June 6, 2011

News from Around the Libraries
 
Alma Early Adopter Report
The Alma Functionality Review Task Force completed their review of Alma.  The report is available in Google Docs at: http://z.umn.edu/3nj .  Please remember that the information in this report is proprietary and should not be shared with anyone not affiliated with the University of Minnesota.
- Betsy Friesen
 
IT Council Meeting Notes
Notes of IT Council meetings are now available for April 2011 at: https://wiki.lib.umn.edu/wupl/Staff.ITCMeetings/ITCMeeting67.pdf and for May 2011 at: https://wiki.lib.umn.edu/wupl/Staff.ITCMeetings/ITC68.pdf .  Please forward any comments or questions you have to John Butler at: j-butl@umn.edu .
- John Butler
 
Libraries Leadership Council (LLC) Meeting Notes Available
Meeting notes and handout from the May 26, 2011 LLC meeting are available on Netfiles at: https://netfiles.umn.edu/ul/LibrariesWide/Governance%20Cmtes%20and%20Councils/LLC/2011%20Meetings/5-26-2011%20Meeting .  The Greening the Libraries Phase 1 Report and next step recommendations were discussed.
- Jennifer Reckner
 
New E-Resources
 
Menckeniana: http://www.prattlibrary.org/menckeniana
 
Oxford Dictionary of the Middle Ages: http://www.oxford-middleagesdictionary.com
 
World Religion Database: http://www.lib.umn.edu/indexes/moreinfo?id=17787
 
- Jim Stemper
 
Re-commissioning Project for Wilson Library
Energy Management will be re-commissioning Wilson Library over the next six summers.  The project has been scheduled during the summer months due to the noise related to the project.  The re-commissioning involves updating portions of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system.  The VAV boxes which open and close, depending on the specified temperature in a space, are original to the building and have begun malfunctioning.  The boxes can stick in an open or closed position, which leads to hot and cold issues and contributes to poor energy efficiency.  The thermostats in these areas will also be changed from analog to digital, providing better control and accuracy.  Last, the project will install wiring to will allow Facilities Management and Energy to monitor the system remotely.

This summer, between June 25 and August 31, the project will replace approximately 54 VAV boxes serving the second, third, and fourth floor study rooms, portions of the stacks, and several graduate carrels.  Areas on 1the first floor which will be affected by the project include a portion of Technical Services, the Reference Room, and the Reference staff offices.  The project is similar to the sprinkler project, in that staff will need to be relocated for a period of two to three weeks and materials will need to be paged while the work is being completed.  Staff will be relocated to various available spaces within Wilson Library.  The relocations will include computers but not telephone lines.  Staff can check their voicemail remotely or can sign up via Gopher Messaging to have their voicemail sent to their email account, which allows them to receive voicemail via their computer.

Just the first phase of the Re-commissioning Project is expected to save $50,000 a year in energy costs to the University.  In addition, when the project is completed, the heating/cooling in the building will be more consistent for staff comfort.  I'd like to extend thanks to all of you in advance for your patience while this project is in process.  
Please don't hesitate to contact Barb Smith at: b-smit@umn.edu or Bernadette Corley Troge at: b-trog@umn.edu if you have questions regarding the project.
- Bernadette Corley Troge and Barb Smith

 
Web Presence Management Group Update
Since late April, the Web Presence Management Group (WPMG) has been meeting to determine the next steps and priorities we will take for our web sites and web based services.  One of the areas that the WPMG will focus on is consistency of design across our web sites.  This is an area where you may be able to help us out.  As you may already know, we are no longer using the book pages library logo, sometimes also referred to as the "Sydney Opera House logo."  However, this logo still appears on a number of our pages.  If you are the page coordinator of your unit's web site and you are still using this logo, please replace it with a version of our new logo as represented by sites such as: http://wiki.lib.umn.edu/ or http://blog.lib.umn.edu/ .  Note how on these sites the logo on the upper left corner no longer uses the old book pages logo design, but still graphically conveys the "University of Minnesota Libraries."  If you need assistance with creating a new logo, please contact Marlo Welshons and the Libraries Communications office at: welsh066@umn.edu .
- Shane Nackerud

 

Wilson Stacks on the Move

Wilson Stacks staff have started a major shift of Wilson Library's General Collection.  The shift will include the second and third floor LC and Dewey collections and is scheduled to be complete by the beginning of Fall Semester.  If you have any questions or concerns related to the move, please contact Jackie Gulbranson at: jackieg@umn.edu .

- Jackie Gulbranson

 


Staff Tidings and Kudos
 

Congratulations to Cody Hanson!
On May 27, 2011, Cody and his wife, Betsy Temple, welcomed their first child into the world.  His name is John Marvin Temple-Hanson and he came into the world weighing in at  9 pounds, 13 ounces, and 22 inches.  Both he and his mom are happy and healthy.  Cody recently tweeted that he has already given baby John a variety of nicknames: pal, buddy, special little guy, dude, sir poops-a-lot, and captain toots.  Congratulations Cody!

- Shane Nackerud

 

Thanks (and Kudos) to Kirsten Clark

A follow-up e-mail message from a graduate student finishing up her PhD at the London School of Economics is a reminder of how far reaching our support efforts can be.  Kudos to Kirsten Clark for her efforts supporting global researchers!  An excerpt from the e-mail reveals the full impact of these efforts:


"Last week I successfully completed a PhD at the London School of Economics in Public Policy, and in packing up my desk I am reminded of the folks that contributed to my ability to carry out the research project.
 
If you recall, you not only successfully steered me through 60+ years of agriculture appropriations committee records in the Wilson Library over the summer a few years ago, but you also convinced the electronic records folks [Map Library] to let me use their scanning equipment.  Throughout the remainder of my research in other libraries, your enthusiasm for government documents proved unparalleled!  Without your assistance, it is no exaggeration to say that my PhD dissertation would have been missing a massive section of essential information.  I have achieved four publications so far out of the research project, with three additional publications under review at journals, so I think--now that it is over--I can say that it was worth it!"

- Kristi Jensen


 
Workshops, Training Sessions, Brown Bags, Etc.
 
Ex Libris Alma Webinar
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
9:00 am
Room S-30B, Wilson Library
Ex Libris staff will present a webinar that will outline their "strategy for unified library services, followed by a demonstration of how Alma can optimize your library's unique operating requirements."  This webinar may prove useful as an introduction to Alma.  If it is more convenient for you to watch the webinar from your office, you are invited to register at: http://www.exlibrisgroup.com/category/AreYouReady .   Registrants will receive a recording link following the webinar.
- Betsy Friesen
 
Library Issues Seminar
Monday, June 13, 2011
12:00 pm, bring your lunch at 11:30 am
Room S30B, Wilson Library
 
What do you mean by diversity?  A Discussion.  In this session, Jody Gray, University of Minnesota Libraries' Diversity Outreach Librarian, will provide an overview of  how the Office for Equity and Diversity's Framework for Transforming the University has influenced the work done on behalf of the University Libraries' and how it affects the broader campus community.  On a practical note, what we mean in the Libraries' when we talk about diversity outreach will be discussed.  Members of the Diversity Collaborative will also be in attendance to discuss the current trends, tools, and tips that can be applied to our work in diversity.
- Jan Roseen
 
So, What Are We Going to Do!?  Recommendations of the Organization Development Collaborative
A repeat of the May 24, 2011 presentation
Thursday, June 16, 2011
3:00 pm to 4:30 pm
Room S30B, Wilson Library
 
After listening to about 100 staff, talking with organizational development "gurus," and reading countless books and articles by experts in the field, the Organization Development Collaborative (ODC) has developed a set of recommendations for the Libraries.  Come hear about what we learned, what we proposed, and what you can expect to see as a result - or, catch it on UMConnect at: https://umconnect.umn.edu/odcollaborative/ .  To get a sneak peak at the recommendations, check out the ODC wiki at: https://wiki.lib.umn.edu/Staff/ODCollaborative .
- The Organization Development Collaborative: Sue Hallgren and Jerilyn Veldof (co-chairs), Francine Crocker, Janice Jaguszewski, Ryan Mattke, Jennifer Reckner, Cathy Tweedie, Michael Winters
 
Video Game Design as a Model for Professional Development and Creating New Staff Trainings
Presented by: Paul Zenke, Kate Peterson, and Tony Ihrig
Monday, June 6, 2011
3:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Room 120, Andersen Library
Register at: https://webapps-prd.oit.umn.edu/training/courseDetail.jsp?course=LB0297
 
In fall 2010, the University of Minnesota Libraries' hired an instructional designer to boost its instructional efforts.  At the same time, the Libraries' Reinventing Reference Collaborative began work on developing a reference training program based on a set of eleven core competencies they had identified as essential skills for all reference services staff.  One specific competency - the reference interview - offered a unique opportunity for a new digital training tool.  Using video game design principles, the group began the process of creating branching narratives based on the Libraries' core users and types of reference interactions (email, chat, face-to-face, and phone).  In addition to the training deliverable, the group has used the video game design process as an opportunity for reflecting and experimenting with instructional practice.  University of Minnesota collaborators Tony Ihrig, Kate Peterson, and Paul Zenke will describe the origins of the project and their progress to date.
- Jan Roseen
 
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
 

Headwaters of History
Through Friday, July 1, 2011
Gallery, Elmer L. Andersen Library
http://blog.lib.umn.edu/lib-web/events/university-libraries-exhibits/headwaters-of-history.html
 
 

Resonance: 21st Century Art Students and the Commerce of the Ancient Mediterranean
Through Monday, August 15, 2011
T. R. Anderson Gallery, James Ford Bell Library, Wilson Library
http://blog.lib.umn.edu/lib-web/events/university-libraries-exhibits/resonance-21st-century-art-stu.html