Integrated Library System/ILS
We have had our current ILS, iii, for over 19 years! It's hard to believe but true and the server the iii software runs on has been our server for 7 years and is also well past it's "prime." Obviously, we were faced with the need to assess our future which included considering:
- Do we upgrade our existing software/go with the new iii product? (The big issue for us is that the company has indicated they are not going to be supporting our software version in this next year or so.)
- Do we put out a Request for Proposal for a new ILS for LS ACC?
After consulting with our internal expert LS staff and then with purchasing, we decided to put out an RFP and it is now posted. We have reviewed a number of systems already and I am excited about our opportunities for change! Watch the skies as our transition will take place this year. Our LS ILS Task Force is working on an economic and efficient method of moving data (no matter the product) and on a timeline for necessary staff development.
High school on RRC
ACC now has a variety of K-12 partnerships with school districts throughout central Texas. Included in these are two early college high schools, ACC faculty teaching our college classes in high schools, and high school students coming to ACC campuses. We are very involved with these ACC students (full privileges and all should have I.D.'s) and have two positions where these faculty librarians provide information literacy (IL) for classes where the IL is integrated already (English Comp I, Chemistry to name a few) and also -when possible - provide general IL.
Beginning this fall, a high school will open up on RRC in the portables newly constructed on the RR campus. There will be 200 students when they open and in the fall semester there will be one ACC class, Student Success and two or three in the spring. Kristyn and Sheila are already assisting with orientation with our newest ACC students.
Northridge Campus
Melinda Townsel is retiring this as of the end of July. Sheila Henderson will serve as Head Librarian for both RRC and as acting Head Librarian for NRG. Irena Klaic will be the manager of Project Enable (as well as the Accessibility Facilitator) and Sheri will assist her by being the wrangler for PE staff on site to provide Irena with assistance.
Destination campus
ACC has begun to use "Destination" Campus terminology for several campuses. These have been identified as those campuses where advising/a full student services complement is open on Saturday. Currently the RRC is considered one and I chose - in concert with the administration - to NOT add in hours for Saturdays this past spring or this summer. We are; however, added in a 10 to 2 hour shift for the library to be open to match Student Services hours and I have asked Sheila to get me the budget request in writing.
Position Changes
We have a number of staff changes happening this year, along with all of our new hires….
- Toyya Cisneros (PIN HL) and Pam Spooner (SAC HL) will switch campuses. This provides Toyya with the experience of a busy campus and you may remember, I originally announced I was going to begin this opportunity (a frontier or slower campus compared to a faster campus) for Elgin and Riverside but decided to begin with Pinnacle and South Austin. Toyya will be moving the first week of August and Pam will remain with her at SAC from 8/8 - 8/12 and then Pam will move to Pinnacle for the 22nd.
- Kristyn Pittman (NRG) and Betsy Young (RRC) will switch places beginning this August. This provides RRC with a librarian who serves high school students (and their faculty) (as one of her responsibilities) for assisting in their move to college. Betsy has chosen a 75% contract and I will work with Sheila to fill in those hourly academic hours at NRG as needed.
Positions being filled
We have many positions being posted...they include:
- AA- NRG (successful candidate turned down the offer/reposted)
- RVS Librarian - 1 opening offered and accepted, 1 opening reposted.
- EGN Librarian - our new person Sarah has resigned after a few months so we have reposted
- NRG Head Librarian - to post following a retirement
- 2.5 positions at Tech Services (the two full time were empty for some time and we were waiting for our new head of Tech Services to review and post; the .5 is Scott's position and he found a full time position and left.)
- AA HLC 50% (to be posted)
- RGC Librarian (The position is being offered and we are waiting for a start date.)
RGC - closing
We are still on track for a June 2017 closing of RGC for a 2.5 year renovation (at least.) This means that this year we will be slowly moving materials out to destinations where they can continue to serve students. We will begin to discuss staff relocations after the winter holiday. Carrie (RGC HL) and Irena (RGC AHL) will send out a link to the public LibGuide they are creating to inform and educate.
Leander/San Gabriel - work in progress
We continue to meet for Leander (now officially titled San Gabriel) for design. We will begin to finalize spreadsheets for FF & E or furniture, fixtures and equipment as we find out final square footage, etc. More on this new space as we move along. The library is adjacent to (above the learning lab/accelerator space) for a newer model. Updates as we experiment with an eye to student success!
OER
Open Educational Resources (OER) (free materials such as textbooks) are the focus of a grant we are involved in this year. Carrie is working with an LS team to assist classroom faculty in the design of two (or more) credit programs for students where all of the textbooks for the degree are free (or "open") and on the web. More later, and if additional OER information is needed we have a LibGuide on these resources.
Sustainable Grant
Library Services is the recipient of a grant from EBSCO for green/sustainable resources to be installed at Highland. More later as we find out what measurement that means!
Printing Discussions
August 5th we will have a meeting for a college-wide discussion for a printing solution. We have a great company and service we are looking at (WEPA) and the college is committed to something for this fall…not by the time we open, but soon thereafter I hope. This solution begins our changes to include:
- Charging students/patrons/customers for printing
- More outlets for printing
- Print jobs can be picked up from any ACC machine/printing station
- We are not charged for the service, but have service people here in Austin to make it work.
Pathways of study
Many community colleges are implementing a new approach or pathways of study. These pathways force a choice by the student who has to choose from 9 or 10 pathways for his/her educational program. We are working with each pathway group for IL/library support. We will also have LibGuides on these initiatives and will actually have one Guide for each pathway for students, faculty and staff to use. More later.
New Designs/Shared Spaces/Accelerator
As I mentioned above, our newer and renovated campuses will have an adjacency of the library to student services activities as well as educational opportunities. These changed make a number of things possible including more workstations for students as well as more teaching space for us. These spaces will be different at each location because of the footprint and square footage that varies everywhere.
More later as we finalize designs for these changes - for now at San Gabriel and Rio Grande.
AVP for Instructional Support Services
Richard Smith's position has been posted and I am serving on the hiring committee. More as we move through the process!
Finally - we have much to celebrate at ACC LS this year and this is due to the incredibly hard work of staff not only this year but every year. Have a great 2016/2017 as well!
Julie Todaro
Dean, Library Services
Austin Community College
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