October 5th, 2009

News from Around the Libraries

Digital Collections Internal Grant Program - Year 4

Once again, the Digital Collections unit (DCU) would like to solicit digitization proposals from Archives, Special Collections, and other library units in order to further expand the University Libraries online access to materials.  As part of this push, library units are encouraged to submit projects, either new or a continuation of previous ones, they feel best reflect the quality, diversity, and breadth of their collections.  All units are encouraged to submit multiple proposals.  Accepted projects will receive all scanning services at no cost to the unit.

Due to increases in externally funded scanning projects from both the Social Welfare History Archives, as well as the Minnesota Digital Library, the DCU has been forced to reduce its capacity for internally funded scanning projects this year.  Because of this, the DCU Internal Granting Program selection committee will be looking to approve between six and ten projects during this grant cycle.  More information about the program can be found at: wiki.lib.umn.edu/IT/DCUprojects .  Project Proposal Forms can be downloaded at: digital.lib.umn.edu/dcProjectProposal2009-10.doc .  Deadline for project submissions is Monday, October 19, 2009.

Over the past three years more than 200,000 scanned images have been added to our digital collections as a result of this program.  Many of the past projects are available for viewing through the Libraries' Media Repository now in Alpha release.  Check it out at: chaucer.lib.umn.edu .
 
Please forward completed forms and/or questions to Jason Roy at: jasonroy@umn.edu

- Jason Roy

Greening the Libraries Survey

Please take a moment to complete a short survey for the Greening the Libraries project.  The survey should take just five to ten minutes to complete and you will be eligible to win a prize.  Results from this survey will help us understand current practices related to energy use, recycling, transportation, and other areas.  It is also an opportunity for Libraries staff to share their ideas related to energy and resource conservation.  The survey questions are designed to reflect respondent practices as they relate to the Libraries.  To complete the survey, go to: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=M63Ni5WHBjApTPqxJt1L9A_3d_3d .  Please complete the survey by October 16, 2009.  For more information about the project, please visit our wiki page at: https://wiki.lib.umn.edu/Staff/GreeningTheLibraries

Thanks for your time.

- Greening the Libraries Project: Kristia Davern, Tony Fang, Liz Fine, Tammi Halvorson, Laura Krueger, Ryan Mattke, Emily Riha, Karen Spilman, Jim Stemper, Monica Winker-Bergstrom, Philip Herold, co-Chair, Jennifer Reckner, co-Chair

IT Council September 2009 Meeting Notes Now Available

Highlights include:
- Drupal Web Content Management System Implementation Update
- Media Repository Alpha Update
- IT Division Communications
- WBOB Data Center Outage (October 24-25)
- Emerging Tech Expo Planning
- CNI Conversations Event
- Updates from the Libraries IT Directors
- Open Forum Discussion

The notes, including graphics (!) were composed by Francine Dupont-Crocker and are available at: https://wiki.lib.umn.edu/Staff/ITCMeeting52

- John Butler

LEO Interview

On Monday, October 5, 2009 (TODAY), Geoffrey (Jeff) Peterson will interview for the position Information Technology Professional in Library Enterprise Operations (LEO).  Jeff is currently Senior Enterprise IS Analyst with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota.  Previously he was Business Systems Analyst at GMAC ResCap.  His Master's degree, from the University of St. Thomas, is in software systems and he holds a Bachelor's degree in psychology from Hamline University.

All staff are invited to a coffee break with the candidate, 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm in room 454, Wilson Library.

His resume, along with that of the first candidate Andrew Schriber, is posted at: https://wiki.lib.umn.edu/HR/CurrentSearches .  Staff feedback is encouraged and should be sent to Heather Hessel at: hhessel@umn.edu .

-  Marilyn McClaskey

Libraries Assembly
If you weren't able to attend the October 1, 2009 Libraries Assembly, you can watch it on UMConnect at: https://wiki.lib.umn.edu/Staff/AssemblyOctober1/

- Jennifer Reckner

Libraries IT News - October 2009 Monthly Update

Verde E-Resource Management System Implementation
In late September, the multi-divisional Verde Working Group Heads team led by Fariha Grieme and Jim Stemper, with members Laureen Boutang, Amy Claussen, Betsy Friesen, Cecilia Genereux, John Halvorson, Chris Koehler, Sue Koelmel, Yumiko Toyota-Kindler, and Stacie Traill brought the Verde electronic resource management system into production.  Verde, an Ex Libris product, intends to support management of  library electronic collections throughout the e-resource life cycle (i.e., from license and acquisition to activation, renewals, and cancellation).  The product, which will be supported by LEO, will supersede the Libraries' home-grown E-Resource Tracker system.  For more information, see the project team wiki at: https://wiki.lib.umn.edu/Verde/HomePage .

Minnesota Reflections Host Migration
A major project to migrate the digital collections and metadata of the Minnesota Digital Library's Minnesota Reflections database, http://reflections.mndigital.org/ , from locally managed systems to the OCLC-hosted CONTENTdm host application service was completed in late summer.   Storage and back-up of the digital master files represented in Reflections continues to be managed by Libraries Central Operations.  For more information, please contact Jason Roy.

IT Master Calendar
The IT Division maintains a high-level calendar of major project implementation, upgrade, and deployment milestones in Libraries IT at: https://wiki.lib.umn.edu/IT/MasterCalendar .

- Submitted by John Butler, on behalf of the Libraries IT Directors

New Mobile Version of Libraries Web Site

The Digital Library Development Lab is happy to announce the availability of a mobile version of the University Libraries web site: http://www.lib.umn.edu/mobile/ .  Expertly coded by John Barneson, this beta release features a compact version of our web site including MNCAT Plus search, our most popular database offerings, access to ejournals, library hours, and more.  Before we release this to a wider audience please take a moment to try it out (especially on your mobile phone!) and provide us with feedback.

- Shane Nackerud

Scheduled Downtime for Library and Campus Systems - October 24 and 25, 2009

A significant downtime period affecting many library systems and nearly all enterprise and university-wide applications supported by the Office of Information Technology (OIT) is scheduled to start at 2:00 am on Saturday, October 24, 2009 and conclude at 12:00 pm on Sunday, October 25, 2009.  This outage is being scheduled so that OIT can increase the amount of utility and emergency power to the University's primary data center, which is located in the West Bank Office Building (WBOB).  This will provide for a much-needed increase in the reliability, availability, and capacity of this data center.

A complete listing of library systems and their expected availability status can be accessed at: https://wiki.lib.umn.edu/IT/Downtime .  In order to maintain availability of key library systems - such as MNCAT (search only) and Find It (SFX) - one to two hour downtimes are scheduled to begin in the late afternoon of Friday, October 23, 2009.  These details will be provided on the wiki page referenced above.  We ask that you plan accordingly and ask for any clarification and additional information as needed.

- John Butler

New Appointments and Departures

New Employee in LBO

The Libraries Business Office (LBO) has a new employee -  Shaya Clark, who joined us on September 28, 2009 as a Principal Accounts Specialist.  Shaya is working with LaVon Beseman in the acquisitions accounting area, processing vendor payments for library materials.  Shaya is new to the Libraries and to the University, but brings a range of business experience to her new role.  Shaya's email address is: sdclark@umn.edu , and her phone number is: (612)624-7041.  Please join us in welcoming Shaya to the LBO team.

- Cathy Tweedie

Staff Tidings and Kudos

ALA's Emerging Leaders

I am delighted to announce that Cody Hanson, Technology Librarian, has been selected to join the American Library Association's (ALA) 2010 Class of Emerging Leaders.  Elevating the honor is his sponsorship by the Library and Information Technology Association (LITA).  The Emerging Leaders Program is designed to give early career library workers opportunities to work on a variety of projects and to get on "the fast track to ALA and professional leadership."  Congratulations Cody!

- Jerilyn Veldof, Coordinated Educational Services in Academic Programs

Andre Nault Appointed as Adjunct Assistant Professor

The faculty in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at the College of Veterinary Medicine voted unanimously to appoint Andre Nault, Head of the Veterinary Medical Library, as Adjunct Assistant Professor of Veterinary Clinical Sciences.  This appointment recognizes his significant involvement in college activities, including instruction in continuing education programs, teaching, and research.  Congratulations, Andre!

- Linda Watson

Announcing ARLD's New Chair

Congratulations to Kate Peterson who was just elected Chair-Elect of the Academic and Research Libraries Division (ARLD) of the Minnesota Library Association.  This means we can look forward to three years of Kate's leadership in ARLD.  Thanks Kate for taking on this service to our profession and state!

- Jerilyn Veldof, Coordinated Educational Services in Academic Programs

Thank You Libraries Staff

On behalf of the Emergency FoodShelf Network (EFN), I would like to thank the libraries' staff for participating in the food drive that occurred in conjunction with our staff recognition luncheon at McNamara Center.  We donated 233 pounds of food during our drive.  So in the spirit of "One for All and All for One", Thanks!  This food was taken back to their warehouse, sorted, and distributed either directly to the needy or to a local foodshelf that contacted EFN asking for donations.  I know that made a big difference to those who are in need, especially at this time of the year, when foodshelves traditionally experience a low supply.  If you want more information about EFN, please check out their website st: http://www.emergencyfoodshelf.org/

Once again, thank you for taking the time to make a difference!

- Joy Reitmeier, on behalf of the Staff Recognition Planning Group

Upcoming Events

Community Fund Drive: St. Paul Ice Cream Social This Friday

Friday, October 9, 2009
1:00 pm to 2:00 pm
Room 2, Magrath Library

The 2009 Community Fund Drive has begun!  We'll be having an Ice Cream Social this Friday.  Come enjoy flavors from the St Paul Campus dairy lab and learn how you can make a donation and a difference!  Questions, please contact Charlie Heinz at: heinz062@umn.edu or Kristen Mastel at: meye0359@umn.edu . See you on Friday!

- Charlie Heinz and Kristen Mastel, Lead Volunteers

Reminder: Join the Second "CNI Conversations" on Tuesday at 12:00 pm

Under the joint sponsorship of the IT Council and Staff Education and Development (SED), the Libraries continue participating in a series of experimental outreach events sponsored by the Coalition for Networked Information called "CNI Conversations."  The first event, held September 15, 2009, brought together participants from a number of institutions to discuss late-breaking news and topics of interest to our community, including the Google Book proposed settlement, DataNet, and library responses to the financial crisis, among other things.  Seven Libraries staff attended and the audio of the session is archived at: http://www.cni.org/cni_conversations .  The next "conversation" will be held Tuesday, October 6, 2009 from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm, in room S40, Wilson Library.  Bring your lunch and join us for a thought-provoking discussion.

- John Butler

Exhibits at the Libraries

A Century of Accomplishment
A Century of Accomplishment, 1909-200: The One Hundredth Anniversary of the University of Minnesota School of Nursing

Through December 15, 2009
Wangensteen Historical Library, Diehl Hall

Dewey Thorbeck: Travel Sketches
An Architect's Recordings of Natural and Human Landscapes

Through December 27, 2009
Architecture Library, Rapson Hall

Muslim Spain: Conquest, Expulsion, Legacy, 711-2009
Through October 30, 2009
Exhibit Gallery, Andersen Library

Robert Bly Revealed
Online exhibit
http://digital.lib.umn.edu/pachyderm/robertbly/

Workshops, Training Sessions, Brown Bags, etc.

Civil Service Workshops Postponed

The Civil Service Performance Standards Labs scheduled for October 7, 2009 and October 15, 2009 are postponed.  Look to the Monday Memo for an announcement of replacement dates.  The sessions offered in January are still scheduled for the same dates.  You may register for one of those at: https://onestop2.umn.edu/training/courseDetail.jsp?course=LB0246#details

- Denise Gamble

TODAY!  Libraries Issues Seminar Topic Change: Clickers and Peer Instruction
Monday October 5, 2009
12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - note the time shift from other Issues Seminars

Room S30B, Wilson Library

Please join the Information Literacy Collaborative as they host the ELI webinar, Clickers and Peer Instruction: A Powerful Way to Improve Student Engagement and Learning, But Only If You Do It Right, on October 5, 2009.  The session will move beyond how clickers work to highlight strategies for engagement in the classroom.  University of Colorado Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences Faculty member, Douglas Duncan, author of "Clickers in the Classroom," will lead the webinar.  Following the webinar, Kate Peterson will demonstrate how to create PowerPoint slides for use with clickers and give you time to experiment with them.

Want to view the webinar from your office?  The Libraries are an Educause member, so you can register for free.  For more information, visit: http://net.educause.edu/ELIWEB0910

- Denise Gamble, for the Information Literacy Collaborative

Staff Education and Development
Check out upcoming classes offered by the Libraries' Staff Education and Development (SED) office at https://wiki.lib.umn.edu/SEDP/HomePage

Minitex
Minitex offers a dynamic schedule of webinars and training sessions, and the full schedule can be found at http://www.Minitex.umn.edu/events
 

For items to be included in the Monday Memo, please send all Monday Memo announcements to Scott Smith at smit0387@umn.edu before 12:00 pm, the preceding Friday.