Say "Kwaheri" to Paul

This entry is from Paul Philbin's own blog. We thought Libraries Folks would be especially interested in the nature of his of upcoming work in Tanzania. --Nancy

The time has come to report that in 10 days, I will be on a plane bound for Dar es Salaam. After my first trip to Tanzania back in 2004, I vowed to return in a professional capacity. Well that time has come. I am partnering with a colleague at Dartmouth College, Fred Pond, to provide training and expertise to the staff at the Library of Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS). The project is funded by Abbott Fund and coordinated by the Global Health Initiative at the Dickey Center for International Understanding, Dartmouth College. Our planned activities at the MUHAS Library for the period March 17-28 include the following:

1. Perform Customer Service Workshop, plus in-house, one-one training with key personnel; based on result of workshop, future follow-up training expressed in a planning document.

2. Review recent reference desk installation re: staffing issues, collection resources to support reference service.

3. Follow up on biomedical literature searching training performed in January 2005; focus areas determined via brief survey of MUHAS Reference staff. Include directories for free sources of e-journals.

4. Investigate & make proposal for MUHAS-based research database at MUHAS, e.g. abstracts of faculty-produced research.

5. Review IT equipment inventory for planned ICT Classroom, completed in Excel document, suitable/conformance for submission to granting organization.

The Director of the MUHAS Library, Rehema Chande-Mallya visited Dartmouth and the University of Vermont last week as part of an exchange program. While here Rehema worked with Fred and me to finalize the plans for our training and consulting effort. In addition, we worked together on a draft proposal to convert records to create a comprehensive online catalogue for the MUHAS Library.

Rehema is the author of "Assessment of the use of information and communication technology in the improvement of performance and efficiency in the banking sector: a case study of the National Micro Finance Bank (NMB) Dar es Salaam", which appeared in the University of Dar es Salaam Library Journal, vol. 7(2) 2005: 27-42. Read the abstract.

Fred previously visited the same library back in 2005 to provide ICT (Information and Communication Technology) training as part of the Dartmouth/Boston University AIDS International Training & Research Program.

Libraries Tour ’08: A Tale of Two Arteries

Sometimes the heart of a library is below the stacks. Sometimes it shares a wall with the men’s restroom. But regardless of physical location, collection development and management runs through the Bailey/Howe and Dana Medical libraries like a major artery.

“We have contact with a lot of departments,” explains Wendy Gunther, who shares a workload and workspace with Chris Krupp as specialists on Peter Spitzform’s Collection Development team. Essentially, their job is to put Bailey/Howe’s body of work in contact with users and to put texts in context. Or, more succinctly, get stuff in here and then get it out there. Roam the tomes, as it were. “People have no idea how much they do,” Spitzform says.

So, people, here’s some of what they do:

Wendy and Chris are the first stop for new books (between 250 to 300 per week from Yankee Book Peddler alone) and they often serve as the starting point for new book orders (in fact, I ordered “The Invention of Everything Else” while I was visiting—see sidebar). Wendy and Chris are in constant contact with shipping, cataloging and acquisitions. They also interact with interlibrary loan, reference and special collections. And you’ll often see one of them restocking the new book shelf in the lobby or reloading up the beloved free shelf outside their office. Wendy also populates the popular reading section on the second floor and both of these employees lend their hands to ordering –Wendy with educational films; and Chris on monographs that aren’t available through Yankee. But it’s all a labor of love for them.

“I adore books and variety,” Wendy says of her work. And, clearly, she and Chris get plenty of both.

People probably don’t have a clear picture of Dana’s Tech Services/Collection Management department either. It’s such detail-oriented work on behalf of the patrons that there’s not much time for public relations about internal operations.

Tina Kussey is the main contact for putting things in context. She is the Collection Management Librarian in charge of all technical services functions, among other things like troubleshooting, with the help of her team which includes famed staffer-of-the-year Sandy Aldrich and soon-to-be-retired Helen Olson.

Tina is a usage guru, who can tell anyone at any time how much of what is being used and when. She can also provide cost-per-use data down to the penny. Needless to say, her command of EXCEL is excellent. And armed with all this information, Tina helps the Dana Medical Library make decisions about their collection. She also helped lead the charge for finding ways to share Tech Services workflows between Dana and BH. (There’s a link to their report in the blog entry below.)

DEAN’S COUNCIL MINUTES: Feb. 5

A meeting of the Dean’s Council was held on Tuesday, Feb. 5, from 9 to 11 a.m. in the Dean’s Conference Room.

Present: Mara Saule, Peter Blackmer, Paul Philbin, Keith Gresham, Birdie MacLennan, Nancy Bercaw, Jeff Marshall and Jeanene Light
Absent: Selene Colburn

I. Tech Services Work Group Submits Report

Mara recognized the thoughtful and important work of group, led by Tina Kussey. She said the group’s recommendations had real “teeth.” She also reiterated the need to revision how tech services is managed across both libraries. Mara, Birdie, Jeanene and Tina will meet asap to discuss next steps. Here is a link to the Tech Services Work Group report: http://www.uvm.edu/~pblackme/TSWG.pdf

II. Timeline for Green Sheets

A tentative timeline for review of Green Sheets is being created. In theory must be done in April, but Peter Blackmer reported that the timeline for the libraries is more flexible. Ideally, faculty would be notified of reappointment by June 30.

III. Shifting Collections/Entryway Changes

Collections on the third floor have to be shifted to accommodate the new Writing in the Disciplines (WID) unit next fall. The process will require a lot of departmental coordination from now until early spring to have the space ready for construction in the summer.

Special Collections has recently completed cataloging 800 maps. They also recently took possession of 50 linear feet of Japanese books.

The front entrance of B/H is in the early stages of being redesigned with a new entry and flooring (the most ecological and safe possible). Peter said the goal is to do the process expediently as soon the semester is over.

IV. Announcements

The Buffalo Soldiers Exhibit in the main lobby, organized in part by Sylvia Bugbee over the past few months, is now underway.

A leak situation in Special Collections is still causing concern. A second strategy – injecting plastic resin to create a barrier –has been undertaken and appears to be working. In spring, a permanent solution will be pursued.

Why I'm Giving Larry $12 Today

I received an email from Larry the other day, just as you did, asking me for $12 in libraries dues. This morning, as soon as I finish writing this blog entry, I am going to run down to his space and hand it over. Why? Because when my stepfather passed away in January, UVM Libraries (courtesy of Darcelene) sent a lovely card to me as well as a donation to the Gulf Coast Hospice in Palm Harbor, FL. I was so touched by this gesture, as was my mother. The good work of Bailey/Howe and Dana extends beyond this campus in so many ways. I am happy to pay $12 because I know it might help another colleague and charity.