April Library Office Notes

ANNOUNCEMENTS

HR NEWS

FACILITIES

EVENTS AND TRAINING



ANNOUNCEMENTS: University Librarian Note

Specialized Faculty
I’d like to use the opportunity of my monthly column in LON to share my opinion regarding the use of specialized faculty in the Library, and specifically to explain why I believe we must begin using specialized faculty (as described in Provost’s Communications 25 and 26, in particular) for some University Library positions. Read more…
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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Strategic Planning Update
Lisa Hinchliffe, Coordinator for Strategic Planning

One thread of feedback from the Library Retreat was that many people wanted to have a better understanding of the campus strategic plan as a framework for thinking about the Library’s strategic plan. As such, the Strategic Planning Steering Team invites everyone in the Library to learn more about the campus strategic plan by attending one of the following discussion sessions:

Campus Strategic Plan Conversation: Exploration and Understanding

  •     March 23, 3-4
  •     March 30, 10-11
  •     April 7, 12-1
  •     April 9, 2-3

All of the sessions will be held in 428 Library. Participants are encouraged (but not required!) to review the campus strategic planning website (http://strategicplan.illinois.edu/) and particularly the details on the Goals and related Initiatives (http://strategicplan.illinois.edu/goals.html) in advance. For detailed updates on the Strategic Planning process, see the Strategic Planning blog (http://publish.illinois.edu/librarystrategicplanning).

Later this spring, the Strategic Planning Steering Team is partnering with the Associate University Librarians for three “deep dive” sessions, which will be focused on these areas:

  • Teaching/Learning
  • Research/Scholarship
  • Research Library Ecosystem

These half-day sessions will included preparatory readings and begin to focus the content of the Library’s Framework for Strategic Action. More information about these sessions will be forthcoming soon.

Finally, Strategic Planning Office Hours are scheduled in 434 Library for April at the following times:

  • April 6, 2-4
  • April 17, 9-11
  • April 28, 9-11

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Ithaka Graduate and Professional Student Survey Update
The University Library has contracted with Ithaka S+R to implement the Ithaka S+R Graduate and Professional Student Survey on our campus. Guiding the process is the Graduate Student Survey Working Group (comprised of representation from these committees: Collection Development, Library Assessment, Services Advisory, and User Education). The working group is being chaired by Lisa Hinchliffe. The original plan was to conduct the survey in Spring 2015; however, after the Working Group’s most recent review of the custom modules that we are collaborating on developing with Ithaka S+R, we determined that these modules are not yet ready for finalizing and deployment. As such, on the principle that we want to administer a quality survey and be confident in the data, we have adjusted the timeline for an October 2015 rather than April 2015 implementation. Please contact Lisa Hinchliffe (ljanicke@illinois.edu) if you have any questions about this change.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Overnight Access Hours Changing
The University Library limits overnight access to its facilities to Urbana campus students, staff, and faculty. Library users are currently required to present a valid i-Card for entry into the Funk (ACES) Library, the Grainger Engineering Library Information Center, and the Undergraduate Library after midnight.

On March 29, 2015, card-access hours for these three facilities adjusted as follows and will be in effect for the remainder of the spring semester:

Funk (ACES) Library:
Sunday – Thursday 10:00 p.m. – 3:00 a.m.

Grainger Engineering Library Information Center:
Sunday – Thursday 10:00 p.m. – 6:00 a.m.
Friday 10:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.
Saturday 10:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.

Undergraduate Library:
Sunday – Thursday 10:00 p.m. – 6:00 a.m.
Friday 10:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.
Saturday 10:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Sharing Stories of Impact
Scott Koeneman, Assistant Dean of Libraries for Advancement

I was reminded of an old saying recently, “No one graduates from the library, but no one graduates without the library.” We all know that supporting our students is only a part of the work of a library at a major research university like Illinois. Our faculty and staff are themselves working on ground-breaking research and are often the key to success in research efforts across campus.

One of the advancement office’s goals is to share the results of all that we do with potential donors, supporters, and campus leadership. We have started collecting comments from faculty about the impact of the Library on research that is garnering significant recognition. For example, we recently wrote to Chemistry Professor Martin Burke about the Molecule-Making Machine he and his students have created. The small molecules the machine makes will allow for the rapid development of new drugs. And the work is being covered in both academic and main-stream media. More information can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_0wC5kDN3s

When we asked him about what impact the Library may have had in his work, Dr. Burke said, “…the UIUC libraries have played a critical and highly empowering role in all aspects of my group’s research, including our recently reported synthesis machine. Immediate access to a wide array of information is critical to everything we do. In particular, online and easily web accessible access to an extensive collection of online journals and search engines has been vital. My students and I use these services extensively, on and off campus, and we should continue to vigorously support the maintenance of world class and extensive resources in this regard. Of course we very often engage the major journals, but there have been many instances when timely access to a key paper in a non-major journal proved vital to advancing a project, and the deeper and more comprehensive the online resources, the more research will be enabled.”

Dr. Burke has agreed to let us share his comments with potential donors and supporters. We know there are probably hundreds of other stories like his, from the sciences and engineering as well as the arts and humanities. If you have been involved in supporting the work of our students and faculty in a meaningful way, or if you are aware of any stories of impact we should be sharing, please let us know. We look forward to telling all our stories.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Library Joins OCLC Research Library Partnership*
We have joined the OCLC Research Library Partnership and will explore the value of the Partnership. Our liaison is Roy Tennant, who welcomes your questions. OCLC lists the benefits and opportunities of the Partnership as:

  • The opportunity to work with similarly motivated institutions to collaboratively address changing architectural, workflow and service issues.
  • Invitations to Partners-only working groups that focus on high-priority needs and issues.
  • Invitations to Partners-only programs, educational events and symposia.
  • Working on areas of common interest with colleagues across the world and across sectors.
  • Sharing collections and continuing to build and refine resource-sharing capacities.
  • Improving the management of the cultural and scholarly record.
  • Contributing to the developing practices and economics of research information description.
  • Benefiting from data mining efforts to improve service and inform management of collections.
  • Helping to form community views of best practices in a range of key arenas.
  • Active engagement in the collaborative design of our collective future.
  • Serving on working groups

Lists include:

  • The Primary Sources Listserv is open to your staff with interests in rare books, archives, and special collections.
  • The Research Information Management Interest Group List is open to those with an interest in ways the library can better support scholarly research.
  • The Metadata Management Interest Group List is open to individuals involved in creating and using metadata (not just technical services staff).
  • Heads of Systems Listserv is open to staff with an interest in systems-related issues (not limited to Heads of such departments).
  • Announcements to Partners Listserv is used to communicate weekly updates with staff at OCLC Research Library Partner institutions about Partnership work, events, publications and participation opportunities. It is a moderated listserv open to all individuals from OCLC Research Library Partnership institutions, at all levels with all interests. (OCLC encourages as many of us as are interested to join this low-overhead, informative list.)

For more information about the lists or to sign up, visit http://www.oclc.org/research/partnership/lists.html. To get a sense of the outcomes of recent work, visit the publications page:
http://www.oclc.org/research/publications/reports.html.
*Originally posted in the May 2014 Library Office Notes.
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HR NEWS: Faculty and AP Searches
Below is a summary of current academic searches as of March 31, 2015 (click on graphic below to enlarge). A more comprehensive listing is sent via LibNews each month.
search_status_april.jpg
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HR NEWS: Civil Service Staff Openings
Please note, only applicants referred from the register are eligible to interview, unless you are on the current transfer list for the noted classification.  Please direct any questions to Library Human Resources.

  • Central Access Services – Library Specialist, Sun – Th, evenings, INTERVIEWING
  • Music and Performing Arts Library, Library Assistant, 50% – INTERVIEWING
  • Social Sciences, Health, and Education Library – Library Specialist – Sun – Th, evenings, INTERVIEWING
  • Content Management Services, Library Specialist, 50%, INTERVIEWING

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HR NEWS: New Employees 

Faculty

  • Adam Doskey, Visiting Curator of the Rare Book and Manuscript Library, will start in his new position on May 1, 2015.

Civil Service

  • Sally vander Graaff, Library Specialist, Central Access Services, March 16, 2015.
  • Hewitt Preston Wright, Library Specialist, 50%, Content Management Services, March 16, 2015.

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HR NEWS: Graduate Assistant Database
Thanks to the efforts of Donna Hoffman in Library Human Resources, along with Tom Habing and Robert Manaster in Library IT, the database of available graduate students who are applying for assistantships is now live! A link to the website is available on the Library Human Resources home page.
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HR NEWS: Academic Professional Performance Evaluations
Administrative Council has approved the implementation of a new performance evaluation form for Academic Professionals. It was recently announced through Lib-News that the form is now effective. The new form is available on the Library Human Resources home page. Performance evaluations for academic professionals will be due at the end of the day on Friday, May 1, 2015.
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FACILITIES: Project Information
Please visit the Office of Library Facilities webpage for project information (under Facilities–>Project Information). http://www.library.illinois.edu/administration/facilities/
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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Pedometer Challenge
The Library Wellness Committee is once again sponsoring the Pedometer Challenge from April 6 to May 3. Watch Lib-News for details.
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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Marcel Proust’s Vanishing Library
April 8, 2015, 3:00 p.m. in RBML
Caroline Szylowicz (Kolb-Proust Librarian and RBML Curator)

proust

A No. 44 Society Event
Marcel Proust’s life (1871-1922) was defined by reading and writing. He read about writing, and wrote about reading, and wrote about writing. Numerous books have been written about the books he read, and how these books influenced the books he wrote. But what ever became of the books themselves?
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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Bloodmobile
The Library is sponsoring the Bloodmobile on April 9 from 12-3.
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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Embracing Internationalization at the University Library
April 10, 2015, 3-4pm, Room 321, Main Library (Reception 4-5pm)

April 10 Flier

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EVENTS AND TRAINING: The Long, Sad Journey: Lincoln’s Funeral Train 
April 17, 2015, 12:00 p.m. in the Main Library (room 308)
Guy Fraker (Bloomington, IL based lawyer and Lincoln expert)
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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Save for Your Dreams: Financial Strategies and Steps to Empower You
The Library is hosting this event as part of Money Smart Week.

4/21/2015 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM, Main Library 106
Presenter Kathy Sweedler, Consumer Economics Educator, University of Illinois Extension

For more information go to http://www.moneysmartweek.org/. Free and open to the public.
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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Shakespeare’s Birthday Party
April 23, 2015, 3:00 p.m. in RBML

shakespeare

All are welcome and there’ll be cake and ale (non-alcoholic) for those who can recite fourteen lines or more from the immortal Bard!
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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Take Charge Illinois – Identity Theft
The Library is hosting this event as part of Money Smart Week.

4/24 11:30-12:30, Room 106
Presented by Patty Knepler of the IL Office of the Comptroller

Learn the many ways thieves steal your financial and confidential information. Learn how to protect yourself and your information against theft. Finally to address any concerns you might have and to share stories with others about identity theft.

For more information go to http://www.moneysmartweek.org/. Free and open to the public.
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EVENTS AND TRAINING: The Higden Manuscripts: Notable Endeavors for Pastoral Care in Fourteenth Century England
April 24, 2015, 3:00 p.m. in RBML
Eugene Crook (Florida St. Univ.) and Margaret Jennings (St. Joseph’s College)

The University of Illinois Rare Book & Manuscript Library holds copies of Higden’s Speculum curatorum (Pre-1650 MS 0072) and Polychronicon (Pre-1650 MS 0132). This talk is co-sponsored by the U of I Program in Medieval Studies.
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Would you like to see a Questions section in LON? If you have a library-related question and would like to see it answered in an upcoming issue, please send it to hmurphy@illinois.edu. Perhaps the answer will benefit the entire LON readership!

If you would like to submit content for the May issue of Library Office Notes, please submit it to John Wilkin, Sue Searing, Beth Sandore, or Tom Teper by Wednesday, April 22, 2015.