March Library Office Notes


ANNOUNCEMENTS

FACILITIES NEWS

HR NEWS

EVENTS AND TRAINING



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

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

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

Working with Alma/Primo in Microsoft Internet Explorer browser – After March 7th, 2021, Alma and the Primo Library Catalog will no longer support the Microsoft Internet Explorer browser (including no longer fixing display or performance issues of Microsoft IE). Ex Libris certifies the following browsers: Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Apple Safari.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Amazon Business Purchases
Wendy Balthazor, Grants & Contracts Coordinator

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

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

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

Thank you for your attention to this and please let me know if you have any questions.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS: IOPN News
IOPN recently published A Person-Centered Guide to Demystifying Technology by Martin Wolske, one of the earliest titles that went under development with IOPN and the second open-access textbook in the Windsor & Downs Press series OPN Textbooks.
Read more at https://iopn.library.illinois.edu/2021/02/04/meet-martin-wolske-author-of-a-person-centered-guide-to-demystifying-technology/.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Did You Know? A Monthly Factoid from Library Assessment? 

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

More information is available at https://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d19/.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Library Tip of the Month
The Library sends a monthly email to new faculty at Illinois during the fall and spring semesters. These emails introduce many of our services and resources to this important audience.

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

If you have ideas for future emails, please feel free to share them with Heather Murphy.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Collection Development Committee Notes
The most recent meetings minutes of the CDC are posted at:
https://www.library.illinois.edu/staff/committee/collection-development-committee/
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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Content Access Policy & Technology Meeting Minutes
The meetings minutes of CAPT (including workgroup reports) are posted at:
https://www.library.illinois.edu/staff/committee/content-access-policy-technology-capt/
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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 this Awards/Recognitions/Grants Publicity Request Form.
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FACILITIES NEWS: Update
For a complete list of projects in planning and construction, please see https://wordpress.library.illinois.edu/staff/facilities/.
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HR NEWS: Filled Positions

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

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HR NEWS: Departures 

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

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HR NEWS: Searches Completed 

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

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HR NEWS: Searches in Progress or Pre-announcement

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

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Staff Events Calendar
To see the most up-to-date staff events calendar, please visit https://uiuc.libcal.com/calendar/staff.
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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Student Success Librarian Presentations
March 1- March 10

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

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

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

Zoom information was sent via LibNews email from Sarah Williams on February 15.
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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Mikki Kendall Author Talk
March 2 at 6 PM CST

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

Register Here: https://illinois.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_apAetqoLT023K4BfEhTEXg
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EVENTS AND TRAINING: IlliniFest
March 7, 7pm
RSVP Here

IlliniFest will be virtual this year and stream live. The Rare Book & Manuscript Library will once again be participating!
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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Women in Science Lecture Series: Dr. Catherine J. Murphy
March 9, 12-1pm
Virtual Event on Zoom | Register Here

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

We hope you can join us for the March lecture! Dr. Catherine J. Murphy, Larry R. Faulkner Endowed Chair in Chemistry and Head of the Department of Chemistry, will discuss her research on inorganic nanomaterials applications and the chemical interactions these nanomaterials have with their surroundings.
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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Hub Training
March 9 – April 23

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

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

or

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

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

 

Jameatris Rimkus and Linda Stahnke

 

Tuesday, March 23 from 2-3 p.m.

or

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

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

 

Carissa Phillips and Jess Hagman

 

Tuesday, April 6 from 2-3 p.m.

or

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

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

 

Ayla Stein Kenfield

 

Tuesday, April 20 from 2-3 p.m.

or

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

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

 

Tom Teper

 

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

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

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

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

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

Co-organizers: Sarah Appedu (MLS Student) & Lisa Hinchliffe (Library Faculty)
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EVENTS AND TRAINING: NISO Webinar – Building Trust: Credibility of Content
March 10 at 10 AM

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

Please email training@library.illinois.edu for login credentials or recordings.
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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Pi Day 2021
March 14

Join the Rare Book & Manuscript Library for a brief introduction to several of its historical mathematics texts. A video will be released on RBML’s YouTube channel on Pi Day.
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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Decentering the Canon in the Architectural Library
March 23, 5pm
Virtual Event on Zoom | Register Here

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

Panelists include expertise from a broad range of disciplines within architecture, including architectural history, museums, and practice.
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EVENTS AND TRAINING: To Your Health! Love Your Larynx!: An Owner’s Guide
March 25 at 11 AM

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

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

Zoom information was sent via LibNews email from JJ Pionke on February 19.
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If you would like to submit content for the April issue of Library Office Notes, please submit it to Heather Murphy or Tom Teper by March 19, 2021.