Planning, party and polishing

Strategic Planning

Thanks to all of you who came to the strategic planning open session on Tuesday.  As a member of the “Innovating” group I know that we are finding your comments very helpful.  As this process progresses there will be other opportunities for you to hear about our progress and to participate and to provide feedback.

Hannah’s Party

Don’t forget about Hannah’s retirement party on Monday at 10:30 on the 4th floor!

New look in the office

Remodeling projects always seem to take longer than we would like!  We are close to selecting the final layout and finishes for the new reception desk in the library office.  Once that is done we’ll still have about 60 days before installation.  At this point I’m hoping that we can see a new desk by January 1st!

AED

An automated external defibrillator (AED) has been installed on the second floor, across from the elevators, to the left of the stairway entrance.  The device, to be used to treat sudden cardiac arrest, will “speak” directions to you if you use it.  However, the DEPP committee is talking to personnel at the Sarver Heart Center about getting some training for the staff.

Ch-ch-ch-changes

Retirement

It is with mixed emotions that I have to tell you that Hannah has decided to retire after more than 25 years at the AHSL.  Hannah’s last day at work will be Saturday, July 26.  I hope that you will join me in wishing Hannah all the best in her retirement!

New Look

In another month or two the library office will take on a new look.  We will be replacing the old built-in reception counter with a nice new desk.  We hope to get some concept drawings early next week that I will share with you.  We expect it will be about 60 days before the old desk is removed and the new one delivered.

Update on new positions

As I announced previously, we will soon be advertising to fill three vacancies.  Nicole’s position has a working title of “Technology Librarian.”  New funding from the main library is allowing us to create a new position with a working title of “Bioinformationist.”  Lastly, Sandy will be easing out of her responsibilities as College of Nursing liaison to concentrate on supporting research.  We will open a new position, funded mostly by Kathy Tower’s salary, to fill the College of Nursing liaison position.

Banner and UAHN

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Although not final, the stage seems set for Banner Health to purchase the University of Arizona Health Network that includes both UAHN Tucson hospitals and the physician practice plan along with various clinics around the city.  The proposal would also make Banner Good Samaritan hospital in Phoenix the primary teaching hospital for the College of Medicine – Phoenix.  This merger will have an affect on our ability to license information resources for the two Tucson hospitals.  However there are many details to work out and we will be working closely with the Phoenix campus library, the UA main library and the university administration to address the complexities.  I will do my best to keep you informed as we learn more but feel free to ask any questions that you may have.

Sandy

Congratulations Sandy!

Sandy has won the Lois Olsrud Library Faculty Excellence Award!  Announced today at the University Libraries’ Library Faculty Assembly meeting, this award recognizes a library faculty member who has demonstrated sustained excellence in service to and/or collaboration with the primary customers of the Libraries resulting in significant benefit to the faculty, students research and/or other primary customers.  The award comes with a significant honorarium that can be used for professional enrichment such as workshops or other training opportunities, visits to other institutions, or travel to conferences.  As no award was given last year, two awards were given this year.  The other winner is Leslie Sult of the main library.

Diana, Research Support Report, Passing

Congratulations Diana

On Tuesday Diana and Jeanette were in Bethesda, MD at the National Library of Medicine for the capstone event of Diana’s Associate Fellowship, the 2nd Year Colloquium.  Diana presented a talk on her Fellowship project, “Outreach to the Community Partnership of Southern Arizona:  Bringing Health Information to a Behavioral health Community.”  This event brought the four Fellows and their preceptors together with staff from the NLM to review their projects and discuss the Associate Fellowship Program.

Research support planning

The research support planning group (Gary, Jeanette, Joan and Ahlam) continues to meet with researchers to gain a deeper understanding of their needs.  This week we met with the director of a Graduate Interdisciplinary Program (GIDP) and a basic science researcher in Pharmacy.

Dr. Krutzsch

We were sorry to learn of the passing of Dorothy Krutzsch, wife of Dr. Philip Krutzsch, one of the founding faculty members of the UA College of Medicine.  Dr. Krutzsch has remained a friend to the library in retirement.  We sent a condolence card on behalf of the entire staff.