Recent & Remarkable Dana Accomplishments

Folks from the Dana Medical Library have been publishing and postering up a storm lately. Also, at the recent MLA annual meeting in Chicago, Laura Haines won a very competitive and presitigous 2008 Ebsco/MLA Annual Meeting Grant. Congrats to all our colleagues at Dana.

Donna O’Malley. “A Medline Station in the Clerkship Clinical Skills exam.” Poster presented at the Medical Library Association Annual Meeting, May 2008.
“Benefits of Integrating the Library Reserve Function With Blackboard,” Donna O’Malley, Tina Kussey. Poster presented at the AAMC Northeastern Group on Educational Affairs Annual Meeting, April, 2008.

“Teaching Evidence-Based Literature Retrieval to Medical Students and Residents,” Len L Levin, Megan Bresnahan, Lauren Maggio, Kerry A O'Rourke, Donna O'Malley. Poster presented at the AAMC Northeastern Group on Educational Affairs Annual Meeting, April, 2008.

“A Survey of Scholarly Literature Databases for Clinical Laboratory Science.” By Donna L. O’Malley. Clinical Laboratory Science. 21(1):49-57. 2008.

Shiela Phillippe, Tina Kussey, Lesley Boucher, Marianne Burke, Alan Lampson and Colin McClung. “Academic Medical Center to Rural Clinic: Ensuring Fair and Accurate Representation in Go Local.” Poster presented at the Medical Library Association Annual Meeting, May 2008.

Nancy Bianchi. "An Analysis of Clinical Questions Asked at Professor Rounds: a Retrospective Review." Poster presented at the Medical Library Association Annual Meeting, May 2008.

Marianne Burke, Peggy Carey, MD, Fred Pond, Laura Haines and Alan Lampson. “Information Rx As Patient-Physician Communication Tool and Community Health Information Program. Poster presented at the Medical Library Association Annual Meeting, May 2008.

Laura Haines. “Measuring the Effectiveness of Community Outreach: The Community Medical School Project.” Poster presented at the Medical Library Association Annual Meeting, May 2008.

Web Design Open Forum

Library Forum – May 21, 2008 (Notes kindly provided by Marcie Crocker)

Paul Philbin presented an overview of the new library website (http://library.uvm.edu:8008) that is currently under development.

Some highlights include:

• Banner images, Spotlight on the Library and Events & Exhibits blurbs that change randomly each time the page is opened.
• More simplified Hours page
• Ask a Librarian function is working, except for “In Person” which is still under development by I & IS.
• Tabbed Search
• What’s New in the Library, Spotlight on the Collection, and Events & Exhibits sections come from WordPress blogs
• E-Resource Portal
• Guides – Managed by the B/H I&IS and Dana Reference Departments using LibGuides

There was lively discussion about some sections of the new site, especially the Tabbed Search and E-Resource Portal sections.

Who is on the Web Team?

Libraries Web Team consists of Paul Philbin (Chair), Selene Colburn, Marcie Crocker, Dan DeSanto, Prudence Doherty (replacing Chris Burns), Lida Douglas, Keith Gresham, Birdie MacLennan, Donna O’Malley, Lyman Ross, Winona Salesky, and Catherine Tran.

Web Implementation Team consists of Lyman Ross (Chair), Marcie Crocker, Dan DeSanto, Lida Douglas, Elizabeth Hassemer, Winona Salesky, Catherine Tran, and Will Webb

Scott Schaffer commented about usability: “We use these resources more than our users. We are not the typical user.”

Next Steps:

• Check the wiki (http://library.uvm.edu:8080/wiki) for updates: Paul will be identifying a process for maintaining the website, including the blogs.

New timeline has been added to the wiki:

• June 30, 2008 – Finish E-Portal, Research Guides, Hours
• July 7, 2008 – Release of site for beta test and usability testing & feedback
• Aug 25, 2008 – Final site release

For extra credit:

• Read “Usability Issues for the Library Website Redesign” and “Usability Study Results Bullet List” (available from the wiki at http://library.uvm.edu:8080/wiki/index.php/Usability)
• Check the information from these documents against the site and give Paul feedback or post your comments right here.

Trustees Tour Special Collections; Pass Resolution

Yesterday, Members of the Board of Trustees toured Special Collections in its current Bailey/Howe location and visited the site of its proposed return in Billings.

Today, May 16, the EPIR (Education, Policy and Institutional Resources) Committee passed a resolution to endorse the Billings Hall Renovation and remit it to the Budget, Finance and Investment Committee for financial review and approval at a future meeting.

Trina Magi Earns 2008 Vermont School Library Association Award

(Details provided by Keith Gresham)

On Tues., May 13, at the Vermont Library Conference, Trina Magi was presented with the 2008 Vermont School Library Association Award in recognition of her "dedication, leadership, and collaboration with the Vermont School Library Community."


Trina was specifically recognized for her work this past year as chair of the Vermont Library Association's Intellectual Freedom Committee, which successfully worked with school, public, and academic librarians, the state library, parents groups, and state lawmakers to introduce legislation that would strengthen Vermont state law regarding the confidentiality of library records.


Gov. Jim Douglas signed the legislation into law this week. The new law (S. 220, “An Act Relating to the Confidentiality of Library Patron Records") will take effect on July 1, 2008. The law specifies that only a court order from a judge could force the release of a library patron's records. The previous law allowed librarians to release the records on their own volition.

For more information about the new law, see: http://www.vermontlibraries.org/governor-signs-s-220-library-patron-confidentiality-bill-to-become-law

Announcements Coming Out of Dean's Council Meeting

The Dean's Council met on Tuesday, May 13. The Council discussed upcoming events and made general announcements before getting a preview of the new libraries' web design, which by all accounts is very attractive and poised to be very effective. Mara and the entire Council expressed gratitude for the time and thought put into the enormous project.

On Wednesday, May 21, from 10 to 11:30 a.m., libraries' colleagues are invited to attend a special open forum in the Dean's Conference Room to see the new design and share ideas.

In other news:

• The Billings Special Collections Project will go before the Board of Trustees on Friday, May 16 in the Sugar Maple Ballroom. The meeting runs from 9:30 to 12 noon with the Billings Renovation Presentation expected to take place around 10 a.m. On Thursday, May 15, the Board will tour Special Collections in its current location and walk through Billings.
  
• Beginning on Monday, May 19, room 302 on the 3rd floor of Bailey/Howe will be under construction to become the Writing in the Disciplines offices. The work begins Monday with asbestos abatement.
• Peter Blackmer clarified for the Council that UVM has a policy that prohibits domestic animals from entering University Buildings, except in the case of service animals. The policy can be seen at http://www.uvm.edu/~uvmppg/ppg/general_html/pets.pdf
• The bookmarking project is right on schedule and should be complete soon. Special appreciation was made to Peter Spitzform for leading the efforts, and thanks was expressed to all who have helped out.
  

Publication Central

Congrats to the following faculty on their recent publications:

Lyman Ross & Pongracz Sennyey published "The Library is Dead, Long Live the Library! The Practice of Academic Librarianship and the Digital Revolution” in the Journal of Academic Librarianship, 34, 145-152.

Trina Magi wrote about “The gap between theory and practice: A study of the prevalence and strength of patron confidentiality policies in public and academic libraries,” for Library & Information Science Research Volume 29, Issue 4, December 2007, Pages 455-470.

Daisy Benson and Selene Colburn published “Party Photo Phenomenon: Students Collaborate to Promote Reference Services” in C&RL News, 69, 4 (April 2008). http://www.ala.org/ala/acrl/acrlpubs/crlnews/backissues2008/april08/partyphoto.cfm

Karl Bridges published “Librarians and the Attention Economy,” in Library Philosophy & Practice (2008): http://www.webpages.uidaho.edu/~mbolin/bridges3.htm

Scott Schaffer, Member of VLA Personnel Committee, collaborated on a VLA report entitled "Salaries and Benefits: A Survey of Vermont Academic Librarians. (2008). http://www.vermontlibraries.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/academic-salary-survey-report.pdf

Let Us Eat Cake

Annette wanted to celebrate the end of the semester, so she commissioned our student worker Sarah to make one of her great personalized cakes. Sarah's work of art--a book complete with an accurate call number for maple--will be ready to be devoured in the Dean's Office at 10 a.m. Thanks Annette, and thanks Sarah! Welcome one and all!

Secret Treasures of Bailey/Howe

Sometimes things in Bailey/Howe catch me off guard--in a great way. Like seeing the new "living room" areas on the second and third floors. Scott Miller served as mover and designer on the project.

Other wonderful moments include, but aren't limited to, the following:

• Seeing Pat M. with students at the reference desk. She has an extraordinary rapport with them.
• Talking with Bev in the Cyber Cafe, who is always kind and happy. She had my coffee cup ready before I even got to her. And with her urging, I've switched over to a reusable mug.
  
• Getting help from Barb in ILL on a project. She's so fast and efficient.
  
• Catching up with Zhanna in a hallway. She always makes me laugh.
  
• Seeing Michael Breiner at the copier every morning.
  
• Gabbing with Peter Spitzform about new books.
  
• Checking movies out from media FOR FREE and with Lori's great recommendations.
  
• Having Marcie back in the building!
  
• Eating anything made by June.
  
• Angus' care and feeding of the work study students.
• Hearing Eric sing his Dean's Office requests for supplies.
  

DEAN’S COUNCIL MINUTES: April 29, 2008

A Meeting of the Dean’s Council was held on Tuesday, April 29 from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. in the Dean’s Conference Room.

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

The main focus of the meeting was to share what’s happening across the libraries in the context of ongoing libraries and university strategic planning. Mara commented that “a lot of great work” is taking place right now and it should be acknowledged and appreciated.

The library website redesign is moving forward. Paul will hold an open forum soon to share the Implementation Committee’s work.

A Bailey/Howe population density report, recently compiled by Angus for Paul, features maps of each floor depicting what areas are being used and when. The report will be helpful in strategic planning and in re-visioning Bailey/Howe spaces. Paul thanked Angus for the great work. You can see Angus’ write up at http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dgb55c24_48f94mzrgh and his charts at http://www.uvm.edu/~pphilbin/pop_density.pdf

Paul recently met with some Telecom experts about working toward ubiquitous wireless service in BH. Funding will be generated by the student tech fee.

The UVM servers are being moved to Tech Park off Kimball Ave. Libraries servers may move there as well, once power and air conditioning issues are resolved. The vacated space in BH (the “Machine Room”) may be repurposed.

Thirty-five classrooms will undergo technical improvements this summer.

Birdie reported that the recommendations from Robert Cleary, a library collections budget consultant, have arrived. The FINAL report can be found at http://docs.google.com/View?docid=dgb55c24_49hq7hcjf3 and a sample budget is located at http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pJT7Aqd4Ur015EfKRcR4dWw The results are controversial, Birdie cautioned. A broad and focused discussion is needed.

The weeding work on third floor and in reference is on schedule. Because it’s such a complicated and large process, the actual move may require professionals. Three estimates have been requested.

The Tech Services Work Group is now working toward implementation steps for a common BH/Dana e-resources unit. Tina Kussey is leading the charge.

The IMLS grant application for the CDI continuing funding is out the door, Jeff reported.

Special Collections will have a grad intern this summer from the history department.

Mara and Jeff had a meeting with JP Dowd from Leahy’s office. JP was very impressed by Special Collections work. JP seemed to seriously consider our needs and requests.

The leak situation is Spec. Collections appears to be resolved. Jeff is working on how and when to move the reference materials back down.

Jeff and Selene represented the libraries on UVM Student Research Day, April 17, at the Davis Center. Selene/Jeff served as judges as well. Selene wants to explore her ideas for future Research Day activities.

The new libraries’ logo will soon be available for use. Templates are going up on LibStaff and letterhead has been ordered. A fun and functional event is being planned to kick off the new designs, which will be both easy and accessible.

Selene is working with Joe Speidel in State, Fed & Community Relations to create brochures about the CDI. Selene will go to a few City Council meeting to showcase libraries’ work.

The Communication Team’s signage project is underway. The team is currently taking an inventory of what signs are where.

At Dana, Jeanene reported that several work groups are considering space needs and new service models.

The new passwords on the public computers at Dana have worked well in terms of keeping computers available to primary patrons.

Peter noted that he and Scott were still waiting on flooring quotes for the entryway in B/H. They would like to start on the renovation project after the semester ends.

Keith said that the reference collection weeding and moving efforts were on schedule.

For the summer months, the reference department will consider testing a new “wireless bell” service at the desk. Students would get prompt assistance by ringing the bell.

“Reference alley” has new chairs which has greatly enhanced the area.

Mara pointed out that the D& D council has been hard at work.

There is also a forum on open access being planned by Dana and B\H Collections Management Services.