Crazy Ideas

Chris Burns came up with a crazy idea, and the Dean's Office is taking him up on it. He suggested that we establish a "Crazy Idea Box" for colleagues to offer up all sorts of wild and crazy methods for improving the libraries or/and operating more efficiently.

The Crazy Idea Box, designed by student worker Sarah Grant, will reside in the Staff Lounge at Bailey/Howe.

Fill it up.

DEAN’S COUNCIL UPDATES: Jan 6 & 13, 2009

I. Budget Matters

Dean’s Council meetings will be held weekly through January to keep communication open to discuss ongoing budget crisis. Peter submitted the libraries’ FY09 rescission on Friday, Jan. 9. Libraries’ FY10 base-budget adjustments are due in the Provost’s Office on Jan. 23. Another open forum will be scheduled in the next week to provide updates on the process and/or any new information.

II. Strategic Planning Discussion

On Tuesday, Jan. 20, the Dean’s Council will discuss the input on the Strategic Plan given by libraries colleagues in last week’s open forums. Prior to that meeting, the notes from each forum will be posted to the blog.

III. Web redesign release

Prelease in January, new website going live sometime during the semester—probably March 9, which is spring break. January and February will be a time for all web visitors and users to review. The “preview” will be linked from the current web page.

IV. B/H Renovation

The entry renovation in B/H is close to being completed. Some duct tape issues and cleaning schedules are being resolved. The students came back to B/H to find 35 additional workstations and some additional soft seating near the entry way. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Special thanks to Scott Miller for his team’s tireless efforts as well as those by Paul and the systems group.

Miller Time

The entryway of Bailey/Howe is looking good, and is on schedule, thanks the man in the center of the madness.