Summer Construction Schedule for Bailey/Howe

CLICK ON THE IMAGES TO SEE A LARGER, MORE LEGIBLE VERSION:

Scott Miller created these charts to help keep us informed about the work that's going on in Bailey/Howe this summer. It's good to know what improvements are being made, and when the work will be happening. Thanks Scott, again!

Upcoming Disruptions and Access Restrictions to the B/H Reference Room and Collection

A large section of the first floor of Bailey/Howe Library will be closed to the public from July 14 to August 1 as part of an asbestos-abatement and re-carpeting project taking place in the Reference Room. Carpeted sections of the Reference Room (west and south sides) will be sealed off, existing carpet and underlying floor tiles and mastic (glue) will be removed, and new carpeting will be installed.

Throughout the duration of this project, the Bailey/Howe reference desk will be temporarily relocated to the entrance lobby, and access to approximately 27 computer workstations on the first floor may be disrupted. Access to the Bailey/Howe print reference collection will be restricted during this period, although it is anticipated that library personnel will be available to retrieve items from the reference collection upon request. The Bailey/Howe Instruction Center (Room 123) will also be unavailable for use.

Specific phases of the project are (please note that dates are subject to change):

July 14 - July 28: Removal of existing carpet, underlying floor tiles, and mastic (abatement project)
July 28 - Aug. 1: Installation of new carpet

Gimme Shelter

The Annual Libraries' Picnic was an inside/outside event this year thanks to orientation's big tent. We didn't have to cram into the staff lounge or brave the rain. The venue was perfect, and the food was plentiful. Special thanks again to the social committee for another great event.

DEAN’S COUNCIL MINUTES: June 10, 2008

A brief meeting of the Dean’s Council was held on Tuesday, June 10, from 10 to 11 a.m. to share updates.

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

ABSENT: Selene Colburn, Jeff Marshall

• Peter Blackmer told department heads that any faculty promotional candidates for next year should get on the radar screen as soon as possible. He reminded everyone that faculty annual activities reports are due in the Provost’s Office by June 30. The Libraries FY09 Budget has been turned in to the Provost and is being evaluated. Peter expects staff salary letters by the third or fourth week in June. The WID space on the third floor has been abated. A&E services are in charge of turning the space into offices and working rooms. The space between the CDI and WID will also be abated once the collection there has been moved.

• Keith Gresham talked about how the asbestos abatement project in I&IS will affect his department. He is working on temporary relocation solutions during the July 14-28 window of work.

• Paul Philbin reported that the warranties on the public machines have expired, and half of them will be replaced. The web redesign project is moving ahead although disruption due to the construction in Bailey/Howe could have an impact on the process.

• Jeanene Light reported that two Dana Library task forces are winding up their work regarding space constraints and service-desk models. Marianne Burke will be back from administrative leave on July 1.

• Birdie MacLennan said the major effort to weed and shift collections is nearing the final stages. A bid from movers has been approved.

• Mara Saule mentioned that Gary Derr has agreed to send an electronic libraries newsletter to UVM faculty twice a semester.

Accreditation Nation

As you know, Mara is one of the co-chairs, along with Jill Tarule, of UVM's 10-year re-accreditation project. During the fall and spring semesters, dozens of committee members (including a number of libraries colleagues) worked to create drafts of the self-study report, based on 11 standards. Those reports have been turned over to Mara and Jill, who will spend a large part of the summer editing the report. The UVM community will have a chance to review the report before it is turned over to the visiting team, scheduled to come to campus April 19-22, 2009. The Accreditation Team is half way to the finish line.

Pandemic Planning Forum in Review

By Lisa Beaulieu

What will the University of Vermont do in the event of a pandemic flu outbreak? Estelle Maartmann-Moe and Al Turgeon, co-chairs of the University’s Working Group on pandemic planning, visited the library last week to discuss how we can prepare ourselves and our community for widespread illness.

First, the University is urging that we take care of ourselves—starting now! Good health habits such as washing your hands and covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze will help prevent the spread of any virus. If you are sick then stay home. The University’s Working Group also urges that we assemble a “home tool kit” which includes cash (small bills), water, food and medicine to sustain you and your family for 2 to 8 weeks.

If the virus appears in an international city, with an airport, then the University will invoke its Emergency Operations Plan and suspend classes. Classes would be administered via remote instruction which would utilize Blackboard, email and/or teleconference. Continuity of academic and research programs is paramount as financial aid, research funding and tuition revenue depend upon it. Clearly, the CTL will be vital to these preparations. As an aside, it was mentioned that 75% of the faculty will be able to teach online by 2012.

The Academic Planning phase of the project is to be completed this summer and will be presented to the Board of Trustees in October. Unit Planning will begin in January 2009 and be completed by May 2009. Peter Blackmer is the Libraries’ representative for the continuity-of-operations plans (COOPs). Peter will be working with library personnel to devise plans that will enable the libraries to continue to provide essential functions while working with fewer staff and fewer supplies. It will also be necessary to implement social distancing measures so as to protect library personnel and patrons from the spread of the virus.

For more information on the University Pandemic Planning efforts you may visit their website,
http://www.uvm.edu/~emergncy/?Page=UVMflu.html&SM=flumenu.html