December 20, 2010

News from Around the Libraries
 
Discoverability Phase 2 Report Available
The report from the Discoverability Phase 2 group is now available for staff in Netfiles at: http://z.umn.edu/disco2report .  In this folder you'll find the full text of the report, as well as the appendices.  It is our hope that this report will not only help to set directions for the Libraries in the area of discovery, but that some of our work will be useful to other groups and departments within the Libraries.  In particular, I'd like to bring to your attention Appendix 2, which contains a very robust set of user personas, and Appendices 4 and 5, which contain our attempts to inventory many of the data and metadata sources scattered throughout the Libraries.
 
This report represents months of work by a very dedicated group, to whom I'm very grateful: Heather Hessel (co-chair), Deborah Boudewyns, Jan Fransen, Lara Friedman-Shedlov, Stephen Hearn, Nancy Herther, Nicole Theis-Mahon, Darlene Morris (Duluth campus), Stacie Traill, and Amy West.  I'd also like to thank our project sponsors, Janice Jaguszewski and Shane Nackerud.
- Cody Hanson
 
Uniprint Unavailable During Windows 7 Upgrade
Uniprint will be unavailable January 3 through January 7, 2011.  We will be upgrading the Pharos software so that it will be compatible with Windows 7.  Upgrading the software will require our IT staff to visit each public workstation.  Once the workstation has been updated, printing will be available at that terminal.  Questions?  Please contact Amy Boemer at a-boem@umn.edu .
- Amy Boemer
 
University Libraries Labor Management Committee (ULLMC) Meeting Notes
The approved meeting notes from the September 2010 University Libraries Labor Management Committee (ULLMC) have been posted on the Libraries wiki at: https://wiki.lib.umn.edu/ULLMC/MeetingNotes .
- Scott Smith
 
University Libraries Monday Memo Publication Calendar
The University Libraries Monday Memo will not be published December 26, 2010 or January 3, 2011.  Publication will resume January 10, 2011.  All submissions for the January 10, 2011 issue are due no later than 12:00 pm, Friday, January 7, 2011.
- Scott Smith
 
University Libraries Winter Closure Information
For information and considerations related to the winter closure at the University of Minnesota, check out the Libraries wiki at: https://wiki.lib.umn.edu/FOM/Closure .
- Scott Smith
 
 
Staff Tidings and Kudos
 
Edward Swanson Passes
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Edward Swanson.
 
Edward passed away Friday, December 10, 2010, after a brief illness.  We understand from his partner that Edward did not want an immediate funeral and instead there will be a memorial service planned for this coming Spring/Summer 2011.  When and if we know more information, we will send to the listservs.
 
Edward joined Minitex Contract Cataloging after his retirement from the Minnesota Historical Society.  He managed the program for many years and retired last January.  Since Edward never liked to be without work and something intellectually stimulating, after his second retirement, he was enrolled in a bioethics class here at the University of Minnesota, as well as working several hours a week on a Minitex project for the University of Minnesota Twin Cities Libraries: reviewing digitized monographs scanned by Google and held in HathiTrust to make determinations regarding their copyright status.
 
Edward was the consummate cataloger and the epitome of a life-long learner.  He had a wonderful, dry sense of humor which surfaced even during his duties as parliamentarian for the MN Library Association.  His range of knowledge and willingness to share his expertise were extraordinary.   We will miss him!  
 

Edward was a long time supporter of the MLIS program at Saint Catherine University (St. Kate's) in St. Paul, MN.  If you would like to contribute a gift in memory of Edward, a dontation may be mailed directly to St. Kate's.  Please write "Edward Swanson memorial" in the memo line of the check to designate its use.  The mailing address is:

 

St. Catherine University

Development Office
2004 Randolph Ave, Box F-12
St. Paul, MN  55105

 

Alternatively, if you wish to give online, go to: https://www.stkate.edu/giveonline .  When asked how you wish your donation to be used, click on the down arrow, choose "Other" and list "Edward Swanson memorial" in the text box to the right.

For more information on Edward, please see the article written by Carla Dewey Urban in the Minitex/OCLC Mailing for January 2010 at: http://www.minitex.umn.edu/Communications/Oclc/2010/01January.pdf .  One quote from Carla's article says a lot about the Edward we all knew: "Edward Swanson's career has been characterized by a true love and understanding of cataloging; dedication to sharing that knowledge with others, through training, one on-one consultations, and publication; and a commitment to the professional community and its activities.  His generosity and dedication to colleagues and cataloging have been greatly appreciated."  
- Bill DeJohn and Carla Dewey Urban
 
 
Upcoming Events
 
2011 Professional Development Fair
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Coffman Memorial Union

The Professional Development Fair, sponsored by the Office of Human Resources - Organizational Effectiveness, is an opportunity to showcase the variety of resources available to staff and faculty to enhance their own development.
 
"In times of tight budgets, doing more with less and increased stress in the workplace; there is a great opportunity (and need) to showcase what you have to offer University staff and faculty in the areas of professional development so that we might continue to increase engagement through development opportunities like the ones you offer.  We'd like to invite you to participate in our event this year by having a table during the fair."  Additional information will be available after the holidays.
- Jan Roseen

 

Candidate Interview and Presentation: Collection Management and Preservation Strategist
Please join us on Tuesday, January 4, 2011 for the public presentation of candidate Donia Conn for the Libraries position of Collection Management and Preservation Strategist (UL272).  The position description is at: https://wiki.lib.umn.edu/wupl/HR.CurrentSearches/UL272PositionDescription.pdf .
 
Candidate: Donia Conn
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
10:15 am to 11:15 am
Room 120B, Andersen Library
 
Donia Conn currently serves as the Workshop Program and Reference Coordinator at the Northeast Document Conservation Center, where she manages workshop planning, organization, and presentations.  She is also an adjunct professor at the Simmons College Graduate School of Library and Information Science in Boston, Massachusetts, where she has taught courses in preservation management.  Donia Conn earned her MLIS with an Advanced Certificate in Conservation, Preservation, and Conservation Studies at the University of Texas in Austin.  The candidate's CV materials may be viewed at: https://wiki.lib.umn.edu/wupl/HR.CurrentSearches/ResumeDConnUL272.pdf .
 
Please feel free to send any questions to search committee chair Charles Spetland at: c-spet@umn.edu .
 
We hope to see you there!
- Charles Spetland and Cheryl Hulting, on behalf of the UL272 search committee

 

 
Workshops, Training Sessions, Brown Bags, Etc.
 
Staff Education and Development
Check out upcoming classes offered by Libraries Staff Education and Development (SED) at: https://wiki.lib.umn.edu/SEDP/HomePage .

Minitex
Minitex offers a dynamic schedule of webinars and training sessions.  The full schedule may be found at: http://www.Minitex.umn.edu/events .
 
 
Exhibits at the Libraries
 
All the Queen's Men: Elizabeth I and the Foundation of Empire
Through Saturday, January 22, 2011
Atrium Gallery, Elmer L. Andersen Library
http://blog.lib.umn.edu/lib-web/events/2010/03/all_the_queens_men_elizabeth_i.html
 
At the Center of the World: Istanbul Past and Present
Through Saturday, February 26, 2011
T. R. Anderson Gallery, James Ford Bell Library, Wilson Library
http://blog.lib.umn.edu/lib-web/events/2010/03/at_the_center_of_the_world_ist.html
 
Inventive Women: Portraits of Scientists and Engineers
A photography exhibit featuring female College of Science and Engineering faculty
Through Thursday, December 23, 2010
Second Floor Great Hall, Walter Library
http://blog.lib.umn.edu/lib-web/events/2010/03/inventive_women_portraits_of_s.html
 
Merry Christmas to and From Dr. Kerlan and The Kerlan Collection
Children's Literature Research Collection display of greeting cards
Through Thursday, December 23, 2010
First Floor Hallway next to Room 113, Elmer L. Andersen Library
 
Researching the Past: Historical Newspapers at Wilson Library
Samples of newspapers from previous centuries that highlight the preservation issues and collections at Wilson Library.
Through Thursday, December 23, 2010
Periodical Room, Wilson Library
 
Saving Our Lives: Celebrating Ten Years of the Tretter Collection at the University of Minnesota

Highlighting the importance of preserving GLBT cultural heritage and the significant impact it can have on the lives of individuals and our community

Through Saturday, February 5, 2011
Monday through Friday: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Saturday: 9:00 am to 1:00 pm (closed on University holidays)

Atrium Gallery, Elmer L. Andersen Library
http://blog.lib.umn.edu/lib-web/events/2010/03/saving_our_lives_celebrating_t.html
 
Urban Tides, Drifting Borders: A Study of Surface as Substance
Through Friday, January 28, 2011
Architecture and Landscape Architecture Library
http://blog.lib.umn.edu/lib-web/events/2010/12/urban_tides_drifting_borders_a.html