Friday, January 4, 2008
2008!
Happy New Year and welcome back to our regular schedule. Soon the building will be full of returning students. Over the next couple of weeks everyone should be finishing up goals for the coming year. Next week I’ll be sending out evaluation forms and the “Employee Input Form” for evaluation of your supervisor. I’d like to have these turned in to your “supervisor’s supervisor” no later than February 15. If you have any questions about the form or the process, please feel free to ask in the office or any of the committee members (Amanda, Carol, Kathy, Nga, Pat or Vera.)
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Congratulations Annabelle!
Each year Library Journal selects a few librarians across the country as "Movers and Shakers." This year, Annabelle was selected as a 2008 Mover and Shaker. There will be a cover story in March and lots of publicity surrounding this.
I know that we are all proud of Annabelle and of her accomplishments. Please join me in offering her our sincere congratulations!
I know that we are all proud of Annabelle and of her accomplishments. Please join me in offering her our sincere congratulations!
Friday, December 14, 2007
All Staff Meeting
At yesterday’s All Staff meeting Mary Riordan reminded everyone to let her know if you will be participating in the holiday party on Monday. She needs your $8 by the end of the day TODAY!
Stef explained the process that led to the new website which will go live on January 16. You can see the latest version at: webtest.ahsl.Arizona.edu
The Evaluation of Supervisors committee explained the four documents that were sent out describing the proposed procedures for staff to have input to the evaluation process. Several suggestions were made and questions asked. There was much discussion. I will send out a summary soon and the committee will get back to AHSL after discussing and meeting with HR.
Stef explained the process that led to the new website which will go live on January 16. You can see the latest version at: webtest.ahsl.Arizona.edu
The Evaluation of Supervisors committee explained the four documents that were sent out describing the proposed procedures for staff to have input to the evaluation process. Several suggestions were made and questions asked. There was much discussion. I will send out a summary soon and the committee will get back to AHSL after discussing and meeting with HR.
Friday, December 7, 2007
Renovations and websites
Teleconference Room
The teleconference room renovations in the old circulation desk space are scheduled to be completed before the holiday break. We’ve been waiting for the large window frame to arrive. As soon as that is installed the room will be painted and carpeting will be laid down. It looks as if the teleconferencing equipment will be installed during the first or second week of January.
AZHealthInfo.org and AZGoLocal.org
Many of you are familiar with these two AHSL websites. The first provides information about Arizona health problems and public health issues. The second provides links to healthcare services and providers in Arizona. Both were developed with grant funding and that funding is now running out. I have heard from many people who are impressed with the high quality of both sites. I believe that we are providing a useful service to the citizens of Arizona by maintaining these sites. However, it takes time and effort on the part of several people to keep these sites up-to-date and accurate.
Jeanette, Jacque and I have been talking to people at AHCCCS/AZ211, the state Medicare agency and the group who supports 211 – the emergency response telephone network and website. They are very impressed with our two websites that fulfill a lot of the functions that they want to provide to the state. We are talking with them about possible ongoing support for one or both of these projects. I will keep you posted.
The teleconference room renovations in the old circulation desk space are scheduled to be completed before the holiday break. We’ve been waiting for the large window frame to arrive. As soon as that is installed the room will be painted and carpeting will be laid down. It looks as if the teleconferencing equipment will be installed during the first or second week of January.
AZHealthInfo.org and AZGoLocal.org
Many of you are familiar with these two AHSL websites. The first provides information about Arizona health problems and public health issues. The second provides links to healthcare services and providers in Arizona. Both were developed with grant funding and that funding is now running out. I have heard from many people who are impressed with the high quality of both sites. I believe that we are providing a useful service to the citizens of Arizona by maintaining these sites. However, it takes time and effort on the part of several people to keep these sites up-to-date and accurate.
Jeanette, Jacque and I have been talking to people at AHCCCS/AZ211, the state Medicare agency and the group who supports 211 – the emergency response telephone network and website. They are very impressed with our two websites that fulfill a lot of the functions that they want to provide to the state. We are talking with them about possible ongoing support for one or both of these projects. I will keep you posted.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Updates and Systems
Updates
In response to my last update about improving communication I got an excellent suggestion today. Updates used to be weekly, as long as there was something to report. Over the last year I started sending them out only when there was some major piece of news to report. The suggestion that I got was that I try to do them weekly, since even a minor piece of news will help us all to know what’s going on. Starting now I will try to get one out every Friday.
Systems
We are all going to miss Robin who has been so helpful and a source of knowledge for us all. I’m happy to report that we are retaining her on a consultant basis so that we don’t lose access to her expertise. This will be particularly helpful during the move from SIRSI to Innovative Interfaces and with some AZHIN applications.
I’ve been asked if we are going to fill Robin’s position. As you know we are in the middle of discussions with the College of Medicine about the IT organization within the College, the Library and Biomedical Communications. I have been attending committee meetings and Jeanette has filled in when I have had to miss a meeting. Joan and Marcus are representing the library in a subcommittee that is looking specifically at the functions of a new organization and who should fit where. Nothing has been decided. Given the uncertainty ahead of us it would be hard to even write a job description for a Head of Systems. We will keep the line open until we see what our needs are going to be.
In the meantime, if you need help with any aspect of IT, please feel free to contact Shanna about network or email problems, Spencer or Jose about desktop, lab or classroom computers, or Marcus, Ying or Stef about database, web or other application problems. Mikel is going to be working on any AZHIN questions that arise. In Phoenix, Kristy has a lot of expertise that we can draw upon. For questions that you might have sent to Robin, please feel free to send an email to Joan who will be doing her best to answer or find an answer.
This time of transition is difficult for all of us and especially hard for those in Systems who are living with so much uncertainty. But we still do need to know if you have problems or computer/IT needs. Everyone is pitching in to keep us up and running.
In response to my last update about improving communication I got an excellent suggestion today. Updates used to be weekly, as long as there was something to report. Over the last year I started sending them out only when there was some major piece of news to report. The suggestion that I got was that I try to do them weekly, since even a minor piece of news will help us all to know what’s going on. Starting now I will try to get one out every Friday.
Systems
We are all going to miss Robin who has been so helpful and a source of knowledge for us all. I’m happy to report that we are retaining her on a consultant basis so that we don’t lose access to her expertise. This will be particularly helpful during the move from SIRSI to Innovative Interfaces and with some AZHIN applications.
I’ve been asked if we are going to fill Robin’s position. As you know we are in the middle of discussions with the College of Medicine about the IT organization within the College, the Library and Biomedical Communications. I have been attending committee meetings and Jeanette has filled in when I have had to miss a meeting. Joan and Marcus are representing the library in a subcommittee that is looking specifically at the functions of a new organization and who should fit where. Nothing has been decided. Given the uncertainty ahead of us it would be hard to even write a job description for a Head of Systems. We will keep the line open until we see what our needs are going to be.
In the meantime, if you need help with any aspect of IT, please feel free to contact Shanna about network or email problems, Spencer or Jose about desktop, lab or classroom computers, or Marcus, Ying or Stef about database, web or other application problems. Mikel is going to be working on any AZHIN questions that arise. In Phoenix, Kristy has a lot of expertise that we can draw upon. For questions that you might have sent to Robin, please feel free to send an email to Joan who will be doing her best to answer or find an answer.
This time of transition is difficult for all of us and especially hard for those in Systems who are living with so much uncertainty. But we still do need to know if you have problems or computer/IT needs. Everyone is pitching in to keep us up and running.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Chairs and Communication
Chairs
As of today, all of the chairs in room 2101 (Java City) have been reupholstered. As the budget permits I hope to be able to continue throughout the rest of the building. The new teleconferencing room and the renovated offices next to Sandy’s office will be using the new carpet pattern. Again, budget permitting, I hope to begin replacing carpeting little-by-little throughout the library over the next couple of years.
Communication
The Administration Team spent Friday, November 16 in a retreat to discuss strategic planning. One item that was discussed was communication within the library.
Over the last couple of years we’ve created these updates (and the blog version of the updates) and the “Breaks with Gary.” We distribute the minutes of the Administrative Team meetings and have six All Staff meetings a year. The new “evaluation of supervisors” procedures (which will be explained at the next All Staff meeting) are also a form of communication.
My sense is that we are doing as much as possible to promote “top-down” and “bottom-up” communication. (I may be wrong and am always open to suggestions on this.) However, I wonder if we have enough lateral or side-to-side communication between departments? As we move more toward the liaison librarian (or personal librarian in Phoenix) model, it will be important that the liaisons know what services are available in other library departments or what projects might be coming up. Likewise it will be important for others to know what the liaison/personal librarians are hearing in the Colleges. The same could be said for any two departments in the library. How can we improve this flow of information? Please post a comment on the blog with your thoughts, or send me an email. Thanks.
As of today, all of the chairs in room 2101 (Java City) have been reupholstered. As the budget permits I hope to be able to continue throughout the rest of the building. The new teleconferencing room and the renovated offices next to Sandy’s office will be using the new carpet pattern. Again, budget permitting, I hope to begin replacing carpeting little-by-little throughout the library over the next couple of years.
Communication
The Administration Team spent Friday, November 16 in a retreat to discuss strategic planning. One item that was discussed was communication within the library.
Over the last couple of years we’ve created these updates (and the blog version of the updates) and the “Breaks with Gary.” We distribute the minutes of the Administrative Team meetings and have six All Staff meetings a year. The new “evaluation of supervisors” procedures (which will be explained at the next All Staff meeting) are also a form of communication.
My sense is that we are doing as much as possible to promote “top-down” and “bottom-up” communication. (I may be wrong and am always open to suggestions on this.) However, I wonder if we have enough lateral or side-to-side communication between departments? As we move more toward the liaison librarian (or personal librarian in Phoenix) model, it will be important that the liaisons know what services are available in other library departments or what projects might be coming up. Likewise it will be important for others to know what the liaison/personal librarians are hearing in the Colleges. The same could be said for any two departments in the library. How can we improve this flow of information? Please post a comment on the blog with your thoughts, or send me an email. Thanks.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Library Hours
Our students have been more upset by our Friday and Saturday hours (closing at 6 PM) than by the loss of the overnight hours. After several petitions, surveys, discussions with student and faculty leadership and consultation with Javad, we have worked out a compromise. Beginning on Friday, November 30 the library will be open seven days a week from 6 AM until Midnight. This solution appears to be a “win-win” for everyone. The previously announced holiday hours will remain as is. You’ll be seeing various announcements and signs will be changed over the coming weeks.
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