October Library Office Notes

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

HR NEWS

EVENTS AND TRAINING


ANNOUNCEMENTS: University Librarian Note 
I’ve temporarily suspended my Dean’s note for LON in light of the communications surrounding our response to COVID-19. Please see library.illinois.edu/staff/covid-19/ for the full list of notes that have come out. We will continue to adjust and respond to circumstances as they change, and I will send out notes on changes in the way we deploy our services and budget implications for the University and Library as the implications become clearer. I am ever grateful for the ways that you have all adapted and contributed to our engagement with the campus during the stay-at-home period, and I look forward to our being back in our library buildings with all of you.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Library Building Project Update – 10/1/2020
Tom Teper, Associate Dean for Collections and Technical Services

Overall

With the enforced separation and refocusing of attention on other issues, regular updates related to the Library Building Project slipped by the wayside. Project work, however, continued. 

While we were working from home, the Library received approval to move ahead with planning associated with the first phase of the Library Building Project – as outlined in our conceptual planning process. That first phase is the initial construction of a facility to support special collections and archives within the existing Undergraduate Library. 

Currently, Library personnel are working with F&S on the program statement and documentation necessary to secure the services of an Architect/Engineer to execute that planning. I submitted comments on the draft program statement to Dennis Craig late last week. Those comments should be incorporated this week, and the call for applicants should go out in the coming weeks. 

The Library is also working with JLK – the firm engaged for the conceptual design phase – to develop some visual renderings of what some of the new and renovated spaces may look like. The renderings will help us to better communicate the vision to potential donors, members of the campus community, etc…. Late last week, I also submitted comments solicited on the final set of these drawings.  

In the realm of communications, John Laskowski, Heather Murphy, Tom Teper, and Wendy Wolter completed revisions to the Library Building Project’s website. This revision maintains all of the documentation from the entire process to date, but it will address some feedback received about the original page’s functionality. It will be posted shortly, and we will also begin discussions about how to develop a page that will focus more explicitly on the currently approved portion of the project. 

Committees and Working Groups – Special Collections Research Center (SCRC)

The Special Collections Research Center (SCRC) Working Group continues to meet. Recently, the working group presented EC with a revised charge and structure for the process going forward. The Executive Committee approved the charge, and the working group is currently on staffing out subgroups to focus on particular aspects of the project. 

The framework under which these and other working groups directly associated with this project will work is posted here: https://www.library.illinois.edu/staff/committee/the-library-as-catalyst-project-a-framework-for-working-groups-and-input-solicitation/. 

Communications

  • Monthly Updates – Monthly updates about the Library Building Project are distributed via LibNews. These will be posted in a separate section of LON. The intent of both is to ensure open communication of specific information related to the Library Building Project.
  • Website – The Library Building Project has a website located at https://www.library.illinois.edu/library-building-project/. Here you can read about the vision behind this program, seek answers to many of the Frequently Asked Questions that might arise, and read about upcoming events or project news. You can also submit additional questions to the project team at librarybuildingproject@library.illinois.edu. 

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Did You Know? A Monthly Factoid from Library Assessment
The library started using Voyager as the integrated library system in April 2002. On June 24th, 2020, we said goodbye to Voyager, along with VuFind and Classic Voyager (WebVoyage), and welcomed Alma and Primo. During the past 18 years, millions of transactions were processed using Voyager. Looking at the circulation statistics alone, there were more than 8.5 million initial checkouts, 5.8 million renews, and 8.1 million returns recorded in Voyager. That equals to 1.2 million circulation transactions per year and an average of 2 transactions per minute.

We thank you for your service, Voyager. Bon Voyage!

Thanks to Michael Norman, Janelle Sander, Cherie’ Weible, and Heather Murphy for providing data and consultation. Image created by Library Assessment Graduate Assistant Lindsay Taylor.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS: Library Tip of the Month
The Library sends a monthly email to new faculty at Illinois during the fall and spring semesters. These emails introduce many of our services and resources to this important audience.

You can view the September LTOTM at https://emails.illinois.edu/newsletter/2059436028.html.

If you have ideas for future emails, please feel free to share them with Heather Murphy.
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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 meetings 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 forward journal editorships or editorial board membership, elected and invited external service appointments, honors, and awards information to Heather Murphy.
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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 https://uiuc.libcal.com/calendar/staff.
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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Hub Training
September 8 – December 4

On behalf of the Reference Management Team, I would like to invite you to attend Fall 2020 Hub Training. The sessions are included in the Staff Calendar and on the Hub Wiki Training Schedule page (login with your NetID and password).

Sessions will be held on Tuesdays from 2-3 p.m. and Fridays from 3-4 p.m. via Zoom. You can attend either the Tuesday or the Friday session. If you are new to working at one of the Hubs – please attend one session for each of the topics. Others who will be working at a Hub during the 2020-21 academic year – please attend as many sessions as you can. Even if you have learned this material before, your knowledge and experience are essential to making the most of this opportunity to learn from each other. If you are not working at one of the Hubs but are interested in the training topics being presented, you are more than welcome to attend.

Zoom details were emailed via LibNews on August 2nd from Sara Holder. Please contact Sara if you have any questions.
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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Task Force for Research Support Forum
October 13, 11:00am

Research support for Library faculty and academic professionals.
Registration is required for this event. Please register on the Library Staff Calendar.
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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Podcasting Workshop
When: October 14, 6:00pm
Where: Zoom

Want to start your own podcast? Not sure where to start? Join the co-creator of JK, It’s Magic, as she walks you through choosing your equipment, recording, and the editing process. Sign up today: https://forms.illinois.edu/sec/1576214811
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EVENTS AND TRAINING: NISO Webinar: Change Management Webinar Series – The Information Community Adapts
October 14, 10:00am

In the early months of the pandemic, institutions and organizations were forced to make rapid decisions about whether to close, whether or when to re-open, which parts of normal operations might be managed remotely and which would simply have to be dispensed with. Some organizations had emergency preparedness plans that enabled them to adapt swiftly, but others had to become agile as a day-by-day learning experience. The Roundtable Discussion format will bring together stakeholders from across the information community to discuss the decision-making processes they and their organizations used to deal with the pandemic and the key factors that enabled them to successfully react and adapt to the uncertainty.

Please email training@library.illinois.edu for login credentials or recordings.
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EVENTS AND TRAINING: 10th Anniversary Scholarly Commons Event

This year marks the 10th Anniversary of the Scholarly Commons opening. To celebrate this milestone, the Scholarly Commons will be presenting a digital exhibition commemorating our history. This digital exhibition will highlight the projects, partnerships, and people that supported the unit over the past ten years. The exhibition will include an interactive timeline of the Scholarly Commons history showcasing past initiatives, events, and collaborations that we have built over the years and a GIS mapping project highlighting former Scholarly Commons graduate assistants. Beyond showing the global influence of the Scholarly Commons, the map will also include descriptions from the graduate assistants describing how working in the department impacted their professional and academic careers.

Additionally, there will be a digital event on October 20 at 3:30 p.m. with guest speaker and former Scholarly Commons GA, Thomas Padilla. Mr. Padilla is the Interim Head of Knowledge Production at the University of Nevada Las Vegas Libraries and his presentation, Responsible Operations: Data Science, Machine Learning, and AI in Libraries, will discuss how cultural heritage practitioners can responsibly use machine learning and artificial intelligence to improve collection description and discovery and create space for members of their organizations to deepen cross-functional community partnerships.

To learn more about when and how to access these events, please visit the Scholarly Commons homepage.
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EVENTS AND TRAINING: NISO Webinar: Change Management Webinar Series – Supporting the Workforce
October 21, 10:00am

During the months of full and partial lockdown, organizations have had to support their workforce in a variety of ways. Budgets have been revisited. Equipment has been provided and deployed to enable staff to work remotely. And, importantly, working practices — including meetings, staff management, deliverables, and more — have had to change, often significantly What has the impact been on information workflows and internal systems? How did institutions and organizations in our community work to mitigate some of the significant challenges experienced by their workforce? In this webinar, we will hear from information industry professionals about how they and their organizations supported the people in their workforce and what they learned they could do to support them. 

Please email training@library.illinois.edu for login credentials or recordings.
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EVENTS AND TRAINING: Bring Your Own Book+Online Meeting on Racial Justice
Wednesday, October 21, 6:00pm
Sign up today: https://forms.illinois.edu/sec/1194719520

We’re back with a new edition of Bring Your Own Book Club! This time around we’re talking about books about racial justice. Hosted by the Residence Hall Libraries and the UGL, come together with others and discuss the books you’ve been reading recently. Not into books? No problem! We want to hear about TV shows, movies or documentaries that got you thinking!

Need help looking for a book? We’ve got you covered!
Check out the RHL Black Justice Resource List!
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EVENTS AND TRAINING: NISO Webinar: Change Management Webinar Series – Delivering Services in a Pandemic
October 28, 10:00am

Whether working remotely, on-site or in some hybrid form, information organizations and institutions found that many basic services had to be managed and delivered in new and different forms. From providing remote support to customers, to delivering seamless online access to content, to meeting the needs of scattered students and faculty, everyone’s workflows had to be adapted. Standard access services that are normally taken for granted had to be rethought. This webinar will address what these changes meant for all those who provide information services of any sort. 

Please email training@library.illinois.edu for login credentials or recordings.
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If you would like to submit content for the November issue of Library Office Notes, please submit it to Heather Murphy or Tom Teper by October 16, 2020.