Author Archives: kariq2@illinois.edu

May Library Office Notes

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

FACILITIES NEWS

BUSINESS NEWS

HR NEWS

EVENTS AND TRAINING


ANNOUNCEMENTS: University Librarian Note
As we look ahead to the end of the spring semester and exam period, I am reminded how important the Library is to our academic community. This time of year can be incredibly rewarding and uplifting, but can also be the time when we are most likely to see students in distress. Some merely need a good place for concentrated work, or someone to help with a question. Thank you for all you do to keep our spaces safe and productive, and, most importantly, for being such a key resource at this critical time of the academic year. Read more…

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Building Project Update
Tom Teper, Associate University Librarian for Collections and Technical Services | Project Manager, Library Building Project

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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:

  • Susan Breakenridge
  • Sarah Heald
  • Dani Postula
  • Ithamar Ritz
  • Preston Wright

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

Sweeps Week is a data sampling activity each Fall and Spring during which Library units put in extra effort to thoroughly collect data on visitor counts, reference interactions, and other metrics. They provide a snapshot of activity for units and the Library to evaluate the use of resources and facilities. Between 10/9/2023 – 10/15/2023 (Fall 2023 Sweeps Week) and 3/18/2024 – 3/24/2024 (Spring 2024 Sweeps Week), 5,870 total records were created in LibInsight, tracking 123,875 visitors in library spaces and 3,215 reference or directional/hours transactions.

During Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 Sweeps Weeks, units collected 2,112 reference transactions, of which 371 records tracked the “Subjects” of users’ reference and research inquiries. “Other” was recorded most often at 107 entries. “Art/Architecture”, “Music”, and “History” were the next top three at 41, 40, and 36 entries respectively. The graph included here has filtered out “Other” to make the diversity of subjects more visible, and the percentages are of the 264 remaining entries. Some subjects with only 1 entry are unlabeled.

The graphs were made using LibInsight’s Dashboards tool, and interactive versions along with other core fields can be found here: https://illinois.libinsight.com/sweepsweekfy24. Categories can be excluded from the column charts by clicking on their names in the legends or made to stand out in the pie charts by clicking on their name or their wedge. For full descriptive analysis of the Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 Sweeps Week data, please visit the Did you know? Factoids from Library Assessment page.

Graphic created and text written by Gabriel Foster, Library Assessment Graduate Assistant.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Senior Administrative Team Meeting Minutes

Please see detailed meeting minutes as follows:

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Collection Development Committee Notes
The most recent meeting 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 NEWS: Facilities Update
Tim Newman, Assistant Dean of Libraries for Facilities

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

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BUSINESS NEWS: New Requirement for International Travel
Kim Johnson, Associate Director Fisc Operations – Lr Associate

There is a new requirement for International Travel that you MUST enroll in the University International (Health) Insurance Coverage for each trip that is taken for official University business. The insurance premiums are covered by the University and there are no copays or deductibles. If any out of pocket expenses occur, you will be able to be reimbursed upon your return to campus.

With this new requirement, reimbursements for travel expenses will not be paid if the traveler did not sign up for the insurance coverage.

To enroll in the required insurance coverage, please go to www.safetyabroad.Illinois.edu. (Note: enrollees will use the “Study Abroad” software)

We have a posted a link on the Business Office webpage (https://www.library.illinois.edu/staff/bhrsc-business-services/) for International (Health) Insurance Coverage.

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HR NEWS: Filled Positions

  • Laura Eichelberger – Accounting Officer – Business & Human Resources Service Center – 4/29/2024
  • Marissa Modugno – Marketing Associate – Library Communications – 6/3/2024

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HR NEWS: Departures

  • Alex Dolski – Research Programmer – Library IT – 4/26/2024

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HR NEWS: Academic Professional and Faculty Open Postings

  • Cataloging and Metadata Librarian – Acquisitions and Cataloging Services – Closes 5/3/2024

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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: DeStress Fest
May 2

On Reading Day, take a study break to relax and refresh at the Library’s end-of-semester tradition, De-Stress Fest! From animals (including mini horses!), crafts, VR, snacks, academic support, and more,* there is something for everyone! Locations include Funk ACES Library, Grainger Engineering Library Information Center, and the Main Library. See below for each location’s unique schedule of events. We hope to see you there!

https://go.illinois.edu/DeStress24

*While supplies last

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Reading Day: Build-a-book
Laura Poulosky, Residence Hall Librarian
May 2

The Res. Hall Libraries will close permanently on Friday, May 10th, at 7:00 pm.

  • Reading Day: Build-a-book | Thurs., May. 2nd
    Create and decorate your own blank book to give as a gift or to keep for yourself. All materials—and snacks—provided!
    SDRP 2050 – 2:00-4:00 pm

For any questions, please contact Laura Poulosky at l-poulo@illinois.edu.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Introduction to LibGuides Training
Tuesday, May 7 at 11 AM

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.

https://uiuc.libcal.com/event/12032094

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: This LibGuide is on Fire: How to Assess & Review Your LibGuides
Wednesday, May 8 at 10 AM

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

https://uiuc.libcal.com/event/12032151

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, reviewing, 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: Preservation Emporium
May 18, 1-4pm
Douglass Annex, 804 N 5th St, Champaign, IL

Free and open to the public!

Meet your local preservation experts. Experts in photos, paper, fabric, instruments, art, digital media, and more will be on hand to answer your questions. Bring an item from your own collection and learn preservation tips. Activities for kids + hourly raffles for adults! Read more…

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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 24, 2024.

April Library Office Notes

Posted on by

ANNOUNCEMENTS

FACILITIES NEWS

BUSINESS NEWS

HR NEWS

EVENTS AND TRAINING


ANNOUNCEMENTS: University Librarian Note
Happy spring! I hope everyone is hanging in there as we sprint through the last month of the semester. Spring is also the time when we will pivot to revising our strategic plan and (at least parts of) our leadership structure. As many of you know, Sara Holder and David Ward will conclude their terms of service as Directors this August. Serving in an interim administrative role is often a challenging and thankless job, and even more so through a dean transition. David and Sara have been wonderful colleagues and have advanced our work meaningfully during a time of extreme ambiguity, and I am very grateful to them both. I look forward to formally thanking and recognizing them this summer. Read more…

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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:

  • Gabi Fisher
  • Paul Gouwens
  • MJ Han
  • Kim Johnson
  • Mary Laskowski
  • Chad Lewis
  • Sarah Park
  • Chris Prom
  • Janelle Sander
  • Tom Teper

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

Grateful — Helpful — Encouraging — Accessible — Lifesaver

….

On the Spring 2024 Library Service Satisfaction Survey, we asked participants to describe how they feel about the University of Illinois Library in one word. Above are some of the words submitted by the survey participants. 

Tuesday, April 9, 2024 is National Library Workers Day (NLWD) and the April factoid is a collage of library memories. This is dedicated to (in alphabetical order) the 58 academic professionals, 149 civil service staff, 81 faculty (tenure-system and specialized), 77 graduate student assistants, and approximately 250 hourly workers (student hourly, academic hourly, graduate hourly & extra help) who created these memories for library users and the community.

Data from the Division of Management Information 2023-2024 Campus Profile – University Library (dmi.illinois.edu)

Images from 

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Senior Administrative Team Meeting Minutes

Detailed meeting minutes forthcoming for:

  • February 28
  • March 27

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Update
Victor Jones, Jr., Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility

Library Culture and Engagement (Zoom) Module 1 will be hosted on April 10. Check the Staff Calendar for additional dates for the DEIA Education Workshop Series.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Collection Development Committee Notes
The most recent meeting 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 NEWS: Facilities Update
Tim Newman, Assistant Dean of Libraries for Facilities

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

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BUSINESS NEWS: ALA Conference Tips and Tricks
Kim Johnson, Associate Director Fisc Operations – Lr Associate

Reminder: Professional Development funding does not cover membership dues, it can only be used for direct conference expenses (travel, registration, hotel, per diem).

The ALA Conference dates, June 27-July 2, happen over the University’s fiscal year end/beginning. Per University policy the travel will be reported on and funded from the fiscal year it begins in; so, for the 2024 ALA Conference that will be FY24, we cannot allow usage of FY25 funds to cover the expenses for this trip.

As this conference straddles the fiscal years there will be a time crunch to wrap up the expense reimbursements for it. All reimbursement requests must be submitted to the Purchasing App no later than July 5th to be able to be processed and paid out before the final payment date of FY24.

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HR NEWS: Filled Positions

  • Kamal Watt – Associate Infrastructure Specialist – Library IT – 3/25/2024
  • Courtney Monroe – Associate Infrastructure Specialist – Library IT – 4/1/202

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HR NEWS: Departures

  • Ivy Gamble – IT Specialist – Library IT – 2/29/2024
  • Jimmy Gonzalez – High Density Storage Facility Coordinator – Collection Management Services – 3/5/2024
  • Theresa Appiah – Business Administrative Associate – Business & Human Resources Service Center – 3/8/2024
  • Marla Crook – Senior Library Specialist – Interlibrary Loan & Document Delivery – 3/31/2024

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HR NEWS: Civil Service Vacancies

  • Accounting Officer – Business & Human Resources Service Center – Closes 4/1/2024

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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: Hub Training

  • April 1 at 2 PM and April 5 at 3 PM: Finding and Using Images
  • April 8 at 2 PM and April 12 at 3 PM: Finding Newspapers
  • April 15 at 2 PM and April 19 at 3 PM: Digital Toolkit for Research Services
  • April 22 at 2 PM and April 26 at 3 PM: Recording, Analyzing, and Visualizing Data in LibInsight

For each topic, one session will be held in-person and one will be held via Zoom. The sessions are listed in the Staff Calendar and on the Hub Wiki Training Schedule page (login with your NetID and password). Please contact the Reference Management Team (rmt@library.illinois.edu) if you have any questions about the Hub Trainings.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Trivia Night, Craft Night, and Book Club
Laura Poulosky, Residence Hall Librarian
April 2, 24, and 30

Our spring semester hours will be Monday through Friday (12-7 pm). We’re planning some fun outreach events for the month of April:

  • Trivia Night | Tues., Apr. 2nd
    Sponsored by the Central Residence Hall Funding Board. Play pub-style trivia, with pizza, snacks, and extra goodies for the winning teams! 
    SDRP 2050 – 5:30-7:30 pm
  • Craft Night | Wed., Apr. 24th  
    “Plant” your own mini succulent and decorate its pot. All material—and snacks—provided for free!
    ISR 94AB – Faux Succulents – 5:00-7:00 pm
  • Book Club – An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir | Tues., Apr. 30th
    Co-sponsored with the Honors LLC, get a free copy of the books when you sign up to attend, while supplies last!
    ISR Room 93 – 6:30-7:30 pm

For any questions, please contact Laura Poulosky at l-poulo@illinois.edu.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Office of Threat Assessment Presentation
Tuesday, April 2 at 11 AM & April 4 at 3 PM

Learn about the new Threat Assessment Program, from the director, Moni Marcelo, and Steve Spaide. They will provide an online presentation about this new program, which strives to prevent targeted violence by employing a proactive, evidence-based approach to the assessment and management of threats posed, or potentially posed, to or by members of the university community. Come to this session to learn about these important supportive resources.

This session is intended for any Library employee and will be offered three times to accommodate different schedules (you only need to attend one session). Attending this session is an approved library event, operations permitting, subject to prior supervisor approval. Registration is not required, but very helpful to us so that we can plan for expected audience size. You will also get reminders about the training and a way to download it to your calendar.

These sessions will not be recorded.

Register here for April 2: https://uiuc.libcal.com/event/12146508

Register here for April 4: https://uiuc.libcal.com/event/12146607

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Overtime, Compensatory Time & Make-up Time Presentation
Wednesday, April 3 at 3 PM

Library HR will provide an online presentation about Overtime, Compensatory Time and Make-up Time. The presentation will focus on who is eligible, the differences of each, when to use and how to reconcile hours on your timesheet.

The sessions are intended for any Library employee and will be offered three times to accommodate different schedules (you only need to attend one session). Attending this session is an approved library event, operations permitting, subject to prior supervisor approval. Registration is required. You will also get reminders about the training and a way to download it to your calendar.

These sessions will not be recorded. Register here: https://uiuc.libcal.com/event/12183110

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Edible Book Festival
Saturday, April 6 at 9 am

Calling all book artists and food lovers 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).  All entries will be exhibited, documented, then EATEN!  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.

For more information visit: go.library.illinois.edu/edible

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Solving the World’s Challenges: Emerging Diseases
April 9 at 2:30 pm

Three experts from across campus will each discuss their work related to emerging diseases and respond to questions from attendees during the #FunkPanel2024. Their work includes development of the Swine Biosecurity project to prevent the introduction and spread of diseases on farms, research on chronic wasting disease in white-tailed deer, and research to understand the effects of landscape change on the emergence and transmission of diseases. This hybrid panel presentation on Tuesday, April 9, 2024 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 emerging disease research and initiatives led by members of our campus community.

This virtual event is free and open to the public. For more details, visit our Solving the World’s Challenges Panel Presentation Exhibit here: https://guides.library.illinois.edu/Solving_Challenges_Panel_Exhibit

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Library Culture and Engagement (Zoom) Module 1
Wednesday, April 10 at 1 PM

We are pleased to invite you to participate in the 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. 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 the first module, Library Culture and Engagement only once. 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.

Register here: https://uiuc.libcal.com/event/11933906

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: International Jazz Day Celebration: “Ellington Lives! Singin’ and Swingin’ Three Generations On”
April 14 at 2:30 pm

Three generations of musicians from Urbana-Champaign will perform works by jazz master Duke Ellington for our annual C-U International Jazz Day that will be held at the Spurlock Museum of World Cultures.

The free event will also feature a short informational session on Ellington provided by Sam Reese and informal reflections on Ellington’s influences on each of the afternoon’s performers.

For more information on the afternoon’s performers, please visit: https://archives.library.illinois.edu/sousa/2024/03/30/new-international-jazz-day-celebration-planned-for-april/

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Hangout
Thursday, April 18 at 10 am

We are excited to invite you to our first in person Library Hangout of 2024, on April 18th from 10-11am, in the Main Library Reading Room. Snacks and coffee will be provided. Feel free to drop in as early as 9:30am and mingle after the formal meeting.

If you cannot attend in person, do not worry, this event will be livestreamed and made accessible via Zoom. Please note that accepting the Zoom invite does not sign you up for the in-person hangout.
If you wish to attend in person, please RSVP here by April 8, 5pm.

Keep a lookout for an email (with a Zoom link) from Beth Lewis via LIB-NEWS. If you have any agenda items you want to share at this Hangout, please send them to ealewis@illinois.edu.

Also, we are always looking for volunteers who would be willing to host social time following the Hangouts. Please consider being on an “on-call” list. We need volunteers to keep the social times going! Email hmurphy@illinois.edu if interested.

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If you would like to submit content for the May issue of Library Office Notes, please submit it to Heather Murphy or Tom Teper by Friday, April 19, 2024.

March Library Office Notes

Posted on by

ANNOUNCEMENTS

FACILITIES NEWS

BUSINESS NEWS

HR NEWS

EVENTS AND TRAINING


ANNOUNCEMENTS: University Librarian Note
As you know from our last Hangout, we recently completed and submitted our annual Library budget report. This was an opportunity to reflect on the past year and to highlight for university leadership some of the ways in which our expertise and our strengths can be further engaged across campus. Although the report also draws attention to the pinch and pressure we feel financially, I’m pleased (though not surprised) to find that what is sticking with me are the possibilities and the opportunities. Read more…

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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:

  • Skye Arseneau
  • Amy Fry
  • Kim Johnson
  • David Lottes
  • Jake MacGregor
  • Melanie Rusk
  • Katie Slough
  • Claire Stewart
  • Lee Whitacre

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

Save the data to connect with us at the virtual Assess and Connect: 2024 Library Assessment Forum! The forum will take place on Thursday, March 21st from 1-3pm on Zoom (registration link to follow). At the forum you will hear from colleagues about their assessment projects and will be able to participate in a spreadsheet workshop. The forum is open to all library faculty, APs, Civil Service staff, graduate assistants and hourly employees.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Senior Administrative Team Meeting Minutes

Please see detailed meeting minutes as follows:

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Update
Victor Jones, Jr., Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility

Library Teamwork and Engagement (Zoom) Module 3 will take place on March 19. Check the Staff Calendar for additional dates for the DEIA Education Workshop Series.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Collection Development Committee Notes
The most recent meeting 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 NEWS: Facilities Update
Tim Newman, Assistant Dean of Libraries for Facilities

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

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BUSINESS NEWS: How to Request: Travel Reimbursement, Per Diem, Purchase Request, and Travel Purchase Request
Kim Johnson, Associate Director Fisc Operations – Lr Associate

Travel Reimbursement:

The traveler should submit a travel reimbursement through the Purchasing App (https://my.library.illinois.edu/purchasing/) within three business days of returning.

Purchasing App Reimbursement Instructions: https://www.library.illinois.edu/staff/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2023/10/Purch-App-Instructions-Reimbursements.pdf

Per Diem:

Complete the Per Diem form: https://www.library.illinois.edu/staff/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2023/10/Per-Diem-Request-1.pdf

  • Meals that are provided to you during the course of your travel by the conference, event, host, or hotel must be deducted from the per diem. Breakfast included in your nightly rate at the hotel must be deducted. Please indicate in the worksheet linked above the meal(s) by date that were provided for you for proper record keeping and reimbursement accuracy.

Purchase Request:

Purchase requests should be made through the Purchasing App: https://my.library.illinois.edu/purchasing/.

Instruction: https://www.library.illinois.edu/staff/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2023/03/Purch-App-Instructions-Creators.pdf

Travel Purchase Request:

Travelers should start by completing the Professional Development Funding form, requesting to use Professional Development Funding Form: https://forms.illinois.edu/chooseAuth/7897380

Requests for assistance with purchasing conference registration, hotel reservations, flight tickets and other travel expenses able to be paid for in advance can be submitted directly to the business office.

All links above can be found on the BHRSC – Business Services Webpage: https://www.library.illinois.edu/staff/bhrsc-business-services/

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HR NEWS: Filled Positions

  • Andres Molina-Alvarez – Library Specialist – Grainger Engineering Library Information Center – 2/12/2024

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HR NEWS: Departures

  • Sara Becker – Library Specialist – Central Access Service – 2/29/2024
  • Katie Slough – Accounting Officer – Business & Human Resources Service Center – 3/1/2024
  • Marla Crook – Senior Library Specialist – Interlibrary Loan & Document Delivery – 3/31/2024

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HR NEWS: Civil Service Vacancies

  • Marketing Associate – Communications – Interviewing
  • Associate Infrastructure Specialist/Infrastructure Specialist – Library IT – Decision Soon

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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: Hub Training

For each topic, one session will be held in-person and one will be held via Zoom. The sessions are listed in the Staff Calendar and on the Hub Wiki Training Schedule page (login with your NetID and password). Please contact the Reference Management Team (rmt@library.illinois.edu) if you have any questions about the Hub Trainings.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Introduction to LibGuides
Monday, March 4 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

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

Please register to attend this event: https://uiuc.libcal.com/calendar/staff/introguidesspring1

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: This LibGuide is on Fire: How to Assess & Review Your LibGuides
Tuesday, March 5 at 11 am

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, reviewing, and deleting LibGuides

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

Please register to attend this event: https://uiuc.libcal.com/calendar/staff/libguideonfirespring1

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Escape Room Night, Book Club, and Craft Night
Laura Poulosky, Residence Hall Librarian
March 5, 19, and 27

Our spring semester hours will be Monday through Friday (12-7 pm). We’re planning some fun outreach events for the month of March:

  • Escape Room Night | Tues., Mar. 5th
    Choose from a selection of Escape Room Kits and try to solve one with your team! Snacks provided. (Co-sponsored with the Honors Living-Learning Community)
    ISR Room 94A/B – 6:30-8:30 pm
  • Book Club – True Biz by Sara Novic | Tues., Mar. 19th
    Co-sponsored with the Honors LLC, get a free copy of the book when you sign up to attend, while supplies last! Contact Laura Poulosky at l-poulo@illinois-edu to sign up.
    ISR Room 94A – 6:30-7:30 pm
  • Craft Night: Your Choice: Make Friendship Bracelets or Crochet | Wed., Mar. 27th
    All materials—and snacks—provided!
    SDRP 2009 – 5:00-7:00 pm

For any questions, please contact Laura Poulosky at l-poulo@illinois.edu.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Library Teamwork and Engagement (Zoom) Module 3
Tuesday, March 19 at 11 am

We are pleased to invite you to participate in the 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. 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 workshop, Library Teamwork and Engagement, focuses on teamwork and collaboration, discussing trust and creating an environment of engagement.

We will have more workshops next semester, please keep a look out for them.

Please register to attend this event: https://uiuc.libcal.com/event/11933879

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Hangout
Thursday, March 21 at 10 am

Keep a lookout for an email (with a Zoom link) from Beth Lewis via LIB-NEWS. If you have any agenda items you want to share at this Hangout, please send them to ealewis@illinois.edu.

Also, we are always looking for volunteers who would be willing to host social time following the Hangouts. Please consider being on an “on-call” list. We need volunteers to keep the social times going! Email hmurphy@illinois.edu if interested.

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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 Friday, March 22, 2024.

February Library Office Notes

Posted on by

ANNOUNCEMENTS

FACILITIES NEWS

BUSINESS NEWS

HR NEWS

EVENTS AND TRAINING


ANNOUNCEMENTS: University Librarian Note
We are in the thick of our annual budget report process, which also means that I and other members of the senior administrative team have been spending a lot of time talking with you about your annual reports, statistics, needs, and future aspirations. Budget reports are always slightly odd creatures, where we both talk about our tremendous achievements, but also note where we might be at risk of failing to meet the university’s expectations. We certainly have many achievements to be proud of, and let’s be hopeful that there is a sense of shared responsibility around the ways the university helps us meet our academic mission. Of course, budget season is local, too, so many thanks to all of you who are working on your GA and hourly wage requests. Speaking as someone who started their career running the reserve room, and hiring, training, and scheduling a lot of student employees, I know what a big job that is. Read more…

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Library Building Project Update – 02/01/2024
Tom Teper, Associate University Librarian for Collections and Technical Services | Project Manager, Library Building Project

General Update

It has been a while since LON included a general update about the status of the creation of the Archives and Special Collections Building. In late summer, the final revisions were completed on our 100% drawings, and the university posted the final documents for competitive bid. Unfortunately, the bids received exceeded the funds available for construction. Due to a combination of factors including material and labor escalation, many projects on campus faced the same problem. For our project, this triggered a process called Value Engineering, in which the architects/engineers, F&S personnel, and library personnel review the plans and identified items that can be changed or omitted to save funding without negatively impacting project objectives. Over the last six months, the project team diligently worked to identify and verify the feasibility of changes. Our architect/engineer submitted 95% drawings on January 31, 2024. Over the next month, the documents will be reviewed and revised to develop a set of 100% drawings that will be used for a new competitive bid process currently planned for mid-March 2024. Assuming success, the final project authorization will be submitted to the Board of Trustees in July 2024, with construction starting during Fall 2024.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Illinois Value Proposition Conversation Cafés

What do you care about most as an employee? Illinois Human Resources (IHR) is offering Illinois Value Proposition Conversation Cafés which run from now until February 24, 2024. This opportunity is open to all employees on the Urbana-Champaign campus. Participation is optional. Visit here or scan the QR code above.

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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:

  • Christina Bonse
  • Jake Culbertson
  • Hanna Lafond-Hyman
  • Xavier Sanchez
  • Yao-Ming Tuan
  • Leon Wilson

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

One of the noted strengths in the FY2023’s Unit Annual Reports was increased evidence of DEIA initiatives in the Library. In fact, we found a total of 103 reported activities and projects with the aim of cultivating an environment of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility within the Library and for the communities we serve. That is a 47% increase from the 70 activities we found for FY2021 in our February 2022 factoid.

Since then the Library established five “pillars” as lenses through which to focus its DEIA efforts: Research & Scholarship, Outreach & Engagement, Recruitment & Retention, Development & Training, and Collections. The treemap above represents the 103 DEIA activities categorized by the pillars, which a color corresponding to each one and smaller sections for the general types of activities found within the category.

The activity count only includes those recorded in the Unit Annual Reports and does not comprehensively represent the Library’s DEIA efforts, and many activities supported more than one pillar but were assigned to the one they contributed to most for the chart.

Research and Scholarship was the most strongly represented with 35% of recorded activities primarily supporting inclusive access to and contributions to the Library’s scholarly resources.

Collection development remains a key area of DEIA activity, represented by 28% of activities. Units drew on DEIA Gap Fill funding and other sources to acquire new material for DEIA related areas of study and worked to improve discoverability of works by underrepresented groups in existing collections.

The graduate assistants among the Library’s units contributed significantly to DEIA initiatives, with 18% of recorded activities being credited to their efforts. They showed a creative streak as making research guides, digital content, and presentations were their most common activities.

Graphic created and text written by Gabriel Foster, Library Assessment Graduate Assistant. Thanks to Victor Jones, Jr. for feedback and insight into the Library’s DEIA activities and philosophy

For more information about the Library Service Satisfaction Surveys, please contact Library Assessment (assessment@library.illinois.edu).

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Update
Victor Jones, Jr., Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility

Additional dates for the DEIA Education Workshop Series this spring are forthcoming.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Collection Development Committee Notes
The most recent meeting 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 NEWS: Facilities Update
Tim Newman, Assistant Dean of Libraries for Facilities

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

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BUSINESS NEWS: Tips for Traveling on a T-Card
Kim Johnson, Associate Director Fisc Operations – Lr Associate

Tips for traveling on a T-Card (either yours or arranged travel by the Business Office or Unit T-card holder)

  • Domestic Travel Insurance is not an expense that the University will pay or reimburse
  • Upon arriving at a hotel that was paid by a University T-Card, please put your personal credit card on file for incidental expenses such as room service.
  • Seat upgrades or seat assignment fees cannot be paid or reimbursed
  • While using rideshare, such as Uber and Lyft, ensure you are using the basic service, as the University will not pay for upgraded services. If at the time of booking the basic service is not available, take screenshots as documentation to what was available at the needed times to submit with your receipts.
  • Using Union Station St. Louis Hotel by Hilton in St. Louis. We have had multiple issues with this hotel, both with using university credit cards and reimbursement. Please contact the Business Office for alternative lodgings.

Any of these expenses on a T-Card will result in personal reimbursement to the University via a check.

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HR NEWS: Filled Positions

  • Mandissa (Mandi) Arlain – Visiting Social Sciences Librarian – Social Sciences, Health, & Education Library – 1/2/2024
  • Katherine Ashcraft – Visiting Central Asia Reference Specialist – International and Area Studies Library – 1/2/2024
  • Diana Eynon – World Languages Cataloging Coordinator – Acquisitions & Cataloging Services – 1/2/2024

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HR NEWS: Departures

  • Tesfaye Wolde-Medhin – Library Specialist – Acquisitions & Cataloging Services – 2/29/2024

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HR NEWS: Civil Service Vacancies

  • Library Specialist (Midnight – 8 AM) – Grainger Engineering Library Information Center – Interviews soon
  • Senior Library Specialist – Ricker Library of Architecture & Art – Interviews soon
  • Marketing Specialist – Communications – closes 1/22/2024
  • Associate Infrastructure Specialist/Infrastructure Specialist – Library IT – Posting soon

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HR NEWS: In Memoriam

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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 Committee of Academic and Civil Service Professionals (LCP) Spring Forum
Tuesday, February 13 at 1:00 pm

The Library Committee of Academic and Civil Service Professionals (LCP) is holding a Spring Forum! Come hear updates from LCP and the Council of Academic Professionals (campus level committee), in addition to what your colleagues are doing across the Library.

Please register whether you’re planning to attend remotely or in person so we can plan what snacks to have available.

See you there! Registration: https://uiuc.libcal.com/event/11699772

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: The Education of Things: How British Children’s Books and Toys Taught Science and Manufacturing, 1762–1860
February 20 from 3-5 pm

Join the RBML for a presentation by Professor Elizabeth Massa Hoiem (iSchool, University of Illinois). By the close of the eighteenth century, learning to read and write became closely associated with learning about the material world, and a vast array of games and books from the era taught children how to comprehend the physical world of “things.” Hoiem reveals the class politics behind the playful literature, toys, and learning aids created to teach reading alongside science, technology, and economics. She argues that with the rise of manufacturing, skills such as tinkering, observation, and experimentation became essential new literacies for an industrial economy. As work was repositioned as play, wealthy children were encouraged to do tasks in the classroom that poor children performed for wages, while working-class children honed skills that would be crucial to their social advancement as adults. This talk includes many images, followed by examples from the RBML displayed in the reading room. This public event is free and open to all, and refreshments will be served.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Book Club and Craft Night
Laura Poulosky, Residence Hall Librarian
February 20 and 28

Our spring semester hours will be Monday through Friday (12-7 pm). We’re planning some fun outreach events for the month of February:

  • Book Club – From Here by Luma Mufleh | Tues., Feb. 20th
    Co-sponsored with the Honors LLC, get a free copy of the book when you sign up to attend, while supplies last! Contact Laura Poulosky at l-poulo@illinois-edu to sign up.
    ISR Room 93 – 6:30-7:30 pm
  • Craft Night and Paint & Sip | Wed., Feb. 28th
    Join us for a fun, relaxing craft & snacks—free and open to all U of I students!
    ISR 94AB – 5:00-7:00 pm

For any questions, please contact Laura Poulosky at l-poulo@illinois.edu.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Fair Use Week Gameshow
February 27 at 6:00 pm

Join us for an interactive Fair Use Gameshow to celebrate Fair Use Week. Your host, Sara Benson will be joined by an all-star panel including Kyle Courtney (Harvard), Sandra Enimil (Yale), and Pia Hunter (UIUC Law).

Register for free at https://go.illinois.edu/fairuseweek

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If you would like to submit content for the March issue of Library Office Notes, please submit it to Heather Murphy or Tom Teper by Friday, February 16, 2024.

January Library Office Notes

Posted on by

ANNOUNCEMENTS

FACILITIES NEWS

BUSINESS NEWS

HR NEWS

EVENTS AND TRAINING


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: 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:

  • Hannah Burnett
  • Liz Potsch
  • Shelby Strommer
  • Rebecca Wright
  • Jenna Zeidler

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

Did you know one of the most efficient ways for libraries to engage students is through their professors and advisors? In the Fall 2023 Library Service Satisfaction Survey, we asked the participants to indicate ways in which they learn about library services, resources and events. 41% of the participants said they learn through a professor or an advisor, and 38% from flyers, posters or digital displays. Surprisingly, less than 20% of the participants indicated that they learn about the libraries from their friends or from social media sites.

For more information about the Library Service Satisfaction Surveys, please contact Library Assessment (assessment@library.illinois.edu).

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Update
Victor Jones, Jr., Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility

Additional dates for the DEIA Education Workshop Series this spring are forthcoming.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Collection Development Committee Notes
The most recent meeting 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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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Wellness Committee

January marks the beginning of a new year and new resolutions, but also serves as a reminder of the importance of giving back.  One way to give back is to give of your time, and give blood. National Blood Donor Month is an annual campaign dedicated to raising awareness about the crucial need for blood donations.

Check out the Wellness Committee post on the Growing People blog for more information.

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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
see wordpress.library.illinois.edu/staff/facilities.
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BUSINESS NEWS: Tips for Requesting Travel Reimbursement
Kim Johnson, Associate Director Fisc Operations – Lr Associate

Promptly ask for a reimbursement. A good rule of thumb is to submit your reimbursement within 3 business days of returning from your trip when everything is fresh in your mind. If a reimbursement request is processed after 60 days of travel, the reimbursement would be taxable per IRS rules. Taxable amounts will be submitted to the OBFS, University Payroll and tax of approximately 30% will be withheld from the employee’s paycheck. These amounts will be included on the employee’s Form W-2.

Upload the approval email that you received for the Business Office with your receipts in the Purchasing App.

Include a detailed Business Purpose. Include the 5 W questions: Who, What, When, Where, & Why does it benefits the University. Most of the time, using these questions, you will be able to provide a detailed enough business purpose that will pass University Payable scrutiny.

When requesting per diem, please complete the Per Diem Request Form. Only check the boxes for the meals you are NOT being reimbursed. Breakfast provided by the hotel would be considered a deduction. This is how Chrome River has us enter per diem. Please note that per diem can only be requested for travel overnight per University policy.

You can find all our forms and the Purchasing app on our Business Office web page.

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HR NEWS: Filled Positions

  • Kayla Mesker – Library Specialist – Music & Performing Arts Library – 1/8/2024
  • Catherine Case – Library Specialist – Music & Performing Arts Library – 1/8/2024
  • Mark Hewitt – Library Specialist – Grainger Engineering Library Information Center – 1/8/2024
  • Sindhuri Rekulapally – Accountant I – Business & Human Resources Service Center – 1/16/2024
  • Raegan Carter – Library Specialist – Funk ACES Library – 1/16/2024

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HR NEWS: Departures

  • Jason Colwell – Systems Administrator – Library IT – 12/10/2023

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HR NEWS: Civil Service Vacancies

  • Library Specialist (Midnight – 8 AM) – Grainger Engineering Library Information Center – Interviews soon
  • Senior Library Specialist – Ricker Library of Architecture & Art – Interviews soon
  • Marketing Specialist – Communications – closes 1/22/2024
  • Associate Infrastructure Specialist/Infrastructure Specialist – Library IT – Posting soon

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HR NEWS: In Memoriam

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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 Annual Recognition Event
January 9 at 8:30 AM

Libraries will remain closed until 1 PM while this virtual event is happening. The event will have an optional virtual coffee in small groups beginning at 8:30 AM until the event formally starts at 9:15 AM. Our guest speaker will be Dr. Ellen Burts-Cooper. Following her talk, there will be a recognition of service years, new employees, and presentation of the Library Outstanding awards. We encourage everyone to attend. Those who do not wish to attend should work with their unit head to request vacation time or make arrangements with their unit head to work for the unit that morning.

Please mark your calendars and plan to attend this event! We are looking forward to celebrating with everyone!

Zoom information: https://uiuc.libcal.com/event/11542283

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Let Claire Buy You a Beverage
Claire Stewart, Dean of Libraries and University Librarian

You pick, I buy! This one-on-one meeting will let us venture out together for a get-to-know-you conversation. You pick the location and the beverage, and Claire picks up the tab. We can leave campus, go for a walk-and-talk, hole up in your favorite campus café nook, connect over smoothies, or whatever you decide.  If your plans change, you can cancel or reschedule any time before the event.

Register for Let Claire Buy You a Beverage for the following dates:

  • January 10th 9am, register here
  • January 16th 4pm, register here
  • January 18th 8:45am, register here
  • January 25th 4pm, register here

These are approved events; Civil Service non-exempt staff should get permission from their supervisor before signing up.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: From Closet to Classic: Ann Bannon and Cecilia Tan Discuss 20th Century Lesbian Pulp & Erotica
Thursday, January 18th, 7:00 pm Central

Please join the Rare Book & Manuscript Library via Zoom for a conversation between two of the most influential writers in lesbian pulp and erotic fiction of the 20th century.

Please register at https://go.illinois.edu/closet to receive a link to the Zoom webinar.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Coffee for 5 With Claire
January 24, 9 am

Coffee for 5 –https://uiuc.libcal.com/event/11691033

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Trivia, Craft, and Paint & Sip Night
Laura Poulosky, Residence Hall Librarian

Both Ikenberry and Illinois Street Residence Hall Libraries will re-open for the Spring Semester on Tuesday, January 16th. Our spring semester hours will be Monday through Friday (12-7 pm). We’re planning lots of fun outreach events for spring semester, starting with:

  • Trivia Night | Wed., Jan. 24th
    Play pub-style trivia, with pizza, snacks, and extra goodies for the winning teams!
    ISR Room 50 B – 5:30-7:30 pm
  • Craft Night and Paint & Sip | Wed., Jan. 31st
    All materials—including snacks and mocktails—provided!
    SDRP 2003 – 5:00-7:00 pm

For any questions, please contact Laura Poulosky at l-poulo@illinois.edu.

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

December Library Office Notes

Posted on by

ANNOUNCEMENTS

FACILITIES NEWS

BUSINESS NEWS

HR NEWS

EVENTS AND TRAINING


ANNOUNCEMENTS: University Librarian Note
As we approach the end of the semester and winter break, I wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude for each one of you. Your hard work and dedication have played a crucial role in the success of another successful semester at Illinois.

As the semester winds down and the holiday season approaches, I encourage each of you to prioritize self-care. The demands of our work can be intense, and it’s essential that we take the time to recharge and spend quality moments with our loved ones. Your well-being is of utmost importance, and I want to remind you to reach out if you need support or resources during this time of year. Read more…
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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Preservation Video

The Preservation Unit has a new video that showcases the dedicated efforts of its Preservation Unit and the invaluable work its staff undertakes to safeguard and preserve our cultural heritage. You can view it here:
https://mediaspace.illinois.edu/media/t/1_lhhu9khr

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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:

  • Julie Bumpus
  • Adrienne Esserine
  • Jimmy Gonzalez
  • Katie Slough
  • Ben Stone
  • Lisa Wells

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

Since Fall 2020, Library Assessment has administered the “Library Services Satisfaction Survey” as a response to the rapidly changing circumstances of the pandemic and has continued as services and spaces have transformed. The results of the surveys have been used to understand students’ needs and usage of library services. With Fall 2023 as the 8th iteration of the survey, we were able to seen how students needs and usages have changed from the pandemic to now.

With the halting of in-person services students were not able to access our collections as easily as they were used to, nonetheless, the Library was able to pivot to make our resources such as e-books and e-journals accessible. This trend has continued as the Library returned to in-person services in Fall 2021 with the peak in Spring 2023 with 73% of students using e-resources. When students were able to access the building in Fall 2021 there was a 11% increase in check outs of books, equipment, or other library materials. Communicating virtually was not easy, especially from when the staff were working from home, but they were still able to answer 3,340 chats from “Ask a Librarian” during the Fall term in 2020. Even as the buildings reopened students continued to use services to consultation with librarians whether virtual or in-person.

Data collected from the Library Satisfaction Survey October 2020 to October 2023 and LibChat.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Update
Victor Jones, Jr., Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility

See DEIA Education Workshop Series dates below.

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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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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Two New Spaces in GELIC
Megan Sapp-Nelson, Head, Grainger Engineering Library Information Center

Grainger Engineering Library Information Center is rolling out two new student support/student success spaces.  The first, a designated lactation room, is located in Room 442 of GELIC (4th floor in side hallway between the east wing and central gallery). It features a comfortable chair that lays back and side table. The chair has easy access to electrical outlets. Anyone who wishes to use the space can check out the key at the service point on the 1st floor.

Additionally, we are very happy to announce that a Family Study Room is now available. The room is located at 463 GELIC (located in the southeast corner of the east wing at GELIC).  It has a desk for an adult, a child sized table and chairs set, and will soon have a pack and play available. There are activity backpacks that can be checked out at the service point downstairs that include age appropriate, science-themed games, puzzles, toys and books for ages infant through 10 years old. The key to the family study room is available for circulation at the service point on the first floor.

A new web landing page regarding the family study and lactation spaces is being developed now and will roll out after Thanksgiving Break.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: IOPN Update
Angela Watters, Digital Publishing Specialist

IOPN is excited to announce the release of A Bicentennial Crossroads: 200 Years of Continuity and Change in Rural Illinois by Matt Meacham under the Windsor & Downs imprint. In 2018, six rural Illinois cultural organizations hosted installations of “Crossroads: Change in Rural America,” a Museum on Main Street exhibition from the Smithsonian Institution and Illinois Humanities, which coincided with the Bicentennial of Illinois statehood. The book examines what we can learn about rural Illinois’s past, present, and potential future by exploring stories and themes from the exhibition. Illinois Humanities is a nonprofit organization that promotes the humanities across the state through free public programs, grants, and educational opportunities. Stay tuned for other publications coming soon!

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Elsevier License Renewal

The Board of Trustees approved the University of Illinois’ renewal of our Elsevier license for Science Direct at its Nov 16 meeting. This contract will start in January 2024 and serve the University of Illinois System for five years. The license is a significant departure from our existing agreement in several key ways:

  • Price Increases: the annual increase negotiated on the contract is 0.55% lower per year than our past contract. That represents significant savings for the University over the life of the contract. This has a compounding effect of reducing our annual price increases across all disciplinary areas.
  • Content: the contract includes all of the same post-cancellation access rights, maintains all of the same title lists, and ensures that our scholars maintain the high level of direct access that they have previously indicated that they value.
  • Open Access Components: the contract includes several components that enhance our ongoing efforts to ensure that scholarship from Illinois authors reaches the widest possible audience. In addition to a 15% discount on article processing charges (APCs) for accepted articles published in Elsevier’s Gold OA titles, the contract includes a provision to cover Open Access publishing in Elsevier’s Core-Hybrid titles without paying any additional APC. During the first year, we will receive credits equivalent to 70% of our projected core-hybrid publishing output, with that credit cap increasing by 10% increments until we reach 100% of the system’s projected publishing output. Authors will have the opportunity to opt-in to take advantage of these credits starting with papers accepted after January 1, 2024, and they will be available to us used on a first-come, first-served basis. More details about this open-access license will be posted on the Scholarly Communications and Publishing website.

If OA publishing rates remain the same, we project that this agreement will save the University nearly $1-million dollars in APCs. If the OA publishing rate rises to utilize the full value of the APC credits and publishing continues apace with Gold OA publishing, we project a value in excess of $12-million dollars in potentially avoided APC costs.

Right now, the plan is that on December 1st, a note will go out to the campus community via a faculty email list, a news item be placed on the Library’s website highlighting the agreement, and a notice will be queued for the Dec. 3rd e-week.

More information is forthcoming in the guide at https://guides.library.illinois.edu/oapolicy/apc.

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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
see wordpress.library.illinois.edu/staff/facilities.
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BUSINESS NEWS: Event Fund Management Assistance

Do you have an event coming up? Multiple funding sources? Let the Business Office help. We can provide budget templates, help manage event expenses and funding sources so that you can do what really needs to be done, manage the event. Contact us at BHRSC@library.illinois.edu for event fund management.

If you are using personal funds to purchase items for the University and will seek reimbursement, please note that taxes are not reimbursable by the University. Please contact the Business Office and we can provide you with a tax exempt letter that you can use for these expenses.

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HR NEWS: Filled Positions

  • Emily Fielden – Library Specialist – Grainger Engineering Library Information Center – 11/13/2023

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HR NEWS: Departures

  • William Buss – Senior Library Specialist – Music & Performing Arts Library – 11/30/2023

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HR NEWS: Civil Service Vacancies

  • Library Specialist (Midnight – 8 AM) – Grainger Engineering Library Information Center – Decision soon
  • Accountant I – Business & Human Resources Service Center – Interviews in progress
  • Library Specialist (2 Positions) – Music & Performing Arts Library – Interviews in progress
  • Library Specialist – Funk ACES Library – Interviews soon
  • Administrative Assistant – Office of Dean of Libraries – Interviews soon

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HR NEWS: In Memoriam

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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: Hub Training

Please contact the Reference Management Team (rmt@library.illinois.edu) if you have any questions about the Hub Trainings.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Permissions and Fair Use
December 5 at 2 PM

CARLI is pleased to offer a course with Sara Benson, Copyright Librarian at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign. This course is designed for the Illinois SCOERs grantees and is open to all CARLI members. In creating Open Educational Resources you might find that you need to use an article or image that has traditional copyright. If you must use a copyright protected item, learn about how to conduct a fair use analysis and, in the alternative, how to ask for permission to use a copyright protected item in your work.

Registration Link: https://illinois.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYrduGhpjMsHNdb1QCkHZDrBXQPGER1LY44

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: This LibGuide is on Fire: How to Assess & Review your LibGuides
December 6 at 2 PM

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, reviewing, and deleting LibGuides

This is a hybrid workshop. It will be offered Wednesday, 12/6 from 2-3 pm in Main Library Room 314 as well as on Zoom. All registrants will receive Zoom access 24 hours in advance via email.

Registration: https://uiuc.libcal.com/calendar/staff/libguideonfirefall2

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

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: DEIA Educational Workshops
December 6 and 18

Please contact the Reference Management Team (rmt@library.illinois.edu) if you have any questions about the Hub Trainings.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Build-a-Book–Reading Day
Laura Poulosky, Residence Hall Librarian

Both Ikenberry and Illinois Street Residence Hall Libraries are open M-F (noon to 7 pm) for the academic year. We have lots of fun outreach planned for December, including:

  • The Residence Hall  Libraries and Student Affairs’ International Education present Build-a-Book—Reading Day | Thurs., Dec. 7th
    Students can create and decorate their own blank books to give as gifts or to keep. All materials—and snacks—provided!

    • ISR Room 50A/B – Thurs., December 7th Noon to 2:00 pm
    • SDRP Room 2050 – Thurs., December 7th 3:00-5:00 pm

Note: The Residence Hall Libraries will close for Winter Break on Friday, Dec. 17th at 7:00 pm and re-open on Tuesday, Jan. 16th at noon.

For any questions, please contact Laura Poulosky at l-poulo@illinois.edu.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: RBML Holiday Party & Reading Day Relaxer
Thursday, December 7th, 3:00 – 5:00 pm — RBML Holiday Party & Reading Day Relaxer

Come and celebrate the semester’s end with hot apple cider, sweet and salty treats, and some of our favorite winter-themed materials from the RBML vault. Make a button, relax with a coloring sheet, and leave with a letterpress poetry card! 

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: NISO Webinar: Trend Spotting, Trend Setting
December 13 at 10 AM

In a decade that has already tested our resiliency, what should we be anticipating and preparing for in the coming year? Join this discussion of the shifts and trends that information industry leaders are picking up on. Where are the opportunities to be found? Which genius will come up with and develop the Next Big Thing? Or, perhaps we shouldn’t be thinking in terms of the Next Big Thing. Maybe our speakers will decide that 2024 is the year that we look around at the variety of cogs and wheels we already have and invite our colleagues to dream about constructing a better mousetrap. Please email training@library.illinois.edu for login credentials or recordings.

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Hangout
Next Hangout Date Forthcoming!

Keep a lookout for an email (with a Zoom link) from Christina Bonse via LIB-NEWS. If you have any agenda items you want to share at a Hangout, please send them to bonse2@illinois.edu.

Also, we are always looking for volunteers who would be willing to host social time following the Hangouts. Please consider being on an “on-call” list. We need volunteers to keep the social times going! Email hmurphy@illinois.edu if interested.
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If you would like to submit content for the December issue of Library Office Notes, please submit it to Heather Murphy or Tom Teper by Friday, December 15, 2023.