Apologies from Florida

Turns out that the last blog entry and subsequent caption contest caused some problems. We have taken it down and send our apologies to the fine folks at physical plant and throughout the libraries. Despite the fact that no harm was intended...some was caused. And the person on the right hand side of this picture regrets it.

Things I Never Thought I'd Hear Here

• Last week, my son David came to work with me for few hours. At one point he needed to use the restroom, so I escorted him to the ladies room near the Dean's Office. When we walked in, he gasped. "Mommy, this isn't a bathroom," he said. "It's a palace."
  
• A few weeks ago, I took a sample of Mara's "Seussical" Tree " to Plant and Soil because it's sick. We waited so long for the results that we nearly forgot about it. Then, one day, someone walked in the door and said, "I'm here to see the podicarpus." I thought they were talking about the plastic dinosaur for a minute. Anyway, turns out that Mara's tree has a bug and needs a systemic pest control treatment. Does anyone here know an organic, natural and/or safe way to treat tree pests? --Nancy
  

Open Fora (and Fauna to some degree)

Two Libraries' Open Fora have been set for the upcoming month:

• On Wednesday, March 26 from 11 a.m. to Noon, Al Turgeon, executive assistant to Michael Gower, will talk about Pandemic Planning at UVM. Info about Pandemic Flu Planning at UVM can be seen at http://www.uvm.edu/~emergncy/?Page=pandemicflu.html&SM=flumenu.html
• On Wednesday, April 9, 10:30 a.m. to 12, Neomi Danao, Executive Director of the Monteverde Institute, Costa Rica, will speak. (Laurie Kutner has helped organized her visit to UVM as our two institutions work towards a semester-long study abroad program.) Danao has been the Executive Director of the Monteverde Institute since January 2006. She'll discuss some of the larger overarching issues that the small Monteverde Institute library faces, as it attempts to grapple with developing a web-based Library Catalog (purchasing an ILS), providing greater levels of access to local collections and knowledge through digitization, providing access to other materials through creation of partnerships, providing computers and Internet access -- all with very limited funds. The Monteverde Institute is a Costa Rican non-profit organization whose mission involves both serving the international student and research populations, and giving back to the local community.

DEAN’S COUNCIL MINUTES: March 18

A meeting of the Dean’s Council was held on Tuesday, March 18, 2008, from 9:15 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., in the Dean’s Conference Room.

Present: Peter Blackmer, Birdie MacLennan, Nancy Bercaw, Jeff Marshall and Jeanene Light

Absent: Mara Saule, Paul Philbin, Keith Gresham, Selene Colburn

The meeting was held in the form of updates around the table.

I. Jeff Marshall discussed the need to have a library presence at the Student Research Conference April 17 at Davis Center. Selene is aware of the situation and will share with the Communications Team. Jeff further talked about the idea of UVM Libraries’ sponsoring a research prize. The Council will continue to pursue the idea at the next meeting, including what the criteria could be for such a multidisciplinary unit. Jeff also mentioned that the leak in special collections, which dictated the move of many reference materials, is still being resolved by University engineers. Also, the Billing’s project will be presented formally to the Board of Trustees in May.

II. Peter Blackmer wanted libraries employees to be aware of a Continuing Education Summer University promotional event being held in Bailey/Howe on Thursday, March 20, from 6 to 10 p.m. in the Café. Peter also wanted to remind directors that the time for initiating actions on next year’s faculty promotions is nigh. The process is long and should begin this summer.

III. Birdie provided CMS updates:

a. A budget consultant, Robert Clearly from Syracuse University, is coming on Monday, March 24 for a day and a half. The purpose of his visit is “to develop ‘best practice’ strategies for the design of a new budget model that is appropriate for the UVM Libraries. Examine potential to align budgeting and accounting practices between the libraries vis-à-vis Voyager and PeopleSoft. Maximize workflow efficiencies. Enable financial modeling that facilitates monthly reports for tracking appropriations, expenditures and balances as UVL (UVM Libraries), as well as for individual units (broad question, but ease of report functions by budget design is the goal).” Detailed information about Robert’s visit can be found at http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dgb55c24_43dxfp33hd

b. The third floor weeding and redesign project, which is making space for the new Writing in the Disciplines depart, is underway conceptually.

IV. Nancy told the Council that Mara will be hosting a staff-only luncheon on Thursday, April 17 to talk with staff members about work in the libraries.

March 28: MIT LIibrarian to Speak with UVM Libraries about Challenges and Opportunities in Combining Service Points

Submitted by Angie Chapple-Sokol

As libraries try to turn declining reference statistics, new modes of technology, users’ increasing needs and expectations, and constrained staff resources into a robust and valued reference and information service, one model of reference service that libraries have begun to implement is the combined service point. Lisa Horowitz, coordinator of central reference services of the MIT Libraries, will join us to discuss MIT’s process of combining service points to offer “one-stop shopping,” a single service point in each library and online from which to ask any kind of question.

Lisa Horowitz has worked as a librarian for 15 years, almost 11 of which were in various positions at MIT. Her work in the MIT Libraries has included active development and participation in their virtual reference services, as well as leadership in a variety of public services initiatives. She has extensive experience in assessment of reference and information services, and has presented frequently and written several articles mostly focusing on assessment. She is currently the chair of the RUSA Reference Services Section. She has a BA from Dartmouth College, an MLS from Rutgers University, and an MA from the University of Pennsylvania in comparative literature and literary theory.

Lisa suggests you could review these articles in preparation for the meeting
Gass, Steve, Pat Flanagan, and Lisa Horowitz.

“Envisioning Reference at MIT.” /Science & Technology Libraries/ 24.3/4 (2004): 309-325 - http://tinyurl.com/yq8l5u

Flanagan, Pat, and Lisa Horowitz. “Exploring New Service Models: Can Consolidating Public Service Points Improve Response to Customers’ Needs?” /Journal of Academic Librarianship, /26.5 (2000): 329-338. http://tinyurl.com/2ujorh

The schedule for Friday, March 28 is as follows:

9-10:30 - General session in HSRF 400 - All interested Dana and Bailey/Howe employees are invited to this session at which Lisa will speak about the need and process of evaluating reference services at MIT. Questions are welcome.

10:45-12 - Bailey/Howe session in the Dean's Conference Room. Bailey employees can have an open discussion with Lisa about issues of public services and space at Bailey/Howe.

12-1 (or so) Lunch

1-2:30 - Dana session in the Main conference Room. Dana employees will have their turn with Lisa discussing the issues of services and space at Dana.

*These three sessions will address more specifically public services (Reference and Circulation) but all are welcome.

Please let Angie know if you have any questions.

And the winner is.....

In first place, receiving 20.6 percent of the vote:

Elseviersaurus has the librarian tight in his gaping ravenous jaws. --submitted by Angie Chapple-Sokol

Tying for second, both with 14.7 percent of the vote:

Nancy once again curses her library education for not properly preparing her for the real world reference interview. -- submitted by Winona Salesky

Finally, some brain food! --submitted by Zhanna Gordon

"Write a Caption" Contest

Send a caption for this picture to Nancy.Bercaw@uvm.edu.
The winner gets a brand new paperback copy of Dave Egger's book "What is the What," an epic novel based on the life of one of the "Lost Boys of Sudan."

The author of "The Kite Runner" says Eggers' book is "told with humor, humanity and bottomless capacity for his subject. It is impossible to read this book and not be humbled, enlightened, transformed."









VOTE FOR THE BEST BY USING THIS LINK
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=zrLytNz4AFFQxTu8Ph4FKQ_3d_3d