Strategic planning, Shelving, Budget

Strategic Planning
The three groups working on goals and objectives, Working Environment, Promoting the Library and Transforming Services, have all submitted their recommendations to the Administrative Team. The next step is for the ATeam to review these, possibly work with the groups to clarify and prioritize and then to combine these into a strategic plan with a timeline and assignments. I’ll keep you informed of our progress.

Shelving project update from Dave Piper
[The ATeam is close to final approval on this project. – gf]
As you know, last week I sent out two lists to the AHSL listserv. The first was a list of four REF titles under consideration for withdrawal. The second was a list of 34 REF titles under consideration for moving to the third floor.

Mary and I received feedback from four persons. Based on feedback we received, we are planning to take one title off the list of items under consideration for moving to the third floor. The title in question is the Portrait catalog of the New York Academy of Medicine Library (WZ 112 N532P 1960) and we now are recommending that it remain in REF.

I would propose that we communicate this change to the AHSL, briefly describe again the plan of action, and then proceed with implementing the plan. There are essentially four steps:
1. Move the 33 REF titles along with the Annex items (ZHQ-ZWZ) to the third floor.
2. Withdraw the 4 REF titles.
3. Meet with Facilities to discuss constructing the framed item storage screen and the framed item cabinet.
(The basic design plans are ready to show them.)
4. Plan the new, smaller shelving configuration for the west end of REF area. (Under one scenario that I’m investigating, it’s possible that we could shelve all of remaining “west end” items in the “east end of REF” area, thereby freeing up that entire west end for study space…)

Budget
The AHSL was given the same budget for 2010-2011 as we had last year. However, we have been asked to “hold back” 5% of the budget – about $127,000. The university is waiting to see how much income is generated by the 1% increase in sales tax that was approved earlier this year. If the results are disappointing we will have to give up the 5%. Otherwise we may get to keep all or some of it. In other years the university has been asked to take a mid-year cut. We aren’t anticipating a cut beyond the 5% but won’t know until January.

Shelving, IPE

Shelving projects
Dave has proposed a solution to several problems and the ATeam has asked him to move forward on planning. The library owns many items that should hang on walls – paintings and plaques – that cannot be displayed for a variety of reasons. Dave has proposed a solution involving the “annex” shelving in Collection Services. As part of this process some of the titles currently shelved there will move up to compact shelving. In addition, some of the older indexes from the reference area on the 2nd floor will move to compact shelving and some will be discarded. Additional study tables will move into the “new” space on the 2nd floor. We are just in the beginning of the planning for these projects.

Interprofessional Education
Sandy and Gary have been invited to serve on a newly formed AHSC Interprofessional Education Steering Committee. The group met for the first time this morning and is charged with planning and guiding programs that will teach AHSC (and Law and Social Work) students to work together as teams as they will have to do after graduation.

AV Weeding Project

Most of our audio-visual materials are shelved in the compact shelving on the third floor. Many of these items contain old, out-of-date information or are in formats that are rarely, if ever, used these days (slide tape shows for example). We have started a project to review these items and to remove those that have no archival or educational value. Dave will be reviewing these titles and many will be weeded with help from the IS Desk Staff and our shelvers, our Knowledge River students and the Collection Services Department. Dave estimates that as much as 80% of these items will be weeded. We hope to recycle much of the paper and plastic.

Welcome April, Carol's Appointment, Stacks & Flashlights

New Clinical Education Librarian
I’m happy to announce that April Aguiñaga, of the Maricopa Integrated Health System, has applied for and been granted an appointment as a Clinical Education Librarian. April joins these librarians who work with our students, residents or faculty in supporting our educational mission: Sally Harvey and Lora Robbins from Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, Phoenix, Becky Birr, also from the Maricopa Integrated Health System, Phoenix, Kathy Zeblisky from Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Phoenix, Marni Ditmar and Bruce Chandler from Tucson Medical Center and Kathleen Carlson from the Arizona State University Downtown Phoenix Campus.

Carol’s work
As many of you know, Carol has spent half of her time working on the Reynolds grant through the Section of Geriatrics in the College of Medicine. Her part of the project has been so successful and has brought in so many compliments that she was given an appointment as Clinical Assistant Professor, Medicine, in the College. As of July 1 Carol will be paid directly by the Geriatrics Section for this appointment for the duration of the grant. We will continue to pay her for the remaining 51% of her library time.

Stacks project
As part of our efforts to insure that library space is used to the best advantage of our user community, we are working on a project to review our stack space. After rearranging the 3rd floor stacks during the move from the 4th floor, we have found that some areas of the collection are “tight” and some are packed more loosely. Collections cannot be too tight as we are still getting some paper subscriptions and we sometimes need to do some shifting.
It’s become clear that students like to have a variety of study spaces available. So we have started identifying journal titles that we own in print and electronically. Some of these print volumes are candidates for removal from the stacks. At first, this will help the shelving situation. Eventually we hope to carve out some small spaces in the stacks where study tables can be placed. Currently Collection Services staff are identifying titles that can be removed and the IS Desk staff are pulling the print volumes.

Flashlights
We’ve just purchased four emergency flashlights. They plug into the wall and come on automatically if the power goes out. They are located in these areas: Information Desk, Annabelle and Jennifer’s office, Interlibrary Loan, near the Bookeye scanner, and in the Administrative Conference Room in the office.