May Library Office Notes


ANNOUNCEMENTS

FACILITIES NEWS

HR NEWS

EVENTS AND TRAINING


ANNOUNCEMENTS: University Librarian Note
As my time as Interim Dean draws to a close, I’d like to offer a heartfelt “thank you” to the Library community for your support and the impressive work we have pressed forward during the last five months.  It may be just me, but hasn’t this spring felt exceptionally busy—and buzzy with the hum of activity?  I hope you, too, have felt especially productive and proud of all the things we have accomplished over the past five months.  Together, our Library supports world-class research and instruction, and underlies the success of our students and faculty members. Read more…

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Library Building Project Update – 05/01/2023
Tom Teper, Associate University Librarian for Collections and Technical Services | Project Manager, Library Building Project

General Update

The renovation of the Undergraduate Library and planning for construction of the Archives and Special Collections Building continues apace. At present, all of the demolition of the Undergraduate Library spaces being completed by Facilities & Services has been completed with the exception of a minor amount of asbestos abatement being completed in April 2023.

Planning activities make similar progress. The project’s architect/engineering firm submitted their 100% drawings in mid-March 2023, and after a period to review the drawings and accompanying documentation, the University submitted comments to RATIO on March 28th, 2023. On Monday, April 3rd, representatives from the Library and various campus units of F&S spent the day reviewing the comments, discussing possible adjustments, and finalizing direction on the contraction documents. While it was initially anticipated that it would take approximately two weeks for the Architect-engineers to finalize the drawings, late breaking uncertainties about the specifics of the HVAC system are drawing out the discussions.

Once the final drawings and accompanying materials required for the bid are submitted, the University will prepare the final bid package. This will be released for the public bidding process with the intent of having a construction package prepared for final Board of Trustees approval at the September BOT meeting. Construction could start shortly thereafter.

In parallel to this process, members of the Special Collections Division worked diligently with representatives of Bradford Systems and SpaceSaver to finalize a shelving layout for the facility. Meeting roughly every other week, this group made great progress on zeroing in on a final shelving layout. Their target completion date is May 2023.

Other Activities

Personnel within the Library continue to meet on a bi-weekly basis to touch base on progress, and members of the Library’s Administration continue meeting with Capital Programs’ project team on a weekly basis to touch base and monitor progress associated with this project.

Efforts to barcode and improve inventory management continue. The Special Collections Division is continuing work related to their opening exhibit. As noted, work on the shelving layout continues. Once done, members of the units will need to start preparing models for where specific portions of the collection will sit in the planned shelving layouts in preparation for an eventual move of library and archival collections into the facility.

Proposed Project Schedule

As the project progresses, the schedule becomes increasingly more detailed and accurate going forward. At present, the schedule below outlines dates going forward for the development of construction documents (CD), their review, the bidding and negotiation phase, construction, and post-construction. This schedule was updated and is accurate as of June 8th, 2022.

We anticipate some changes as the final bid package is prepared.

Communications

Nothing to report.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Cheers for Peers
To view the full Cheers for Peers submissions please view the Growing People blog.

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

  • Evan Barber
  • Annika Deutsch
  • Piper Law
  • Uyen Tu Nguyen
  • Piper Martin
  • Eric Mosher
  • Leonel Ramirez
  • Scott Schwartz

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Subscribe to the University Archives Newsletter!

University of Illinois Postcards

The University of Illinois Archives has launched a newsletter! In Out of the Vault, the Archives will share news about exhibitions, programs, projects, new acquisitions, and services. The inaugural issue includes features on the Inclusive Speaker Series and the Women in Science Lecture Series; recent awards to current and former Archives staff in recognition of their outstanding work in archives; a documentary about the first Dean of Women at the University of Illinois, Violet DeLille Jayne; and an interview with Archives staff member Sammi Merritt, who is starting an exciting new role with the Alaska Resources Library and Information Services. Subscribe here to receive future issues and stay connected will all the exciting happenings at the University Archives!

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

How do faculty, researchers and instructors value the roles the Library plays at the University? The results of the 2023 Ithaka S+R Faculty Survey show that the Library’s “Buyer” function is most valued (“The library pays for the resources I need, from academic journals to books to electronic databases”) – with 95% of the respondents rating this library function as highly important. This is consistent with the 2013 (93%) and 2019 (94%) results from the same survey. While the same trend have been consistently reported nationally (https://sr.ithaka.org/publications/ithaka-sr-us-faculty-survey-2021/), it is important to highlight that the percentage at Illinois was 11% higher than the national statistic (84%).

The 2023 survey included two new questions asking the respondents to rate the importance of “Technology Access” and “Physical Space.” Many Illinois respondents rated these functions to be very important. The “Technology Access” was rated as the second most important (86%; tied with the “Graduate Support” function after the “Buyer” function. 

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Outreach and Engagement Committee (OEC) Update

The OEC has been hard at work and has two resources to share with Library colleagues:

  • Are you involved in planning or hosting events through the Library? Please see the Toolkit for Outreach and Engagement, located on the OEC website at library.illinois.edu/staff/committee/outreach-and-engagement-committee/ for a comprehensive list of resources that will help make your event a success. The OEC worked in collaboration with Events Administrator Associate Sara Berthier on this Toolkit. It is an evolving document and will be updated on a regular basis.
  • A new Teams channel has been created for the Library community – the Outreach and Engagement Team. Please join the Team if you do work in these areas. It’s the committee’s hope that this Team will be a place where we can not only share our events, but one that encourages collaboration and provides information and resources about outreach and engagement.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Update

  • There are two DEIA Educational Workshops this month (see below under EVENTS). There will be two additional workshops in June and two in July. Please watch for these via LIB-NEWS and the next LON.
  • Victor Jones, Jr. will offer office hours in the coming weeks.

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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 meeting 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: Facilities Update
Tim Newman, Assistant Dean of Libraries for Facilities

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

  • Jessie Knoles – Newspaper Content Coordinator – History, Philosophy, & Newspaper Library – 4/3/2023
  • Tiffany Amolsch – Senior Library Specialist – Scholarly Commons – 4/24/2023

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HR NEWS: Departures

  • Andrew Hunt – IT Specialist – Library IT – 4/21/2023
  • Susan Braxton – Prairie Research Institute Librarian – Funk ACES Library – 4/30/2023
  • Michelle Reed – Head of Scholarly Commons – Scholarly Commons – 4/30/2023

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HR NEWS: Civil Service Vacancies

  • Assistant Distribution Services Supervisor – Library Facilities – Decision Soon
  • Library Operations Associate – Acquisitions & Cataloging Services – Decision Soon
  • Multi-level ITTA – Assoc Software Developer/Software developer – Library IT (SCaRS) – Interviews Soon
  • Library Specialist – Communications Library – Closes 4/27/2023

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HR NEWS: Academic Professional and Faculty Open Postings

  • Cataloging & Metadata Librarian – Acquisitions & Cataloging – Closes 5/5/2023
  • University Archivist and Head of Archives Programs – University Archives – Closes 5/12/2023

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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: DEIA Educational Workshop Series
May 3, 23

We are pleased to invite you to participate in a new University Library DEIA Educational Workshop Series. This series was developed by Dr. Ellen Burts-Cooper of Improve Consulting in collaboration with the DEIA Task Force. Dr. Ellen was our guest speaker at the Library Annual Recognition Event. These workshops are a mixture of presentation and discussion, led by two library facilitators. By attending this workshop, you will have the opportunity to meet colleagues from across the library and learn from each other.

This semester, we will be offering 3 opportunities to attend the first module, Library Culture and Engagement. This workshop covers important foundational topics requested by library employees, including belonging, psychological safety, collaboration, and how to contribute to a healthy workplace. Attending this module will be very helpful for engaging with the additional four modules offered later.

The Library Culture and Engagement module will be offered on zoom on the following dates, please register:

  • Wednesday, May 3rd 2pm – 4pm register
  • Tuesday, May 23rd 10am – 12pm register

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Introduction to LibGuides Training
May 3 at 2 PM

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.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Build-a-Book
May 4 at 12 PM and 3PM

Build-a-Book returns this Reading Day, May 4th! U of I students, staff, and faculty are invited to join the Residence Hall Libraries and University Library to make and decorate a blank book. The books make sweet gifts or keepsakes for yourselves. This popular event has become a new Reading Day tradition!

Join either session:
12 PM to 2 PM: Illinois Street Residence Hall Room 50 A/B (right next to ISR Library)
3 PM to 5 PM: Student Dining & Residential Programs Building (AKA, the SDRP, “the Ike”) Room 2050

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Library Friends Webinar: mix-tapes, VHS Recordings, and iPhone Photos
May 4 at 12 PM

Jennifer Hain Teper, the Library’s Head of Preservation, will present an overview of the typical AV and digital formats such as mix-tapes, VHS recordings and iPhone photos, that many consider valuable and will present basic steps that people can take towards better preservation strategies to ensure that you will be able to continue access to these materials for years to come. Register via Zoom.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: CARLI Professional Development Alliance Events
May 4, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 19

To view more information about these events and to register, visit the CARLI Event Calendar.

  • May 4 at 12 PM: Accessibility & EDI in Marketing
  • May 8 at 4 PM: Metronet Learnabouts: Virtual Reality Kits
  • May 9 at 11 AM: Shared Spaces Series: Tales of Sharing Spaces
  • May 10 at 11:30 AM: Creating Preservation Quality Oral Histories
  • May 15 at 11:30 AM: Digitizing Photographs
  • May 16 at 11 AM: Shared Spaces Series: Getting to a Commons Goal: Designing the New Library Commons at University of Illinois Springfield
  • May 17 at 11 AM: No More Neutral: How to Use Marketing to Position Your Library in Challenging Times
  • May 19 at 9 AM: OER Virtual Institute for Cardiovascular Technology

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: NISO Webinar: Combating the Misuse of Information
May 10 at 10 AM

One of the great challenges of today’s information environment is the constant need to avoid misuse or deliberate misinterpretation of information. This is as much of a problem for those working in the content sector as it is for those working in the library or classroom. The distrust that it creates is a disservice to scientists, scholars, and researchers in all fields. There are no easy solutions, but the participants in this roundtable discussion will share creative ways of combating the problem and protecting the value and credibility of the research they — and we — rely on.

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

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If you would like to submit content for the June issue of Library Office Notes, please submit it to Heather Murphy or Tom Teper by Friday, May 19, 2023.