ANNOUNCEMENTS: University Librarian Note

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

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Library Building Project Update – 9/1/25

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

General Update

Construction continues apace, with our most recent site observation from the architect estimating that the project is 16% completed. As of August 29^th, the following work is in progress: elevator excavation and external waterproofing, finishing demo of west pavilion and removal of waterproofing on plaza, courtyard limestone cleaning, and finishing mechanical and other demolition. The coming weeks will see the beginning of framing out of floors on the upper level, continuation of waterproofing and site work, and finishing the excavation necessary for the elevator.

Recently, the News-Gazette provided an update to their readers: news-gazette.com/news/former-undergrad-library-gets-facelift-accessibility-updates-in-transformation-to-archive-building/article_5cd14ff8-94ca-4210-83b5-6dce4aab3114.html.

Below are an assortment of photos from the exterior work currently underway.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Accessing Text and Data Mining Collections

Mary Ton, Digital Humanities Librarian

The Library offers text mining access to historic newspapers, primary sources, and purchased data, including Early English Books Online and African American Newspapers. Previously, these collections were available for text and data mining purposes via physical hard drives through the Scholarly Commons. Now, they’re available on Box by request via this brief form: go.illinois.edu/tdmrequest

This represents the culmination of a multi-year, multi-unit effort to migrate our collections from physical hard drives to cloud storage. I’m especially grateful to Tracy Popp (who heroically rescued data from failing drives) and Stu Turner (who graciously provided space and equipment for the migration), as well as the many graduate students who’ve supported this project over the years (Ryan Yoakum, Cadence Cordell, Adam Beaty, and Luisa Matzner). Thank you so much to all those in Library IT, Preservation, ACS, Oak Street, Library Admin, TLAS, Scholarly Communication and Publishing, Media Commons, and Grainger who contributed!

For a summary of our text mining collections, please see the “Finding Text Data” LibGuide: guides.library.illinois.edu/textdata

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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
• Sammi Merritt
• Christina Bonse
• Tracy Popp
• Quinita Balderson
• Tim Hayden
• Lee Whitacre
• Nacera Bouchama
• Naza Agassi
• Mirella Bajric
• Leon Ramirez
• Anthony Stewart
• Steve Bermingham
• Jake Culbertson
• Paul Foster
• Xavier Sanchez
• Tim Newman
• Emily Benton

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

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Recognizing Excellence

• Lynne M. Thomas Receives 2025 Hugo 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: Senior Administrative Team Meeting Minutes

The most recent meeting minutes of the Senior Administration Team are posted at:
library.illinois.edu/committees/committees/senior-administration-team

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Collection Development Committee Notes

The most recent meeting minutes of the CDC are posted at:
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:
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: Membership Dues

Kim Johnson, Associate Director of Fiscal Operations

To request payment or reimbursement of membership dues:

• 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: 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

• Pamela Ward – Library Specialist – Funk ACES Library – Retiring, last day September 30, 2025
• Siobhan McKissic – Visiting Faculty – Ricker – Visiting appointment ended September 15, 2025

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HR NEWS: Civil Service Vacancies

• Senior Audio, Video, and Emerging Technology Specialist – Library IT – Interviewing Soon
• Senior Library Specialist – IAS & HPNL – Interviewing Soon
• Library Specialist – Communications Library– Interviewing Soon

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HR NEWS:  Academic Professional and Faculty Open Postings

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

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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: Library AI Literacy Planning Summit

September 3 at 9:00–11:30 a.m. | Registration
September 4 at 9:00–11:30 a.m. | Registration

The event is an opportunity to contribute towards planning efforts connected to the Library’s role supporting campus teaching & learning.  Goals for the session include identifying AI Literacy needs connected to the Library’s role in research support, and identifying a list of priorities for developing workshops and teaching support.

There will be two identical sessions, each approximately two-and-a-half hours long.  The sessions will begin with an overview of AI Literacy based on current professional models, followed by structured brainstorming sessions to identify AI Literacy critical concepts and needs.  We want to hear from broad and diverse voices and perspectives at the event.  The discussion consider user and librarian perspectives, and examine diverse aspects of AI including technical, ethical, and practical literacy components.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: 35th Annual Mortenson Center Distinguished Lecture

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

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”. 

View information about additional events September 2-4: library.illinois.edu/mortenson/lectures/

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Exhibit opening for “Sweetbitter: The Literary Legacies and Afterlives of Sappho”

September 19 at 3:00–5:00 p.m.
More information

Please join us for the opening reception of RBML’s fall exhibit, Sweetbitter: The Literary Legacies and Afterlives of Sappho.

The ancient poet Sappho coined “sweetbitter” in one of her most evocative verses, still striking us to the heart nearly three millennia later. But who was Sappho? As with so many ancient figures, she is more legend than person today, her story told and retold even as her poetry continues to enchant and move us. Our opening reception celebration will take us back to an old form of a symposium, a party with spoken words and dance, featuring a special performance by contemporary dancer and choreographer Jessica Van de Koot.

This event is free and open to the public, and refreshments will be served.

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