ANNOUNCEMENTS: University Librarian Note

Check back next month for a note from Dean of Libraries and University Librarian Claire Stewart.

Back to Top

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Library Building Project Update – 8/1/25

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 11% completed. As of July 31^st, the following work is in progress: elevator excavation and external waterproofing, finishing demo of west pavilion and waterproofing on plaza, beginning to salvage courtyard limestone, continuing mechanical and other demolition, concrete cutting for freight elevator, and removal of demolished materials. Below are an assortment of photos from the exterior work currently underway.

Back to Top

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
• Anthony Stewart
• Emma Kassem
• Tierra Brown
• Alfredo Guadarrama
• Carter Ingold
• Kent Markley
• Kennadie Mitchell
• Arthur Hall
• Megean Osuchowski

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

Back to Top

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Recognizing Excellence

• Mary Schlembach Invited to Royal Society of London Conference
• Spring 2025 Presentations by Library Faculty and Academic Professionals
• Spring 2025 Publications by Library Faculty and Academic Professionals
• New series: Spring 2025 Professional Service by Library Faculty and Academic Professionals

Beginning in Spring 2025, there will be a new series alongside our triannual recognition of Presentations and Publications by Library Faculty and Academic Professionals, recognizing Professional Service.

If you would like to add your professional service to the Spring 2025 post, please use the newly revised Recognizing Excellence Submission form. Please only submit professional services that commenced during the post’s time period (January–May 2025).

If you receive an award, recognition, or grant, please complete and submit the Recognizing Excellence Submission form to be included in the Recognizing Excellence blog. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to the communications team! communications@library.illinois.edu

Back to Top

Back to Top

Back to Top

Back to Top

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Senior Administrative Team Meeting Minutes

Moving forward, the meeting minutes of the Senior Administration Team will be posted at: library.illinois.edu/committees/committees/senior-administration-team

Back to Top

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Collection Development Committee Notes

The most recent meeting minutes of the CDC are posted at:
library.illinois.edu/staff/committee/collection-development-committee/

Back to Top

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Content Access Policy & Technology Meeting Minutes

The meeting minutes of CAPT (including workgroup reports) are posted at:
library.illinois.edu/staff/committee/content-access-policy-technology-capt/

Back to Top

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.

Back to Top

BUSINESS NEWS: International Travel

Kim Johnson, Associate Director of Fiscal Operations

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.

Back to Top

BUSINESS NEWS: Travel Grants

Kim Johnson, Associate Director of Fiscal Operations

The Business Office receives notification for Scholar’s Travel Funds, however, other grants or travel funds, we are not notified. If you have received

• International Conference Travel Grant: international.illinois.edu/awards-funding/conference-travel.html
• Staff Professional Development Fund: humanresources.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SPDF-Application-Criteria-for-SY-24-25.pdf
• Future World Changers Matching Grant: provost.illinois.edu/faculty-affairs/seminars-workshops/fwca/

Any documentation that say to have the unit’s Business Office contact the granting unit for funds transfer, we will need to have the original email to request funding.

FAQs:

• When am I going to get reimbursed?
  • University Payables process 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 an conference/research trip, can I go before and/or stay longer for vacation?
  • Yes.  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 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 travels if they do not have the University provided insurance coverage.

Back to Top

BUSINESS NEWS: Grants

Kim Johnson, Associate Director of Fiscal Operations

The Library Business Office requires that all complete proposal is provided to the Grants and Contracts Coordinator seven (7) business days in advance of the sponsor’s deadline in order to meet the SPA deadline requirements.

Back to Top

BUSINESS NEWS: Updates – Effective July 1, 2025

Kim Johnson, Associate Director of Fiscal Operations

Indirect Cost Rate:

• Our federally negotiated F&A rate is currently under renegotiation and expected to take effect July 1, 2025. If a provisional rate is issued before then, we will apply the lesser of the current or provisional rate until the final rate is confirmed.

Tuition Remission rate for Other Sponsored Activity (OSA) will be 62%

• For projects classified as Other Sponsored Activity (OSA) that include tuition remission:
  • a 62% tuition remission rate will be applied in accordance with new institutional policy
  • Implementation: new OSA awards will assess a 62% tuition remission rate
  • Existing awards with a 64% tuition remission rate will stay at 64% for the life of the project
• FY26 Tuition Remission Rates
  • Instruction: 64%
  • Organized Research: 64%
  • Other Sponsored Activities: 62%
• The threshold for sub-award indirect cost exclusion increases to $50,000
  • Applies only to new sub-awards on or after 7/1/25
• Institutional Equipment Threshold Remains at $5,000
  • Despite the federal revision, our institution will continue to apply a $5,000 equipment threshold for all proposals—federal, state, or otherwise. This aligns with the State of Illinois definition of equipment and ensures consistency particularly when funding sources are blended.

*These updates affect how the Modified Total Direct Cost (MTDC) base is calculated for indirect costs.

What You Should Do

• If your proposal has a budget start date on or after July 1, 2025:
  • Use the revised budget template with a $5,000 equipment threshold and a $50,000 subaward threshold for indirect cost base calculations.
  • SPA Budget Templates: sponsoredprograms.illinois.edu/research-topics/proposal-budgeting
• For supplements, the rates and thresholds will remain the same for the entire period of performance
• For continuations, use the current F&A rate and if extending the period of performance for OSA awards, update the tuition remission rate to 62%
  • SPA will setup a separate CFOP under the existing grant code to track continuation funding subject to the new 62% tuition remission rate
• For existing awards, the thresholds and tuition remission rate remain the same for the life of the project.

Recently Updated FAQ’s

F&A rates were updated in the following FAQ’s associated with the CAM RP-03 Charging of Facilities and Administrative Costs to Sponsored Projects:

• What is the appropriate F&A rate for State of Illinois GOMB agencies?
  • The off-campus rate was changed from 10% MTDC to 15% MTDC
• What is the appropriate F&A rate for use on non-profit organizations?
  • The rate was changed from 10% TDC to 15% TDC
• What rate should I use for a subrecipient who does not have a negotiated F&A rate?
  • The rate was changed from 10% MTDC to 15% MTDC

Back to Top

HR NEWS: Departures

• Xiaoping Qi – Senior Library Specialist – ACS – Retired, last day June 30, 2025

Back to Top

HR NEWS: Civil Service Vacancies

• Senior Audio, Video, and Emerging Technology Specialist – Library IT – Interviewing Soon

Back to Top

HR NEWS:  Academic Professional and Faculty Open Postings

• Head – Acquisitions & Cataloging Services Librarian – Acquisitions and Cataloging Services – Pending Offer

Back to Top

EVENTS AND TRAINING: Staff Events Calendar

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

Back to Top

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

Monday, August 18

• GA Training: Welcome & Working in the Library
  • 9:15–10:45 a.m., Main Library 66, Main Library
• GA Training: Emergency Procedures
  • 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m., Main Library 66, Main Library
• GA Training: Group Lunch and 2nd Year GA Panel
  • 12:00–1:30 p.m., Main Library 220, Main Library
• GA Training: Fire Extinguisher Training & Practice
  • 1:45–2:45 p.m., Main Library 66, Main Library
• GA Training: Main Library Building Tour
  • 2:45–3:30 p.m., Main Library, First Floor Information Desk, Main Library
• GA Training: Main Stacks Tour
  • 2:45–3:30 p.m., Main Library, 2nd Floor Stacks Circulation Desk, Main Library
• GA Training: Main Library Building Tour
  • 3:30–4:15 p.m., Main Library, First Floor Information Desk, Main Library
• GA Training: Main Stacks Tour
  • 3:30–4:15 p.m., Main Library, 2nd Floor Stacks Circulation Desk, Main Library
• GEO Presentation for New Graduate Assistants
  • 4:15–5:15 p.m., Main Library 66, Main Library

Tuesday, August 19

• GA Training: Introduction to Library Web Strategy and Development
  • 9:00–9:45 a.m., Grainger Commons, Rooms 233/235, Engineering
• GA Training: Introduction to Catalog Tools
  • 10:00–11:15 a.m., Grainger Commons, Rooms 233/235, Engineering
• GA Training: Tour of Grainger Library
  • 11:15 a.m.–12:00 p.m., Grainger Commons, Rooms 233/235, Engineering
• GA Training: Alma Fulfillment
  • 1:00–2:15 p.m., Grainger Commons, Rooms 233/235, Engineering
• GA Training: Alma Cataloging
  • 2:30–3:30 p.m., Grainger Commons, Rooms 233/235, Engineering
• GA Training: Alma Acquisitions
  • 3:30–4:30 p.m., Grainger Commons, Rooms 233/235, Engineering

Wednesday, August 20

• GA Training: Introduction to Library Database Searching
  • 9:15–10:45 a.m., Funk ACES Library 509, ACES
• GA Training: Tour of Funk ACES Library
  • 11:00–11:45 a.m., Funk ACES Library 509, ACES
• GA Training: Reference Interview and Instruction in Reference
  • 12:45–2:30 p.m., Funk ACES Library 509, ACES
• GA Training: Chat Reference and Referrals + Overview of LibInsight
  • 2:45–4:30 p.m., Funk ACES Library 509, ACES

Back to Top

EVENTS AND TRAINING: 35th Annual Mortenson Center Distinguished Lecture

September 4 at 3:30–5:00 p.m.
Registration

Amanda Rubin, documentary filmmaker and journalist, has brought The Third Reich of Dreams, a long-overlooked classic back to print in a newly-translated English edition (Princeton Press, 2025). Her Mortenson Distinguished Lecture will share Beradt’s incredible untold story and legacy of courage as a woman, journalist, and refugee. The lecture will focus on the power of the irrepressible imagination and the potent symbolism of books, writing and archiving as “witnesses to history”. 

Back to Top