee/collection-development-committee/
• Content Access Policy & Technology (CAPT) (including workgroup reports): library.illinois.edu/staff/committee/content-access-policy-technology-capt/

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FACILITIES NEWS: Facilities Update

Tim Newman, Assistant Dean of Libraries for Facilities

For a complete list of projects in planning and construction, please visit wordpress.library.illinois.edu/staff/facilities.

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BUSINESS NEWS: Preparing for Travel

Kim Johnson, Associate Director of Fiscal Operations

Review this list to help you prepare before your trip even begins. Gathering documents as you go makes the reimbursement process much easier. (Please note: post-travel, the reimbursement process generally takes 4-5 weeks).

Documentation

• All appropriate receipts and invoices should be scanned and ready to upload to the Purchasing App.
  • Receipts need to show date and total paid, hotel receipts need to be itemized.
  • Please name your files, e.g. Airline-CMI to Paris- $572.63, Uber-Hotel to Amtrak-$17.22.
  • Chrome River accepts these file types: JPEG, PDF, PNG, OFD, and TIFF.
  • It may be helpful to create a folder on your desktop to collect all relevant information and/or create a .zip file for easy uploading.
• Other documentation that may be appropriate to include:
  • Completed Per Diem Request Form.
  • PDF of conference website showing dates & location.
  • PDF proof of conference hotel from conference website.
  • PDF of the Business Office travel funding approval email.
  • Flight Comparison – If you traveled earlier or stayed later than the business you were conducting, please provide a screen shot showing flight dates/prices if you had only traveled to the conference. Note: You will be reimbursed for the lesser amount.
• If requesting Mileage, include:
  • Starting Location, (home address or your University Library address – whichever is closest to the destination).
  • Destination, (hotel/conference/donor address).
  • If you are driving instead of flying, you need to explain why and provide a flight price comparison. You will be reimbursed for the lesser amount.
• Business Purpose Statement!
  • Name, date and location of conference/event.
  • Benefits to the University. (See the Knowledge Base for tips).
    • Speak to how your travel furthers the University’s mission and fulfills the duties of your job.
    • Use the information you entered in the Business Office’s Professional Development Funding and Travel Form to help you craft your statement.
    • Note: When an expense report is rejected, a large portion of the time it is because the purpose statement is not strong.

Please add the Business Office Staff as delegates for you in Chrome River. We ask that you submit your receipts within 5 days of travel. Our goal is to process your request within 3 business days. This benefits you as items submitted for reimbursement after 60 days are sometimes considered taxable. (See the University’s policy.)

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BUSINESS NEWS: Grants

Kim Johnson, Associate Director of Fiscal Operations

Please visit our webpage: Grant Development and Submission Procedures located on the Library Business Office page. The direct link is: wordpress.library.illinois.edu/staff/bhrsc-business-services/grant-development-and-submission-procedures

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HR NEWS: Filled Positions

• Rachel Scott – Head – Acquisitions & Cataloging Services Librarian – ACS – Started Jan 12, 2026
• Eva Gellman – UX and Content Specialist – Main Library Admin – Starting February 2, 2026

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HR NEWS: Departures

• Lucy Moynihan – LOA – FUNK Aces – Retiring, last day February 28, 2026

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HR NEWS: Civil Service Vacancies

• Library Specialist for Monographic & Media Acquisitions – Acquisitions & Cataloging Services – Pending Offer

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HR NEWS:  Academic Professional and Faculty Open Postings

• Bioengineering Librarian – Grainger Library – Pending Reference Checks
• Visiting Open Educational Resources Librarian – SCP – Interviewing Soon
• Humanities Librarian (African American Studies and English Literature) – HPNL – Pending Phone Screens
• Visiting Music & Performing Arts Special Collections Librarian – MPAL – Pending Phone Screens

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HR NEWS: In Memoriam

• Jane Williams

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Staff Events Calendar

To see the most up-to-date staff events calendar, please visit libcal.library.illinois.edu/calendar/staff.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: The Lifecycle of Writing Subjects : On Generative AI and the Future of Writing

February 4 at 4:00–5:30 p.m.
Registration

In this lecture, Goodlad introduces generative AI and the rise of chatbots in light of their concentrated political economy, long history of anthropomorphized machine “intelligence,” and ongoing impact on the future of writing and human poiesis. Ideal for interdisciplinary audiences and open-ended conversation, Goodlad’s approach is both technically specific and legible. She concludes with a case for the widespread dissemination of critical AI literacies and the need to put “humanities in the loop.”

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Library Friends Webinar – Visual Storytelling and the Archives: Translating Scientific Research for Public Audiences

February 12 at 12:00–1:00 p.m.
Registration

Join us for our first Library Friends Webinar of the year where we learn how advanced typography students in the Graphic Design program found unexpected inspiration during a visit to the University Archives. Students examined how scientific records are documented, preserved, and communicated over time. Tasked with translating complex research for public audiences — and drawing from archival materials, such as letters from alumnus John C. Houbolt who served as Chief Aeronautical Scientist at NASA — the visit shaped how students transformed dense, abstract information into engaging typographic systems, visual explanations, and narrative-driven design artifacts. The visit also underscored the interdisciplinary value of archives and how their materiality — along with the information archives contain — can illuminate the development and exchange of scientific knowledge.

This presentation will share examples of student work and walk through how the projects took shape, highlighting how archival collections support research-driven design, interdisciplinary collaboration, and data storytelling. Attendees will see how archival resources, when brought into the design studio, can help students humanize complex ideas and communicate research beyond academic boundaries.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Player Piano Demonstration

February 13 at 4:00–5:00 p.m.
More information

Enjoy a free concert featuring the Music & Performing Arts Library’s Steinway Duo-Art Reproducing Piano! See the piano in action and learn more about the instrument and roll collection. This is an informal event and all are welcome!

This event will take place in the Music & Performing Arts Library’s player piano room, which is located on the second floor of the library. MPAL is located in the Music Building (1114 W Nevada St., Urbana). See our website for accessibility information and how to get to MPAL.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: LCP Forum

February 17 at 1:00–3:00 p.m.

The Library Committee of Academic and Civil Service Professionals is pleased to announce that it will be holding its annual LCP Forum on February 17 from 1-3pm. This will be a hybrid event. Please watch out for another email in the coming weeks with registration information, including information for snacks for remote attendees.

Dean Claire Stewart will be joining us for a portion of the program. There will be a question session with Dean Stewart after her talk, but if you have any questions in advance that you would like to submit, please email an LCP member or submit your question via our contact form: surveys.illinois.edu/sec/1087207313. The form can also be found on the LCP webpage.

The forum will feature a lightning talk panel on AP/CSP projects, research, and work. If you would like to give a 5-minute talk on a project, research, or work that you or your unit have been doing, please email me. Talks can be presented in-person or online. There are limited slots, and we will need your PowerPoint slides in advance of the meeting.

Please contact Cara Bertram with any questions.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Purchasing App Training

February 17 at 2:00–3:00 p.m.
Registration

The Business Office is offering Purchasing App training online and in the Main Library, Room 314.  The February training will take place online. We’ll walk through the process together, provide links to resources, and answer your questions.

Registration is required. Additional dates:

• Thursday, March 19 at 2:00–3:00 p.m. in the Main Library, Room 314

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Creating Focus – Professional Development Series

February 18 at 10:00–11:30 a.m.
Registration

We will explore recent research findings by Dr. Gloria Mark about how an increasingly virtual world can affect attention span, as well as tools and techniques for restoring balance and helping us focus and manage our time better.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Coffee for 5 with Claire

February 25 at 9:00–10:00 a.m.
Registration

Let’s have a chat! This monthly gathering is designed for casual, small-group conversations. These will be held virtual on Zoom. Calendar invitation will follow.

Next date: Wednesday, March 25 at 4:00–5:00 p.m.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Outreach and Engagement Retreat

February 26 at 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Registration

The Outreach and Engagement Committee invites you to connect with your colleagues across the library to learn more about their current & future projects, outreach strategies, and how you could collaborate together! The first hours will be lighting talks to showcase the outreach and engagement work being done across the library & community, and then a informal reception with light refreshments.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: The Evolution of the Greek Book: From Byzantine Manuscripts to Renaissance Incunabula

February 26 at 3:00–5:00 p.m.
More information

Dr. Elias Petrou will explore the evolution and transmission of the Greek book from East to West, beginning with an overview of the Byzantine educational system, the preservation and transmission of classical Greek knowledge through manuscripts, and how this inherited book culture was transformed through the new technology of print. 

This talk is free and open to all audiences. Refreshments will be served.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Film Screening & Discussion: The Edge of Each Other’s Battles

February 26 at 6:00–8:00 p.m.
Registration

Join us for a film screening of The Edge of Each Other’s Battles (2002), a 59-minute documentary honoring Audre Lorde, followed by a facilitated discussion. Food and drink will be provided. Register to help us plan! go.library.illinois.edu/Lorde. This event is part of the BNAACC and Chill Film Series. Discover more events: bnaacc.illinois.edu/events/black-history-month. Learn more about Black History Month events and exhibits at the University Library! go.library.illinois.edu/BHM

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Cheers for Peers

Library Human Resources is happy to announce this month’s Cheers for Peers submissions. The following Library employees have been cheered by their peers:

• Melanie Kuehn
• Jafar Muhammad
• Chad Lewis
• Jennifer Gavel
• Skye Arseneau
• Paul Gowens
• Kestrel Ikar
• John Laskowski
• Kristen Zidon
• Hannah Williams
• Molly Banwart
• Cait Coker

To view the detailed Cheers for Peers submissions please view the Growing People blog.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Recognizing Excellence

Please share your award, recognition, or grant! To initiate a request for publicity, employees (or their supervisors) should submit the Recognizing Excellence Submission Form.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Meeting Minutes (SAT, CDC, CAPT)

Please see the following URLs for the most recent meeting minutes of these groups:

• Senior Administration Team (SAT): library.illinois.edu/committees/committees/senior-administration-team
• Collection Development Committee (CDC): library.illinois.edu/staff/committee/collection-development-committee/
• Content Access Policy & Technology (CAPT) (including workgroup reports): library.illinois.edu/staff/committee/content-access-policy-technology-capt/

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FACILITIES NEWS: Facilities Update

Tim Newman, Assistant Dean of Libraries for Facilities

For a complete list of projects in planning and construction, please visit wordpress.library.illinois.edu/staff/facilities.

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BUSINESS NEWS: Purchasing Food for Business & Events

Kim Johnson, Associate Director of Fiscal Operations

When purchasing food for university business, what you buy determines if the food is considered a Catering, Business Meal, or a Food Supply.* The allowable maximum expenditure for business meals, receptions, and refreshments is $75 per person per meal.

*The University is tax exempt and therefore will not reimburse tax on food purchases. When making purchases on behalf of the U of I System, please present suppliers with the U of I System’s sales State of IL Sales Tax Exempt Letter to avoid paying sales tax on purchases.

Requesting Food/Refreshments for Approved University Library Events: To request the Library Business Office purchase food and/or refreshments for an approved event, please submit the request through the Purchasing App following the procedures below:

• Receiving written approval from fund manager, place order with the vendor
• Place the order with the vendor
• Submit request through the Purchasing App
• In Vendor Information Section, check the “User Entered Vendor” and include vendor contact name in the address line. Add email address and phone number in designated fields
• In the Items Section
  • Quantity is 1
  • Units: Each
  • Price: total price of order
  • Catalog/Part #: what was ordered
  • Description: “Order has been placed, needs Business Office payment”
• Delivery Information: Choose Other and enter who will it pick up the order or if it will be delivered
  • Make sure when the order is received that the receipt is obtained and brought to the Business Office for reconciliation
• Section 6 Review & Submit, please include a Business Purpose in the Business Purpose.
  • If this option is not available, please go back to the Delivery Section and include the Business Purpose in the Comments/Special Instructions
• The Library Business Office will then pay for the order up to 2 weeks in advance of the event.
• Once you pick up or receive delivery of the order, make sure you obtain the receipt and bring it to the Business Office for reconciliation

Food Supplies: Food Supplies are a common purchase for many units, but differ from a Business Meal. For example, an employee purchased pre-packaged food items (such as bagels, coffee, ground beef, buns, cookies, and bottled water) to bring to a business meeting or university event. These items are considered consumable food supplies. Remember, sales tax is not reimbursable.

Ways to Purchase:

• University P-card with Supporting Documentation (NOT T-Card)
  • Note to P-card holders: Food Supplies should be purchased with a PCard using account code 124300.
• Submit reimbursement request through the Purchasing and Reimbursement App with Supporting Documentation
• Supporting Documentation needed for each transaction:
  • The business purpose of the meeting/activity (how it benefited the System) as required by the Internal Revenue Service.
  • Itemized receipt or invoice detailing all food and beverage purchases.
  • The number of attendees.
  • Affiliation of attendees. Do not list by name, but indicate whether they were employees or non-employees.
  • Whether alcohol was served.

Business Meals: Business Meals are another common purchase for many units, but differ from consumable food supplies. For example, if you are paying a restaurant to prepare a platter of sandwiches or boxed lunches for a business meeting or university event, this would be considered a business meal.

Ways to Purchase:

• University T-card with Supporting Documentation (NOT P-Card)
• Submit reimbursement request through the Purchasing and Reimbursement App with Supporting Documentation
• Supporting Documentation needed for each transaction:
  • The business purpose of the meeting/activity (how it benefited the System) as required by the Internal Revenue Service.
  • Itemized receipt or invoice detailing all food and beverage purchases. Tips up to 20% will be reimbursed.
  • Include both the meal and alcohol on 1 (one) receipt.
  • The number of attendees.
  • Affiliation of attendees. Do not list by name, but indicate whether they were employees or non-employees.
  • Whether alcohol was served.

Catering: A catered event typically involves one or all of the following:

• a signed contract
• a deposit
• a provided service

If you need catering, please contact the Library Business Office at BHRSC@library.illinois.edu

The preferred caterer for University Events is University Catering

University Policies: 8.1.1 Business Meals, Refreshments, and Alcohol

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HR NEWS: Departures

• Vicki Sparks – Administrative Aid – Advancement – Retiring, last day December 31, 2025

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HR NEWS: Civil Service Vacancies

• UX and Content Specialist – Main Library Admin – Pending Reference Checks
• Library Specialist for Monographic & Media Acquisitions – Acquisitions & Cataloging Services – Interviewing

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HR NEWS:  Academic Professional and Faculty Open Postings

• Bioengineering Librarian – Grainger Library – Interviewing Soon
• Humanities Librarian (African American Studies and English Literature) – HPNL – Interviewing Soon
• Visiting Open Educational Resources Librarian – SCP – Interviewing Soon
• Visiting Music & Performing Arts Special Collections Librarian – MPAL – Interviewing Soon

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HR NEWS: In Memoriam

• Gene Rinkel

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Staff Events Calendar

To see the most up-to-date staff events calendar, please visit uiuc.libcal.com/calendar/staff.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Project Management Fundamentals

January 8 at 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Registration

Project Management Fundamentals is a hands-on, interactive workshop designed for Library employees who are currently managing projects or preparing to do so in the near future.

This small-group, full-day session will be facilitated by Jake MacGregor, Organization Development & Training Coordinator, and is geared toward those looking to strengthen basic project management skills. This session provides ample time for discussion, questions, and practice.

Participants will:

• Learn key project management terminology, concepts, and best practices
• Explore how to use Excel for simple project tracking and organization
• Apply new skills by working through a simulated, Library-focused project in small teams

Lunch will be provided. Please obtain your supervisor’s approval before registering. Seats are limited — please register only if you can fully commit to attending, so all interested employees have the opportunity to participate.

Questions can be directed to Jake MacGregor (jdmac@illinois.edu).

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Annual Library Recognition Event and Planning Workshop

January 13 at 9:00–11:30 a.m.
Register to attend online

This hybrid event will be held Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at the I-Hotel Conference Center in the Chancellor Ballroom. The Recognition Event will be from 9:00–10:00 a.m., followed by a Planning Workshop from 10:00–11:30 am. Join us for a breakfast buffet at 8:00 a.m. and stay for a luncheon at 11:30 a.m. The deadline to RSVP for the in-person event has passed, but you can still register to attend virtually.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Receiving Feedback – Professional Development Series

January 15 at 1:30–3:00 p.m.
Registration

We will explore key lessons and practices from Douglas Stone & Sheila Heen (authors of Thanks for the Feedback) on how to effectively receive feedback, which can ultimately lead to stronger relationships, trust, and collaboration.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Purchasing App Training

January 15 at 2:00–3:00 p.m.
Registration

The Business Office is offering Purchasing App training on Teams and in the Main Library, Room 314.  We’ll walk through the process together, provide links to resources, and answer your questions.

Registration is required. Additional dates:

• Tuesday, February 17 at 2:00–3:00 p.m. via Teams
• Thursday, March 19 at 2:00–3:00 p.m. in the Main Library, Room 314

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