It seems hard to believe that we're already halfway through the summer. I thought I would send out an update & information about now and next fall before we finish this semester; just when 10.5 contract librarians are returning from their time off; and before people taking 10.5 in July/August leave for their time off.
1. Timing/Team Membership
Last year the Head Librarians requested that we move Team appointments earlier/to midsummer to provide a longer lead time for reviewing old goals/accomplishments and for proposing and getting approval for goals for FY' 10. LLT members felt this timeline worked out well this past year and we met last week to discuss Team membership for this coming year. As I understand it, LLT members had discussions with librarians and the recommendations are to leave FY '10 LS Team membership as it is now for this coming year. This is fine with me for now. When we receive information about new staffing positions for Round Rock as well as dollar amounts for print/media purchases, we will review - as we typically do when we get new resources - how business is done and what else may need to change. Last year the budget was passed in mid-July. FYI only...Since our budget year ends on 8/31, but the semester begins the week before, we ask for - if we open a new site in a fall of an academic year - one to two months of money for the site in THIS fiscal year. I will let you know as soon as I know.
Also - just as last year - when accomplishments, etc. are reported out from teams "ongoing" is not a word to be used. What should you say? If it is ongoing but is up-to-date then say something like "completed for the FY'09 year." If it is ongoing but is NOT up-to-date say something like "X is outstanding for the FY '09 year and is to be completed by x" and if necessary, say "why."
2. Curb Appeal, Design on a Dime, Trading Spaces...A number of libraries are receiving the items they ordered as a result of our transforming discussions we began last fall. When new furniture has arrived and has been installed and libraries feel their vision has been completed, we will take pictures and post them to the website. Those of you who are still in progress, let us know when you have decided what you want...Those of you not yet discussing or stalled, feel free to call a design consultant team (Ellie, Saidah, Leigh, Pam...or put your LS dream team together and invite them over to review and suggest!)
3. Circulation Services - Assessment Two years ago we decided to create a lead Senior Library Assistant, Jon Sprecher, who has been working to train SLA's and LA's and assess and standardize - where appropriate - circulation services throughout ACC libraries. Last year we "retreated" and spent a day on standardized SLA training and a number of things requested based on that meeting have been happening. Just coming to closure is the process of assessing other Austin and central Texas area library circulation services (public, academic and special.) These visits will come to closure this summer and Jon Sprecher and Maria Taylor will be creating a report of the visits and assessments and recommending best practices. These recommendations will come to LLT with further comments on what we need to implement here at ACC.
4. Round Rock...We completed RRC design of the facilities and created and submitted a staffing plan. Periodically we have a few decisions to make and just this last week, I had a "front door" question to resolve. In addition, I talked with ACC facilities because I looked for and couldn't find any RRC pix on the website. They will be posting some construction pictures soon.
4. Office Productivity Software...Also brought up in the fall LS Transforming summit, we are finalizing the consistent accessibility and identification of Office on the public service library terminals. The Ad Hoc LS team that reviewed what was needed declared that nothing was needed in the way of announcement, more labeling, training, etc. I am pleased that staff are pleased with how this has rolled out.
5. Future...This coming year we will have expanded communication discussions, a resurrection of a facilitator position and a few other new/revised areas. They include:
- We will be further standardizing our email communication this fall with a goal to cut down on individual emails. This will include a review and expansion - if necessary - of our email subject heading and more grouped content group emails (Teresa Ashley will be grouping Net/Web information and distributing in a timely manner and Steve Self is already grouping and expanding tech suggestions. In addition, Ellie will continue to group and distribute staff/professional development materials.)
- In the past we have grouped and standardized reference activities in a variety of different ways. These ways have included reference coordinators at each campus, then a reference committee or team, then facilitators...We have decided to return to a standardized approach to managing our general reference materials. In review of librarian jobs/responsibilities (and LS ongoing vacancies ...Cypress HL,) needed coordination and facilitation, project management expertise and availability of librarians, we have chosen Sylvia Owens to facilitate general reference activities. To "design" this responsibility we gathered three 'job descriptions' and designed a new approach that combines a number of older activities and new needs. Jonathan Buckstead has managed the reference selection function for new campuses through the AdHoc groups formed out of the standing Collection Development Team. He will continue to work on the RRC reference collection development initiative in partnership with Sylvia for this year, transitioning processes to her. Thanks to Jonathan for doing such a good job on our new campus collections. Sylvia's has been learning the ropes and reviewing how this happened in the past and reviewing how other institutions do this, therefore "official notification" of her work on LS library-wide reference initiatives should be this email.
6. New Initiatives and Stimulus and Recovery...In partnership with the ACC Humanities Department, we are involved with the college's Big Read and our first programs and online displays will begin this fall. Terese Morgan/the South Austin Campus is the primary partner for this and Terese will keep us posted and advertise the program as we get closer to the events. I have also been talking to ACC grants and monitoring statewide reaction to the federal monies and possible statewide dollars. I am meeting with Mary Harris week after next to discuss the college's plans and two other initiatives to see if Library Services might play a supporting role. (Example...ACC's Distinction project)
7. Recession...When the FY '10 budget is passed, we will have a better idea of what we will need to do to tighten our belt for the future. More later.
8. Community Access Policy... By all reports this Policy and all policy implementations have gone VERY well. Thanks to everyone. In a related note, my theme for next year will be 'safety and security' and our all-ls event - including all hourly workers - will feature this content. I am working with ACC police on this program now. More later but all staff are required to attend the Thursday, August 20th morning training. Mark your calendars now.
More later as we figure out our money issues.
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