The University of Kansas Libraries

KU Libraries Support Staff

KULSS Executive Meeting
Thursday, October 21, 10:00-11:30
Spahr (Alcove E)

Present: Jill Becker (Chair), Meredith Huff (Vice-Chair), Kristin Zachrel (Secretary), Adam Reilly (Group 1), Julie Warrick (Group 2), Robert Szabo (Group 3)

Absent: None

Previous Meeting's Action Items

• Jill spoke with Sheila about her involvement with the University Committee on Libraries. She wasn't included on the email list so hasn't been receiving information about meetings. Jill was added to the list by mistake. Jill will go to the meeting on October 26 but Sheila will attend subsequent meetings.
• There was a request to get a clock for the break room because the microwave clock isn't always accurate. Robert has a spare wall clock to give us.
• Forward Mike's email about the EEO job categories to Mary Ann. She is welcome to pursue it but KULSS will not pursue it any further.

Group Reports

Group 1 (Adam):

• There was a baby shower held for Jennifer Johnson. There were presents, cake and lots of pictures were taken.
• Adam cleaned out the refrigerator in the Watson break room and brought the recycling bins upstairs.

Group 2 (Julie):

• The space in Acquisitions/Serials has been re-configured to make room for Angie Rathmel's office and work spaces for 2 new Library Assistant positions.

Group 3 (Robert):

• Things are going well in Art & Architecture. Susan is out of town in Europe.
• Nancy Hawkins is retiring and there will be a reception for her on Wednesday, October 27.
• There is going to be a potluck in Spencer today (October 21) to celebrate the non-interim status of Tara Wenger, Miloche Kottman, and Karen Cook.
• There was a lunch held in the North Gallery of Spencer for the Chancellor and her friends.
• There will be a reception held today for international scholars in Spencer.
• Anschutz is getting ready to do a tutorial for Spencer on November 5. They will be doing video highlights of the rules and collections in Spencer.
• Beth Whittaker wants to change the signage in Spencer to be less negative and put a more positive spin on the rules of the library.
• Becky Schulte will be giving her presentation, The History of the Jayhawk, at Liberty Hall on November 1. She will also give this presentation in Los Angeles sometime in January.
• Channette Alexander is having all the laptops upgraded in Spahr.
• Anschutz had a flu clinic on October 20th and another is scheduled for November 4.

Committee Reports

Support Staff Senate:

• SenEx Notes 7 Sept 2010
• USS Senate Executive Com meeting 1 Sept 2010
• USS Senate meeting 8 Sept 2010

University Committee on Libraries: Nothing to report; there is a meeting scheduled for next week.

Mentoring Committee:

• They are working with new hires to find mentors.

Libraries Organizational and Staff Development Committee (LOSDC):

• They recently sent out an email update about their charge and plans for the future. For more information about this committee visit their webpage: http://www.lib.ku.edu/staff/losdc/
• Meredith will add this committee to her list of committees she communicates with to find out about any upcoming activities.

Meeting Updates

Dean's Council (next mtg: 10/22/10): Nothing to report; there is a meeting scheduled for tomorrow.

Management Council (next mtg: 11/17/10): 10/20/10 Minutes: http://www.lib.ku.edu/staff/docs/Notes/indexMC.shtml

• The libraries has a guest PhD student, Dane Ward, who is visiting the libraries for a couple of weeks. He is writing about organizational change.
• Discussed Open Access Week.
• The Voyager upgrade was a success.
• Still waiting on the Provost's approval for the 2 new library positions (Head of IT for Libraries and Instructional Design Librarian).
• Moving forward with Primo product, which was selected by the Discovery Task Force, as a tool to make our resources easier to locate. It has a less restrictive controlled vocabulary and the 360 search will work differently and hopefully better. There will be a soft launch in the spring and the official launch in the fall. We are currently in the contract phase with this product.
• Erin Ellis discussed the library-wide assessment plan. There are lots of types of assessments going on but how does it fit into the larger assessment plan?
  • Run questions for assessments by Beth Warner.
• The Watson break room is going to be rehabilitated. $15,000-20,000 will be allocated for improvement to the break room including new furniture that can be easily moved if the break room moves to a new location, new refrigerators and microwaves, new paint and floors.
  • There are complaints about the break room being an access point for FO and that it can get noisy, but there's nothing that can be done about this.
  • Kent is working on a library-wide questionnaire.
  • Considering putting a computer in the break room for staff use.
  • Staff will have individual codes to access this room.
  • No timeline was discussed so Jill will ask Kent about this.
• Changes to the supply order process
  • Eliminating the central supply room. There will be departmental supply rooms now. This is supposed to save money and staff time and will enable them to keep better track of the surplus of supplies.
  • Requests should go through the Libaid email account: libaid@ku.edu.
  • New forms and written procedures are coming soon.
• A speaker from OCLC will be coming on November 3 to give a presentation Cloudy with a Chance of Cooperation.
• Watson will be getting a new roof over Thanksgiving week to fix the flat parts of the roof.
• Over winter break Anschutz will be getting their expanded cafe (Pulse) and will increase the wireless connectivity.

Dean's KULSS (next mtg: 11/2/10): Not met yet.

Concerns to Bring up with the Dean:

• Lack of staff participation. Is it because they aren't interested or because they don't feel connected with the libraries and the University.
• Boosting morale for support staff.
• Discuss the article in the LJ World about possible pay raises for staff.

Action Items for Next Meeting:

Parking Lot
(Items to be aware of for the future, not necessarily discussed in current meeting)

• Workshop planning

Next Meeting: November 4, 10:00-11:30 at Spencer Research Library