DEAN’S COUNCIL MINUTES: October 7, 2008

Present: Mara Saule, Selene Colburn, Paul Philbin, Jeff Marshall, Marianne Burke, Peter Blackmer, Tina Kussey, Birdie MacLennan and Nancy Bercaw

Absent: Jeanene Light

I. Annual Libraries Meeting

The Annual Libraries will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 28, from 9 to 11 a.m. in the Staff Lounge in B/H. This year, the dean and department heads will send their reports via email a week before the event, and then take questions at the meeting.

II. Strategic Planning Documents

The Council has completed an inaugural draft of the Libraries’ Strategic Plan for 2009-2013. Drafts will be circulated through department heads, this month, and an open forum will be scheduled for November to discuss the document.

III. Capital Planning

Mara, with the assistance of Selene and Jeff, submitted a package to the Provost’s office, which reflects libraries’ capital priorities for the future. All new construction and renovations costing more than $1 million is being reprioritized by UVM. The cover letter outlines the domino effect that Billings will have on all three libraries, as well as ongoing storage issues.

IV. Updates

Jeff Marshall: Four people will be interviewed for Prudence Doherty’s former position. There were 150 applicants.

Marianne Burke: A medical librarian from Rutland Medical Center, Clara LaForce, is joining the Dana faculty one day a week. The position for a cataloging and acquisitions professional will be advertised in listserv and regional library associations. Dana also has two openings for temporary visiting librarians: content development librarian and informatics digital libraries. (The question came up as to the definition of informatics. Marianne explained that it is “the applied juncture of content and technology.”) Also of note, Marianne is working as a producer and writer on the latest installment of Dr. Carney’s public health series. The show, shot last Tuesday, involves a doctor and a standardized patient discussing health information available on the Internet.

Birdie MacLennan: The search committee for Toni’s position has interviewed four candidates and has forwarded a recommendation to Mara and Peter. Birdie will be away until Nov. 3 and coverage is divided amongst Jane, Juliet and Tina.

Selene Colburn: For Homecoming weekend, Selene and Prudence curated an exhibit featuring UVM. Selene also led a workshop on “searching” for information and hosted an open house for the CDI. The ASK campaign is gearing up for new models and images. The Communications’ Team is working on a short list of local and national consultants for the signage project.

Paul Philbin: E-resources portal still a work in progress for the web team. The new website is expected to launch between the end of fall semester and prior to the beginning of spring semester. Paul and the team will link a beta test from current page.

Peter Blackmer: New flooring will be installed in the entry-way to B/H during winter break. The flooring is made of 37-percent recycled materials. Also, Scott Miller will be “test driving” wooden caps on the ends of shelving down reference alley in an effort to improve the look and feel of the main floor. New computer tables are on order, as are 30 additional computers.

Tina Kussey: The department had conference with Yankee Book Peddlers about the feasibility of bringing invoicing into Voyager. YBP will set up a test with Lyman. Tina is putting together a collections team to work on a policy first—it was last revamped in 1986. Peter Spitzform will serve as chair.