Personnel/Hiring Update
Ask Us Weekend Supervisor
After a few snafus, the LTIII Weekend Supervisor/Reserves work lead position has moved forward. The Search Committee has been named. This position has been rewritten and now includes Reserves work lead duties; so, instead of Millennium technology duties, there will be Reserves technology duties. Therefore, one of the search committee members will be from Library IT and that is Niraj who also worked in Reserves as a student. Supak is the other search committee member and Theresa Anderson (UCD HR) is the chair.
Research and Instruction, Head
The Search Committee (Marical, Ignacio, Ellen M, Mary D and Tom) has reviewed applications. The next step is to recommend candidates for in-person interviews. The hope is that we will be interviewing towards the end of January.
Government Publications
Losing Amy has been such a blow to us in so many ways. We have been going through the Gov Pub procedures, materials, and workflow in an effort to identify the status of her work. I know that many of you have expectations and questions about how to proceed. For now:
* Supplies will be ordered by Mary D. When we get into rm 118, we will review the supply storage and ordering process.
* Hannah Houck, who has been a student employee in the area for 4 years and who just graduated from UCD, will be hired as a full-time Temp employee to work in Gov Pubs and to continue maintaining the Reference Collection. Peggy Jobe at Norlin Library, CU Boulder has offered her services to answer questions about processing the collection and about the FDLP(Federal Depository Library Program)requirements. Hiring Hannah as a Temp will help bridge the gap until the Research and Instruction Head is hired and on board.
* I have requested additional graduate student hours to replace the Research Help virtual and f2f hours that Amy did. This has been approved and we will get 20 additional grad assistant hours to help with both Research Help (8-10 hrs) and GovPub processing (8-10 hrs). Ian Burke, currently a Research Help/Instruction grad assistant, will decrease his current responsibilities and take on duties in Gov Pubs.
* As I discussed with the Subject Teams when Louise left, the vast informational content that resides in the now mostly electronic Government Publications is subject and disciplinary in nature; therefore, individuals on Subject Teams should be familiar with that content. I have heard this GovPub scenario compared to other publishers; that is, the fact that Elsevier, Springer, Wiley/Blackwell, and other publishers create content in all subject areas for which we need to have a degree of knowledge and a certain comfort level. The GPO is another publisher creating content in all subject areas for which we need have a degree of knowledge and a certain comfort level.
* We will be investigating training opportunities for us to achieve that degree of knowledge and comfort level.
Library Remodel
In previous emails to ERI and on the wiki, I have outlined the move and time-line. The timeline is a bit of a moving target, but the moving company will likely move our offices and processing areas January 4th-5th. This is a change from the previous information and is noted on the wiki.
I have noticed that the instructions about how to fill out the labels are not always being followed. Look at my earlier email or the link under ERI Services Move Instructions and Timeline and especially the "Labels" information:
Labels: While you are picking up your boxes, pick up a few labels as well. You will use the labels to identify what needs to go where in your current office space. For information about how to fill out the label look on the intranet at http://intranet.auraria.edu/wiki/images/3/3c/MoveLabels.pdf
Until the completion of the construction walk-through and punchlist, we cannot occupy rm 118. This was supposed to happen on Dec 20th; however, the work is not completed and modular offices are still being assembled. Very soon, Niraj will set-up an "experimental" dual monitor station in one of the modular offices. This will allow us to try out dual monitors (on monitor arms).
Self-Check Stations will be moving to the side of the Ask Us Desk in the next couple of weeks. Signage adjustments will follow.
2011 Accomplishments
At the Nov 30 Open Forum, we shared Accomplishments achieved in 2011. And they are MANY! We started a wiki page to list these accomplishments and you may still add to that list at 2010 Accomplishments. Thanks to Ellen M for adding to that list. I invite you all to do the same.
Thanks for you work this year and for reminding us about those achievements by posting them on the wiki.
Summon
The Infrastructure task group completed their work and handed the torch to the Summon Public Interface working group. The Spitfires are Lorrie (chair), Joseph, Eric, Gayle, Christina, and Elaine.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Monday, October 31, 2011
October 2011 Update
Farewell and Best Wishes to Ev Jamerino
We all send Ev our very best wishes as she retires from Auraria Library and enters into other pursuits.
Ev's Weekend Supervisor position will be filled. The position description (LTIII) has been sent to UCD HR and we expect to hear that it has been approved shortly. Until the position is hired and adequately trained, Ask Us personnel will be rotating weekend duty.
Student Employees Update
Instructional Design - Joseph has hired 2 students:
John Murphy is working towards a degree in medical imaging and was the lead filmer and editor for the "Does the Library Have Textbooks" video as well as the short bio video of Niraj that will be released shortly for the fundraising Capital Campaign.
Brittany Sooter is a UCD Multimedia and Graphics student is is our lead artist and illustrator on the Information Literacy Video Game which is under development. The goal is to have a module of this tutorial available by the end of Fall semester.
Reference and Gov Pub Collections - Amy supervises 3 students who help process,scan,gather Reference Stacks statistics, withdraw, and shelve the reference and government publications collections. Also help with miscellaneous projects, such as weeding the courtyards.
Hannah Houck, senior at UCD, majoring in Biology.
Jim Walters, senior at Metro, majoring in English.
Katie Moore, enrolled in Post-baccalaureate teacher certificate program at Metro.
Chelsea Huck, junior at UCD, majoring in Communications and Anthropology.
Library Hires
Ask Us Weekend Supervisor - search will start soon.
Research and Instruction, Head - Search Committee formed. Position has been advertised and applications are arriving.
Security Guard - not technically a Library hire, but an individual has been hired and AHEC training will start soon.
Weekend and Night Reminders
1.Ask Us Desk Weekend Supervisor responsibilities include:
Plan, organize and coordinate activities of the Ask Us service desk, includes Prospector delivery service and duty on the ASK US Desk during the weekend shift. Direct the Ask Us student employees. Approve online catalog requests and create reports for staff to locate materials for Ask Us, Prospector and Interlibrary Loan.
Interpret library policy to patrons and library personnel. Resolve patron issues and complaints and building issues. Resolve inquires by phone, by US mail, in person, online and through email. Correspond with patrons and outside libraries regarding questions concerning accounts and access. Accept replacement copies of library materials. Enforce rules of conduct and handle security issues. Call security guard or police when needed and communicate problems.
Cindy M is Ask Us weekend backup for Saturday (720-255-9158) and Supak (303-895-7383) is backup for Sunday. Doug is evening backup for Supak.
The Ask Us Desk procedures, including Opening and Closing procedures, are on the Wiki: http://intranet.auraria.edu/wiki/index.php/Circulation_Procedures_and_Updates
Here is a list of our phone numbers if the person scheduled for Ask Us does not show up.
Cindy M -- (H) 303-423-0652 Supak – (H) 303-716-5999
(C) 720-255-9158 (C) 303-895-7383
Doug – (H) 303-261-2718 Kathy – (H) 303-693-6912
Mozhdeh – (H) 303-745-9390 Pat – (H) 303-770-4306
(C) 303-358-1276
Rick - (H) 303-641-7894
(C) 720-482-9929
Cindy H – 720-413-2382
2.IT and Skyline - Nights and Weekend Help
With Nina leaving, we verified the following IT, web, and Skyline nights and weekend help in the case of emergencies.
Niraj – help with IT problems
Rick – help with Skyline problems - 303-278-0839 (H); 303-618-4247 (C)
3.E-Resources - Nights and Weekend Help
During the week if you are having a problem with an e-resource, contact a member of the E-resources Troubleshooting Team, Elaine, Gayle or Denise, by creating a Help Desk ticket.
At night and on weekends, if we are having problems accessing ALL of our electronic resources, it is best to give Niraj a call.
If we are having problems with just 1 resource or 1 e-resource provider (e.g. Ebsco) and you are able to get to the provider’s webpage that includes their help desk information (hopefully, they are open nights and weekends), you may:
•contact the provider directly (webpage or phone)
•while you won’t have all the information that you may need such as account number, account name, renewal information, etc, but you are welcome to see if you can get any answers
•regardless of the outcome of this contact, fill out a Library Help Desk ticket to let our E-resources Troubleshooting Team know of the problem.
4. Security Reminders
•Non-emergency security concerns should be directed primarily to Marical/Becky and your supervisor. For non-emergency security concerns and policy decisions, Marical and Becky will communicate internally and with the AHEC police as needed.
•As always, our procedure for emergency response, if the Auraria Library guard is on duty (after rehired), we will contact that person (included cell phone #). The guard will assess the situation and call the police as needed. If the Auraria Library security guard is not available
a. call AHEC police (or ask Ask Us personnel to call),
b. inform Ask Us about the incident because this is where the police/EMTs are supposed to report,
c. call (or ask Ask Us personnel to call) Becky/Marical and leave a message stating there is an incident,
d. stay in the area of the Ask Us Desk until police arrive if possible or work with your colleagues if we need to monitor the incident which is another part of the building
e. fill out an incident form, put in binder at Ask Us and send a copy to Becky who will forward to appropriate parties.
•Review the Security page on the wiki at http://intranet.auraria.edu/wiki/index.php/Security_Schedule for more information, best practices, and guidance.
Prospector Document Delivery Meeting
notes from Ev Jamerino of the Document Delivery Committee Quarterly Meeting
Highlights from 10/19/11
Salida will be joining Prospector / Marmot Libraries soon. Summit County joined catalog Aug 2. 75% of DPL records have been deleted out of Prospector.
Fulfillment stats have gone down a bit. Poudre Library materials will be unavailable Dec 1 – Jan 9. Closure for remodeling. New Prospector FAQ in wiki format coming.
New World Cat button that III added. Function in Encore version. Buy it added with sites like Amazon, Barnes with price listed. New Prospector mobile phone interface. Check mobile device button, goal to make automatic. Minimal information on the screen so patrons can see info easier using their cell phone. iPads have regular information shown. Try it!
Maximum Prospector requests at 1 time increased from 40 to 70. (Some faculty wanted 100)
Most libraries have volume so large that separating loans and returns is not possible with staff shortages and not enough room to put them anywhere. Most members still want libraries to send loans and returns separately if possible. Also mark slips with loan or return.
Pascal materials should be sent directly to Pascal and not UCD, UCB, DU, UCHS. With catalog problems sometimes the Pascal loc C194 is not on the return receipt. We all depend on the receipt loc to save time processing courier items.
Note:
Evelyn is retiring so Doug Flint will take her place at committee meetings. Both Doug and Supak can be contacted with Prospector issues. Doug should make sure to communicate highlights of meetings he attends and Doc Delivery Committee list serve announcements to library staff.
Library Renovation and Construction
Soon, ERI will have a move packet which will include labels that we will use to identify "stuff" in our current office spaces that we will either designate to be moved into our future office spaces or to remain behind (for recycling or taking to Surplus).
We will use the labels for our personal offices spaces and for the processing and shared spaces. For example, many of us will want to move our chair, a filing cabinet, and maybe a bookshelf into the new space; therefore, you will apply the "to be moved" label with your name/office number. The modular and hard-walled offices will have specific numbers assigned to them. The "stuff" in the processing and shared spaces in IDS and in the reference/gov pub areas will likewise need to be labeled.I want to get these labels in your hands as soon as possible so that we can begin thinking and labeling.
Other construction - Construction of a new CCD building in Lot L could start as early as December 2011.
Capital Campaign and Fundraising
As mentioned in Open Forum and ERI Services meetings, with the aid of the CU Foundation, the Library is embarking on a capital campaign. The funds resulting from these efforts will allow us to proceed with future phases of the Library renovation including technology-enriched group study rooms, improved restrooms, expanded cafe, enhanced learning spaces including event/multi-functional areas.
The financial goal of the campaign is $6M. The financial goal of being #1 on the AHEC master plan is another $22M. Several of us have contributed towards the campaign planning with the CU Foundation, Humphries Poli (architects), and Ricochet (a PR firm). This work is helping to characterize our work, services, resources as an integral part of the campus and using the metaphor of exploration to describe learning. If learning is exploration and we, according to our mission, are the heart of the learning experience, is there language or a metaphor that identifies "us" in this exploration?
We all send Ev our very best wishes as she retires from Auraria Library and enters into other pursuits.
Ev's Weekend Supervisor position will be filled. The position description (LTIII) has been sent to UCD HR and we expect to hear that it has been approved shortly. Until the position is hired and adequately trained, Ask Us personnel will be rotating weekend duty.
Student Employees Update
Instructional Design - Joseph has hired 2 students:
John Murphy is working towards a degree in medical imaging and was the lead filmer and editor for the "Does the Library Have Textbooks" video as well as the short bio video of Niraj that will be released shortly for the fundraising Capital Campaign.
Brittany Sooter is a UCD Multimedia and Graphics student is is our lead artist and illustrator on the Information Literacy Video Game which is under development. The goal is to have a module of this tutorial available by the end of Fall semester.
Reference and Gov Pub Collections - Amy supervises 3 students who help process,scan,gather Reference Stacks statistics, withdraw, and shelve the reference and government publications collections. Also help with miscellaneous projects, such as weeding the courtyards.
Hannah Houck, senior at UCD, majoring in Biology.
Jim Walters, senior at Metro, majoring in English.
Katie Moore, enrolled in Post-baccalaureate teacher certificate program at Metro.
Chelsea Huck, junior at UCD, majoring in Communications and Anthropology.
Library Hires
Ask Us Weekend Supervisor - search will start soon.
Research and Instruction, Head - Search Committee formed. Position has been advertised and applications are arriving.
Security Guard - not technically a Library hire, but an individual has been hired and AHEC training will start soon.
Weekend and Night Reminders
1.Ask Us Desk Weekend Supervisor responsibilities include:
Plan, organize and coordinate activities of the Ask Us service desk, includes Prospector delivery service and duty on the ASK US Desk during the weekend shift. Direct the Ask Us student employees. Approve online catalog requests and create reports for staff to locate materials for Ask Us, Prospector and Interlibrary Loan.
Interpret library policy to patrons and library personnel. Resolve patron issues and complaints and building issues. Resolve inquires by phone, by US mail, in person, online and through email. Correspond with patrons and outside libraries regarding questions concerning accounts and access. Accept replacement copies of library materials. Enforce rules of conduct and handle security issues. Call security guard or police when needed and communicate problems.
Cindy M is Ask Us weekend backup for Saturday (720-255-9158) and Supak (303-895-7383) is backup for Sunday. Doug is evening backup for Supak.
The Ask Us Desk procedures, including Opening and Closing procedures, are on the Wiki: http://intranet.auraria.edu/wiki/index.php/Circulation_Procedures_and_Updates
Here is a list of our phone numbers if the person scheduled for Ask Us does not show up.
Cindy M -- (H) 303-423-0652 Supak – (H) 303-716-5999
(C) 720-255-9158 (C) 303-895-7383
Doug – (H) 303-261-2718 Kathy – (H) 303-693-6912
Mozhdeh – (H) 303-745-9390 Pat – (H) 303-770-4306
(C) 303-358-1276
Rick - (H) 303-641-7894
(C) 720-482-9929
Cindy H – 720-413-2382
2.IT and Skyline - Nights and Weekend Help
With Nina leaving, we verified the following IT, web, and Skyline nights and weekend help in the case of emergencies.
Niraj – help with IT problems
Rick – help with Skyline problems - 303-278-0839 (H); 303-618-4247 (C)
3.E-Resources - Nights and Weekend Help
During the week if you are having a problem with an e-resource, contact a member of the E-resources Troubleshooting Team, Elaine, Gayle or Denise, by creating a Help Desk ticket.
At night and on weekends, if we are having problems accessing ALL of our electronic resources, it is best to give Niraj a call.
If we are having problems with just 1 resource or 1 e-resource provider (e.g. Ebsco) and you are able to get to the provider’s webpage that includes their help desk information (hopefully, they are open nights and weekends), you may:
•contact the provider directly (webpage or phone)
•while you won’t have all the information that you may need such as account number, account name, renewal information, etc, but you are welcome to see if you can get any answers
•regardless of the outcome of this contact, fill out a Library Help Desk ticket to let our E-resources Troubleshooting Team know of the problem.
4. Security Reminders
•Non-emergency security concerns should be directed primarily to Marical/Becky and your supervisor. For non-emergency security concerns and policy decisions, Marical and Becky will communicate internally and with the AHEC police as needed.
•As always, our procedure for emergency response, if the Auraria Library guard is on duty (after rehired), we will contact that person (included cell phone #). The guard will assess the situation and call the police as needed. If the Auraria Library security guard is not available
a. call AHEC police (or ask Ask Us personnel to call),
b. inform Ask Us about the incident because this is where the police/EMTs are supposed to report,
c. call (or ask Ask Us personnel to call) Becky/Marical and leave a message stating there is an incident,
d. stay in the area of the Ask Us Desk until police arrive if possible or work with your colleagues if we need to monitor the incident which is another part of the building
e. fill out an incident form, put in binder at Ask Us and send a copy to Becky who will forward to appropriate parties.
•Review the Security page on the wiki at http://intranet.auraria.edu/wiki/index.php/Security_Schedule for more information, best practices, and guidance.
Prospector Document Delivery Meeting
notes from Ev Jamerino of the Document Delivery Committee Quarterly Meeting
Highlights from 10/19/11
Salida will be joining Prospector / Marmot Libraries soon. Summit County joined catalog Aug 2. 75% of DPL records have been deleted out of Prospector.
Fulfillment stats have gone down a bit. Poudre Library materials will be unavailable Dec 1 – Jan 9. Closure for remodeling. New Prospector FAQ in wiki format coming.
New World Cat button that III added. Function in Encore version. Buy it added with sites like Amazon, Barnes with price listed. New Prospector mobile phone interface. Check mobile device button, goal to make automatic. Minimal information on the screen so patrons can see info easier using their cell phone. iPads have regular information shown. Try it!
Maximum Prospector requests at 1 time increased from 40 to 70. (Some faculty wanted 100)
Most libraries have volume so large that separating loans and returns is not possible with staff shortages and not enough room to put them anywhere. Most members still want libraries to send loans and returns separately if possible. Also mark slips with loan or return.
Pascal materials should be sent directly to Pascal and not UCD, UCB, DU, UCHS. With catalog problems sometimes the Pascal loc C194 is not on the return receipt. We all depend on the receipt loc to save time processing courier items.
Note:
Evelyn is retiring so Doug Flint will take her place at committee meetings. Both Doug and Supak can be contacted with Prospector issues. Doug should make sure to communicate highlights of meetings he attends and Doc Delivery Committee list serve announcements to library staff.
Library Renovation and Construction
Soon, ERI will have a move packet which will include labels that we will use to identify "stuff" in our current office spaces that we will either designate to be moved into our future office spaces or to remain behind (for recycling or taking to Surplus).
We will use the labels for our personal offices spaces and for the processing and shared spaces. For example, many of us will want to move our chair, a filing cabinet, and maybe a bookshelf into the new space; therefore, you will apply the "to be moved" label with your name/office number. The modular and hard-walled offices will have specific numbers assigned to them. The "stuff" in the processing and shared spaces in IDS and in the reference/gov pub areas will likewise need to be labeled.I want to get these labels in your hands as soon as possible so that we can begin thinking and labeling.
Other construction - Construction of a new CCD building in Lot L could start as early as December 2011.
Capital Campaign and Fundraising
As mentioned in Open Forum and ERI Services meetings, with the aid of the CU Foundation, the Library is embarking on a capital campaign. The funds resulting from these efforts will allow us to proceed with future phases of the Library renovation including technology-enriched group study rooms, improved restrooms, expanded cafe, enhanced learning spaces including event/multi-functional areas.
The financial goal of the campaign is $6M. The financial goal of being #1 on the AHEC master plan is another $22M. Several of us have contributed towards the campaign planning with the CU Foundation, Humphries Poli (architects), and Ricochet (a PR firm). This work is helping to characterize our work, services, resources as an integral part of the campus and using the metaphor of exploration to describe learning. If learning is exploration and we, according to our mission, are the heart of the learning experience, is there language or a metaphor that identifies "us" in this exploration?
Friday, September 16, 2011
September 2011 Update
International Initiatives
Earlier this week, 2 librarians from Linneaus University in Sweden visited with many of us about potential Student Internships and Employee Exchanges. Next steps will include Mary Somerville working with the director of UCD’s Office of International Affairs on a memorandum of understanding. For more information about our 2 days of meetings, you may visit the International Initiatives section on the wiki.
Position Searches
*Head of Research and Instruction - this position has been approved. Marical will chair the yet-to-be selected search committee.
*Security Guard - AHEC Police continue to search for a replacement guard for the Library. Interviews will likely be the first of October and Marical will sit in on those interviews.
Renovation
I have been asked for information from a UCD Advocate reporter about our renovation. I am sharing the content of my initial email to him below. He may do a follow-up interview with me and notes that he expects the article to run in the Sept 21 Advocate. As always, if you are contacted for information by a reporter, you will want to send the reporter to Catherine Ostrander. In this specific case, I took the reporter’s inquiry.
Here is the email exchange with the reporter about the Library renovation, including some remarks that you might find informative:
From: Daniel Alvarez
Sent: Thursday, September 15, 2011 3:52 PM
To: Hashert, Cynthia
Subject: Re: Library Renovations
Thank you!
I think that would be a great idea. We could run pieces periodically with updates and such, since I'm sure things are bound to come up and decisions might have to be made as to how to improve on the current designs and so forth
On Thu, Sep 15, 2011 at 3:48 PM, Hashert, Cynthia wrote:
Since we are thinking of the renovations in phases [Daniel had asked about when the renovations will be finished], I don’t have that kind of timeline. However, this “first phase” is supposed to be completed sometime at the beginning of the Spring Semester. Does that help? Perhaps since this project is in phases, you and I can continue to touch base over time and we can update this ongoing story…we think of it as a journey to creating the library of the 21st Century, so you can come on the journey with us!
Thanks,
Cindy
On Fri, Sep 9, 2011 at 7:37 PM, Hashert, Cynthia wrote:
The Library Director, Mary Somerville, has been collaborating over the last several months with personnel across the 4 institutions on the Auraria campus, including planners, administrators, students, and faculty, to determine how the Library facility can best meet the needs of the campus. The overall vision of this process is to create enhanced learning spaces for the students of this campus.
When Auraria Library was built 35 years ago, it was intended to serve a maximum of 15,000 students. Today, nearly 50,000 students, faculty, and staff from the University of Colorado Denver, Metropolitan State College of Denver, and the Community College of Denver, utilize the Library’s digital and physical resources, enabling them to “engage their minds and enrich their futures (that is our tagline).
Approximately 25,000 visitors enter the building weekly, and that does not count the thousands that visit our online Library. Building upon the Library building’s distinctive urban architecture, natural lighting, open concept, and sunny courtyards, we envision improved spaces for students to do collaborative/group study, use a myriad of print and online resources, seek research help from subject-specialist librarians, tap into improved wireless capacity, use technology-enriched group study rooms, reflect and read in quiet areas on the 2nd floor, and more.
Several months ago, we performed a student survey asking students what they would like to see in the Library. Two of the top votes were for additional seating and additional electrical capacity (for laptops and other mobile devices). For more information on the survey, I can put you in touch with Meg Brown-Sica who spear-headed that initiative.I am happy to say that we have addressed those top picks and added many new tables and chairs to the first floor of the building, plus, we added about 76 electrical outlet throughout 1st and 2nd floors.
As you might imagine…all of this requires considerable planning with a number of constituents and costs money including donor dollars, so we are approaching these renovations in phases. The current phase involves relocating some of the staff offices towards the back of the Library on the 1st floor. This move will allow us to open up spaces in the front of the Library for student learning spaces and activities. It will also improve the sight-lines and therefore the way-finding for students as they enter the building (the building can be a little confusing to navigate).
Soon a construction wall will be built in the back of the 1st floor of the building and that area will be renovated to house Library staff. When that project is completed, much of the staff office space that occupies the “front” of the 1st floor will be opened up. This “first step” will allow the future phases that will include group study rooms, renovated restroom facilities, improved food options, and more, to progress as we envision the Library that meets the needs of 21st Century students, faculty, and staff.
Oh my, I have gone on and on. You might be able to tell this is exciting stuff and I would love to chat with you. Shall we look for a time on Wednesday?
Thanks for taking an interest in the Library!
Cindy
Information Delivery Services
Welcome to Mohamed to the Ask Us Desk where he has been cross-training for a few weeks now.
Welcome Mary S to the IDS office/processing area. Moving into the IDS area until room 118 is remodeled, Mary will office in the area beside Cindy M. Her office on 2nd floor will be used as a meeting room (258F) that can be booked online just like the Friends Conference room.
ERI Student Employees
Research Help/Instruction Student Employees
New
• Tiffany Curtin (MLIS, DU)
Tiffany will be doing research help (Desk, IM and AskAcademic) , teaching library instruction session and working on projects as assigned.
• Ian Burke (Ph.D, DU)
Ian will be doing research help (Desk, IM and AskAcademic) , teaching library instruction session and working on projects as assigned.
Returning
• Dina Hornriech (MLIS, DU)
Research Help, teaching and projects as assigned.
• Tina Howell (MLIS, DU)
Research Help, teaching and projects as assigned.
• Megan Welsh (MLIS, DU)
Research Help, teaching and projects as assigned.
Earlier this week, 2 librarians from Linneaus University in Sweden visited with many of us about potential Student Internships and Employee Exchanges. Next steps will include Mary Somerville working with the director of UCD’s Office of International Affairs on a memorandum of understanding. For more information about our 2 days of meetings, you may visit the International Initiatives section on the wiki.
Position Searches
*Head of Research and Instruction - this position has been approved. Marical will chair the yet-to-be selected search committee.
*Security Guard - AHEC Police continue to search for a replacement guard for the Library. Interviews will likely be the first of October and Marical will sit in on those interviews.
Renovation
I have been asked for information from a UCD Advocate reporter about our renovation. I am sharing the content of my initial email to him below. He may do a follow-up interview with me and notes that he expects the article to run in the Sept 21 Advocate. As always, if you are contacted for information by a reporter, you will want to send the reporter to Catherine Ostrander. In this specific case, I took the reporter’s inquiry.
Here is the email exchange with the reporter about the Library renovation, including some remarks that you might find informative:
From: Daniel Alvarez
Sent: Thursday, September 15, 2011 3:52 PM
To: Hashert, Cynthia
Subject: Re: Library Renovations
Thank you!
I think that would be a great idea. We could run pieces periodically with updates and such, since I'm sure things are bound to come up and decisions might have to be made as to how to improve on the current designs and so forth
On Thu, Sep 15, 2011 at 3:48 PM, Hashert, Cynthia wrote:
Since we are thinking of the renovations in phases [Daniel had asked about when the renovations will be finished], I don’t have that kind of timeline. However, this “first phase” is supposed to be completed sometime at the beginning of the Spring Semester. Does that help? Perhaps since this project is in phases, you and I can continue to touch base over time and we can update this ongoing story…we think of it as a journey to creating the library of the 21st Century, so you can come on the journey with us!
Thanks,
Cindy
On Fri, Sep 9, 2011 at 7:37 PM, Hashert, Cynthia wrote:
The Library Director, Mary Somerville, has been collaborating over the last several months with personnel across the 4 institutions on the Auraria campus, including planners, administrators, students, and faculty, to determine how the Library facility can best meet the needs of the campus. The overall vision of this process is to create enhanced learning spaces for the students of this campus.
When Auraria Library was built 35 years ago, it was intended to serve a maximum of 15,000 students. Today, nearly 50,000 students, faculty, and staff from the University of Colorado Denver, Metropolitan State College of Denver, and the Community College of Denver, utilize the Library’s digital and physical resources, enabling them to “engage their minds and enrich their futures (that is our tagline).
Approximately 25,000 visitors enter the building weekly, and that does not count the thousands that visit our online Library. Building upon the Library building’s distinctive urban architecture, natural lighting, open concept, and sunny courtyards, we envision improved spaces for students to do collaborative/group study, use a myriad of print and online resources, seek research help from subject-specialist librarians, tap into improved wireless capacity, use technology-enriched group study rooms, reflect and read in quiet areas on the 2nd floor, and more.
Several months ago, we performed a student survey asking students what they would like to see in the Library. Two of the top votes were for additional seating and additional electrical capacity (for laptops and other mobile devices). For more information on the survey, I can put you in touch with Meg Brown-Sica who spear-headed that initiative.I am happy to say that we have addressed those top picks and added many new tables and chairs to the first floor of the building, plus, we added about 76 electrical outlet throughout 1st and 2nd floors.
As you might imagine…all of this requires considerable planning with a number of constituents and costs money including donor dollars, so we are approaching these renovations in phases. The current phase involves relocating some of the staff offices towards the back of the Library on the 1st floor. This move will allow us to open up spaces in the front of the Library for student learning spaces and activities. It will also improve the sight-lines and therefore the way-finding for students as they enter the building (the building can be a little confusing to navigate).
Soon a construction wall will be built in the back of the 1st floor of the building and that area will be renovated to house Library staff. When that project is completed, much of the staff office space that occupies the “front” of the 1st floor will be opened up. This “first step” will allow the future phases that will include group study rooms, renovated restroom facilities, improved food options, and more, to progress as we envision the Library that meets the needs of 21st Century students, faculty, and staff.
Oh my, I have gone on and on. You might be able to tell this is exciting stuff and I would love to chat with you. Shall we look for a time on Wednesday?
Thanks for taking an interest in the Library!
Cindy
Information Delivery Services
Welcome to Mohamed to the Ask Us Desk where he has been cross-training for a few weeks now.
Welcome Mary S to the IDS office/processing area. Moving into the IDS area until room 118 is remodeled, Mary will office in the area beside Cindy M. Her office on 2nd floor will be used as a meeting room (258F) that can be booked online just like the Friends Conference room.
ERI Student Employees
Research Help/Instruction Student Employees
New
• Tiffany Curtin (MLIS, DU)
Tiffany will be doing research help (Desk, IM and AskAcademic) , teaching library instruction session and working on projects as assigned.
• Ian Burke (Ph.D, DU)
Ian will be doing research help (Desk, IM and AskAcademic) , teaching library instruction session and working on projects as assigned.
Returning
• Dina Hornriech (MLIS, DU)
Research Help, teaching and projects as assigned.
• Tina Howell (MLIS, DU)
Research Help, teaching and projects as assigned.
• Megan Welsh (MLIS, DU)
Research Help, teaching and projects as assigned.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Fall 2011 - What's New
Third day into Fall 2011 and all is going well :-). Hooray!
Thanks to everyone for greeting our 6500+ daily Library users with a friendly smile and a helpful attitude. Of course, our work continues through the Summer, but there is no denying the distinct "buzz" of the Fall semester...the service desks, virtual reference (text, IM, email), reserves, research consultations, faculty collaborations, ILL, materials selection/analysis/management, instruction requests, Skyline patron database and circulation module updates, Prospector borrowing and lending, video bookings, etc are all going into high gear.
Our Getting Ready for Fall Punchlist served us well. We were able to spiff up the Library in a couple of areas. Carpet was cleaned or tiles replaced; furniture replaced and repositioned on both floors; I think at least some of the windows cleaned; Hannah and other Gov Pub/Ref Collection students tidied the courtyards and cleared out the ERIC microfiche collection; Ask Us refresher training completed; signage updated; maps created; orientations planned and executed; new Open Lab tutoring hours posted; Fall bookmarks designed and delivered, other marketing materials and handouts updated...
http://intranet.auraria.edu/wiki/index.php/Fall_2011_Punchlist
The What's New poster and flyers created by Amy and Mary D. with QR codes contributed by Gayle and photos from Jeffrey and others, point out some changes from last semester. For example, we remind folks (as we do on Library FYI) that the Library is undergoing the first phase of remodeling and ask that they "pardon our dust".
Joseph Sanchez, our instructional designer hired in July, has created a TEXTBOOK video. This video is available on Library FYI and is looping on a monitor next to Research Help. The video plus the Textbook resource guide created by Bill will help to effectively and creatively answer the most frequently asked question of the first 3 weeks of the semester:
"Does the Library have my textbook?"
Video link http://library.auraria.edu/does-the-library-have-textbooks
Guide link http://guides.auraria.edu/content.php?pid=59042&search_terms=textbook
If you see anything that needs my attention, don't hesitate to let me know.
P.S. Last year, I made an attempt to improve communication with and in ERI Services using our newsletter/blog. I am renewing that commitment. Therefore, you will see the information in this email on the blog where it will be retained if you need it for future reference. ERI News is on the wiki under our departmental name and at this link http://aurariaerinews.blogspot.com/
Many thanks to you all, Cindy H
Thanks to everyone for greeting our 6500+ daily Library users with a friendly smile and a helpful attitude. Of course, our work continues through the Summer, but there is no denying the distinct "buzz" of the Fall semester...the service desks, virtual reference (text, IM, email), reserves, research consultations, faculty collaborations, ILL, materials selection/analysis/management, instruction requests, Skyline patron database and circulation module updates, Prospector borrowing and lending, video bookings, etc are all going into high gear.
Our Getting Ready for Fall Punchlist served us well. We were able to spiff up the Library in a couple of areas. Carpet was cleaned or tiles replaced; furniture replaced and repositioned on both floors; I think at least some of the windows cleaned; Hannah and other Gov Pub/Ref Collection students tidied the courtyards and cleared out the ERIC microfiche collection; Ask Us refresher training completed; signage updated; maps created; orientations planned and executed; new Open Lab tutoring hours posted; Fall bookmarks designed and delivered, other marketing materials and handouts updated...
http://intranet.auraria.edu/wiki/index.php/Fall_2011_Punchlist
The What's New poster and flyers created by Amy and Mary D. with QR codes contributed by Gayle and photos from Jeffrey and others, point out some changes from last semester. For example, we remind folks (as we do on Library FYI) that the Library is undergoing the first phase of remodeling and ask that they "pardon our dust".
Joseph Sanchez, our instructional designer hired in July, has created a TEXTBOOK video. This video is available on Library FYI and is looping on a monitor next to Research Help. The video plus the Textbook resource guide created by Bill will help to effectively and creatively answer the most frequently asked question of the first 3 weeks of the semester:
"Does the Library have my textbook?"
Video link http://library.auraria.edu/does-the-library-have-textbooks
Guide link http://guides.auraria.edu/content.php?pid=59042&search_terms=textbook
If you see anything that needs my attention, don't hesitate to let me know.
P.S. Last year, I made an attempt to improve communication with and in ERI Services using our newsletter/blog. I am renewing that commitment. Therefore, you will see the information in this email on the blog where it will be retained if you need it for future reference. ERI News is on the wiki under our departmental name and at this link http://aurariaerinews.blogspot.com/
Many thanks to you all, Cindy H
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
ERI October Update
Moving Collections
As you have observed by now, PSI has completed the move of the Periodicals collection to the area formerly occupied by Government Publications (now on 2nd floor). The responsibility for the shelving of the Periodicals and microforms has reverted to Technical Services. Since Technical Services is responsible for placing the materials into these collections, for pulling for bindery, for pulling for microform replacements, for pulling for the electronic equivalents project, it makes sense for that group to be responsible for the shelving as well.
The move of the Periodicals opened up significant collaborative study space on the south side of the 1st floor. Also, a popular study space on the 1st floor was expanded when we were able to remove 2 ranges at the end of the new Periodicals space. That area outside of rm 118 and the Access Center has long been a favorite group study space. Many thanks to Jerry, Jim, Becky and others for relocating furniture into these areas.
Job well done to all the folks involved in the moving of collections and furniture over the last several weeks.
Shared Leadership Team
Last month, ERI was looking for a new rotation of members onto the Shared Leadership Team. For this year, our representatives will be Tom, Karen, and Judith.
Research Help Kiosk
A Research Help kiosk has been set up on one of the two PCs beside the Research Help Desk (the other PC will remain a Quick Look point for now). We created this beta version of a Research Help kiosk with 2 things in mind, when the Research Help desk is not staffed or when it is very busy, the kiosk will:
* provide an easy way for students to set up Research Help appointments; to get to IM/AskAcademic; to find additional Research Help contact information
* give a few quick answers to frequently asked questions without waiting in line
The webpage that this PC has as its homepage is http://library.auraria.edu/kiosk. Check it out and don’t be shy about giving us feedback or suggestions on the service. (Cindy, Karen, Brittany and Gayle)
ADI Update from Gayle
Thanks to the work of everyone on the subject teams the subject headings of the ADI are almost reconstituted. There will always be updates and changes but what we have now is very useful.
Informed Learning Blueprint Working Group
This Working Group has been formed to develop an instructional program for campus intro-level courses that is also applicable to international students, English language learners, and to U.S. learners from multi-cultural backgrounds. The Group members are Eric (Social Sciences Team), Tom (Professional Studies Team), Nikki (AHA Team), Karen (Academic Support Team), Mary D (Academic Support Team), Lorrie (Social Sciences Team), Ignacio (Sciences Team), myself and Hilary Hughes. As the UCD Fulbright Scholar in Residence, Hilary brings expertise in informed learning concepts and in working with international students. Interested in learning more? Go to the wiki at IL Blueprint Working Group
IDS Update
The Information Delivery Services group is finally together! This will facilitate the cross-training needed in the vital services for which they are responsible (Ask Us, ILL, Reserves, media, etc). While the IDS staffing situation was in a state of change for the last few months, the transfer of staff from other areas into IDS, the merger of the department, and the cross-training plans will result in a strong, well organized group able to meet the varied needs of our library users.
ERI Staff Directory Pages
We win! Look at our pages in the Library staff directory. What a great turn out for getting our pictures taken and up on the web...another demonstration of our commitment to good customer service.
ERI staff pages
Learning Commons
Open Lab Tutoring Pilot - The times and tutoring subject areas have become more stable. The location for this Pilot continues to be outside of the new Faculty Room.
Media Viewing Stations -- Two all-region dvd players/monitors have been added to the area. IT is looking at upgrading some of the computers on the first floor to play all region dvds as well.
Metro State Student Government Calculators Program Pilot -- Last time we looked, the calculators had been checked out about 16 times. No advertising of this Pilot has occurred yet.
Another Retirement :-(
Most of you have heard by now that Louise has announced her retirement effective at the end of January 2011...a huge loss for the Library, for the campus, and for the profession (and it really made me want to hop in an RV and head for Mexico). More news about her retirement party will be forthcoming.
As you have observed by now, PSI has completed the move of the Periodicals collection to the area formerly occupied by Government Publications (now on 2nd floor). The responsibility for the shelving of the Periodicals and microforms has reverted to Technical Services. Since Technical Services is responsible for placing the materials into these collections, for pulling for bindery, for pulling for microform replacements, for pulling for the electronic equivalents project, it makes sense for that group to be responsible for the shelving as well.
The move of the Periodicals opened up significant collaborative study space on the south side of the 1st floor. Also, a popular study space on the 1st floor was expanded when we were able to remove 2 ranges at the end of the new Periodicals space. That area outside of rm 118 and the Access Center has long been a favorite group study space. Many thanks to Jerry, Jim, Becky and others for relocating furniture into these areas.
Job well done to all the folks involved in the moving of collections and furniture over the last several weeks.
Shared Leadership Team
Last month, ERI was looking for a new rotation of members onto the Shared Leadership Team. For this year, our representatives will be Tom, Karen, and Judith.
Research Help Kiosk
A Research Help kiosk has been set up on one of the two PCs beside the Research Help Desk (the other PC will remain a Quick Look point for now). We created this beta version of a Research Help kiosk with 2 things in mind, when the Research Help desk is not staffed or when it is very busy, the kiosk will:
* provide an easy way for students to set up Research Help appointments; to get to IM/AskAcademic; to find additional Research Help contact information
* give a few quick answers to frequently asked questions without waiting in line
The webpage that this PC has as its homepage is http://library.auraria.edu/kiosk. Check it out and don’t be shy about giving us feedback or suggestions on the service. (Cindy, Karen, Brittany and Gayle)
ADI Update from Gayle
Thanks to the work of everyone on the subject teams the subject headings of the ADI are almost reconstituted. There will always be updates and changes but what we have now is very useful.
Informed Learning Blueprint Working Group
This Working Group has been formed to develop an instructional program for campus intro-level courses that is also applicable to international students, English language learners, and to U.S. learners from multi-cultural backgrounds. The Group members are Eric (Social Sciences Team), Tom (Professional Studies Team), Nikki (AHA Team), Karen (Academic Support Team), Mary D (Academic Support Team), Lorrie (Social Sciences Team), Ignacio (Sciences Team), myself and Hilary Hughes. As the UCD Fulbright Scholar in Residence, Hilary brings expertise in informed learning concepts and in working with international students. Interested in learning more? Go to the wiki at IL Blueprint Working Group
IDS Update
The Information Delivery Services group is finally together! This will facilitate the cross-training needed in the vital services for which they are responsible (Ask Us, ILL, Reserves, media, etc). While the IDS staffing situation was in a state of change for the last few months, the transfer of staff from other areas into IDS, the merger of the department, and the cross-training plans will result in a strong, well organized group able to meet the varied needs of our library users.
ERI Staff Directory Pages
We win! Look at our pages in the Library staff directory. What a great turn out for getting our pictures taken and up on the web...another demonstration of our commitment to good customer service.
ERI staff pages
Learning Commons
Open Lab Tutoring Pilot - The times and tutoring subject areas have become more stable. The location for this Pilot continues to be outside of the new Faculty Room.
Media Viewing Stations -- Two all-region dvd players/monitors have been added to the area. IT is looking at upgrading some of the computers on the first floor to play all region dvds as well.
Metro State Student Government Calculators Program Pilot -- Last time we looked, the calculators had been checked out about 16 times. No advertising of this Pilot has occurred yet.
Another Retirement :-(
Most of you have heard by now that Louise has announced her retirement effective at the end of January 2011...a huge loss for the Library, for the campus, and for the profession (and it really made me want to hop in an RV and head for Mexico). More news about her retirement party will be forthcoming.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
September Update
Shared Leadership Team Membership
As a way of "sharing" and making for a more inclusive process in the Shared Leadership Team, we periodically have agreed to rotating new members onto the Team and giving previous members a break. Last academic year, ERI rotated Cindy Martinez onto the Library's Shared Leadership Team. This year, after serving the Library well for the last couple of years, Louise, Ellen M, and Lorrie will rotate off of SLT. Thanks to all 3 of you VERY MUCH for this service. That means that I will be looking for interested candidates to rotate onto SLT for this academic year (now through end of August 2011). SLT meets twice a month on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays from 9am-11am (sometimes adjourn earlier than 11am).
As a reminder the SLT charge: Aims to design inclusive processes for moving the organization forward. Members will work on achieving the goals of the strategic plan, oversee the budget, act on recommendations from library committees and set policy for the library.
Please contact me by Sept 16 if you are interested in serving or if you have questions.
MOVING COLLECTIONS
As you have probably "heard" PSI is moving the Periodicals. AHEC has changed many of our signs (such as the Periodicals signs), but not all. For example, we are still waiting for the SELF CHECK OUT signs.
NOTE: The Denver Post, New York Times, Wall Street Journal have been moved this afternoon. These "popular newspapers" that were in the cubby-type shelving in Periodicals are now on the first 2 sections at the beginning of the Current Periodicals. The newspaper rods have been moved to this area as well. The rest of the newspapers will continue to be in the Current Oversized section which will eventually be in the stationary shelving adjacent to the Compact Shelving in the new area.
Government Publications have been relocated to the 2nd floor, except for Gov Pubs microforms and cd roms which are in cabinets and will eventually all be outside of rm 118 (by north door). We will be moving some study tables into that area on 2nd floor since the Government Publications "footprint" was smaller than the Q-R collections...we gained a bit of space for quiet study.
IDS Update
Maybe there is a light at the end of the Reserves tunnel...
The last several weeks have been very busy for IDS as evidenced by these stats and by the very active Ask Us desk:
Reserves - Created and linked 310 reserve course pages. Scanned and/or linked a total of 1538 documents, 437 of which were newly scanned and created documents.
ILL - Processed 616 borrowing requests. Processed 514 lending requests.
Self-Check is working well for Metro and returning UCD students, and progress is being made on making it work for our entire student body...for CCD students and our new UCD students (the data load to add these new UCD students to our system is close at hand).
Subject Teams
Members of the Subject Teams have been hard at work in a number of areas, including heavy instruction requests, busy Research Help activity in all its formats, numerous faculty and student consultations, e-resources trials, recommendations/negotiations for a new set of EXCITING electronic resources for our collection, ...plus a suite of goals for this year and next focusing on collaborating with the campus faculty...are keeping us in high gear.
Work to turn the old CAR room into a Student Appointment/Consultation area is proceeding. We have purchased a combined copier, fax, printer, scanner to replace the separate machines that take up most of the space in the CAR room now and it will be delivered soon. IT (Doug) is working setting up 2 dual monitor stations in the room. Therefore, when students make appointments and need a longer consultation than can be effectively provided in IM or at the Research Help desk, we will be able to use this room for these student consultations (in addition to doing consultations in private offices etc). Of course, faculty consultations can be held in the new Faculty Room (door code 2323). Only campus faculty and library staff are allowed in the Faculty Room.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
July 2010 Update
Moving Collections Project
The Moving Collections project has reached the end of Phase 1. That is, the Q – R books on the 2nd floor have been relocated to the northwest corner of the floor (in the former red-carrel area). Now, the classification sequence is Q – Z in that area. Hooray!
Phase 2 has begun which means that the government publications are being moved to 2nd floor, in the former Q – R area. In other words, the government publications will be located outside of Archives. Once gov pubs are moved, the current and bound journals will be moved into the former gov pubs area on 1st floor, next to the Computer Commons.
Thanks to all who have worked hard to make these moves possible - Special Projects, Shelving, Becky, Collection Development, Technical Services, and others). The result will be a vibrant collection surrounded by increased quiet study areas. Library maps are in the process of being updated.
When these phases of the Moving Collections project are complete, we will have a Party!
Subject Teams - Planning for Fall Goals
Members of the Subject Teams (Arts, Humanities & Architecture; Professional Studies; Socials Sciences; and Sciences) are updating individual professional plans and focusing on creating Team plans. We have also created a new Academic Support Team (to focus on non-disciplinary based campus collaborations). Meeting several newly defined goals will necessitate changes in Research Help and IM scheduling, in approach to the instruction strategic goals, and in how the Reference and Instruction departments are organized. To help us accomplish these goals, beginning August 1, the Reference and Instruction Librarians*, Bill Tietjen, and Tobey Stein will begin reporting directly to Cindy Hashert. The bibliographers*, Mary Dodge, Gayle Bradbeer, and Judith Valdez will continue to report directly to Cindy.
For more information on this topic, you are welcome to take a look at the intranet under the ERI/Subject Teams headings.
*see next entry for how these job titles are changing.
Librarian Title Changes
To more effectively communicate the scope of our jobs to the campus faculty and students, we have made a few changes in librarian job titles.
The Reference and Instruction Librarian title has changed to Research and Instruction Librarian.In some circumstances, the librarian will add their subject areas to their title.
The Bibliographer title has changed to Collection Development Librarian. If the Collection Development Librarian has a minor, that description may be added to their title. For example, Ellen Metter's title is Collection Development and Research Librarian. In some circumstances, the Collection Development Librarians will add their subject areas to their titles.
The Moving Collections project has reached the end of Phase 1. That is, the Q – R books on the 2nd floor have been relocated to the northwest corner of the floor (in the former red-carrel area). Now, the classification sequence is Q – Z in that area. Hooray!
Phase 2 has begun which means that the government publications are being moved to 2nd floor, in the former Q – R area. In other words, the government publications will be located outside of Archives. Once gov pubs are moved, the current and bound journals will be moved into the former gov pubs area on 1st floor, next to the Computer Commons.
Thanks to all who have worked hard to make these moves possible - Special Projects, Shelving, Becky, Collection Development, Technical Services, and others). The result will be a vibrant collection surrounded by increased quiet study areas. Library maps are in the process of being updated.
When these phases of the Moving Collections project are complete, we will have a Party!
Subject Teams - Planning for Fall Goals
Members of the Subject Teams (Arts, Humanities & Architecture; Professional Studies; Socials Sciences; and Sciences) are updating individual professional plans and focusing on creating Team plans. We have also created a new Academic Support Team (to focus on non-disciplinary based campus collaborations). Meeting several newly defined goals will necessitate changes in Research Help and IM scheduling, in approach to the instruction strategic goals, and in how the Reference and Instruction departments are organized. To help us accomplish these goals, beginning August 1, the Reference and Instruction Librarians*, Bill Tietjen, and Tobey Stein will begin reporting directly to Cindy Hashert. The bibliographers*, Mary Dodge, Gayle Bradbeer, and Judith Valdez will continue to report directly to Cindy.
For more information on this topic, you are welcome to take a look at the intranet under the ERI/Subject Teams headings.
*see next entry for how these job titles are changing.
Librarian Title Changes
To more effectively communicate the scope of our jobs to the campus faculty and students, we have made a few changes in librarian job titles.
The Reference and Instruction Librarian title has changed to Research and Instruction Librarian.In some circumstances, the librarian will add their subject areas to their title.
The Bibliographer title has changed to Collection Development Librarian. If the Collection Development Librarian has a minor, that description may be added to their title. For example, Ellen Metter's title is Collection Development and Research Librarian. In some circumstances, the Collection Development Librarians will add their subject areas to their titles.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
